'REPORTS ON MINOR OPERATONS IN SOUTH PERSIA UNDER Brigadier-General Sir P. M. Sykes, K.C.I.E, C.M.G., from May to July 1918. GENERAL STAFF INDIA' [‎40v] (89/194)

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pass (9; leading to the Charrah plain. At this pass a final stand was made by
the enemy, who also held the precipitous hills flanking the “ nek.”
I ordered Major Dyer to take this “ nek” and to complete our success. He
personally led the attack on this position with 2 troops, supported by 2 Lewis
guns. The Burma Mounted Bifleshad now been marching and fighting for 16
hours, and this gallant attack, carried out by tired men and horses, is deserving of
highest praise. To release rifles and thus obtain sufficient fire power in the
final attack, ponies were left in a “ mob ” under cover, in charge of three non-
combatants. The two troops attacked across a series of thickly wooded ridges,
where the enemy had the advantage of good cover. The Burma Mountain
Bifles now w ithdrew and reached Chinar-i-Naz, with the animals and booty
captured from the Charrahis, about 7 P.M. They had been 19 hours on the
move. The total distance covered by the column this day was 50 miles. We
bivouacked for the night | mile above the village, among fine walnut trees.
Enemy's strength in the two separate engagements this day was esti
mated to be :—
South of Chinar-i-Naz —150 rifles Labu Muhammadi Arabs and a few
Charrahis, many mounted, under Abdul Hussain Khan, son of
the Chief, Saham Ashair Labu Muhammadi.
TFest of Chinar-i-Naz —200 rifles (Charrahis) including 50 mounted
men. These Charrahis belonged to the Hashimi section and were
led by Mulla Faraj. They were returning with loot taken from
caravans on the Yezd road, where they had been operating in
partnership with Saham Ashair’s Labu Muhammadi Arabs. The
local villagers complained to me bitterly of the depredations of
these gangs which w r ere now too strong for the “ Tajik ” peasant
proprietor.', to oppose Saham Ashair had forcibly seized one-
half of the property at Chinar-i-Naz, formerly a prosperous
village of 60 houses.
Enemy casualties —30 killed, 36 wounded.
Our casualties —Wounded :—
No. 201 Signaller Boda Singh.
' No. 98 Acting Lance-Daffadar Kirpal Singh.
Booty captured —143 camels, many loaded with stolen property.
370 sheep,
4 cows.
8 donkevs.
*
3 horses and 2 foals.
10 rifles, including 2 Lee Metford, British pattern,
long rifles.
Two cases of correspondence belonging to Saham Ashair were also captured.
From this, ample documentary proof exists of this famous brigand’s partici
pation in organized brigandage.
His wife sent in the same evening to say she was quite destitute, and with
out food and bedding, I sent her, as a present, 3 tumans, some quilts, cooking
pots, and food.
Action at Gudar-i-Eir Zad pass, north-west of Berat-i-Khurreh.
(Sketch B.)
11th May 1918. —It was probable that the enemy, smarting from his
losses, and taunted by his women, would endeavour to recapture his property
on the march of the column to Herat-i-Khurreh.
To baffle the enemy and upset his plans, I selected the little known
Gudar-i-'Pir Zad pass in preference to the better known, and more direct,
route via Buru-i-Herat, which the enemy would probably expect the column to
follow. The track crossing the Gudar-i-Pir Zad branches off eastward across
the range, some 4 miles short of Buru-i-Herat.