Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎246v] (492/644)

Manoeuvres.
203. The annual manoeuvres of the Tehran garrison were held fiom the
11th to the 14th September, 1938, immediately after the collective training
season. The number of troops engaged was only about 12,000, owing o e
European situation and the reinforcement of the Irano-Soviet non ici y &
regiment drawn from the 1st Division. The manoeuvres were held m the \ieim y
of Veramin, about 30 miles south-east of Tehran, and were directed by
Sar Lashgar (Major-General) Yazdan Panah, the chief umpire being Sai ang
(Colonel) Arfa. Sar Lashgar (Major-General) Shahbakhti, General Officer
Commanding, Tabriz Division, and the General Officer Commanding, Isfahan
Independent Brigade, were in command of the opposing forces.
204. Operations commenced daily at sunrise and were broken off at sunset.
There was little scope for boldness or initiative, as the troops were kept rigidly
to fixed boundaries and the programme appointed for the day. A mechanised
column and aircraft participated.
205. His Imperial Majesty the Shah was present on all three days, as also
were divisional and independent brigade commanders, with their Chiefs of Staff.
The Turkish Military Attache was the only military attache invited to attend
the manoeuvres. No accounts were published in the press. As usual, a number
of taxis and lorries were commandeered for some days.
Military Operations.
206. The year 1938 has been one of comparative tranquillity for the Iranian
Government in their dealings with the tribes. Several minor operations h&yc,
however, been carried out and the Government have at last been partially
successful in subduing the Ismailzais in Iranian Baluchistan.
Kurdistan. —The Kurds have been on the whole quiet. The usual petty
skirmishes with both Iraqi and Kurdish bandits have taken place.
Bashagird. —In January, owing to the truculent attitude of this tribe, a
small punitive force of about 1,500 of all arms, under the command of Sartip
(Brigadier) Siahpush, General Officer Commanding, Kerman Independent
Brigade, embarked at Bandar Abbas on the Iranian sloops Babr and Shahrukh
and were disembarked on the coastline near Bandar Sirik. Other small columns
drawn from Kerman, Minab and Mekran co-operated in blockading the area,
which is 30 to 40 miles north-east of Minab. The rebels offered little or no
resistance, and the ringleaders, including Abdul Hussein Kameran, were
captured, together with about 200 old but serviceable rifles. This operation is
interesting, as it is the first time in which combined naval and military operations
have been undertaken. The sloops, in addition to transporting the troops to the
sphere of operations, were also utilised for the conveyance of supplies.
Boir Ahmadi. —Isolated, but increasing acts of banditry were reported from
this area in July, in consequence a small force was despatched from Shiraz and
Behbehan respectively to the difficult mountainous district of Shulistan. The
operations were carried out efficiently and with great secrecy, all movements of
troops being made at night and along the new military roads recently constructed
in that area. The tribesmen were caught between the two columns and the ring
leaders captured. A small permanent garrison has now been established at
Tal-i-Khosrovi, which is situated in the centre of this troublesome area.
Iranian Baluchistan. —The major success of the year has undoubtedly been
the breaking up of the Ismailzai resistance in Iranian Baluchistan. Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Juma
Khan Ismailzai has been for years a thorn in the side of the Iranian authorities.
The Mekran authorities have made repeated efforts to bring him “ to heel,” but
without success. In mid-November, however, an opportunity occurred for his
capture, and a mixed force of about 3,500 troops of all arms, including Amnieh
(road guards) and local Baluchi levies, were assembled at Zahidan and were
moved by motor transport to near where Juma Khan was reported to be in camp.
A number of troops simultaneously moved from Zabul, Khwash and Bam and
completed a cordon round the area. Juma Khan was taken completely by
surprise, but managed to retire into the neighbouring hills, where he put up a
stout resistance for over a week. Supplies, however, running short, Juma Khan
was forced to evacuate his position. He escaped through the cordon without