"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية: العمليات في بلاد فارس ١٩١٤-١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎٠‎٢] (٥٦٦/٢٠٨)

GERMAN PROPAGANDA
169
political officers to assist in raising these levies. Unfortunately
on the 16th April two of his political assistants—Lieutenants
Hughes and Horst—were assassinated by fanatics at Mand,
instigated it was believed by some of the German
agents. The murderers themselves were at once killed by
levies who were in the vicinity. But the incident illustrated
one of the effects of the German propaganda. In fact, at the
end of the month Colonel Dew reported that it was the effect
of the German propaganda and of the fanaticism which it had
aroused that was to be feared rather than the danger of the
Germans raising tribal chiefs against us. Jahad was being
actively preached and, unless steps were soon taken to check
the propaganda spread by German Moslem agents throughout
the country, it would continue to spread and create fanaticism.
Pamphlets announcing the conversion to Islam of Germany
were, he said, having considerable effect. In view of the state
of part of the population, he considered it advisable that the
mission under Major Keyes, which was about to tour the Persian
borderland, should have some military protection. For
instance, his own personal escort of fifty Gurkhas might accom
pany Major Keyes. The Agent to the Governor-General in
Baluchistan, on receiving Colonel Dew's report, recommended
on the 5th May that, in addition to this escort, 200 Indian
infantry should at once be sent to Mand to accompany Major
Keyes ; and this was at once agreed to by the Government of
India, who asked for a further report on the matter after Colonel
Dew had met Bahram Khan.
This chief came to Mand on the 8th May and next day
Colonel Dew concluded an agreement by which Bahram Khan
and other local chiefs promised to punish the instigators of the
murders of the two political officers, to refuse the Germans
assistance and to help us against them, and also to stop raiding
into British territory. Colonel Dew, however, putting little
faith in Bahram Khan's word, felt it necessary to refuse to
allow Major Keyes to cross the frontier till the additional 200
rifles had arrived. They reached Mand (a double company
127th Baluchis) via Gwadur on the 24th May and on their
arrival, Colonel Dew having left, Major Keyes was authorised
by the Agent to the Governor-General in Baluchistan to proceed
on his mission.
At this time, owing to the effect of the German propaganda
emanating from Makran and Persia, there was a sudden
recrudescence of unrest in Southern Jhallawan, in British
territory. This led to an outbreak of serious raids on the Sind