'Administration Reports 1920-1924' [‎144v] (293/412)

40
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ^
Military posts were placed on the road between Kerman and Bam, and
detachments of troops proceeded to Narmashir and Jirnft for protection and
engaged Wall Mohammed Shirdil, the well-known Baljich raider, who retired.
While the expedition did not cover the Persian troops with glory they did
establish'the fact that a Persian army was being formed which would in the
course of time by superior cohesion be able to deal with Baluch raiders.
In June the Officer Commanding troops moved the garrison out to Sar-i- ,
Asaib 3 miles from Kerman where the recruits were put through a considerable
amount of work in physical exercises and drill. The men looked a fine lot
physically.
They were however without proper rifles and as ammunition is scarce have
no opportunity of being trained in the use of their arms. They. remained at
Sar-i-Asaib till September and the Officer Commanding built offices and godown
for military purposes. It is intended to turn the place into permanent summer
quarters for the garrison.
In July attempts were made to enlist a camel corps from Narmashir Bam
and Jiruft districts but though these attempts were repeated till the end of
the year nothing definite had come of them.
In August the detachment which had been posted at Jiruft was recalled
owing to the severe type of malaria by which they were being rendered useless.
Many of the men had to be kept in hospital for a considerable period the officer
in charge taking many months to recover.
Recruiting continued throughout the year, recruiting parties causing con
siderable trouble to the people and at the same time giving a source of income
to the officers in charge of the recruiting parties : one officer alone is reported
to have made Tumans 2,000 from payments for exemptions. Owing to the alarm
caused recruiting was temporarily suspended.
. About 700 recruits were enlisted and some 500 men sent to Shiraz.
In October Mahmud Khan, Amir-i-Lashkar, the General Officer Command-
im* the Southern Army arrived from Ispahan. He was accorded a very con
siderable reception, the biggest of any official since the Farman Farma was
appointed Governor-General of Kerman many years ago, thus marking the
position of the army in Persia.
While he inspected the troops and their training, his chief activities were
.n connection with Baluchistan affairs and will be noted under that heading.
At the beginning of December all the available troops left Kerman for
Rudbar under the command of Naib Sarhang Mohamed Khan, the Officer Com
manding Kerman, to bring to heel Zargham-es T Saltaneh an important semi-
Baluch chieftain of that place. Amir Shaukat who was given the governorship
of Jiruft, Isfandiqeh, Jabal Baris and the surrounding districts was placed m
political charge of the movement.
Said Khan another big robber chief came in and Zargham-us-Saltaneh after
retreating to the hills also came in and made terms. The troops at the end
of the year were still in Rudbar and a permanent garrison is to be posted there
in connection with the proposed move on Bampur next year.
Mahmud Khan, Amir-i-Lashkar, is a man of some character but like most
upper class Persian is a poor Mohammedan, he is a heavy drinker and led a
verv dissolute life at Kerman. He made a considerable amount of money
while there, purchased Tumans 1,500 worth of carpets and remitted Tumans
2 000 to Ispahan. He is considered a capable man but there was little oppor
tunity of judging his work directly. He is distinctly a man of common sense.
Naib Sarhang Mohamed Khan is a young man of about 26, of pleasant
manners aud fond of European society. He has made a good deal of money
at Kerman over enlistments and his various campaigns. He keeps his men
at work and trains them well to the extent- that is possible with the limited
means at his command. As already noted he was formerly too friendly with
the Soviet Consulate and far too much a supporter of those who were pushing
Bolshevism. This attitude has changed.
The police are thoroughly unsatisfactory and rarely recover any stolen
„ . , property. In the old days when the
Governor-General was responsible for
the roads and the police he was also called upon to pay for any losses by theft
gr robbery. Now the police are responsible and the Governor-General does
not pay them or the Amnieh consequently he can hardly be pursued for losses.