'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎30v] (65/610)

48
In the beginning of 1918, the force numbered about
men, and had made much progress in quelling brigandage, and
in imposing order in the provinces of Kirman and Ears ; a
result thoroughly appreciated by the industrial and settled
population, who were, therefore, well disposed toward the South
Persia Rifles; but not at all pleasing to the turbulent tribesmen^
who had grown to consider themselves entitled to live by black
mail of commerce. The most important of these depredators
were the Qashqai tribes. Their IlkhanI The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. , Saulat-ud-Dauleh,
had been in the forefront of the anti-British outbreaks of the
two previous years, and had cause to dread the development of all
force able to overawe his tribal levies, and possibly disposed,
being under British guidance, to bring him to book for his past
misdeeds.
The petty chiefs of the Bushire hinterland were in a similar
position, and they had amongst them, in the person of Wassrnuss,.
who had taken refuge with the Tangistani chief, Zair Khiddar,
at Ahram, a very capable German emissary to instil hopes of
defeat of the allies and of immunity from British reprisals.
The Cabinet of the day was dominated by the ultra-radical
party, known to be strongly opposed to all British interests in
Persia. The Government had protested against the drastic
punishments meted out to civil offenders by the South ' ersia
Rifles, and against the summai’y execution of deserters from the
force, convicted of absconding with their arms. The fact that the
British and the Persian forces were alike under the command of
one officer gave colour to the accusation that they were in reality
a British force.
Thus there was a good field for the intrigues carried on during
the spring months to undermine the loyalty of the South Persia
Rifles to their British officers, to foment discontent in the
province of Pars. A grave situation developed suddenly in May
out of a petty incident.
The South Persia Rifles’ detachment at Khaneh-Zinian
recovered some stolen property from the Darashuranl tribe
of Qashqais, who retaliated by attacking the post. A force sent
out under Colonel Williams dispersed the insurgents on May
12th. It was quickly put about that women and children had
been ruthlessly killed in the course of these operations, and the
cry was taken up by Saulat-ud-Dauleh, who raised his tribesmen
and telegraphed to the Persian Government that, unless he
received direct orders to remain quiet, he would defend Southern
Persia against the South Persia Rifles. Either he did not receive,
or affected that he did not receive, orders to desist, and by May