The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-05 00:00:00

TILE PERSIAN ARMY.

The following detailed account (extracted from
the Friend of India) of the present strength' and
composition of the Persian army will be considered
of some interest in the present posture of affairs :
" The first introduction into Persia of European dis-
cipline and a knowledge of the fabrication and use of
artillery and firearms was due to the gallant and adven-
turous Shirleys, who entered the service of Shah Abbas
more than two centuries and a-half ago, and gave him
valuable aid in his wars with the Porte. But although
a few European officers and artificers were after that to
be generally found in the Fersian armies or courts,
little advantage resulted until, in 1806, Napoleon, whose
views were turned towards India, entered into an alli-
ance with the Shah of Persia, and sent several officers
to discipline the Persian troops, and organise the ma-
terial for an army. After a time the Russians obtained
an ascendancy, and several of their officers were em-
ployed ; but in 1828 a number of officers from England
and India were sent to reorganise the force, which still
retains the system then introduced. This fact has given
the whole organisation a peculiarly British character ;
while the great services and high qualifications of Sir
H. Lyndsay Bethune, Colonels Ferrant, Sheil and Pass-
more, Major Todd, Captain Lynch, Mr. Armstrong,
and several others, have established a high opinion in
the minds of the Persian soldiery regarding the skill,
courage, and justice of British officers.
"The Persian army, us at present organised, is com-
posed of regular and irregular infantry, irregular ca-
valry, and regular artillery, of which the latter alone is
permanently maintained on the establishment. The
regular infantry (serbaz) which consists of 82 regiments,
is divided into two classes—the one forming the active
permanent force ; the other a reserve, somewhat similar
to the Landwehr troops of Germany. The active por-
tion of the infantry consists of three regiments of Guards
and 32 Regiments of the line. Each regiment (fouj) is
composed of ten companies (dusteh) viz., one of Gre-
nadiers (dusteh bahadaran), one of Light Infantry
(dusteh mekh booran), and eight line or battalion com-
panies (dusteh serbaz).
a" Each company is of the following strength :—One
captain (sooltan), one lieutenant (naib-i-a.wal, one sub-
lieutenant (naib-i-duwum), five sergeants (serjoga), 10
corporals (deh-bashi), 100 privates (serbaz).
" The line companies have each one fifer (neitchee),
and the flank companies one bugler (sheipourchee).
"The staff of the regiment consists of one colonel (ser-
jung), one lieutenant-colonel (yaver-awal), one major
(yaver-duwum), two adjutants (one to each wing), one
surgeon ( jerrah), one accountant and paymaster (mirza),
one bagge master (tablidar).
"The full strength of a regiment is, consequently,
1,190 of all grades. The right wing is under the charge
of the lieutenant-colonel, and the left wing of the majors.
" The uniform consists of a red or blue cloth jacket,
loose linen breeches, high brown or yellow leather boots,
and the national lambskin cap ; the two latter are sup-
plied by the soldier, for which, however, be receives an
annual allowance of about 7 rupees. The accoutrements
are made of leather, on the European plan ; the arms
are flint muskets and bayonets, of either English or
Persian manufacture, which latter are of exceedingly
good quality. The formation is in two ranks, and the
men are good shots, manceurvre smartly, and are toler-
ably steady under arms.
" Two regiments form a brigade (teep), which is under
the command of a general of brigade (ser-teep), and two
or more brigades constitute a division, commanded by a
general (serdar). A general-in-chief is called amir-i-too-
man ; a marshal, amir-i-nizam. The War-Minister has
the the title of wuzir•i-nizam, and he is assisted by a
staff officer, uniting the functions of our adjutant and
quarter-master-general's departments. who is designated
adjutant bashi.' Of the three Regiments of Guards the
Ist, or Bahaderan Khassa, is a Grenadier corps, and com-
posed exclusively of Christians, either subjects of the
empire or refugees ; it is at present commanded by a
Russian named Samson Khan. The 2d Regiment is called
the old Guard, and the 3d the Guard of ICaramania.

" The position of the colonel somewhat resembles that
of the colonel proprietaire in the Austrian service.
" The annual pay of the several ranks is as follows :
Private ~ .. 6 tomans and 1 daily ration

Corporal
Serjeant
Sub• Lieutenant

Lieutenant
Captain
Major
Lieutenant• Colonel 220

3
4
6
10

Colonel 5OO

" The value of the toman is about 5 rupees. The ra-
tion consists of half a batman of bread, equal to about
31b. A captain receives one ration of forage, consisting
of 2 batmans of straw and 1 batman of barley ; and the
field-officers receive severally three, five, and ten forage
rations.
" The pay of a general of brigade is 1,000 tomans a
year, with an allowance for his establishment, which
generally consists of the revenues of a village. The pay
of the higher ranks depends on their influence and posi-
tion.
" The remaining 47 regiments form the reserve force,
and of these the greater portion are little more than
skeletons, the men being allowed unlimited leave. They
are, however, annually mustered and exercised for a few
days, and are always liable to be called on for service
when required. A considerable portion of these corps
have recently been embodied, and are now forming a re-
serve camp under the orders of Khan Baboo Khan, the
King's uncle. The recruiting ground of these corps
is chiefly distributed over the provinces of Ira,k-Ajlni,
Fars, Kermans, Yezed. Their pay, when embodied, is
that of the active force, but while on leave they receive
nothing.
" The irregular infantry consists partly of a militia
and partly of contingents, furnished by the frontier dis-
tricts ; this force amounts to about 80,000 men, called
Toofungchees, armed with muskets or matchlocks. They
are only called out on particular occasions, and even
then they receive no pay and find their own arms and
equipments, but they receive rations and ammunition
and a sort of general license to plunder.
'The whole of the Persian cavalry (Kooschoonee
Sowaree) is irregular. Several attempts at organising
regular cavalry under European officers have been made,
• but without success, and all have been finally reduced.

