'Report on the Persian Army' [‎61v] (122/170)

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The following have also been noted as in the possession of
the Government or the tribesmen:—
Martini-Peabody, possibly 50,000, the property of the
tribesmen.
Berdan, 1,500 with the Cossack brigade. A large number
are also in general use in Mazanderan and Khorassan.
Chassepots, 8,000 in store.
Gobelin, 4,000 in store.
Magazine lilies, 4,000 of Belgian make, purchased in
Belgium in 1890.
Modem rifles, about 4,000 confiscated by the Persian
Government in 1898 in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Besides the foregoing a large number of modern rifles are
held by the tribesmen in Luristan, Arabistan, Pars, and the
Gulf {vide Chapter III on Irregular Cavalry—Arms), who
appear to be much better armed than the troops of the regular
army.
Ball cartridge for the Werndell were originally imported
with the rifle from Austria. The supply is still chiefly drawn from
that source, though spasmodic efforts have been made by the
Government to produce cartridges locally. These efforts have
invariably resulted in failure, owing to reasons which have been
set forth in detail in the article on The Cartridge Factory An East India Company trading post. .
Chapter VII.
General Wagner in 1899 found that the officers in charge of
the stores have been in the habit of selling the Government
reserves, and that quantities of ammunition have thus dis
appeared. The nominal reserve in 1899 is said to be about
three million rounds of ball cartridge, but it is believed that the
actual reserve is much below this figure. The major part of
the ammunition is stored in Tehran.
The writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. when inspecting the arsenals of Tabriz and Khoi
in 1894 found a large quantity of ammunition of ancient date
belonging to equally ancient types of obsolete arms. Other
arsenals are said to be encumbered with similiar old weapons
and ammunition.
An analysis of the material of which the Persian infantry is
composed gives the following results:—
Turks .. .. 26 Battalions Azerbaijan.
lurks.. ..16 „ Other Provinces.
Lnrs and Kurds 8 „
Persians ..30 „ Including Mazanderanis.
80
thereby showing how considerably the Turkish element
preponderates.
The Persians have long since regarded the Turk as the
mams ay o the Persian army, and as infantry and artillery
they .are undoubtedly far superior to all other troops in those
hranches of the service.
Sir H. hawlinson in 1858 wrote, “There are no people