File 3443/1914 Pt 3 'German War: Afghanistan and Persia; German agents; British troops in East Persia' [‎40r] (88/345)

From Viceroy, Foreign Department, Calcutta, 12th April 1910.
Secret. Your telegram of the 31st March. Persia. We have consulted
Sykes who telegrapher] :—
(1) No. 30 C, 6th April.—“ Present position is that I am opening up
relations in every direction and recruiting as fast as I can handle men.
There is every reason to believe police force can be raised. Appointment of
Farman Farma to Kerman of immense importance in this respect.
“ in view of instructions given by Home authorities which were, however,
issued before recent favourable turn of events, 1 strongly recommend if
mission be first employed attack Germans and rebels, the recruits for infantry
and artillery instructors, guns, &c., be left at Bunder Abbas. 1 am unable
to enlist mounted men locally and I should then have balance of 35 Indian
sabres available. This escort should be increased by mounted section
machine guns, squadron cavalry, and 100 infantry. Machine guns without
trained personnel are useless if considerable time for training not available.
“ With this escort I can either support Kawam or join Farman Farma, in
cither case taking with me the 500 rifles and 250,000 rounds of ammunition
already with me.”
(2) No. 32 C, 9th April.— “Total collapse of Germans and rebels will
presumably render further support to Kawam unnecessary. I suggest,
therefore, that I should march police recruits Kerman and organise force
there. Request that 1 may be given escort similar to that asked for in
my telegram 30 G dated 6th April and strongly recommended by Minister
at Teheran in his telegram 46 F, 8th April. It is most desirable to avoid
risk and be independent of recruits with only few weeks’ training unfit to
defend arms and ammunition.
“I have alreadv recruited 300 men.”
•/
We agree that Sykes should move forward as soon as possible and for
this purpose we have asked General Officer Commanding Force “ D ” to
despatch if possible at once to Bunder Abbas one squadron cavalry, one
section mountain guns, two companies infantry, one of which will replace
present detachment from Maskat. Whether Sykes should move to join
Kawam or Farman Farma or proceed direct to Kerman must depend on
developments of Persian situation.
We are replying separately regarding Seistan arrangements.
From Viceroy, 18th April 1916.
Foreign Secret. Persia. Reference to our telegram of 12th April and
latter portion of your telegram of 11th April regarding Afghanistan. Our
forces in Eastern Persia under Dyer consist of one regiment of cavalry, one
section mountain artillery, 700 rifles, 6 machine guns with some 200 Hazara
levies, 630 Seistani levies, and also as many levies as Dyer can secure from
Sarhad. Recruitment of Seistani and Sarhadi levies is being pushed on.
Force is distributed between Birjand and Baring, and between Nasratabad
and Kacha with detachments at Sipi, Dehaneh^ Baghi and Mashki Chah.
This distribution admits of concentration both north or south of Seistan for
offensive action. Only one small German party which entered Afghanistan
near Navvar Chah towards middle of March succeeded in breaking cordon.
Dyer is now operating offensively towards Khwash to deal with Damanis,
who apparently under German influence have been harassing trade routes.
In the south Dew is proceeding with Keyes and adequate staff to Makran
border for meeting with Persian Baluchistan chiefs, which it is hoped
will result in general settlement and in speedy raising of levies from their
tribes. These levies will be linked up eventually with the Sarhaddi and
Seistani levies in the north and also if possible with Sykes’ Military Police.
Question of officers is under consideration vide telegram from the Army
Department dated 1st April.
Importance of earliest possible offensive activity is fully recognised, but
enormous distances to be traversed, inhospitable country, difficulties about
supplies and transport, especially of arms and ammunition, render quick
movement difficult.