"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. المجلد IV". [ظ‎‎١‎١‎٧] (٥٤٠/٢٣٩)

186 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
under the General Officer Commanding in Mesopotamia, who
would also be responsible for the oil-fields in Arabistan and the
Bakhtiari country.
As regards South Persia, General Sykes’ force remained in
vested in Shiraz by hostile tribes acting under the instigation
of the anti-British elements in Persia and assisted by German
agents, among whom Wassmuss especially was still active
Towards the end of June, however, General Sykes was able by
political means to bring about dissensions among his opponents
which in addition to the arrival of reinforcements, from India
at Bushire and Bandar Abbas promised to relieve the situation'
There was some anxiety lest the Bakhtiaris should become
involved and so endanger the oil-fields. But General Marshall
was able to maintain cordial relations with the Bakhtiari
chiefs ; and, to assist the leading chief to restore security along
the Ahwaz-Isfahan road, General Marshall placed a section
of the 31st Mountain Battery at his disposal with most
satisfactory results.*
As regards North-West Persia, the phase in the operations of
Dunsterforce concluded by the securing of the road to Enzeli
had been successful to a definite extent. Though too late to
carry out its original object in the Caucasus, it had for the time
being checked the advance of Turco-German agents and small
armed bodies into Persia, had definitely stopped the German-
Jangali movement southward and had maintained peace and
security in the Kermanshah-Hamadan area. In fact, but for
its restraining influence, the enemy’s plans, to embarrass us
by a rising in Persia as a preliminary to an attack on our
Mesopotamian communications and to hostile action against
our Indian frontier, would probably have reached a much more
advanced stage. But much still remained to be done.
On the 28th June the War Office sent the following telegram
to General Marshall:
“ H. M. Government are not satisfied that we are taking
full advantage of our opportunities or that in North-West
Persia and on the Caspian our maximum effort is being
made. Whole situation should be reviewed by you in
light of more recent information regarding lack of enemy
activity in the plains of Mesopotamia and local supplies.
Information shows that, at any rate for some time to come,
* General Marshall said in his Despatch : “ it is worthy of record that this
section of an Indian mountain battery in the hottest season of the year
covered a distance of 395 miles in 28 marching days and returned with men and
animals in most excellent condition.”