File 566/1921 ‘Persia: military Attaché’s intelligence summaries’ [‎4r] (16/818)

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FThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.!
PERSIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[October 30.]
Section 8.
[E 10627/69/34]
No. 1.
Sir P. Loraine to the Marquess Curzon of Kedleston. — (Received October 30.)
(No. 421. Secret.)
My Lord, Tehran, September 19, 1923.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of Intelligence
Summary No. 36 for the week ending the 8th instant, compiled by the military
attache to this Legation.
I have, &c.
PERCY LORAINE.
Enclosure in No. 1.
(Secret.) #
Intelligence Summary No. 36 for Week ending September 8, 1923.
GUan.
WITH reference to paragraph 1 of last week’s Intelligence Summary, heavy rain
fell again for thirty hours continuously on the 31st August—1st September. I his
increased the damage already done by the previous floods, and interrupted communi
cation between Resht and Kazvin by carrying away the road bridge over the Siahrud
River, 15 miles south of Resht (see Degree Sheet 8 G.-C. 4). Considerable damage
has been done to the villages in the neighbourhood of Resht, especially at Shaft
(Degree Sheet 8 G.-B. 4), where many houses were destroyed and animals carried
away and drowned in the flood.
2. One battalion of infantry, strength about 500, was sent to Enzeli from Resht
on the 10th August. This move is doubtless due to the floods at Resht rendering the
barracks there uninhabitable, whereas at Enzeli ample accommodation exists.
3. The War Minister telegraphed to Officer Commanding troops at Resht to
expend 2,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. on assisting sufferers from the floods, this sum to be paid from
Reza Khan’s private purse. He also added that the troops were to assist refugees in
every way possible.
4. With reference to paragraph 2 of last week’s summary, Reza Khan has
directed that the money already subscribed for the erection of a statue of himself at
Resht shall be spent on relief to the sufferers from the floods, and that no statue is to
be erected.
5. A German merchant-vessel, the “ Enseli,” arrived at Enzeli from Hamburg
on the 27th August via the Russian canal and river system. She was preceded on the
25th August by the steamship “ Pioneer ” (the ship that came through to the Caspian
from Hamburg last summer), which had taken on some of her cargo at Baku.
The “ Enseli ” has brought a cargo of trade goods, also arms and ammunition
purchased in Germany for the Persian army.
Directly the vessel berthed at Enzeli, Persian military guards were placed round
her, and sightseers were warned off. Every effort was made to keep secret the contents
of her cargo, which was transferred into the customs go-downs under a military
guard.
The <£ Enseli” appeared to be about 1,000 tons. She is tanker built with
her funnel right aft, with two low masts (one in the middle and one near the bow).
She flew her house flag, and another flag with a lion and sun showing. At the stern
she flew the red flag of Bolshevik Russia with R-S.F .b.R. on it. She had
“ Enseli—Petrograd on her stern and Enseli in Latin and Russian chaiacters on
her bow. Painted grev. Carried a motor-boat amidships.
Her cargo includes three Mercedes cars, motor-cycles, cycles, sewing machines,
sugar cloths 200 cases of beer and other goods, besides the arms and munitions
already mentioned. It is hoped to obtain full details regarding these in a few days.
Krompeter and Dannhouser, two German agents of the shipping company, went
to Enzeli to meet the vessel, which had on board a third agent of the firm named
Brown, who is a director of Wonkhaus and Co.
[430 gg—8] B