File 5257/1919 'Persia: the Military Commission' [‎64r] (132/534)

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141. Landing grounds with small reserves of stores, &c., and minor preparatory
measures will be required after detailed reconnaissances have been carried out at
distances of about 100 miles apart.
South Persia. Local Considerations.
142. The situation m Southern Persia is such that no external aggression need
feared. Aerial activity can therefore be confined to internal needs. The conditions
require to be considered separately as regards Luristan and Arabistan, Pars,
Laristan and Persian Baluchistan.
143. Luristan and Arabistan .—Communications in Luristan are at present
confined to muletracks of little practical value from an aerial point of view. Aerial
control could, however, be exercised from either Kermanshah or Hamadan, both of
which are on the main road from Bagdad to the Caspian. Ahwaz is well situated
for dealing with aerial operations in Arabistan, Luristan, the Bakhtiari and Kuhgalu
country. Ahwaz has also the added advantage of being situated on the only navig
able river in Persia, thus making supply of‘material to it a far easier and cheaper
proposition than to any other place in Persia.
144. Pars .—The best centre for operations in Pars is Shiraz. There is a road
from Bnshire which, with the exception of about 12 miles, is passable for mechanical
transport.* There is also a fair road from Shiraz to Ispahan and from Shiraz to
Saidabad. Bushire on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. would necessarily be the base of supply for
aerial operations in Pars. It is also one of the recognised landing grounds on the
aerial route between Europe and India.
145. Laristan .—The land communications in this afea are from Bunder Abbass
to Saidabad via the Tang-i-Zagh pass and thence to Kerman and Shiraz and the
Bunder Abbass-Hormuz-Lar road. These routes do not present any formidable
difficulties. Bunder Abbass being a seaport can be easily supplied; there is also
already an aerodrome there in connection with the Europe-India aerial route. From
an aerial point of view from Bunder Abbass to Saidabad is the easiest flight from the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to the Persian Plateau.
146. Persian Baluchistan .—There are two methods of supply for aerial opera
tions in Persian Baluchistan, viz., from India via the railway to Duzdab and from
Charbar on the Gulf of Oman. At the latter place an aerodrome already exists.
The communications to Bampur, which is centrally situated for aerial operations,
would be easier from Charbar than from Duzdab, as from the latter place mountainous
country would have to be traversed.
South Persia Organisation.
147. Taking the factors mentioned in the preceding paragraph into considera
tion it is thought that Bushire would be the most suitable centre for aviation in South
Persia. The Commission recommend that a headquarters and two mobile flights'be
maintained and adequately equipped to deal with all repairs at Bushire. Pilots
arriving in Persia would disembark at Bnshire and those destined for North Persia
would have their machines rigged there and would fly to Tehran or Enzeli via Shiraz
and Ispahan. Heavy stores obtained from abroad for North Persia units would be
best sent via Basra to Bagdad and thence by road to Tehran.
148. A summary of requirements for South Persia would be :—
rome for
wheel
Locality.
Air Force Units needed.
Other Requirements.
Bushire
Headquarters and two mobile
flights
Aerodrome and workshops ade
quately equipped to deal with all
repairs.
Ispahan
• #
Aerodrome and maintenance of
reserve of stores. Supply by
Lynch road.
Ahwaz..
• •
Existing aerodrome to be main
tained, with adequate supplies of
stores to maintain a flight.
Bunder Abbass ..
As for Ahwaz.
Charbar
# „
Ditto,
Shiraz ..
Ditto.
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