File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎189r] (382/804)

21st August. —A telegram was received from the Intelligence Officer, Persian
Howson No. 421 of 21 st Aogust. tliat a ^ ail(i of Baharlu robbers
intended attacking the Column which ieft
Bunder Abbas on the 7th August, Lieutenant Praser’s Column, with ike object
of looting the arms and specie. This information was at once sent down the
Attached (4). road, with orders that the leading column
should halt at Daulatabad until the last
Column, that of Captain Wagstaff, joined up, and then all proceed together to
Baft.
27th August. —On the 27th a report was received from Captain Merrill,
Offlc, Commanding, Reman, nine of 27th. date i ? ir 3 an > tlle 23 ! d ’ that 0n Ms arrival
tt . at Sirjan, the prisoners together with
ilussain Khan, a Bochagchi Khan, and Shazada Hussain and a following of
about 50 horse and foot had fled. They were reported to be making for
Balvard. Merrill arrived with only the 9 South Persia Rifles men, the
Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Nosrat s men having failed to keep with him. Immediate pursuit was
impossible and the^local authorities would give no help. The prisoners had
been allowed to mix freely with the people of Sirjan and this, coupled with |
the reports from the north had affected the whole town and district against us. j
Captain Merrill’s position was a very difficult one and not unaccompanied with
personal danger, but he set to work to raise levies and at the same time sent
word to the Columns on the road to hasten to Sirjan with all speed.
On the news of the escape of the prisoners reaching Kerman rewards
Attached (5). were inimediatlely offered for their cap
ture in consultation with His Britannic
Majesty’s Consul and information was sent down the road and instructions
that the leading column was not to proceed beyond Baft till Wagstaff’s
Column joined up with it, the whole force was to be ready to move on Sirjan
if required. The situation was reported to General Sykes.
28th August. —Purther reports received from Captain Merrill stating
Oflke.-, Commanding Kerman, No. 164 of 28th ^ the . escaped prisoners Were at Balyai'd
September 1916 and No. 166 of 29th September and urging the necessity Of Sending trOOpS
1916 . Attached (6). sj r j an without delay. Purther instruc
tion were sent to Captain Wagstaff directing him to park the convoy at Baft
with strong escort and to move with the rest of his force on Sirjan.
30th August. —On the 30th August news was received from Lieutenant
, . . , . _ /fr\ Praser that his Column had arrived at Baft
Fraser s report. Attached (7J. ,. 00 i.i ii.ij.-i • j_
on the 28th and that he was moving on to
Negar for reasons given in his report which is attached. I consider his move
was justified in view of the report he had received from Captain Merrill.
On receiving this news the following courses were open. (1) to direct
Lieutenant Praser to return to Baft. (2) To sanction his proposed move from
Negar to Sirjan. (3) To order him to stand fast at Negar. (4) To direct him
to come into Kerman. Taking into account that my instructions could not
reach Lieutenant Praser before he arrived at Kegar and considering the size of
the convoy (some 600 camels) and its important nature (arms, ammunition
and specie) I did not think it advisable to order him to return to
Baft. Nor did I think it safe for Lieutenant Praser’s force, weakened by
the escort which he must detail to accompany the convoy to Kerman, to move
direct from Negar to Sirjan, an unknown road to him, and with his flank
exposed to attack from the Bochagchi. His remaining inactive at Negar
appeared to me to have no advantages. I therefore sent orders to Lieutenant
„ ,i 1*0 * „ , Praser to come into Kerman with all
October (September?) 1916 . speed. These orders reached him atAegar
on the 1st September and he immediately
left Negar and arrived at Kerman on the 2nd September.
The same day (30th August) I sent a letter to Wagstaff informing him
of the situation and directing him to move
acie ‘ from Baft, together with Smith’s Column,
on Sirjan if he considerd such move safe. The situation was reported to th e