RUSSIA IN PERSIA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 14, 29 December 1911, Page 5

RUSSIA IN PERSIA.

DESPERATE EIGHT WITH ROAD

GUARDS

ENGLISH AGENT ATTACKED

By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright United Press Association.

Teheran, December 28. Smart, the British Consul, whilst travelling from Bushire to Shiras, escorted by Sowars, had a desperate figlit with Kashgai road guards. The Sowars fought their way to Kazerun. Smart is missing, and his horse has been found wounded. 'J'he mob at Tabriz broke into the Governor-General’s place and tore down flags, cursing the Democrats and the Constitution. They maltreated the Governor s Deputy, Prince Amanulla, who took refuge in the British Consulate, and Amir Khrchmet, leader of the Findas at Tabriz, who fled from the town. Persia has promised to exchange views with the British and Russian Legations before appointing foreign advisers. ■ SERIOUS FIGHTING COMMENCED AT TABRIZ. BRITISH PUNITIVE FORCE. Teheran, December 28. Fighting at Tabriz has commenced. Five persons in the Russian Consulate were killed and four wounded. Smart, the missing British Consul, was found lying wounded outside Kazerun. Medical aid was despatched. The escort consisted of fifty Sowars, and fifty others from Sharaz had joined them. Their assailants wore eight hundred Kashgai tribesmen. One hundred Sowars from Bushire are now sent to relieve the party at Kazerun.

The infantry at .Task and all availaide ships have been ordered to Bush ire with a British punitive expedition.

It is thought likely that Southern Persia will be in a state of ferment and insurrection.

STRINGENT MEASURES OF

PUNISHMENT,

A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

St. Petersburg, December 28

it is semi-officially stated that owing to Persia’s inability to chastise those guilty of acts of foolhardy aggression and brutal tortures and outrages against Russians at Tabriz, Resht and Enzeli, the Russian commanders have lie on instructed to adopt, in concert with the Russian Consuls, most stringent measures of punishment, and to remove once and for all the causes of such acts. The measures include the courtmartialling of all Russian and Persian participators in attacks on troops, disarmament of the Fidais and other troublesome native elements, and the destruction of places where resistance might be, offered. Other steps may likewise he taken if necessary to secure the restoration of order ,and the chastisement of 'offenders. ; ' 4 ;

TWO TABRIZ TELEPHONE LINES R CUT.

'■ .THE RUSSIAN ! FORCd3. :K ‘ 5

St. Petersburg, Oacnnber 28. Two telephone lines connecting Tabriz with Julfa were cut. , .. Two hundred Caucasian Fidais tribesmen have fled to Karadagh, with the intention to cross the Russian frontier.

A comnany of Russian rifles are quartered in the citadel at Tabriz, j’i’ho tßussian flag has been hoisted there.

A company 'of--the, sth Chasseurs and an artillery' 1 ' detachment f tn‘ced H’heir way, skirmishing, through Ibighichbmal, a suburb of Tabriz, to join thq Russian encampment.