'Despatch by Lieutenant-General R. Wapshare, C.B., C.S.I. on the Organization and Working of the East Persian Line of Communications. From 1st April 1918 to 15th January 1919' [‎4r] (12/138)

CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 021-3-1 (G.S.)., dated Quetta, the 8th March 1919.
From—The General Officer Com naading, 4th (Quetta) Division,
To—Tiie Chief of the General Staff, Army Head Quarters, Delhi.
With reference to your telegram No. 6307-M.O.L, dated the 24th January
1919, I have the honour to forward this my despatch on the East Persian Line of
Communications from the 1st April 1918 to the 15th January 1919.
My report covers two periods; the first from 1st April to 21st September 1918,
during which time the East Persian Cordon from railhead onwards was under the
command of Brigadier-General G. A. Dale, C.M.G., and the second from 22nd Sep
tember 1918 to 15th January 1919, when the East Persian Line of Communica
tions was under my command.
Regarding the first period I propose giving you a brief summary of the Eastern
Persian Cordon as I took it over from Brigadier-General Dale together, with infor
mation he has furnished me with regarding this part of the year. I will go into
fuller detail regarding the second period, and on the work of the Administration of x .
the Line of Communications under my command as you direct.
1. Topography .—It would be as well first briefly to outline the features of the
country through which the Line of Communication runs. The Eastern Persian
Line of Communication may, as regards topographical conditions, be divided into
4 Sections, viz .—
(a) Nushki to railhead at Juzzak or Duzdap.
(b) Railhead to Shusp.
(c) Shusp to Meshed.
(d) Meshed to Askabad.
The first section lies in the Chagai District of British Baluchistan, which is
practically desert country about 2,000 feet above the sea level. No great difficulty
has been found in constructing the extension of the railway to Juzzak and thence
to Duzdap, where railhead has just been established.
Nushki is the nearest point on the railway to the Afghan Border; hence a
garrison is necessary here to check raiding parties from Afghanistan, who have
essayed to foray the railway in this vicinity.
From railhead to Shusp the Line of Communications ’ road passes through
fairly mountainous country for the first 35 miles; thence through stony desert
country until the neighbourhood of Neh is reached.
The principal topographical feature of this section is the Palan Koh Mountain
Range which runs parallel to the Line of Communications. This range has of old
been a hiding place for robber bands and necessitates a garrison being kept at
Dehan-i-Baghi to prevent raids on this section of the Line of Communications.
The climate of this section is bad ; the heat is very trying in the summer and
the North-West winds that blow for 120 days every spring with extraordinary uni
formity create perpetual sand-storms and cause great discomfort. There is little
shade in this section of the Line of Communications and water is none too plentiful
and generally brackish. Rain seldom falls between April and October; hence, in
summer, the dust is very bad.
From Shusp to Meshed the Line of Communications runs through undulating
mountainous country which is generally, beyond Kain, fertile and well watered.
Between Birjandand Kain the road crosses the Samand-i-Shah Pass, 6,930 feet, and
between Kain and Turbat-i-Haidari two other passes of about 6,500 feet are traversed.
Two more passes have to be negotiated between Turbat-i-Haidari and Meshed
as the road crosses the mountain range of Kuh Bakhar.
These last passes are narrow and rocky but have been improved and are fit for
motor traffic now except when the weather is very wet
C26GS-B