Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎347r] (693/807)

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tain that the paper is published solely for their own people. An indication of
its temper is given in the extract given in the appendix (Appendix “ B ”/ 2 )-
12. A society calling itself “‘Nijat” (Freedom) has been formed in
Urumieh which includes Kurds, Assyrians and Armenians. Its aims are obvious
••from its name. The local Turkish Consul has reported somewhat alarmingly to
liis ambassador on the activities of this society.
13. Having regard to the activities referred to in the preceding paragraphs,
the Soviet insistence on the reduction of police and Amnieh mentioned in
Summary No. 30/1941, paragraph 12 , does not seem consistent with a desire to see
lawful authority established in the province.
14. Four British news-reels that were being shown in Tabriz were
confiscated by the Soviet authorities and the proprietor of the cinema concerned
imprisoned. The reason is supposed to have been because Hitler was shown in
some form other than that of a monster.
Russian Troops.
15. A reliable informant, who has recently visited Meshed, reports that
there were ninety aircraft on the aerodrome. From the activity he saw he judged
that the aerodrome was being used as a training school.
16. The same informant reports a strong Russian garrison at Semnan,
where there was the headquarters of some formation, not many troops in evidence
at Meshed, the headquarters and greater part of an infantry regiment at Kuchan.
All the troops he saw in North-Eastern Persia were better clothed and more
soldierly than those he had recently seen on a tour in North-Western Persia.
17. The road from Meshed to the frontier at Bajgiran is being repaired
by the Russians. From the frontier towards Meshed the first 40 miles are now
in good repair. The remainder (some 44 miles) to Meshed is in bad condition.
From Bajgiran to Askhabad there is a first-class road, mostly tarmac.
Notice .—As Intelligence in Persia is now well covered by C.I.C.I., the
distribution of this Summary will in future be limited to :—
His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran; D.M.I., War Office, London; D.M.I.,
India; Headquarters Force. Iraq, Bagdad; C.I.C.I., Bagdad.
Tehran, January 5, 1942.
Appendix “A.”
Order of Battle of the Persian Army.
Authority : Persian Ministry of War, given early December 1941.
1 st Division. Tehran.
General Officer Commanding : Brigadier-General Hajeb Ali Razmara.
1 st Infantry Regiment (Pahlevi Guard) (Major Nasrollah Mir-
Jahangiri). Tehran.
2 nd Infantry Regiment (Iron Guard) (Major Ali Akbar Karkhordar).
Tehran.
3rd Infantry Regiment (Bahador Guard) (Lieutenant-Colonel
Qahharqoli Shahrokhshahi). Tehran.
20 th Infantry Regiment (Major Mostafa Rahimi). Tehran.
1 st Fortifications Regiment (Major Yusof Razavi). Tehran.
1 st Cavalry Regiment (Pahlevi Guard) (Major Hamid Shirvani).
Tehran.
3rd Cavalry Regiment (Attack Guard) (Lieutenant-Colonel Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
Parviz). Tehran.
2 nd Artillery Regiment (105-mm. Field) (Colonel Bahman Bahramsol-
tani). Tehran.
4th Mountain Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Ali Gharib).
Tehran.
20 th Field Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Ahmad Kianuri).
Tehran.
[26—11] B 2