File 3443/1914 Pt 3 'German War: Afghanistan and Persia; German agents; British troops in East Persia' [‎104v] (219/345)

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granaries. It is believed that these may be plundered unless permission to sell
the wheat is received.
There is a rumour that 400 brigands, led by Germans and Austrians, have arrived
at Tabas.
News from Kariz. —The British Agent succeeded in recovering from Shuja-ul-
Mulk 200 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. for a caravan of Heratis and Barbaris which was robbed some
time ago by Shuja-ul-Mulk’s men, but this sum was stolen from the man who
was carrying it to the caravan, by four robbers, who attacked him on the
frontier and decamped.
Colonel Popoff has informed the Agent that he reported stiongly at Tashkent
against M. MikhailefE, Bussian Consul at Turbat-i-Haidari, against whom General
Fidaroff had also reported, and that the Consul would shortly be transferred.
News from Herat .—It is reported that both the Bussian and Afghan guards
on the northern frontier of Afghanistan are very vigilant.
The Commander of the Troops has inspected all commissioned officers and
prepared a list of those who are unfit for further service. See Diary No. 52 of 1915.
It is reported in Herat that the Amir has promised to declare war against
Bussia after the Nauroz. The rumour is not welcome to the sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. .
It appears that Asgharzada has succeeded in returning to Herat. According
to a conversation which the British Agent contrived to overhear, he travelled to
Tehran and returned by the Trans-Caspian Bailway and crossed the Afghan frontier
at Pul-i-Khatun. I have also heard from another source that he crossed the
frontier at Pul-i-Khatun. He is said to have brought from Tehran a draft on
a trader in Meshed for 30,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , but he did not venture to visit Meshed.
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The Governor of Herat appears to be displaying great good-will towards the
few Germans left in Herat. He is said to have insisted on the payment by the
treasury of the expenses of the party which recently travelled to Kuhsan and back
and to have told Paschen that he need not be anxious about money, as he could,
if necessary, let him have 10 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . He visited the Germans three times
during the past week.
The conversation referred to above, overheard by the British Agent, was
between a friendly Shiah mulla, who had concealed him in his house, and Ismail
and Saiyid Muhammad Arab, Baghdadi, two Shiah servants of the Germans.
Among other things, the two men complained that the reports spread by the
Agent, contradicting their reports, were always believed, as the Agent was an
Afghan, and they told the mulla that if his people had any courage they would kill
or expel the Agent. They also asserted that the Germans had taken possession
of Isfahan and Shiraz and killed the British and Bussian Ministers at Tehran, and
told many stories of the money that the Germans were prepared to spend, etc.
Paschen and his companions admitted that the frontier was so well guarded
by Bussian Cossacks that they could not venture to cross it even in disguise.
Condition of Country .—There are indications that the trouble between the
Barbaris and their neighbours is not at an end. The Barbaris of Chinaran, who
received no redress for outrages recently committed upon them, have beaten two
Jiajis and an elder of the Kurds of Faizabad, whom they found naked in the bath.
The Kaudani Taimuris have shot a Barbari on his way from Pain Jam to
Meshed.
T. W. HAIG, Lieutenant-Colonel,
His Britannic Majesty s Consul-General and
Agent of the Government of India in Khorassan.
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G. M. Press, Simla.—No. C.610 F.D.—10-2-L6—29—M.D.