File 2976/1916 Pt 1 'Persia Bunder-Abbas-Kerman telegraph and road' [‎204v] (112/452)

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always be a source of trouble and recurrme e fP^ ns ®> t0 the slldln g
character of the rock faces. The crossing of the Hahl Rud Rwer on route ,41,
as in the case of all rivers liable to sudden doods, will also be difficult to
keep clear.
In the final paragraph of my report No. 105 of 4th December, I gave the
conclusions which seemed to indicate route .44 as the best strategy line for a g
military road, provided the obstacles to road construction were not too great.
1 think a consideration of the descriptions of the three routes in paragraphs
4. c 6 and the estimates of cost in paragraph 7, conclusively prove, that the
cost of constructing a road along route 144 will be very much the same as
along route 141 and probably much cheaper than along route 143.
The only drawback to route 144 is that it is slightly longer than route 141
and considerably longer than route 143, but this is no real disadvantage, as it
passes through the important military centre of Saidabad and the n5 miles
between Saidabad and Kerman would certainly require to be connected by a
road in the near future, if either of the other routes were adopted in preference
to route 144.
I understand that Lieutenant-Colonel Orton and other officers who have
studied the strategical question of the roads on the spot, agree with my views
as to route 144. being the most suitable route to adopt from a purely military
: point of view and the big merchants in Bandar Abbas and Kerman all state t at
if this route is protected, they will send their caravans along it in preference to
any other route, as was the case 10 years ago before ihe local raiders became
f too strong.
From the above considerations, I therefore have no hesitation whatever in
recommending route 144 via the Tang-i Zagh and Saidabad, as the best ora
military road irom Bandar Abbas to Kerman both from an engmeenng an a so
from a military point of view as I have'already telegraphed to you in my No. 122
of 27th March (Dy. No. 20316).
Position of rnili- 9. The general idea for the protection of the road is based on the
tarv posts along aggm^ptjon that the South Persia Rifles will eventually have one battalion 0
route 144. | infantry with headquarters at Bandar Abbas, and three battalions ot infantry,
one cavalry regiment and one mountain battery at Kerman
In that case, the Bandar Abbas battalion would be responsible for the protec
tion of the southern portion of the road frum Bandar Abbas to the south entrance of
the Tang-i Zagh. a distance of 88 miles, whilst Kerman troops would protect the
road from the north entrance of the Tang-i-Zagh to Saidabad and thence to
Kerman, a distance of 253 miles.
• Lieutenant-Colonel Orton made out a scheme for the positions and garrisons
of the military posts required along the road, which are clearly shown on the
trace sent herewith.
The main idea is for the Bandar Abbas battalion to garrison five posts with
275 men, whilst one battalion and two squadrons from Kerman, with headquarters
at Saidabad, garrison eight posts, from Saidabad southwards. The protection
of the road between Saidabad and Kerman (where danger is not anticipated),
would be maintained from Kerman by 10 or 15 men placed in each of the 5 carvan-
serais along the road.
10. The direction from which attacks are most likely is from the west
and on the trace, showing the positions of the military posts, l have also marke
the routes which the tribes likely to give trouble, would follow.
From north to south the main hostile tribes of whom about one-third ate
mounted men, consist of :—
(a) The Arab tribes centred on Niriz (square § sheet 17) wlt ^ a l )0Ut
4,000 rifles but short of ammunition.
(b) The Kohistanis (or Sarkuhis) headed by Sheikh Abul Hassan with
about 2,000 rifles, living 25 miles north-west of Darab (square t
Tribes likely
give trouble.
to