'Despatch by Brigadier-General Sir P. M. Sykes, K.C.I.E., C.M.G., Inspector-General, South Persia Rifles and Commanding British Mission Escort in Persia on Minor Operations in Southern Persia. From 7th November 1917 to 31st March 1918' [‎5v] (10/40)

Clerk for F. T. C. 0., Bandar Abbas, asked for.
(v) Material. —4 ten pounder guns obtained for South Persia Rifles to com
plete four-gun battery, Pars and Kirman Brigades.
4 trench mortars (Stokes) and 1,000 rounds obtained to complete South
Persia Rifles Artillery, in substitution for field guns, considered un
suitable for South Persia. f
79 Lewis guns provided for South Persia Rifles, plus 2 for Headquarter Staff,
and 8 each for 16th Rajputs and 124th Baluch Infantry; total 97
Lewis guns.
31 Hotchkiss guns for mounted units, South Persia and 4 maxims to com
plete armament Machine Gun Squadrons, Pars and Kirman Brigades,
have been received.
14,000 Mills bombs for Indian troops only in South Persia have also been sent
from Force “ D x
{vi) Transport and Supply .—100 additional bullock carts have been sent
to Bandar Abbas, and are allotted to road construction duty on the
southern section of the Bandar Abbas-Kirman road.
A complete mechanical transport section (30 Ford Lorries) has been ordered.
An Assistant Director, Supply and Transport, and 2 Deputy Assistant
Directors, Supply and Transport, have been appointed in place of
one Deputy Assistant Director, Supply and Transport, as before.
Additional Supply and Transport personnel, in the form of a Divisional Sup
ply Company and 6 Supply Depot Sections, have been sent to South
Persia.
(m) Water Transport.—§ light draught lighters and one seagoiny tug ob
tained foi Base, Bandar Abbas making a total of 2 tuf?s‘ the tbirrl
“ Vishnu ” was withdrawn for duty at Muscat.
(m?) Medical. —3 British Medical officers asked for have been appointed to
South Persia Rifles to replace 3 Indians to be withdrawn.
(ir) FfmncmZ.—Special South Persia Rifles allowance of Rs. 200 per men
sem, sanctioned for all officers doing duty with South Persia Rifles
with retrospective effect.
Killing obtained as to who were to be considered as c
sia Rifles for purposes of pay and allowances
British non-commissioned officers permitted to convert one-third of thei,
emoluments at 3 • 65, subject to a maximum of Rs. 150.
Ruling obtained re fixing a rate of exchange for South Persia. Audit office,
for South Persia Rifles accounts appointed.
ff 8 ' ^ he Inspector-General’S views were consulted by the Oiief of the Genera]
Staff on the sub]ect of a possible expansion of South Persia Rifles to Isfahan The!
views were expressed in the form of two notes to the Chief of t he General Staff
A plan of operations, worked out at Shiraz by the General Staff to meet a pos
sible emergency, was passed to the General Staff Branch (M 0 1 and AT n J?
favour of criticism. ‘ • 6 ) 101
Full advantage was taken of the opportunity offered to discuss with officers of
the General Staff, various questions connected with the nolicv of ft,,. 7 ? p '
Rifles, and its organization Our policy with regard to tfe ipLffig of th ’ Bu^T
Kazerun-Shiraz road was also obtained and approved. S * tue Kusmre-
Colony 6 <Sanfi 8en The^Dfrector S <!f X MflRaly'Operations Lieute “ant-
Colonel Grant the importance of being ready to expand th “/stTm at short eUfce “ ailt
notice.
Several \isits v ere paid by Lieutenant-Colonel Grant tn M O q a • t
tion was freely exchanged. The appointment of Subadar-Major^p^ld^’
one