GUN-RUNNING IN PERSIA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1090, 31 March 1911, Page 5

GUN-RUNNING IN PERSIA.

< BRITISH FORCES STRENGTHENED. By Telegraph—Press Association-Cop.vrisht Calcutta, March 29. The British naval forces in the Persian Gulf are being supplemented by the 104 th. Rifles, a mountain battery, and a detachment of sappers. The reinforcements nro necessary to cope with gunrunners. Ships of the East Indies Squadron have been patrolling the waters at the entrance of tbo Persian Gulf at intervals for more than a year, to prevent the illicit trade in rifles on the north-west frontier of India. Many captures have been made, sometimes after severe conflicts. On November 2, a landing party from H.M.S. Proserpine was attacked by Afghan gun-runners at Bris, more than 41)0 miles from Lingah, and two British officers were wounded. Another encounter was recorded in December last at Dibai, which is near Lingah. It resulted in tho loss of four British seamen killed, one missing, and nino wounded. The "Times of India" stated recently that in spite of the preventive measure's instituted by the Royal Navy to prevent gun-running in the Persian Gulf, tho usual influx of Afghans who openly trade in arms was expected at Bandar Abbas. It was anticipated that_ Afghan caravans would arrive by thelvhorasan route.. The unprecedented step of placing tho new British Consulate buildings at Bandar Abbas in a condition suitable for defence had been taken as a precautionary measure. Gun platforms.had been constructed, and the outlying portion of the Consulate grounds fortified.