File 3360/1916 Pt 2 'Persian correspondence. (1917-18)' [‎266r] (536/678)

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Before the Kawam’s arrival in Shiraz, Yavar, Fath-ul-Mulk, who had
been put in ^ prison for his pro-English proclivities, was released, and in his
turn Jie imprisoned the Swedish Gendermerie Officers, Captain Angmann and
Armourer Enksen, and those Persian officers and men who had taken a
KS rNo^mber“ ^ M! * jeSt ' y ’ S C ° MUl ^ ^ Briti8 ' 1 reSidentS
He thus became Commandant of the force, but his position was none too
secure There was but little money to pay the men, and Eath-ul-Mulk took
what he could get fronyhe Finance Department, and in addition received
certain sums from His Majesty’s Legation in Tehran.
The German Consul, Wustrow, had fled just before Fath-ul-Mnlk effected
the change m the situation.
The various parties of German, Austrian, Turkish and Afghans who had
concentrated on Shiraz, were made prisoners on arrival here. At first they
were allowed a certain amount of freedom of movement and action, but
at a later period the Kawam, who had taken charge of them, took more
stringent precautions.
These enemy bands were in a very miserable state, having been robbed
a nd met with persistent hostility as they marched through the country.
Dr. Schroeder, who tried to escape towards Bakhtiari, had hisbaeffajre looted
and was severely wounded and brought back to Shiraz. ^
Thus, at the time His Highness was making preparations to leave
Tehran, Shiraz was in the hands of the Kawam and Fath-ul-Mulk both of
whom were receiving money from us, and their combined forces dominated the
town.
The Soulat-ed-Douleh was with his tribes on the border of Fars-Ispahan
in their usual summer quarters. ^ *
Both the Kawam and the Soulat were sending telegrams to the Farman
Farma in Tehran, professing their obedience to his wishes and to the
Government.
The Gendarmerie, though obedient, were ill-paid and badly disciplined and
not in the least to be trusted.
i
Indeed, it may be taken for granted that neither the Soulat, the Kawam
or Fath-ul-Mulk were much more than lukewarm in their professions of
friendship, and their obedience to the Farman Farma and their readiness to
help ourselves were due entirely to the fact that the German cause at that
time seemed to be a losing one.
German money however was still coming in, and German influences were
still sufficiently strong to prevent anything like whole-hearted adherence
to one side or the other.
The sympathies of the Kawam were undoubtedly more with us than 1
was the case with the Soulat, who even at this late date is still inclined to
doubt our power to finally defeat the Germans, while Fath-ul-Mulk had a
keen desire to serve the side which would pay him best, and that he believed to
be ourselves.
The people of Fars—or rather, of Shiraz—were very tired of the state of
anarchy and disorder that had prevailed for about eight years, and were
ready to welcome any stable Government that would bring peace and quiet,
but unhappily there were many people interested in preventing this state of
affairs being brought about—the Democrats, subsidized by the Germans, and
the majority of the Clergy, were bent on making trouble.
Such was the state of affairs while the Farman Farma was busy in Tehran
collecting a small force of about 450 men, with a couple of machine guns
supplied by the Legation.
His Highness reached Ispahan early in August, and started southwards
on August 24th, accompanied by myself, Mr. Bristow of His Majesty’s Con
sular Service, Mr Gardner and Mr. Walter of the Imperial Bank of Persia,
Air, Newton of the Indo-European Telegraph Department, and Lieutenants
Weldon and Connolly of the South Persia Rifles. Shortly before our departure,
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