File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎105r] (214/804)

Our first efforts at Bunder Abbas were unexpectedly successful. The
local material is not particularly good, but it was imperative to enroll recruits
immediately and this was accomplishedalbeit much tact was necessary at the
start. Captain B. C. Buck was exceptionally qualified for the task and to
him the credit of creating the Bunder Abbas force and organizing the base
is mainly due. Mr. Howson too and the Shuja Nizam, Deputy Governor,
deserve much credit.
3. The march to Kerman was a difficult undertaking owing to the entire
absence of trained transport at that season of the year, but it passed off without
incident and the column was strong enough to overawe the timid Kermanis.
Its arrival was instrumental in bringing about the re-establishment of law and
order.
4. Becruiting was started at Kerman under serious difficulties, as it had
not been found possible to supply officers or intructors for the purpose.
However a start was made. More officers too were gradually appointed and
Major G. L. Earran, who has displayed considerable powers of organisation and
judgment, now commands about one thousand men who will shortly become a
force of military value. He is also a persona grata to the Persians.
5. The march of the column to Yezd, Ispahan and finally to Shiraz
has already been reported and, to some extent, constituted a lull in the
organisation of the South Persia Bifles. Upon entering Ears we began to pay
and organise the various detachments and, at Shiraz, the entire force,
3,000 strong, was taken over. It is however to be noted that the Persian
Government bad not agreed to this, that the Persian officers were aware of
this and that some of them were in close touch with tlm German prisoners in
the Ark and with other bitter malcontents. I consider it a subject for congra
tulation that there has been no mutiny among the officers or men, who had not
only robbed openly in the interests of the Germans but had taken the British
Colony prisoners almost exactly a year before. Since that date there had been,
an end to discipline in the force.
6. When the gendarmerie was taken over reorganisation .was started
and has been proceeding piecemeal. I have been blamed for not submit
ting a complete scheme earlier but, apart froni the inadequacy of my
staff of tW'O, to my mind it was imperative first of all to understand
thoroughly the Swedish system. The next step was to adapt it as far as
nossible to our purposes to introduce such modifications as were necessary ; and
Cuy to deoidfupon the organisation unit by unit. All this has taken time but
it wassounder in my opinioS to submit a scheme which is a genuine workable
scheme and to some y extent tested, rather than to submit one which did not
embody the fruits of experience. A final reason was my ineTto
larce demands on India where its military resources were stiained^ to
the utmost. The South Persia Kifies units already practically organised
include—
Divisional Headquarters.
Ears Brigade Headquarters.
Ears Brigade Signalling School.
Kerman Brigade Headquarters.
Abadeh District Headquarters.
Bunder Abbas Base Depot and District.
1st Cavalry. # .
2 nc [ j5 (in process of organisation).
3 )
JJ
3rd
4th
1st Battery Artillery.
2nd „
3rd ,, 3> j
1st Machine Gun Battery (Mounted)._
1st Engineers (in process of organisation).
(in process of organisation).