"ملخص للأحداث الرئيسية. ١٩٠٨" [ظ‎‎٦‎٣] (١٥٦/١٣١)

114
The Amir’s brother Sardar Muhammad Umar Jan was married on the
27th May. The Amir contributed 3 lakhs of rupees to his mainage expenses.
Epidemics of cholera and small-pox broke out rather severely in the eastern
districts of Afghanistan. There was an excellent autumn harvest m Afghan
istan.
Military.
Genuine efforts seem to have been made to promote the efficiency of the
Afghan army. This has undoubtedly been due to the war scare which
continued to recur throughout the year.
A few Turks under Mahmud Sami Effendi have been entrusted with the
drill and instruction of the army at Kabul. Uniform is now issued free to
regiments at Head-quarters. Pay of the private soldier has been increased
from Rs. 6 to Rs. 8 (Kabuli) and has been disbursed with greater regularity
than previously. Old and weakly men have been weeded out, while there are
even rumours of pensions being granted to men of long service. Constant
reports have been received of regularity in parades, hill manoeuvres and
musketry, in all of which the Amir himself has been evincing unusual interest.
All reporters are satisfied that a real improvement has been effected. It seems
certain, however, that the strenuousness exhibited will only be temporary and
will rapidly evanesce if the possibility of hostilities becomes more remote.
The supposed imminence of war added a certain stimulus to recruiting,
but even so it has been found necessary to resort to the rule of enlisting 1 out
—n of 8 of the male population by compulsion, so as to keep battalions near the
0 j requisite strength.
The importation of 10,000 M. L. E. rifles and 10 million rounds, reported
jf in last year’s summary, was completed early in the year. As far as can be
ascertained new rifles have only been issued to the 6 orderly regiments at
Kabul. A small consignment of modern rifles and ammunition, imported
under the seal of Sardar Nasarulla Khan, was detained in India pending a reply
from the Amir, who was asked whether he wished that rifles and ammunition
should he passed on the authority of any other signature than his own, or
whether the practice approved by him in 1906 should he adhered to. Up to
date no reply has been received and the consignment has not yet been for
warded.
Further large consignments of transport carts reached Kabul, but, except as
already stated, no serious efforts appear to have been made to improve the roads,
which alone can render them useful.
Orders were given for the formation of 2 nfew regiments from the people
of Ningrahar, recruits being obtained from the Khugianis, Shinw r aris and
Ut Khel, and of 1 regiment of Heratis.
Trade in Gulf riflei. , The trade in gulf rifles continued brisk throughout the year. It was
calculated that 30,000 rifles and 3 million rounds of ammunition were
imported from the Persian Gulf during the cold weather of 1907-1908. Almost
all the caravans appear to have passed direct from Persian to Afghan territory and
thus escaped the British force at Robat. The Persian authorities proved
quite incapable of dealing with the situation. One caravan endeavoured to
pass through British territory, hut finding its way blocked turned back in time
to escape. A great number of these rifles were re-exported to tribes on the
British side of the Durand line. The trade is a lucrative one, and produces
profits of about 100 per cent.
It is reported that the Afghan authorities give every encouragement to
the trade, both by giving advances from State treasuries to the merchants and
also by giving advances on suitable security to indigent tribesmen who wish
toprovidethemselveswithrifl.es. The trade is, moreover, exempted by the
Amir’s orders from payment of any duties,
On the 14th September a small arms caravan, consisting of six men and
four camels, while attempting to cross the trade route near Nushki Chah was
attacked by a party of the Chagai levies ; the leader of the caravan was killed
and the remainder captured, together with 30 rifles, 2 revolvers and 1,200