File 1110/1916 Pt 2 'Persia: SITUATION Miscellaneous' [‎79r] (162/276)

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concluded by referring to our successful co-operation eighteen years ago
S 2 ainst tbe Karwanis and to our friendship. In reply I explained the nature
of the Mission. This concluded a reception which, thanks to Captain Hall
Thompson, Qammanding H.M.N.Z.S. “Philomel 0 , and Mr. Howson, His
Majesty’s Vice-Consul, was a conspicuous success and proved that British
prestige in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. is very high.
4. I now turn to the organisation of the Police, The difficult question of
pay had formed the subject of much discussion and thought. I did not aim
ut competing with German rates as they were obviously temporary, but I was
ready to pay a little above the market wage to secure men rapidly. I finally
decided to pay as follows :—
Infantry ... 10 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. .
Cavalry (horse and forage found by Gov- 12 „
ernment).
Artillery ... ... ... 12 „
Each rank to have an increase of one Toman 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. per month upon the comple
tion of drills.
Vakils Elected representative or attorney, acting in legal matters such as contracting marriage, inheritance, or business; a high-ranking legal official; could also refer to a custodian or administrator. , 6 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. extra per month.
Deh Bashi, 2 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. extra per month.
Every Guarantor of a recruit, who had to he a man of some standing, was
given 10 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . This fee proved to be most useful. Most of the early
recruits were brought in by notables and I agreed to pay Ts. 50 per month
to a Bais who should bring in 50 recruits. At present I have twm Bais, both
useful men, whom I can send ahead to arrange for supplies, &c. Vakils Elected representative or attorney, acting in legal matters such as contracting marriage, inheritance, or business; a high-ranking legal official; could also refer to a custodian or administrator. in
some cases brought in 20 men and Bek Bashis 10 men. I have engaged
Muhammad Ali Khan, the Governor’s brother, as an Officer and he is working
admirably. I am paying him Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. 100 per month.
5. The day after our arrival the Deputy Governor brought up a hatch
of men to select from, and the first day saw the enlistment of 53 recruits. It
is true that rumours that they were to be sent to fight at Basrah caused the
men to wish to resign, but the Deputy Governor swore on the Koran that they
were engaged for Persia only, and. the crisis passed.
6. The drills were held at first outside the Consulate, but on tbe 27th
©f March the Police moved into camp at Naiband. There was serious trouble
on the first pay day, but again the Deputy Governor helped us and the
ringleaders w^ere punished by him and dismissed. Since that date the men
have been graduallv acquiring habits of discipline and the elements of drill.
On 28th March the Persian flag was hoisted with some ceremony at the camp,
and later the men were duly informed of the successes of the Persian Govern
ment at Kerman, Lar and Shiraz.
!■ jj' Onlv 25 men have been engaged for Cavalry, as practically no horses
can be bought locally and forage is both scarce and dear; and hitherto but
few recruits have been engaged for the Artillery, the men berng apparently
afraid -of working guns. 1 hope to engage suitable gunners at Kerman.
S The new force appears to he popular as recruits come in as fast as we
caB deal with them, the number enlisted in the first month exceeding three
hundred, after the elimination of some unsuitable men. Some of the best
recruits hail from Jalabai. In 1898 1 engaged eighteen men from this
•village to look after camels during my journey across Bashakird n Inch was
undertaken in connection with the murder of Mr. Graves. The son of my old
headman and others have joined the force, owing to this past connection.
9, The men, although childish at times, are steadily improving and will,
in time, make a useful force, more especially when supported by Artillery
machine guns, armoured motor cars and aeroplanes. Of couise trouble may be
expected from time to time, but the men will pass more and **
influence of their officers and their non-commissioned officers. I do not pio| o.e
to recruit more men at present owing to the difficulty of marching untiaine
men up country and the scarcity of food.