'REPORT on the Working of the Line of Communication AND ON THE Withdrawal of the British Military Mission IN EAST PERSIA, 1919-20. GENERAL STAFF INDIA. [‎40v] (87/168)

58
pre-
No-
Dis-
Director for the latter and be responsible for the mechanical transport in
addition; it is an impossible taskj and animal transport has suffered to a
certain extent in consequence. *
7. The scheme allowed 112 days for the withdrawal, including the
liminary notice. No bitch of any kind occurred, and on the 13th
vember, i.e.^ on the 11 *th day, I was able to wire to the Baluchistan
trict, repeating to the Chief of the General Staff, that the withdrawal was com
pleted. Bor this satisfactory result I have to thank my staff and heads of
services, who spared no effort to ensure the comfort and welfare of the
troops on the march, and who so loyally co-operated with me in carry
ing out every detail of the various orders and instructions I issued. Through
out the whole of the withdrawal the troops had only tw r o days’ reserve
rations in hand, and any breakdown in the arrangements w r ould have resulted
in, if not disaster, at least an unfortunate situation, which it would have
been extremely difficult to rectify.
8. A very satisfactory feature of the withdrawal is the extremely small
number of sick—in all less than 5 per cent, of all ranks—of which the
serious or “ lying ” cases were under 2 per cent, of the total strength. 1 attri
bute this satisfactory result largely to the sanitary care of the troops on
the march, and to the arrangements made at all camps for the protection
and distribution of water.
9. In accordance with the instructions I received, all British other ranks s
whose presence was not absolutely necessary with columns and final garrisons
on the march, were evacuated to railhead by motor transport from Shusp—
thus avoiding the extreme heat of the last twelve marches in the southern
section of the line.
prevention of raiding described in Part l
withdrawal, and proved perfectly successful,
against any convoy or .column; the strong
southern section proved a very effective
deterrent, while very great credit is due to the Sistan Levy Corps for
their unceasing watch on the Afghan frontier, a distance of close on 400
miles.
11. The spiritual and moral welfare of the troops was the care of the
Beveiend Langdale femith Chaplain to the Porces. The Chaplain made
constant visits to all stations of the line, including Meshed, and I am glad
to say the services he held were w T ell attended. Considerable sums—~the
result of collections at these services—were sent to various charities in India.
The preseivation of graves, both British and Indian, has received my
special attention. Graves of all British ranks have been clearly demarc
ated with raised cement slabs, w itk a standing cross at the head let into the
ground. The name of the officer or British other rank, with date of death,
has been let mto the cement slab. In the case of Indian graves, owing
to several severe epidemics, many had been buried in isolated spots with
no identification marks. ! have, however, with very few exceptions, been
able to identily these Many Mohammadans have been buried in recognized
Mohammadans cemeteries. The remaining Indian graves have been enclosed
in walled enclosures.
Detailed lists of all graces, both British and Indian, have been given to
Consular authorities concerned.
12. On the 8th June 1920 a complete 500-Watt C. W. wireless
station arrived in East Persia, and was erected at Duzdap. This wireless
placed at my disposal during the withdrawal
possibility ot communication with
interruptions occurred. The
B.E., who
manner, and credit is due to this non
by the Duzdap wireless
10. The measures for the
were continued throughout the
Not a single raid was attempted
striking force collected in the
the
station was u„ mv during the withdrawal in Tiew of the
nection proved very useful at pedod^when^ ° ff ' iQ
formed 5 hif duties"'^ rvery^efficLt 6 ' 864111 Swan . bor6u S h ’ - "' no P el "
commissioned officer for the special part played by the
station in connection with intelligence.
will no'w^onlTarV^tTnt^i/ 11 & s ®^ ara ^ e ^ ea ding to Intelligence in Part I. I
kept w r ell in tonoh xv’H S * v l e . m ^' as ne ver relaxed, and that I w r as always
danger was to he annrph 1 A ri m t ^ ose trans-frontier regions whence
given me by the acknowledge the valuable assistance
Consul, Sistan.
by the Malmiss Mission, the Consul-General, Meshed, and the