THE PERSIAN CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 155, 29 December 1911, Page 5

THE PERSIAN CRISIS.

VIOLENCE OF THE MOB. BRITISH CONSUL MISSING. EXCHANGE OF VIEW'S PROMISED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Teheran. December 28. •Smart, the British Consul, whilst travelling from Bushire to Sliiras. escorted by So ware, had a desperate light with Kushgai road guards. The Sowars fought their way to Kazerun. Smart is missing, and his horse has been found wounded. The mob at Tabriz broke into the Governor-General's place and tore down lags, cursing the Democrats and the Constitution. They maltreated the Governor's deputy, Prince Amanulla, who took refuge in the British Consulate, and Amir Khichmet. leadsr 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. HESSIAN FLAG FLYING AT TABRIZ. TROOPS FORCE THEIR WAYTHROUGH. Received 28, 9.50 p.m. St. Petersburg, December 28. Two telephone lines connecting Tabriz with Julfa were cut. Two hundred Caucasian Fidais tribesmen nave fled to Karadagh, with the intention to cross the Russian frontier. A company of Russian rifles are quartered in the citadel at Tabriz. The Russian flag has been hoisted there. A company of the sth Chasseurs and an artillery detachment forced their way, skirmishing, through Baghiehemal, a suburb of Tabriz, to join the Russian encampment HEAVY FIGHTING. A TRIBESMEN'S RAID. BRITISH PUNITIVE EXPEDITION. RUSSIA TO ADOPT SEVERE MEASURES. Received 28, 11.25 p.m. Teheran, December 28. Fighting at Tabriz has commenced. Five persons in the Russian Consulate were killed and four wounded.

Smart, tbe 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 were eight hundred Kashgai tribesmen. One hundred Sowars from Bushire are now sent to relieve the party at Kazerun.

The infantry at .Task and all available ships have been ordered to Bushire with • British punitive expedition. It is thought likely that Southern Persia will be in a state of ferment and insurrection.

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 been 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 court-mar-tialling 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 be taken if necessary to secure the restoration of order, and the chastisement of offenders. SPURIOUS POLITICAL AGITATORS. Teheran. December 27. The Director of the Persian Department of the Foreign Office, interviewed, declares that Russia is convinced that tbe Persian Government is not associated with the anti-Russian outbreaks at Tabriz and elsewhere. The authors of the Caucasian outbreaks are principally Armenians and criminals, posing as pVjtical agitators. He adds that 3500 Russian troops are going to Tabriz.

A fresh attack has been made on Indian Sowars at Kazerun, and two have been killed.