File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎197v] (399/804)

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Headquarters 2 battalion and M. G.
Section, 12.4th Baluchistan Infantry,
1 Section, 108 Indian Field Ambulance.
Supply and Transport details.
was
Strength of Column.
via Yezd and, on 27th July, the Column,
as per margin, marched off from Kerman.
On the road there were no incidents to
report although at Anar we were in
formed that extensive Baharlu raids
were in progress and that Anar itself
threatened. This information sub-
British officers
British other ranks
Indian officers
Indian rank and file
Indian followers
Persian officers
Persian followers
Armenian clerk
Horses
Mu es, Ordnance
Mules, Transport
Camels .
Donkeys
13
3
Hi
491
137
2
14
1
106
o5
71
471
194
Sykes’ 477-C. of 11th August 1916.
Lorimer telegram of 11th August 1916.
hrv
sequently proved to be accurate.
A At Mehdiabad on 9th August and,
two flays later, at Griidkuh, information
v as received of the serious Turkish ad
vance and of the possible evacuation of
Tehran by the allied Legations and
Colonies. In view of this unfavourable
change in the situation I telegraphed
to India for reinforcements. ^ I also
made arrangements for an increased
supply of rations at Yezd, as it seemed
probable, at that time, that the Ispahan
Colony would have to retire on that
city. During this period Major Lorimer
viewed the Baharlu raids so seriously that
he recommended the despatch of a
special column to deal M'ith them,
5. Upon arrival at Yezd on August 14th, I had conversations on the
line with His Majesty’s Minister, His Majesty’s Consul-General at Ispahan
and Colonel Gough. Brom these it appeared to me that with the I urks at
Hamadan and threatening Sultanabad, the Bars question became of secondary
importance, whereas it was most desirable to strengthen the weak Russian
Borce at Ispahan, which was threatened with an attack by the Bakhtians,
supported by German and Turkish officers with artillery The Russian
Commandant and His Majesty’s Consul-General, Ispahan, took this view.
The question of supplies caused deep anxiety as, owing to locusts and the
insecurity of the roads, Yezd resembled a besieged city and the wants ch the
Column were supplied vith difficulty. Supplies had, indeed, been lam out
towards Dehbid from Yezd. Bor the section between Dehbid and bhiraz,
the supply caravans had left Ispahan but were held up at Abadeh by robbers.
There was thus no means of proceeding to Shiraz via Dehbid at that time
without running the risk of having no supplies. ^ Bor the route to Ispahan,
thanks to the Telegraph officials, supplies were available, and when the Govern
ment of India strongly urged the movements of the Column to Ispahan,
I made arrangements "for the supplies to be laid out.
6 While halting at Yezd, 350 mules which bad been purchased in the
neighbourhood of Ispahan for the South Persia Rifles, were despatched under
escort of 15 som 7 ars of the Ispahan Consulate under Ressaidar Malik KaD
Nawaz and 20 Russian Cossacks under Lieutenant Kolominski Near
Kuhpa an attack was made on the party which was repelled mainly by the
Russian Cossacks, who defeated and pursued a superior force of mounted
robbers. Bor his gallant behaviour Lieutenant Kolominski M r as awarcied the
British Military Cross, The Cossacks returned to Ispahan from Kuhpa
and their place M r as taken by some gendarmes of the Tth (Yezd) regiment.
A second attack was made on the party north of Agda and the robbers who
were in force surrounded that village. Information reached Y r ezd at night by
a telephone message from Ardakan and Major Bruce, starting off shortly alter
midnight, marched 62 miles before dark in considerable heat. Upon
approaching Akda he found that the robbers had fled and he subsequently
leisurely marched back to Ardakan where he effected a junction
with Captain Chaldecott, who Mas in command of a company of i 2 dtn
Baluchis, which had been sent in support. I consider that Major Bruce &
march M 7 as a fine performance, carried out as it was without a single case o.
lasqeness or s reback.
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