UNRULY PERSIAN TRIBESMEN

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 21, 25 January 1913, Page 12

UNRULY PERSIAN TRIBESMEN

A BRITISH OFFICER KILLED. A Reuter message from Teheran, dated 11th December, states thay Captain A. B. Eckford, of the 39th 'Central India Horse, has been killed by tribesmen near Shiraz. The following details ( have been received concerning the circumstance* in which Captain Eckford met his death: Major Kettlewell, of the 39th Central India Horse, and Captain Eckford were proceeding to Dashtarjin to shoot, accompanied by 26 Indian Sowars, When the party was attacked in the itiornhig between Khaniziniyah and Dashtarjin, some thirty miles from Shiraz, by a body of about 300 tribesmen, who Are believed to have been Boerahfnadis. Captain Eckford was killed, and some regimental mules Were carried off, ahd also^, whole caravan of merchandise proceeding to Bushire. It is stated that the party liao^gone to shoot with the consent of the Goveinor-Geheral, and was within the region guarded by the gend»r« merie. . Major Kejifewell and his party are now at Khanizinlyan, and will teturn to Shiraz to-morrow. The murder of this British officer again raises in aft acute form the condition of the trade routes in Southern Persia, and it will be recalled that it was near Shiraz, a particularly wild part of the country, that an attack waa made on Mr. Smirt, an acting British Consul, twelve months ago. In consequence of that attack, two Indian Cavilry regiments-~one the 39th Central Indian Horse, to which Captain Eckford was attached— was sent to Persia to act tts Consular Guards at Shiraz, Bushire, and Jftsk. The question of these Indian troops ih Persia was the subject of debate in the House of Lords last month, when Lord Morley stated that . the Government had no desire to retain these additional' troops i a single moment longer than the situation required, and the questioh of withdrawing thetn would be considered as soon as eveY, in the view of the Goternment, and their advisers and agents en the spot,' the situation would permit their withdrawal.