'Military Report on Persian Seistan' [‎11v] (27/188)

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obtained, the water-supply is not adapted for watering horses and mules.
Grass and bhoosa are scarce at most stages, and the country is either too broken
or too sandy for the effective use of mounted troops. Infantry mounted on
camel transport would be mobile. The number of mountain batteries should
be reduced to a minimum, and even one regiment of cavalry would be a great
strain on the supply department.
Taking all these circumstances into consideration, if Persian territory might
be used, it would seem advisable to land at all these ports, sending bulk of artil
lery and mounted troops via Charbar and Bampur. However, as both Charbar
and Gwadur are foreign ports it might be'.necessary to use Pasni a’one, in which
case only a very small force, probably a battalion and a troop of cavalry and
two mountain guns, would be all that could move at one time from Pasni to
the Dizak-Panjgur valley.
If, however, a railway existed from Pasni to some point in British territory,
say, Isai Kalat in the Dizak-Panjgur valley, the concentration inland would be
considerably facilitated, and the hot zone would be rapidly traversed. The
whole question of railways will be discussed later on.
For practical purposes it is inconceivable that a larger force than 20,000
men could be landed and pushed up from the seaboard to Seistan ; such a force
would have to be pushed up to the Panjgur valley by detachments, and would
have of necessity a very small number of guns and mounted troops. To supply
this force for its forward march, not to speak of ordnance stores, would be a
most serious business \\ ithout a railway from the sea to the advanced base.
Were Persia neutral or friendly, and all available routes used, transport and
supply might be worked without a railway.
There are numerous lateral communications, the more important of which
are mentioned below :
No. 6. From Geh to Manujan, vid Ramishk. 21 stages, 312^ miles. This route is,
in its pre-ent state, impassable for wheels , aud would apparently only do for
small bodies of troops with pack transport.
No. 6 A. From Geh to Knhak Panjgur vid Kasarkand, Sarbaz and Irafsham, 15
stages, 309£ miles, unfit for wheels; but as there is water throughout, troops
unaccompanied by field artillery or wheeled transport could use this route.
No. 0B. From Sarbaz to Isai Kalat (Panjgur; 12 stages, 216^ miles. This route
in its present state is not suitable for wheels. Grass and water are procur
able at all stages, but supplies precarious.
No. 8C. Turbat to lump, 3 stages, 411 miles. No obstacle to passage of wheeled
artillery ; fuel, giazing and good watif throughout.
No. _ 6D. From Tump to Surbaz, 14 marches, 10)$ miles. I his route is mainly
up the Sarbaz river, it is very stony and impa?sable for field artillery and
wheeled traffic. ^ome supplies; water and grazing generally sufficient; a
brigade with back or camel transport could march by this route.
No. 7. Bampur to Minab, vid Bijnabad and Kami, 17 stages, 294f miles.
To Bijnabad, stages 4 and 5, are very swampy aud boggy, but with this
exception the road seems good and suitable for all arms. Water is obtainable,
but supplies nil. From Bijnabad to Minab, the road is not fit for wheels in
many stages ; there is water throughout
No. 7A. From Hampur to Jalk, vid Magas and Dizak, 14 stages, 199f miles.
Water is obtainable at all stages, but supplies scanty at most. Tne road is
available for camel and pack transport throughout, but not fit for wheeled traffic.
Guns could be tiken if they were lowered by drag-ropes in one or two places.
Jalk to Regan, rm Gusht, Khwash, and Gehgan, 20 stages, 322 miles.
No.