File 1749/1921 ‘Persian Gulf:- Residency news summaries 1921-25’ [‎220v] (455/494)

Bushikk.
His Excellency Mowaqqer-ed-Dowleh, Minister of Public Works, ea;-Governor
of the Gulf Ports and brother of His Excellency Masud-ed-Dowleh Governor of the
Gulf Ports died suddenly in Tehran on the night of the 6th-7th of May.
The people of Bushire have not evinced a great deal of interest in the fall ot
the Prime Minister, though the proposed new municipal taxes were decidedly un
popular and they are doubtless relieved that now they will probably not have to
pay these.
At the beginning of the month a report was received that Nur Muhammad
Khan of Daliki, in spite of an express undertaking given at the time of his reinstate
ment that he would not molest his predecessor Kal Ismail, had bastinadoed the
latter so severely that some of his toes had come off ; and that he also refused
to pay up tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. 3,000 due to Messrs. Dixon and Company, although he had
agreed to do so.
The matter was referred to the Governor-General who decided to dismiss
Nur Muhammad and the South Persian Rifles were asked to co-operate by arresting
him and his brother Hussain Beg, and a column under Captain F. S. Villiers
Stuart, M.C., left Kazerun on the 18th May for this purpose.
This force, considerably stronger than was at first intended owing to informa
tion received that Nur Muhammad was prepared to resist any attempt to arrest
him, was composed as follows
1| troops of 2nd Cavalry.
\ section of Mountain Battery.
2 sections of Lewis Guns.
“ A ” Company Infantry (strength 120 rifles) and 56 rifles from “ B ” Com
pany.
Medical Details.
The column reached Burj-i-Namzadeh at 1-30 a.m. on the 21st May (map
reference degree sheet 10,0 36 2-3) and had completely surrounded Daliki half an
hour before dawn. At 3-30 a.m. an unarmed messenger was sent to the house of
Nur Muhammad with a letter signed by the Officer Commanding column stating why
he was wanted and granting him 5 minutes’ grace in which to give himself up.
Apparently Nur Muhammad was anxious to comply, but his brother Hussain Beg
dissuaded him, and the messenger returned without a reply and was fired upon
on his way back. r
Immediately afterwards the followers of Nur Muhammad commenced firing
heav'dy, and a general action ensued. Under cover of the Mountain Gun and the
-ew is uns e outh Persian Rifles attacked the town simultaneously from the
west and the north at about 6 a.m., advancing with great dash and determination
and though the resistance was most stubborn the houses of Hussain Beg and Nur
Muhammad were stormed by 7 a.m., the former killed and the latter mortally wound
ed, and the whole town was finally captured by 9-50 a.m. Meanwhile men from
Sadeh and the surrounding villages endeavoured to come to the assistance of
Daliki but a well-timed cavalry charge broke and routed them.
The South I ersian Bifles casualties were 1 killed, 3 dangerously wounded
ami 3 severely wounded. r J he enemy had over 40 killed, 60 rifles were captured
and many thousand empty cartridges were found in the town.
The whole affair reflects great credit on the South Persian Rifles.
Kal Ismail who was Kalantar for about 2 years when Nur Muhammad was
removed in 1918 was released on the capture of Nur Muhammad’s house. He was
in t lams and had been hideously tortured and was in a very weak condition.
Nur Muhammad died in Borasjun on the afternoon of the 22nd May. He was the
biggest scoundrel and blackguard on the road between Bushire and Shiraz (with
the possible exception of his brother Hussain Beg) and ought never to have been