'MILITARY REPORT ON PERSIA' [‎126v] (257/466)

Miscellaneous Various bodies of men known as tujangchis. shamJchalchls,
irregular • • 7
bodies. jizailchis, armed with old and antiquated weapons, have been
employed from time immemorial by local districts and cities, for
the preservation of lives and property within their borders.
They are purely local, their numbers are insignificant and
dwindling.
The senior military officer, excutive and sometimes admin
istrative, is known as the—
Vazir-i-Jang, Minister of War;
Sipah Salar ]
\ Commander-in-Chief;
Sipah Salar-i-Azam. J
as the case may be. The latter is the higher title.
. His powers are variable and undefined. They depend al
most entirely on the social rank and character of the individual,
and are limited by neither rule nor regulation. Hence, both at
Tehran and in the provinces, the military authority is often
entirely subordinate to the civil.
There is no regular staff service, but attached to the com
mander-in-chief, provincial governors and such officials, are
officers known as ajud&n, or aides-de-camp. They are, as a rule,
without any military training, other than that of the ordinary
regimental officer, and retain their appointments just as long as
their masters. The nearest approach to a staff officer is to be
found in the ajuddn bdshl, or chief of the staff, who assembles
the troops for review and arranges military durbars A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). in the Pal
ace ; otherwise his duties are nil These appointments are ob
tained by favouritism tempered by purchase.
Pay department. The pay department is under the control of a civilian offi
cial whose title is the Vazir-i-Lashkar. He is assisted by a
numerous staff of accountants, who prepare the annual budget,
and make a preliminary examination of the accounts submitted
by disbursing officers and departments.
* The army estimate, for the coming year, is prepared at Nau-
ruz (21st March), and forwarded to the Minister of Finance for
check and audit. Estimates, when passed, are included in the
budgets of provincial governors or heads of departments, to
serve as a basis for the military disbursements of the year.
Departments
the Army.
The War
Department.
Staff
Service.