"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎٢‎١] (٣٩٦/٢٤٨)

A
FOR TOE YEAR 1918. 7
It should be noted that these figures include tl e casualties due to tlie
world -wide epidemic of influenza.
The history of the expedition during the period under review appears to
justify the following conclusions : —
firstly, the large majority of the inhabitants of Southern Pcisia aie
absolutely sick of disorder and insecurity. This feeling, enlorced by the weak
ness due to the ravages of the influenza, and the difliculty of obtaining fresh
supplies of ammunition, and especially by the collapse of the German power,
broke the back of the ami-British coalition animated by Wassmuss.
Secondly, the traditional Persian fear of artillery fire, which had been
slightly weakened in this region owing to the ineffective" nature of the artillery
occasionally brought out by the Persian authorities, was found to be as strong
as ever as soon as the effectiveness of t#ie fire was perceived.
Thirdly, the local villagers and tribesmen, though no doubt they would
be led by their religious and patriotic feelings to view a Biitish defeat with
pleasure, are not actuated by these feelings to any practical extent as soon as
the British are in force : there is no reluctance whatever to enter into friendly
and even cordial relations.
Fourthly, the influence of the Tehran Government may be described as
almost entirely negative. None of the leading men has (or had hitherto) the
slightest compunction in disobeying orders either from the Provincial or the
Central Government, or in withholding revenue ; and the prospect of the
appointment of local Persian authorities was nowhere welcome. At the same
time opposition to the British expedition w r ould unquestionably have been
intensified in the absence of any proclamation from the Prime Minister.
Wassmuss went to Kazerun at the commencement of the agitation, but
n ... does not appear to have been verv warmlv
lierman activities. -1 i -.i i xt • • 1^ 1
welcomed, either by Nasir-i-Dewan or by
Soulet. He was not present at any of the fighting near Shiraz. Under the
orders of Government he and Oertel were informed of the conclusion of
the Armistice and offered the following conditions , viz., immediate repatriation
if they came in at once, in the alternative treatment as prisoners of w T ar if
they were captured later. They sent prevaricating replies, and did not come
in. The matter was not of great importance, as Wassmuss' influence had
practically disappeared.
The events at Shiraz itself during the summer have already been described.
0 .. , „ Previous to the rising in May, several
Sh?raz and Fars. P , ... 3 _ L . , ,
success! ul punitive operations had been
carried out to the East and North of Shiraz. Simultaneously with the attacks
on ShiraZj detached posts at Abadeh and Dchbid w T ere invested. The former
was in very serious danger, which w r as only averted by a vary stubborn defence.
Negotiations for its relief were undertaken w r ith the Bakhtiari Khans, but it
was relieved in time by a column from Shiraz. During the operations against
Soulet -ed -Douleh he was superseded as Ilkhani of the Kashgai by his half
brother, Sardar Ehtisham. The latter conducted a campaign against him in
the autumn, with the assistance of a force of Indian troops and South Persia
Kifles, without whom he would undoubtedly have been unable to accomplish
anything. They succeeded in driving him away from his headquarters at
Piruzabad with heavy loss, but their operations were paralysed by the influenza
epidemic, which decimated the column, and they were unable to continue
the campaign. Soulet was, however, rendered quite impotent to affect the
progress of the Bushire force
The situation was transformed in this quarter by the expedition of the
_ .. Bakhtiari Khans, with the invaluable
Eehbehan and Kuhgiiu. assistance of a section of the 31st Moun
tain Battery, against the rebellious chiefs of the Kuhgiiu, which took place
in June with complete success, the two forts of Lindeh and Baisi, previously
considered impregnable, being easily captured. A detailed description of the
campaign will be found in the Ahwaz report.