File 3516/1914 Pt 14 'German War: Persia; general situation' [‎181v] (367/532)

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operation even if he consented to undergo one. I tried to induce him to come
into Biriand for this purpose. Some other cases were sin fully treated by
S A S Rzal Ilahi, including a nasty street accident to a child. I consuler
the ore ence of the doctor did a lot to allay the suspicions of the crowd who
had collected outside, some even entering the room where we were seated.
I exnlained to the Naib that his people had mistaken my party for
Germans! but that in reality we were British; that we had come to investigate
the movements of German parties, and that I regretted to see the hostility
shown towards ns on the previous evening. He denied any knowledge ot my
arrival or of my business, and said that I had been misinformed legarmn the
attitude of his people. I pointed out that he could not expect to gam anything
hv siding w-itlAhe Germans. They might spend money freely to-day and
would be gone to-morrow but it was not so with the British and Russian
Governments who were Persia’s neighbours. It was those Government he
should support and not the Germans who were too far away to be able to
carrv out any promises they might make. I told him it was the object of the
Germans to ie!d Persia into war with the Russians and British and I showed
hfm“ OW impossible it was for Persia to emerge successful He was visibly
imnressed by what I had said and remained silent, but an old man Sitting in
the room remarked that they had seen no Germans. I replied tt was no use
Iving over what had happened. I had the previous evening heard from several
sources that 12 . days prior to my arrival two Germans, one badly wounded,
with three or four servants, had stayed two or three days at Raiband before
continuing their journey to Kerman ; also that many small parties-some said
including Germans—had passed through Irom both sides.
The interview lasted nearly an hour, and I think gave those present to
understand the seiiousness of the situation. On my departure I remarked
that I would probably return. No relreshments were offered.
The specific purpose of my journey was to ascertain what had become of
a party of five sowars accompanying a caravan of 11 camels carrying giain to
Naiband for the use of the Germans, and if posssble to apprehend it. I defi
nitely ascertained that no such caravan had arrived. It doubtless went from
Khur to Duhuk, the departure from Klmr towards Naiband being merely a
"blind.
The five sowars previously mentioned as having arrived at Naiband
on the 22nd really arrived on the evening of the 21st, and not from Kerman
but from Tabas. It appears that at Duhuk a dispute arose between them and
one of the party was disarmed and made to walk into Naiband. Dour left
for Kerman on the 23rd and the 5th only left in the early morning of the
day I arrived. He travelled on a mule and was unarmed, therefore I did
not consider him sufficiently important to follow, even had there been a
reasonable chance of catching him. This party gave out that there had been
a fight between a German party near Tabas with the Russians and they were
going to bring assistance.
On my return from my interview with the Naib it was reported to me that
a party of 4 fi Germans were approaching Naiband from Duhuk. The origin
of the report was obscure, but 1 thought it best to send out a man to Chashmeh
Gazu and also one to Hauz-i-Khan. These left on foot in the early afternoon.
At sunset 1 moved my camp a further three miles from the village into
an open plain commanding the Duhuk road, from which spot I could make
the best use of my force. Nothing however happened. A Darwesh pilgrim
from Meshed who reached Naiband the same evening confirmed my suspicion
that no hostile force was approaching. The following morning (27tb) I
returned to my camping ground two miles from Naiband. At 9 a.m. my
messengers to Chashmeh Gazu and Hauz-i-Khan returned and reported no
signs oi any Germans.
With regard to the camels seen grazing outside Naiband, I ascertained
that they had arrived on the 23rd from near Gunabad. The owner was well
known to the headman of my Persian Levies. His original intention was to
sell the grain in Birjand, carrying out his annual programme, but having
heard at Kain that the Russians were at Eirjand and that they would con
fiscate his camels and loads he decided to dispose of it at Naiband. I was