File 3516/1914 Pt 11 'Persia: protection of Anglo-Persian Oil Co's fields etc' [‎261v] (527/550)

Enclosure No 4.
Memorandum on Reports by Generals Wapshare and Gcr-
ringe on the protection of the Pipe Line and Oil Fields.
Terms of re- 1 ‘ Generals Gorringe and Wapshare were asked to report on the troops
ference. and measures necessary to protect the oil fields and pipe line in the event of
a Jehad being proclaimed in Persia and of the Bakhtiaris being forced to attack
and damage the oil fields and pipe line.
Nature of Re- 2. General Wapshare reconnoitred the country with Mr. Gillespie (Oil Fields
connaissance. Manager), Lieutenant-Colonel H. P. Browne, G.S.O. (1), 12th Division, Captain
Cusins, R.E., and Captain Grey, Intelligence Officer, Ahwaz. They proceeded
by motor and on horseback from Ahwaz to Abgunji along the pipe line, thence
to Darra Khazineh on horseback, thence by buggy along the cart road vid
Abgah, Tembi to the oil fields. Lieutenant-Colonel Browne and Captain
Cusins, R.E., then proceeded to reconnoitre Maidan-i Naphthun over the
Anjirak to Abgunji and Ahwaz along the pipe line.
The intelligence collected during this reconnaissance is very complete and
valuable. #
Protected 3. The gist of the report by General Wapshare and the covering memoran-
commended re '^ um General Gorringe is to the effect that the troops and measures necessary
to protect the Oil Fields and pipe line against the Bakhtiaris in the event of
their actively joining a Jehad, would be at least one Division of all arms and a
Cavalry Brigade, completely equipped with mule transport for mountain war
fare, the construction of posts and a piped water-supply across the hills.
To protect the Oil Pipe line against the Bavi and Chaab an additional
force of a Brigade, a Cavalry regiment and armed motor-cars would be required.
It is mentioned that attack by the Bakhtiaris is most unlikely and that the
Anglo-Persian Oil Company deprecate the despatch of any troops into the
Bakhtiari country until the necessity actually arises ; but is inclined to view with
favour the provision ol a piped water supply from the Karun at Halala to
Ruhidarun.
Remarks on
Report.
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I
4. As operations against the Bakhtiaris (who can turn out 5,000 to
20,000 rifles) would take place in a difficult hill country very destitute of water,
the force suggested cannot be said to be excessive as an abstract pro
position.
But unless the Government of India is prepared to reinforce very largely
the force now in this^ country, and to supply some thousands of pack mules at
very short notice, it is evident that such operations cannot be undertaken with
safety from available resources.
• 5 V ^ These considerations, and the information given in the Report
point, however, to the conclusion that in the event of notice being given by the
Bakhtiaris of their being forced to join in Jehad, it would be better to withdraw
all non-Persian employes from the oil fields and to trust to the Bakhtiaris
refraining from injuring property in which they have an interest, rather than to
attempt to safeguard the oil fields by a military force.
M understand that the Chaab do not actually (6) As regards the B ivi and ^Phaab
come up to the pipe line and need not be con- tO k' ^ S , , , • CmaaD
sidered. trie best pioiection would be to give these
i • • i tribes also an interest in the undertaking
and a warnmg that, in return the responsibility of villages will be enforced as
suggested in paragraph 2 of General Wapshare’s Report.
i? A Yf,f rd - S tl l e es Y blishmellt of P° sts in Bavi country and the
patrolling of the pipe line by motor cars, it is questionable whether such measures
are really necessary and desirable if tribal responsibility is to be given a trial
1“’ T vever ’ 1 P °, lnted 0Ut that efiectivel y to keep up connection between
posts on the pipe line, the garrison at Ahwaz is now on the wrong side of the
river. The present camp was originally placed on the right bank owing to the
menace of Turkish aggression but now that this danger is not lon^-r to be
eaied, there is no reason, escept the trouble and labour of shifting camp across
the Karun, to justify its retention at Aminiyeh. P
S.S. Bahmanshir;
1
(Sd.) G. V. KEMBALL,
16th June 191$.
M.G., G.S.