ملف ١٩١٦/٣٣٦٠ الجزء ١ "مراسلات بلاد فارس (١٩١٦-١٩١٧)" [ظ‎‎٢‎١‎٦] (٨٠٤/٤٣٧)

Enclo. to Serial No. 76.
No. 100-P., dated Shiraz, the 9th December 1916 (Confidential).
From— Brigadier-General Sir Percy Sykes, K.C.I.E., C.M.G., Inspector-Gene
ral, South Persia Rifles,
To— Sir Charles Marling, K.C.M.G., C.B., His Britannic Majesty's Minister and
Envoy Plenipotentiary, Tehran.
I have the honour to give my first impressions of the Pars Gendarmerie
which was taken over by me nominally on August 22nd (1st Somboleh) hut
actually on November 16th, at the approximate strength ol 2,800 officers and
men or about one-quarter of the force which I am commissioned to raise.
2 . The day after my arrival at Shiraz I visited the Governor-General
and then went to the barracks and formally took over the force as already
reported. Since that date Major Hunter and the other officers have been
working unremittingly to establish order out of chaos. The officers are mostly
Teheranis, distinctly better educated than Indian officers, with a knowledge
of Drench or English in some cases. Their Chief, Yavar Eath-ul-Mulk,
reported to have rendered great services by imprisoning the Germans
taking
Gendarmerie
of the Eirman Earma. His
position has naturally suffered from our arrival, but he appears to be accept
ing the inevitable with good grace.
Of the other officers many are glad of the change and some are pro
bably the reverse, but our orders are carried out and there is not much overt
opposition. As the Persian Government have not agreed to my taking over
the Gendarmerie the actual position is one for thankfulness and is mainly
due to the unswerving support of His Highness the Eirman Earma, who
has thereby added to the list of eminent services rendered to the British
Government.
The men are glad of the change which ensures them regular pay, food
and clothes and their tone towards us is one of willing and cheerful obedience.
3. The barracks require some immediate repairs which have been taken
in hand but, generally speaking, they are insanitary and unfit for human
occupation. It is, however, only fair to state that they are clean ; the stables
in particular are well kept. It is intended to build new barracks on a fine
site 1-| miles out as soon as possible. The horses were hardly worth the feeding
in many cases and there were few serviceable saddles, but these grave defects
are being strenuously remedied.
4 . The Artillery is remarkably good, making our two mountain guns look
painfully obsolete. It comprises the following: 2 Q. F. 75 M. M.
Schneider Field guns (1 at present at Lar), 1 Krupp 8 C M. Field gun
(at Kazerun), Q. E 75 M. M. Schneider mountain guns, 2 7-pdr. B. L.
mountain guns. Major Rothwell, who is in charge of the Column section of
mountain guns, is training men to work the quick-firing mountain guns and is
amazed at their intelligence, aptitude and zeal. Within a week they have
picked up much of the English drill, giving the English words of command.
Altogether my impression of the Artillery is very favourable and in Persia
it is the Artillery wliich counts.
5. Hr. Woollatt, of the Telegraphs, has taken up his old position with the
force. His influence and popularity are considerable and I consider him a
valuable asset. The state of the Hospital Staff, the Hispensary and the
operating instruments are almost European and much impressed me. The
kitchen with its hu 2 :e and valuable copper cauldrons was in a bad state, the
water being drawn from a polluted channel. In this connexion the Swedes
appear to have given little attention to sanitation, a huge cesspool vitiating the
atmosphere just outside the kitchen. The necessary improvements are being
made and in a short time the present barracks will be as sanitary as can he
expected.
6 . Eeoruits of a good type are offering themselves in considerable num
bers, but w r e cannot handle many at present with our tiny body of five officers.
7. It is desirable to explain that it is intended to keep Persian officers in
command of units as far as possible. The British and non-commissioned
officers will act as staff and instructors. Without them the organisation would