ملف ٣٤٤٣\ ١٩١٤ الجزء ٣ "الحرب الألمانية: أفغانستان وبلاد فارس؛ العملاء الألمان؛ القوات البريطانية في شرق بلاد فارس" [و‎‎٦‎١] (٣٤٥/١٣٢)

3
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When we got near Deli Salm I went on ahead but unfortunately lost
i eh with the main body. This rather spoilt the surprise attack which we
W hoped to make. However, at dawn I met Lieutenant Wahl and we
tered the village from the south end and at the same time Lieutenant Brown-
f W with the main body entered from the west side only to find nobody there.
The Germans had left the previous day.
Native accounts differed—some said that the party had returned to
others that it was still in the mountains near and others that half had
*one and half had remained in the hills. I observed at the foot of the hills
about a mile away several people moving. I asked a Persian to go over to see
who they were but they were frightened and refused to go. So I and Duffedar
Slier Muhammad rode out to investigate who they were. Half way across
the intervening river bed I met a man who admitted he was with the German
party and told me that they had turned him out and that he wap looking for
a stray camel. I sent a message and went myself back to the village to ask
for Lieutenant Brownlow’s assistance. I left Duffedar Sher Muhammad with
the prisoner to watch the movements of the enemy.
By the time the troops were out the enemy were half way up the hill at
the hack of their camp. Half the Cavalry went to the right under Lieutenant
Brownlow and the other half went to the left. The party on the right opened
fire on the camels and this was replied to vigorously by the enemy. Meanwhile
the other party was fired on as it was getting round to its position on the left.
The party of Germans made straight for the hills behind where they had
san^ars prepared. They were surrounded by pickets but unfortunately the
enemy had the advantage as they were in Sangars built on the highest peaks
of the clump of hills known as Kuh Begi and these commanded the situation.
The rest of the day was spent in sniping without any result. At night
Lieutenant Brownlow brought his pickets in closer hoping thereby to prevent
them escaping during the night.
A careful watch was kept all night but in the morning it was found that
the enemy had escaped. I sent out Jemadar Sharbat Ali and Duffedar Sher
Muhammad to track the party and they reported that they had found signs of
camels going in the direction of the Lut. Everybody was very exhausted
after the long ride and the continuous work for two days and two nights, so on
the following day, 19th, another patrol with Duffedar Sher Muhammad was
sent out to track the party as far as possible. It was found that their tracks
went in the direction of Kuh Surgh.
Lieutenant Brownlow placed pickets of 4 Cavalry and 2 Hazaras at
Shelcar and Abdalahai. I employed special pen to watch the water holes at
Gulu Chur and Sorcar and put two men out into the Lut as an out-post.
On the night of the 20th Lieutenant Winckelmann one of the three Ger
mans with the party came back to Deh Salm to get water and was arreste .
He had been left behind and was unable to catch up the rest of the .party. He
had had no water for 3 days and was suffering from sore feet.
On the 21st Lieutenant Wahl went out with a patrol of 10 men to
Abdalahai with the intention of going on to Kuh Surgh. That day we go
word from Sorcar that a caravan was making for Khabis, so we went oat ana
caught it.
On the 22nd Lieutenant Wahl with Duffadar Sher Muhammad visited. Kuh
Surgh and found that the German party had just left and from the tracks it was
evident that they had been to Abdalahai the previous day for water and nad
managed during the absence of the picket to water their camels and get a fres
supply for their journey across the Lut. From the excellent report of Lieute
nant Wahl it was clear that they had made off towards Khabis.. Lieutenant
Wahl returned on the 23rd and I left for Neh vid Chah Bui where I ha
posted a party of 28 Hazaras under the Subedar.
Lieutenant Brownlow had arranged for the defence of Deh Safin in case
the place was attacked by a superior force and he made his fortifications m
such a manner that the water supply was entirely guarded and it would nave
been most difficult for the enemy to have obtained any water.