"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية: العمليات في بلاد فارس ١٩١٤-١٩١٩" [و‎‎٩‎٨] (٥٦٦/٢٠٠)

RUSSIAN ADVANCE ORDERED
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principal hostile Khans offered definite terms of release to
Major O'Connor himself. As, however, there was a good
prospect of securing the release without any terms and as
the prisoners themselves appeared to be well treated and in
no personal danger, it seemed unnecessary and inadvisable to
continue negotiations with chiefs who had been outlawed and
dismissed from their positions by the Persian Government.
Major Trevor at Bushire suggested that a show of military
activity might assist in bringing about the desired result,
and on the 27th April a strong column from Bushire made
a reconnaissance across the mashileh. The enemy's advanced
post was found to be deserted and the column attacked a
small force of the enemy which was strongly entrenched in
the village of Chaghadak. Only slight resistance was encount
ered and, the village having been destroyed, the force returned
to Bushire, having sustained only two casualties, including a
British officer of the 15th Lancers killed. Motor lorries were
utilised for transport of the machine gun detachment and to
tow the guns, but they experienced considerable difficulty in
the heavy ground on the eastern part of the mashileh.
As regards the Russians in West Persia, Major Marsh in
formed the War Office on the 1st April that orders had been
issued to Baratoff from Caucasus Army Headquarters to
make an immediate advance on Khaniqin with all his avail
able forces, including reserves. At this time Colonel Bopp
with his Persian forces and 6,000 Turkish infantry with 12
guns was holding the Pai Taq pass, with outposts about
Karind, while Baratoff, with his force dispersed over a wide
area, was faced with considerable difficulties of movement and
maintenance. His main column, in strength 3,450 sabres,
4,000 rifles and 20 guns, was between Kermanshah and
Karind ; he had columns and detachments operating round
Kangavar, Burujird and Kurdistan aggregating about 4,000
men and 10 guns ; between Enzeli and Hamadan, there were
some 1,000 sabres and 3,500 rifles including line of communi
cation troops ; 1,500 sabres, 500 rifles and 4 guns were dis
tributed between Qum, Kashan and Isfahan; and there
were 1,200 sabres and 2 guns near Tehran. But, in the last
week of April news was received by the War Office that the
General Officer Commanding the left flank of the Russian
Caucasus armies would advance on the 28th towards Ruwandiz,
with a view to co-operating with Baratoff who was to advance
West Persia;
April 1916.