'REPORT ON minor operations undertaken by the South Persia Rifles from the 28th March to the 25th June 1917.' [‎4v] (8/24)

6
Report on the action of Kafta against the Kurshulli ) Gala nan Kashgai and
Bassari.
At the end of May 1917, a few days previous to the arrival of the Dehbid
Column in Dehbid, the Kurshulli had robbed 600 sheep and "oats from the
inhabitants of Dehbid, Shahrabad, Abrquh andj Mihrabad. The Kuluntur of
the Kurshulli, by name Attor Khan, had been asked to return the stolen pro
pel t), but had continually evaded by promises which were never fulfilled.
Furthermore, very many complaints with respect to various other robberies were
received from the raiyat against this tribe. It is held in greater dread than any
other tribe in this area, which is saying a great deal.
It would be as well to mention that it was the Kurshulli which threatened our
supply column from Mihrabad in June last, which resulted in the Puzeh-i-Siah
operations by the Burma Mounted Infantry 0119th and 10th June 1917.
The Kurshullis consist of something over 300 tents or families, and possesses
roughly 120-150 rifles of both Martini and Mauser patterns. Through constant
robberies its kalantar, Attor Khan, has amassed much property.^ He pays
tribute to the Saulat-es*Su!tana at Isphahan, who inherited this tribe throu"h
his wife, the daughter of Haji Nasrullah. . &
It was finally decideo to send out a punitive column from Dehbid to punish
the Kurshulli and recover the stolen property.
Information as totne exact position of the Kurshulli and the.topography
of the country which it covered was so scarce, that it took many days to" piece
together information, which could appear sufficient for the formation of any plan
of action. ^ It was important that everything should be done withouttheknow-
ledge of tne Kurshulu, and therefore every possible precaution was taken.
Nevertheless, Attcr Khan had apparently been on the lookout for trouble for
sometime, and cnc of his spies managed in some miraculous way to brin" h m
mformahon; consequently news of the coming of the punitive column was known
to Attcr Khan in plenty o^ time to arrange a well planned reception. To make
matters worse, information obtained as to the position of the tribes and the
topography of the country turned out to be so incorrect that difficulties were very
greatly enhanced. . J
Map I was maoe ouc on information obtained before the column left Deh-
* M aP 2. A comparison with the correct map
... ,. .. . , , wili give an idea of the difficulties in res
pect .0 this which tne column had to contend against. It also shows the pro
posed general plan of operations formed previous to the departure of the column
from Dcnbid.
It should be especial ! y noted that the Bassari tribe
the east of the Kurshulli—a vital mistake.
was reported well to
At 3-0 P.M, on the afternoon of the 4th July 1917, a punitive column com
posed of :—
1 squadron Burma Mounted Infantry (Lieutenant W. R. Morley).
150 rifles phis 2 machine guns and sections, 124th (Queen’s Own)
Baluchistan Infantry (Major C. A. Chaldecott and Captain I R
Gregory). j* •
Medical Details. (Major J. W. Ulius, I.M.S.)
Officer Commanding the Column, Major V. P. B. Williams, left Deh
bid for the Kurshulli via Banak and Mushkun—the shorter and
easier route via Khurrami and Kishlak was avoided to ensure
greater secrecy.
At 5-45 P.M., idem, the column arrived at Banak ; at 9-30 P M. it reached
a point | mile S. S. E. of Mushkun. A halt w 7 as made here for one hour A
start was again made at 10-30 P.M. At 1-40 AM. on 5th July 1917 the column
arrived at what, according to the information of guides, was supposed to be the
* ,*