File 3443/1914 Pt 3 'German War: Afghanistan and Persia; German agents; British troops in East Persia' [12r] (32/345)
The record is made up of 1 volume (167 folios). It was created in 10 Nov 1915-5 Jun 1916. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
ti
5
I recommend that all levies at Dehaneh except those which Heron consi
ders absolutely dependable should at once be disarmed by the troops . there.
You will please inform me whether any military measures will be required m
Sistan as a result of this action and whether these levies at Girdi should not
also he disarmed before Pigot and his 50 rifles leave that place. Ends.
Wikeley also sent following to myself, copy to Officer Commanding,
Nasratabad, Sistan :— Begins. 373, April 20th.
If you agree with my proposal regarding disarmament, simultaneous action
should be taken by troops in Sistan.
Addressed Consul, Sistan; repeated Officer Commanding, Nasratabad,
Sistan.
I replied as follows. Addressed to Heron; repeated Officer Commanding,
Robat, Oflicer Commanding, Dehaneh, dated April 20th '.—Begins.
Colonel Wikeley, in his 373, dated April 20th, has asked if proposal
reo’ardin 0, disarmament of levies has my , concurrence and has suggested
simultaneous action being taken by troops in Sisran. With the whole of this
ill considered proposal 1 disagree most emphatically. There are no Brahuis
among levies now in Sistan. I oppose at the same time proposal to disarm a
single Brahui at Dehaneh. These levies were engaged to fight Germans and
their following, and their loyalty was severely tested by being set against
Baluchis only in their very first engagement nevertheless both in Captain
Wise’s affair and in Captain Bennett’s they did not do so badly considering
that they had received practically no military training at all. In the affair of
the afternoon of April 14th, Baluchi Levies, 50 strong, attacked about 250
raiders and defeated them most satisfactorily. All that is wanted to convert
this force into useful fighting unit is strong leadership^) and determination in
weeding out unreliable men. Captain Bennett, with ,.5 rifles and 117 levies,
managed to defeat 700 determined raiders and I am surprised that any
hesitation should have been shown to-day in a force of 70 cavalry, two machine
guns and about 100 infantry against Ali Shah Khan with perhaps a following
of 100 or 200 Sarhad, even supposing there was a chance of our 200 levies at
Dehaneh siding with them. Even if it were certain that most of the levies
were likely to become affected against us because we were attacking a
tribe which is as a matter of fact at feud with themselves, it would, 1 consider,
he most inexpedient at this particular juncture to throw our troops into direct
conflict with them. It will amply suffice to order suspected men to return to
Sistan.
This I have already done and I can deal with them here perfectly well.
The political effect of Colonel Wikeley’s proposal would be disastrous
throughout this country and even if we carried it through without considerable
bloodshed we should become the laughing stock of Persians and Afghans.
It is unnecessary to point out that we should not he able to regard our
lines of communication safe as we have not enough regular troops in the
country to look after them.
Government of India desire that a large military police force should he
raised in this country for the special purpose of reducing rebellious and plunder
ing Muhammadan tribes to order. In this force a Sarhaddi Contingent is to
he^incorporated, but how can we ever enlist a Sarhaddi if Sistani Brahuis
cannot be trusted ?
The Chageh Levy Corps is recruited from these same Baluchis. There
are, I daresay, black sheep among them but it is not held, I believe, that the
great majority are disloyal or unreliable. Apart from all this the maintenance
of our corps conduces to peace and order simply because of the good wages
which we are disbursing in a time of scarcity.
This policy w r e cannot discontinue now and I see absolutely no necessity
for contemplating such a step.
About this item
- Content
The volume contains correspondence regarding the Persian Campaign of the First World War and the movements and activities of the Central Powers in Persia [Iran] between November 1915 and April 1916. The correspondence is particularly concerned with German and Ottoman attempts to infiltrate Afghanistan from Persia, and of ensuring the continued neutrality of both Afghanistan and Persia.
The primary correspondents are the British Legation, Tehran; the British Consulate, Seistan and Kain; and the Government of India.
The volume contains a single folio in French (f 164), a communication from the National Committee for the Protection of the Independence of Persia.
The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (167 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 3443 (German War/Persia) consists of six volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/472-477. The volumes are divided into six parts, with each part comprising one volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 165; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
File 3443/1914 Pt 3 'German War: Afghanistan and Persia; German agents; British troops in East Persia' [12r] (32/345), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/474, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100082919736.0x000021> [accessed 17 April 2024]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100082919736.0x000021
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100082919736.0x000021">File 3443/1914 Pt 3 'German War: Afghanistan and Persia; German agents; British troops in East Persia' [‎12r] (32/345)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100082919736.0x000021"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x000171/IOR_L_PS_10_474_0032.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x000171/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/474
- Title
- File 3443/1914 Pt 3 'German War: Afghanistan and Persia; German agents; British troops in East Persia'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:43v, 44ar:44av, 44r:53v, 56r:61v, 63r:63v, 65r:68v, 71r:80v, 82r:119v, 121r:137v, 140r:146v, 148r:151v, 153r:159v, 160ar, 160r:163v, 165r:165v, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence