File 5257/1919 'Persia: the Military Commission' [‎91r] (188/534)

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Artillery.
125. An artillery regiment would consist of a regimental headquarters, two or
three batteries, and a depot battery, which latter, in addition to the usual functions
of a regimental depot unit, would provide an ammunition column for the units of the
regiment. Batteries of six guns divided into three sections. Details of establish-*
Jilts as in Appendix VIII.
Engineers.
126. It is thought that for the present it will be unnecessary to organise field
units of engineers. The normal requirements of the army could be met by a Works
Department, as recommended in sub-head (ix) of this chapter.
Machine-gun unit.
127. It is recommended that machine-gun companies be composed of four
sections, each of four machine-guns, the personnel of one of the sections being mounted
and that of the others dismounted, the guns in both cases provided with pack
transport. A higher regimental organisation is considered unnecessary for this
arm. Officers would be provided for these companies from the infantry and cavalry,
being seconded in their regiments while so employed. Details of companies as in
Appendix IX.
Signal Units.
128. Regimental signallers have been included in the proposed establishments
of regiments as recommended in the Appendices quoted. The Commission consider
that in addition the headquarters of each area should be provided with a signal troop,
of the establishment given in Appendix IX.
Miscellaneous.
129. Aviation, medical and other units are dealt with in the sub-heads of this
chapter dealing with those services.
•
(vii.) Organisation of the Aviation Service..
General.
130. In framing their recommendations for an aerial service for Persia, the
Commission desire to point out how greatly the lack of land communications at
present in Persia must affect both the efficiency of the aurial service and the cost of
its maintenance. This consideration has had to be seriously weighed in preparing
their proposals.
131. The external situation demands special attention being paid to (1) the
north-western frontier; (2) the Caspian littoral; and (3) the north-eastern and
eastern frontiers. # ...
132. The internal situation demands that aircraft should be in a position to
operate in any part of the country, but especially in (1) Azerbaijan; (2) Kurdistan;
(3) Luristan and Arabistan; (4) Pars; (5) Laristan; (6) Persian Baluchistan; and (7)
the Ispahan-Shiraz and Ispahan-Yezd-Kerman routes.
133. The object to be attained is to locate aerial units in such positions that
threatened points may be reached in as short a time as possible. lor aerial purposes
Persia can be best considered in two parts, North and South Persia.
North Persia. Local Considerations.
134. This part of Persia must be considered, from the point of view of the
location of aircraft bases, separately as regards the North-western area, the Caspian
littoral, the North-eastern frontier and Kurdistan. i j k
135. North-western Area.—TNe best place to locate an aerial unit would De
Tabriz. From Tabriz, Baku, a large part of Kurdistan, Azerbaijan.and even Kars,
can be reached in a single flight, returning without landing, by machines of the type
recommended in this report. Machines based on Tabriz could therefore carry out all
operations’against a foreign Power attacking from the north-west and could also be
used for internal operations in the North-west area. Land communications to
labriz are, however bad There is only one road thence from Central to No
Persia, viz., the Tehran-Mianeh-Zinjan road. There are two diflerent passes on it,
frequestly blocked in winter. The supply of material
[3524]
at Tabriz would therefore be
C