A MODERN ROBIN HOOD

Cromwell Argus, Volume L, Issue 2646, 27 October 1919, Page 7

A MODERN ROBIN HOOD

PERSIA'S ROBBER CHIEF. Of the highwaymen who make it their business to invade New lurk cafes and cigar shops and restaurants, boldly to rob the passengers in troily ears and to hold up bank messengers, it cannot be said they are chivalrous or high-minded (says the ‘ New York Herald). They arc low, selfish creatures, making no question as to the worldly possessions of their victims. They betray no world vision. None of them is interesting; all are merely violent and lawless. Against their exhibition of heartless cupidity put the conduct of certain eminent citizens of Persia, recorded by Lieu-tenant-colonel G. S. F. Napier, lately British Military Attache at Teheran, in the ‘ Journal ’ of the Royal Geographical Society :

“ In Persia, the land of ups and downs, Hie vocation of a robber has been described as the stepping stone to the post of Governor. in the south the Persian force raised by Sir Percy Sykes had been successful during 1917' in maintaining safety on the Hade routes; but in the vicinity of Isfahan two powerful robber chieftains, Rega Khan Juzdani and Chiragh Ali, had defied the efforts of the Persian Cossacks under Russian officers to maintain security on the roads. Further north, on the shores of the Caspian, the Jangali band under Kuchik Khan practically ruled the whole of the province of Gilan. and ruled it rather well according to Persian standards. From the headquarters at Kasma, some 17 miles northwest of Resht, lie played the part of Ji modern Robin Hood, oppressing the rich and securing the adhesion of the poor by remitting their taxation. By kidnapping and other means he exhorted very large sums from the rich, all money received being scrupulously paid into a common treasure chest, from which every member of the band, from himself downward, received a definite monthly salary. The pay of a Jangali trooper was 100 krai is a month, nearly double that paid by the Russians to a private in the Persian Cossacks. Various abortive Russo-Persian expeditions were organised against the band in 1915-16, but after the revolution they managed to maintain friendly relations with the Russians, and at first scrupulously refrained from all interference with Europeans. Kuchik Khan had considerable dealings with the Turks and Germans during 1917, and many enemy prisoners, escaped from Transcaspia. passed through his headquarters, _ and some appear to have acted as drill instructors to his men or in other advisory capacities. In the winter of 1917-18 be dismissed the Governor of Resht, nominated by the Shah’s Government, and installed his own nominee. Early in the present year he arrested our Vice-Consul, the local manager of the Imperial Bank of Persia, and others, but subsequently liberated them, and since then a modus viveudi has been arrived at. The band purchased large quantities of arms, ammunition, and equipment from the troops returning to Russia in 1917-18, and maintain a partially-trained permanent force.”