ملف ٣٤٤٣/١٩١٤ الجزء ٢ "الحرب الألمانية: المبعوثون الألمان إلى أفغانستان" [و‎‎٩‎٠] (٤٩٠/١٨٨)

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Telegram P., dated the 31st July (received 1st August) 1915.
^ Prom—His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran,
Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla (repeated to Birjaud).
Please refer to your telegram to Birjand, No. 753.
It appears to me inadvisable that His Majesty’s Consul should leave just
now for Birjand. Orders have been received by Governor to stop German
party and if Consul leaves, the task of keeping Governor up to the mark will
Fill on the Bussian \ ice-Ccnsul who is not on friendly terms with Governor.
AVith the help of the Governor-General His Majesty’s Consul should be able to
arrange for the friendly reception by local authorities of our troops at Sistan.
I have caused telegrams to be sent to the Saiyids of Sistan by leading
clergy at Tehran enjoining friendly feeling towards us and this may help to
restrain local feeling.
21
Telegram P., No. 156 C., dated (and received) the 1st August 1915.
From— Major F. B. Prideacx, C.I.E., His Britannic Majesty's Consul for Sistau
and Kain,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Itussian Vice-Consul has received information by telephone from Kain
that on morning of July 30th Bussian Cossacks made an attack on German
party. Half of enemy with all their transport are invested, and half have fled
in direction possibly of Tun. This morning we received news that armed
mounted force is moving along the road from Tun and approaching Birjand
and should arrive there in a short time. This is probably a Bussian force of
Cossacks.
Sent to Tehran as No. 62 ; repeated to Government of India, 156 C.,
Baluchistan and Meshed.
22
Telegram P., dated (and received) the 1st August 1915.
♦ From— Major F. B. Prideaux, C.I.E., His Britannic Majesty's Consul for Sistan
and Kain,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Please see Foreign and Political Department’s telegram of July 29th,
No. 746 S., to Consul-General, Meshed, I venture to submit fact of Meshed cot
bein (T> depleted of Bussian troops does not alter the fact that Northern Section
of British sphere, namely, from Birjand to Hamun, is devoid of troops and
column which has been sent from India and which is about to garrison the
town of Nasratabad is considered to be regretably w eak in numbers.
I hope that, in the circumstances, one hundred Hazaras may be sent as
quickly as possible from Meshed to Birjand. I believe that 60 Hazaras are
already available, and without such a force our prestige will suffer locally.
This party in addition to 50 Afghans who are due on August 3rd will be
utilised in Birjand district alone and will suffice to garrison the town, even
against the whole of German forces, while the Bussians scour the country side.
There is no fear of Governor betraying us, now that he has received orders
to arrest Germans, though it has become quite apparent that his troops are no
good for co-operating with ours in the task. Assistance of Cossacks in town is
at present unnecessary. It is a most unfortunate occurence that 50 Cossacks
have just arrived in Birjand from Tun and have consequently missed the first
party of Germans who are retreating from Kain. At the time when w r e were