'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎59v] (125/396)

40
PERSIAN GULI' ADMINISTRATION REPOEi
available to do it will be less marked than it has been up to the present. But
credit will always be due to the few pioneers who had to contend with a
plethora of work encumbered by many unfamiliar dimcu ties.
Endeavours are bein^ made to enlist the rnost suitable material "wliich the
Province can supply- The main element will probably always be villagers
chosen from the agricultural classes of the healthiest districts. It is difficult
to o-et hold of the men of the nomadic or semi-nomadic tribes, but this difficulty
will probably be overcome to some extent in the course of time. Che city man,
as bein 0 " generally a weaver or a loafer, and frequently diseased, is now
eschewed, and many enlisted in the early days are being got rid of. There
is not likely to be much trouble in getting as many men as can at present be
dealt with,' and it is most important to start the force _ with high standards
so that it may corae to be regarded as something of a distinction to be admitted
into its ranks. If a low class of men forms an appreciable element, the
better types may be expected to hold aloof.
More difficult than the question of enlistment or even that of training
and organisation without a trained indigenous staff, are the problems of
accommodation, sanitation, and hygiene. The great prevalence of syphilis in
the city is proving, and is likely to continue to prove, a very serious drawback
to Kerman as the -Headquarters and training centre of the force.
The relations of the South Persia Eifles with the local authorities, and
with the people of the place have been very satisfactory, in pleasing contrast
to those of their predecessors, the Swedish Gendarmerie. Some credit in this
connection is due to the Governor-General and Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Nusrat who have
displayed a very friendly and helpful spirit.
The necessity for telegraphic and telephonic communication a 1 ong
The Bandar Abbas-Kerraau telegraph line aud tile route to be protected by the South
motor road. Peisia llifles between Bandar Abbas and
Kerman was represented by General Sykes in April 1916. Another proposal
which he took occasion to press at the same time was that of the construction
of a road fit for motor lorries between the same two points. He proposed
that this should follow the Tang-i-Zindan—Baft route. General Sykes laid
stress on the actual importance of Bandar Abbas, and the greater importance
which it might acquire in the future. " It will in the future, I am
confident," he said, "be the chief sea port of Southern Persia and may,
through the discovery of oil-bearing strata in the neighbourhood, outvie the
ancient glories of Ormuz, its island predecessors."
In August the question of route to be followed was raised and General
Sykes again expressed his opinion in favour of fhat vtd Daulatabad and
Baft, and at the end of the month it was intimated that the construction of a
telegraph line following this route had been sanctioned by the Secretary
of State for India and instructions were issued for arrangements to be made
for the protection of the construction party, as also of an engineer who vvas
to be sent to examine and report on measures necessary for the improvement
of the road.
With some trouble arrangements were made for the protection of the
telegraph party in Bandar Abbas territory by men provided by the South
Persia Bifles and the Deputy Governor of Bandar Abbas, and by guards
to be provided by Ali Khan in Ahmadi territory. These arrangements have
so far^worked fairly well and no serious robbery or other trouble has been
e ^P erienc ®d, though Ali Khan has, as was to be expected, shown himself
shirty and unreliable and faint-heartedly exacting. About 5 miles of the
line had been constructed by the 11th October^ and the construction was
Tk? 8 tj - 011 y N jy am and Bahanah-i-Tang under the supervision of
Mr. tin sent. Beyond this the work was carried out under the orders of
\ r - Black man, Indo-European Telegraph Department, who had travelled
down from Sistan passing through Kerman early in November. Once
Of tw™ i n Was e , n t er *r Cl Y ork went vei 7 Slowly as, owing to the nature
the ^lound, e\ery pos. had to be sunk m rock or set in a masonry base.
half oVNn™ f Maj0r Rich '. R E ' ariived and Proceeded, in the latter
halt of November, to examine the Tang-i-Zindan for a road alignment.