File 3516/1914 Pt 9 'German War: Persia' [‎166v] (337/618)

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, 4 - -A n hv (laDtain Apthorp and some men of the 96th who with the
Tibs 0 the reconnoitring party held them. After sunset they advanced to attack
remains ui f i r iven off Some horsemen and others were seen at dusk
advancing 8 acrossle Mashilleh, but the attack by Zair Khidhar and Shaikh Hussain
never materialized. A report spread by the tribesmen .s to the effect that while
Zrmte when they halted for a rest, a man was killed by the accidental discharge of
a rifle, which was considered a bad omen, so the party retired My own idea is that
as the party approached Bushire they heard the sound of the guns ofH. M. S.
“ Lawrence ” and one of the Turkish guns now here; this would, I expect, be an even
worse omen for the success of their attack which entirely depends on a surprise.
Subsequent enquiry leads me to believe that 150 to 200 men came across with
Rais Ali to “ Kuzi,” while about 500 started with Zair Khidhar and bhaikh
Hussain acorss the Mashilleh. A further party of about 100 is reported to have
arrived in the neighbourhood of Halileh from the mam land about nightfall on the
12th, and to have been frightened away by the shells from H. M. S.
“ Lawrence. ”
As regards reparation for this attack and the loss of two British officers I have
already made my suggestions in my telegram 305-C., dated 14th July 1915 I
have only to add that'*! am convinced that no form of punishment will be understood
locally which does not include a punitive expedition to crush the four guilty Khans.
Measures against the Persian Government will hardly affect them at all, and if no
punitive columns are sent out, the Khans will think (and not without reason) that
they can declare war on the British, attack them in Bushire and kill two British
officers with impunity.
A copy of this letter is being sent to His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran.
Note on the events of the afternoon and night of the 12th July 1915.
In the forenoon of the 12th July news was received that a party of Dilwaris
and Dashtis under the command of Rais Ali of Dilwar were en route for Bushire
and would probably arrive about noon at “ Khor (or Bagh) Kuzi ” where they would
lie quiet for the day and attack the Sabzabad end of the outpost line in the evening
or at night, while the Mogam end would be attacked by the parties of Zair Khidhar
and Shaikh Hussain who would come across direct from Pakushi (about 15 miles
©ff) where they were encamped with Wassmuss.
This information was from a new and not very reliable source and very much
resembled numerous very circumstantial but false reports which had been received
from time to time. It was therefore decided to verify it before calling out the
reserve of the Regiment which had been very hardworked lately. Accordingly
Major Oliphant, 96th (Berar) Infantry, Commanding the outpost line, and Captain
Ranking, Assistant Resident, accompanied by a party of six sowars (all available)
and 26 sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. , left the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at about 3 p.m. to reconnoitre. The idea was that
if the enemy were seen party should at once withdraw sending two sowars back to
inform Sabzabad and the post at Tangak-i-Zangena where there is a field telephone.
A party of the Regiment were held in immediate readiness to proceed out.
Apparently about 4-30 Captain Ranking and the sowars suddenly came on the
enemy sitting in a garden, and saw they were in considerable numbers. Captain
Ranking at once gave the order to gallop oh, but the Tangistanis spotted the sowars
at the same moment and gave them a volley just as they were going off. This
unfortunately brought down one of the sowars’ horses which was shot dead. Captain
Ranking pulled up to extricate the sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. who was not hurt—this he did and the
sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. got away safely—but as he was mounting he was hit and fell. Major Oliphant
who was about 200 or 300 yards behind with some of his sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. came up to extri
cate Captain Ranking and was apparently shot in the arm as he was coming up.
When he reached Captain Ranking he came under very heavy fire and finding that it
was impossible to get Captain Ranking away—probablv the latter had been hit
again and killed m this period as he had a second wound through the hand—Major
Oliphant gave the order to retire. As he started to do so he was hit again twice
and killed. One sepoy Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. was also killed and two wounded.