'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' [‎9r] (17/40)

15
23rd December 1917,* near Qadrabad, by a gang of raiders supposed to be Boir
Almiadis, who were driven oil.
The Naib Tufangchi at Qadrabad was suspected of being friendly with these
robbers. He had been absent from his post, and never gave any reliable inform
ation. After consultation with Colonel E. F. Orton, Officer Commanding Fars
Brigade ordered Captain F. Hill, South Persia Rifles Cavalry, from Qavamabad
to Qadrabad, to arrest and bring in the Naib Tufangchi.
Report of Captain F. Hill, South Persia Rifles.
Left Qavamabad with two troops, South Persia Rifles Cavalry. At 12-30 p.iu.
I was entering the Tang-i-Kamin, north of Saadatabad, when a charvadar reporteu
that a Persian caravan of donkeys and camels had been carried off near the north
entrance of Tang-i-Kamin (3 miles off).
*
I advanced quickly. On reaching the north entrance of the Tang-i-Kamin>
my patrols reported that the robbers were driving the looted animals down the valley
in a south-easterly direction.
I galloped south-east in extended order, and a rear guard of raiders, about 50
strong, who were extended across the valley, opened fire.
The South Persia Rifles took cover, dismounted, and returned the raiders’
fire at long range.
I could see the looted animals being driven away.
I could not get any South Persia Rifles men to advance to close contact
with the raiders.
I recovered about one-fourth of the looted animals and loads (chiefly raw
cotton).
The South Persia Rifles suffered no casualties, and I do not think the raiders
had any losses either.
The South Persia Rifles fired about 1,700 rounds.
The South Persia Rifles were much out of hand, and I was not pleased with
their performance.
On 3rd January the raiders restored all the animals (but not the remainder
of the loads) to the Persian owners.
I returned to Saadatabad, which was reached about 7 p.m., and halted there.
1 marched to Qadrabad with the two troops, South Persia Rifles, arrested
the two headmen of the local tufangchis there, and took them back to Saadatabad.
Returned to QaVamabad.
The two men arrested were sent under escort to Shiraz. The Officer Com
manding Fars Brigade handed them o ver to His Highness Prince Farman Farma,
who punished them.
The Naib Tufangchis at Saadatabad reported that a large number of robbers
had collected again at the north end of the Tang-i-Kamin.
I proceeded to Saadatabad with 3 troops, South Persia Rifles (54 men), and
reconnoitred, but saw no sign of raiders.
I proceeded to Qadrabad. All clear.
I was returning from Qadrabad, and at 11-30 a.m. was near the Tang-i-Kamin,
and had just passed a Persian caravan of about 500 camels and a few donkeys,
which was in straggling formation. Shots were fired on my left (east) flank. I
occupied some low hills on the left (east) side of the road, and a desultory engage
ment with the raiders followed at a range of about 400 yards, which lasted for about
half an hour.
Half the caravan escaped through the low hills, and gained the Tang-i- Kamin
The other half of the caravan fell into the hands of the robbers, who had now
turned my left Hank. The robbers were about 20J strong.
*A »eparate
report has been
rendered.
January 1st,
1918.
January Sad.
January 3rd.
January 16 th,
January 17th.
January 18th,