'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. [‎51r] (108/168)

59
cofps” could not be proceeded with in East Persia, although the more
recent contract made with R. B. SunderJ Dass had been framed so as to
admit of full effect being given to this scheme, should officers become
available.
Latterly the Mechanical Transport units on the Lines of Gommanication
were given their full complement of officers and the effect of this was most
marked. Even so, these officers like many of the Supply and Animal Trans
port officers, were handicapped by their ignorance of Hindustani. This is
specially a handicap when the officer, besides performing administrative duties,
has many Indians of combatant status under his command. His lack of
power to converse with his men impairs his relations with them, and the
practice, that had inevitably to be adopted, of an officer dealing with his
men through an i Aerpreting clerk, is a most pernicious one. A certain amoimt
of unrest in No. 5 Mechanical Transport Company that occurred at the begin
ning of the year was very largely due to the man missing the time-honoured
privilege of direct and unimpeded access to his commanding officer. An
attenpt was made at this time to import Munshis A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. from India to teach
Hindustani to newly joined officers, but no Munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. would volunteer. The
experience gained in East Persia leads to the conclusion that while the
&r-Army Service Corps officer with wide European experience of Mechanical
Transport or Animal Management is a valuable acquisition to the Supply
and Transport Corps, he should spend at least three months with an Indian
Cavalry Regiment or Infantry Battalion to learn the language and customs
of the Indian fighting classes before he is given command of an Animal
Transport or Mechanical Transport unit.
To replace the demobilized British other rank who had been employed
in Supply duties, the only possible course had been to send to Persia a large
draft of men from battalions newly arrived in India. There were a few old
soldiers among them, but for the most part they were raw youths In f ^
every case they were put through a short course m supply duties at Birjand
before being poTted to Supply Depute. The few that were l-rly well educated
and had also the right temperament, profited by the grounding that y
thus eot and turned out well. Most of them, however, including many who
claimed to have been in the highest standard of their
far from intelligent and were surprisingly illiterate, though some had the
necessary ability, niany were more like school-boys m character than grow
up me/ and without a great deal more regimental discipline than they had
as P yet had were liable to be demoralized by extra-regimental employ. A
appreciable percentage were addicted to drink, or m other ways Proved th e -
selves had characters. The undesirables were returned to India as soo “ «
their unsuitability for supply duties ceased to be a
remainder carried on, and a tew mat e S° 0 ■ Transport store keeper that
3-105-10 of I6th October 1920). , , ,, . . „ - nllvim]s
On their arrival the question was raised ^b^^^^^tiLnt of acting
youth and inexperience it was desira -> ^ ? that this would
serjeaut. It was, however, decided to do so in the n^P instances>
increase their self-respect and have a _ • ? , ,j lus ^ een ma de in their
however, they failed to justily the clecisio otherwise had acquired
favour. A few, who had been grooms m cml hte, or owen, ^ ^
a knowledge of animals, were employe' in , mechanical
the whole did fairly well. d j d f n ew Meehanica Transport Coin
training and were therefore attached to No. 5 Mechamca i
P an y- , n ^ ■pnof Pprsia with sufficient ordria.uce
It had not proved possible to pro\ Lines of Communication,
establishment for separate ordnance ep ordnance officer and
The local supply officer had therefore also to be the local ordnance