"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية: العمليات في بلاد فارس ١٩١٤-١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎١‎٣] (٥٦٦/٢٣٠)

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TRANSPORT DIFFICULTIES 191
India to be relieved on account of ill-health. Major Keyes and
his mission moved to Sib, where the Gamshadzais approached
him for terms of submission but again rejected those offered.
While these events had been taking place in Sarhad, the East Persia;
troops holding the cordon in Seistan and Kain under Colonel J ul y~ Au gust
Dale had maintained a vigilant watch for members of the 191 *
German mission from Kabul re-entering Persia. Several
reports, more or less reliable, were received during July, which
indicated that different portions of the mission were making
for Bokhara, Trans-Caspia, Yarkand, and Herat respectively.*
But though Paschen succeeded in penetrating the Russian line
to the north of Birjand, there were no attempts to pass through
the British line till, early in August, Captain A. D. Wise with
some levies captured Voigt and two Indians at Sehdeh.
During July and August raids from across the Afghan border
continued to be made against the Nushki-Robat line of com
munication, which was controlled by the General Officer
Commanding the Quetta Division ; and these necessitated the
reinforcement of the half squadron Gwalior Lancers and half
battalion 126th Baluchis, guarding the line, by the other half
battalion of the latter regiment.
Supplies for the forces in East Persia had always been a
difficulty. As far as possible they were obtained locally,
mainly from Seistan, but much had to be brought from Quetta.
Their transport from Quetta, their collection from Seistan, and
their distribution to the various detachments along the 400-mile
line from Birjand to Khwash required a very large number of
camels. But among these the lack of grazing and the desert
nature of the country had caused very great wastage. On the
27th June General Dyer, in answer to a request from India,
placed his total transport requirements, excluding animals
required for the part of the line controlled by Quetta, at
4,600 camels. Of these, 2,000 were required to distribute
supplies to the normal detachments, 1,000 for building up a
s upply reserve at Kacha and 1,600 for allotment to posts to
give their garrisons the necessary mobility. General Dyer
pointed out that, except at Birjand and Khwash, all the posts
suffered in a varying degree from immobility, due to lack of
reserve supplies or transport, or both. Measures were accord
ingly taken to increase the number of camels in East Persia,
but, having regard to their transport requirements elsewhere,
the military authorities in India found it impossible to provide
* The actual movements of the Mission members have already been given
in Chapter IV.