File 2976/1916 Pt 2 'Persia Bunder-Abbas-Kerman telegraph & road Bushire-Shiraz road' [‎112r] (221/294)

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( 21 )
Telegram R, No. 93, dated the 25th (received the 26th) February 1918.
From—His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul, Kirman,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Delhi. ’
(Addressed Tehran 25, Bushire 9.)
^Enclosure of Serial No. (22). Sykes telegram^ 0-137, February 22nd
to Chief of the General Staff.
• I have been informed unofficially that arrangements are already in train for
construction of telegraph lines along direct route Knman-Saidabad-Tarum. In
view of desire of South Persia Rifles military authorities that line should follow
proposed Afsinjan-Shahr-i-Babak-Katru route with branch to Saidabad, I recom
mend that construction on former route be postponed until alignment is finally
settled.
( 22 )
No. 2527, dated Delhi, the 26th February 1918.
S ' Whs I*., Endorsement from the Government of India, Army Department.
radekli I , . < ■ 11 • n
Telegram No. 0137, dated 22nd February 1918, from General A Copy Ol the marginally
Sykes, Kirman, to the Chief of the General Staff. . noted paper is forwarded to
the Foreign and Political Department.
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Enclosure of Serial No. (22).
Telegram P., No. 0137, dated the 22nd February 1)18^
From— General Sykes, Kirman,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Delhi.
(Bepeated Minister, Tehran, Shiraz ; Base Commandant, Bandar Abbas.)
As far as Tamm the question of alignment of Bandar Abbas road has been
satisfactorily settled, dangerous Tang-i-Zagh being]avoided as Lewis has selected
Tangisadr eight miles further west. We examined this route and consider it much
better than the alternative recommended by Rich ; perhaps the three alternative
routes were not personally examined by Rich. Further north the question of
alignment is difficult. The Icavir or salt swamp to the west and south of Sirjan is,
according to the experience gained during the present winter of normal precipi
tation, a fatal obstacle to that line, while recently we crossed a pass between
Mr]an and Kirman with the greatest difficulty, having, m the snow, to use drag
ropes constantly. We explored from Tarum to the north-west and found an
excellent and natural route running towards Thalhalal and Katru (degree sheet ^
L 7 ?) a t a gradient of one in thirty over hard gravel. Near Saban there is one —AS
3 ass which is said to be very easy. This is being examined. It appears very
suitable, the present difficult section Galun-PIajiabad being avoided. The road
vould run from Katru north-east to Sfiahr-i-Babek-Rafsmjan and Kirman, the
road avoiding all high passes and Icavir. A branch road would run down from
rorth to Sirjan, while the present tempora-ry route would be open during thegreat-
w part of the year. If this route via Thalhalal is adopted there will be a saving
)f 100 miles on the journey to Shiraz ; and a large saving m time and transport is
dso to be efiected. Ispahan would also be served by it. Its mam drawback is
ts vicinity to Kohistan north-west of Furg whose tribesmen will be dealt wuh
East of and at Katru and at some other points flankmg Kohistan P^s wd! be
rormed. If a re-alignment of the telephone and telegraph line is eftected the
selected line from Bandar Abbas should be followed and h ^ ei J d ° r 0 ™
ro approve the route now recommended and for posts to be establ