File 5257/1919 'Persia: the Military Commission' [‎40r] (84/534)

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being as it is at present, unequipped, unarmed, unofficered and untrained, it may be
said to possess no military value whatever. The office work and administrative
arrangements of the brigade headquarters are on sound lines.
37. Cost. —The total cost of the force is about 4,327,000 krans per annum.
#
(iv.) The Nizam in the Provinces.
38. General. —The Persian, army, as is mentioned in chapter dealing with the
recruiting laws, is supposed to consist of a number of “ fanjes ” of conscripts,
certain areas of certain villages contributing a “ fauj ” of about 1,000 men. Only
a percentage of these “ faujes ” are actually supposed to be called out for service,
the remainder staying at their homes but receiying an allowance in return Tor their
liability. The total number of men liable to this service amounts, according to the
last returns, to over 86,000. As several “ fanjes ” have been allotted to the
gendarmerie, the Cossack division and the central brigade, this number would not be
available in addition to the strength of those formations'.
The strength of the Nizam to be kept on actual service in the provinces, for
which budget provision has been made, is 9,478 of all ranks, with 3,009 horses.
39. Organisation. —No regular organisation for the provincial Nizam can be said
to exist. There is in each province a “ Rais-i-Qiishun,” who is supposed to train
and administer these troops. Actually, the number of men maintained depends on
the local Governor.
40. Equipment. —The arms are of various kinds and qualities, except in certain
localities, such as Khorasan and the Qainat, where 303 weapons have been presented
to the Governors by the British Government. Clothing and equipment is obtained
locally and is of different patterns, the green, red and blue distinctions for cavalry,
infantry and artillery is, however, generally maintained.
41. Conditions of Service. —The men are enlisted compulsorily under the
“ Boniche ” system. Certain “ faujes ” are allotted to different provinces. The
quota required is taken from the recruits available in the “ faujes ” allotted.
The rates of pay are supposed to be those laid down in the “ Boniche ” law
{q.v.). Rations are dependent on local Governors, but all men are supposed to receive
a ration of bread.
Officers and n.e.os. are appointed by local Governors or “ Rais-i-Qushuns.” In
most places there are Government “ sarbaz khanehs, 5 ’ where men of the Nizam are
housed.
42. Miscellaneous. —The system of training may be said to be nil and the Nizam
of no value, except as personal guards to houses. In some provinces the state of
inefficiency is less than in others, depending on the amount of interest taken in the
force by the local Governor.
43. Cost. —The total cost of the provincial Nizam is over 9,000,000 krans per
annum.
(v.) The Levy Corps in East Persia.
44. General. —There are two of these corps, the Khorasan and the Seistan Levy
Corps. They were raised during the war by the British Government to assist the
regular troops in East Persia to keep order there and prevent the action of enemy
‘ agents who were trying to create disorder. The present strength of these corps is
as follows :—
.
Khorasan Corps.
Seistan Corps.
British officers
5 1
13-I
Persian officers
12 >597
58 k 1,771
Persian ranks
580 J
1,700 J
Horses
140
a-a 1 1,750
Camels
• •
1,050/
The Seistan Corps is being reduced. The establishments of both have not been
settled as, when Persia has her own army in this region, the need for these corps will
no longer exist and they will disappear.