File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎89v] (183/1044)

■ 11 .
J
Lr
i
The Bushire Force occupied Kazerun without incident on the 27th of* Jan
uary.
Aeroplanes bombed Robatak effectively on the 27th and 28th as Nasr Diwan
was reported to be there.
The Chief Political Officer proceeded to Kazerun by air on the 30th.
A suitable landing ground has been selected by the Royal Air Force at Bandar
Dilam. _
Kerman.
A committee for the assessment of compensation due to Persian subjects
from belligerents is sitting twice weekly. So far the only claims have been against
the Central Powers.
During the latter half of the month the elections have been in progress.
There has been a most satisfactory drop in the prices of both wheat and barley.
It is expected that the fall will continue. It may be put down :
(1) to the fact that the South Persia Rifles’ contractor, having a year’s
supply in hand, has not bought wheat for several weeks now and
grain owners who were at first sceptical have now lost hope of further
putting the screw on the South Persia Rifles;
(2) to the action taken by His Majesty’s Consulate and the South Persia
Rifles in insisting that the Governor-General and Financial Agent
bring the Government gr ain in to Kerman as soon as possible with
the help of the South Persia Rifles. The grain-owners know about
these stocks, which amount to not less than 4,500 hharwars, and
realize that once in Kerman it can be used at any time to break
their ring ;
(3) to the ear 1} appearance of rainy weather which increases the probability
of a good harvest next year ; and
(4) to peac$.
Lingah.
Salim Khawja who posed as Turkish Consul here before the war and who has
been under detention at Shiraz arrived at Lingah on the 17th instant.
Bandar Abbas.
Brigadier-General Sir Percy Sykes, K.C.I.E., C.M.G., LA., Inspector-General,
South Persia Rifles, arrived from Shiraz on the 24th December. He was accom
panied by Colonel Molesworth. The former left for India on the morning of the
29th, and the latter for Bushire on the 30th December.
News has been received from Minab that Faqih Kasim, the ez-Rais of Miriab
lufangclm has joined Mir Barkat, and it is feared that trouble may follow.
TT „ Gen f;; 1 “ cF i"' eI J a “ d Major Macaren of the Royal Air Force and Captain
Halley of the R. N. A. S. arrived by Handley Page ” aeroplane on the 12th and
left fo* Karachi on the 13th.
Mekran.
I
Saiyid Alam Shah is reported to have left Lashar on a visit to Bahram Khan
with the object of obtaining assistance to give us trouble on the frontier or to
attack Charbar. He is said to have collected a considerable sum of money in
Lashar, Fanoch and surrounding parts for the purpose of buying arms and ammuni-
tion.
Throughout the month the Karwanis and Jousdaris have been giving
considerable trouble removing insulators from the telegraph line.
r>