"So largo a force of cavalry may appear excessive
with reference to the population, but it must be remem-
bered that the infantry arm is proportionally weak, and
also that in some parts of Persia, and especially on the
frontiers, almost every man is a horseman. These troops
receive no pay, and they furnish their own horses, arms,
and equipment; but when called out they draw rations
for themselves and their horses, and look to plunder for
all else. They are commanded by their own Khans and
subordinate officers, but these are all nominated by the
Shah. A portion of this force, varying in strength, is
permanently kept on foot, a certain number of villages
being assigned for their support.
" But the only respectable body of permanent cavalry
is that composing the two corps of the Royal Guard,
which amount together to 10,000 mounted men, desig-
nated severallyithe Golara-i-pesh Khidmut and theGolara:
i-Shah. Of these two corps, the first holds the higher_
rank, as the Body Guard of the Shah. Formerly, this
corps, like the original Mamelukes of Egypt, was re-
cruited by the children of Christian parents in Georgia,
Armenia, &c., but now it is exclusively composed of
Mussulmans f good family.
" On appointment, the Sowar receives 40 tomans for
the purchase of horse and equipments ; the pay is 30
tomans per annum, with rations and forage, and cloth
for a new uniform at the festival of Naoroze. The whole,
generally speaking, are very well mounted—the arms
are a carbine, the curved sabre, a long dagger, and a pair
of holster pistols. The perquisites, when employed on
civil or political duties, are vary considerable, and they
are thus enabled to keep up a very strong and efficient
appearance. The other and subordinate corps of the
Golam-i-Shah' are similarly but less sumptuously
equipped and mounted, the outfit being only 25 and the
annual pay 20 tomans.
" The artillery is confined to Horse Artillery and
Camel Artillery. The former, which takes the place of
foot artillery, is organised in batteries on the English
system, and the latter consists of zumbooruks, light
swivel guns attached to the saddle of the camel, deriving
their name from zumboor, a gnat. The Horse Artillery
forms 3 regiments, each of 8 troops or batteries, with
162 officers, 3,258 non-commissioned and gunners, and
4,363 horses. There is also a reserve corps with three
batteries, 600 men, and about as many horses—giving a
total in round numbers of 4,000 men, 5,000 horses, and
162 field guns.
Tho batteries consist of 5 guns and 1 howitzer. The
heavy batteries are composed of 12-pounder guns and
24 howitzers ; the light batteries of 9,6, or 3-pounder
guns, and 12-pounder howitzers. Each battery has 9
ammunition waggons, 7 for the guns, and 2 for the
howitzer, with the addition of a rocket carriage and 1
spare guncarriage. The guns are worked by mounted
detachment ; eight horses are allowed for the draught of
each 12 9-pounder gun and 24-pounder howitzer, and 6
horses for the lighter pieces and the waggons. An or-
dinary battery has 182 horses. The ordnance and car-
riages are all constructed on English models, and espe-
cially the latter are of very serviceable description ; but
small-arm ammunition is carried on light two-wheeled
tumbrils of the Russian pattern. English weights and
measures are exclusively used by the artillery and in the
magazines, and a translation of the " Pocket Gunner,"
made by the late Major D'Arcy Todd, who was for
several years in the Persian service, is the present guide
and basis of their system.
" The corps of Zumboorchees consists of four com-
panies, each of 50 men, with a captain and two lieu-
tenants. Each man is mounted on a camel, and carries
his zumbooruk affixed by means of trunnions to a swivel
on the front of the wooden saddle. The• piece in form
resembles a skort musquetoon, having a stock and flint
lock with a wrought iron barrel, carrying a ball of about
13 ounces, the whole weighing about 751 b. The total
load, including the Zumboorchee and a supply of am-
munition, amounts to 4501 b. One spare ammunition
camel is allowed with every two Zumbooruks when on
service.

" Great pains have been taken to render this little
corps as perfect ana efficient as possible, it being a
favourite arm with the Shah, to wnose guard it, is
attached, and on all public occasions of ceremony.it form
a leading feature. The artillery generally is the most
efficient branch of the service, and is kept tolerably com-
plete. The uniform resembles that of the infantry, the
jacket of dark blue cloth with red facings, the breeches
of blue cotton, the boots, sword and pouch belts of black
leather, with a regular horseman's cloak for bad weather
The arms are the sabre and a pair of pistols. The pay
of each grade is one third higher than that of the in-
fantry, and the officers hold rank a grade higher than in

the line, a colonel of artillery being equal to a general
in the other branches.

" The whole departments is under the charge of a sort
of Grand Master of Artillery, called Amir-i-Topkhaneh.
This appointment, which is considered one of the most
important in the empire, is only conferred on officers of
the highest rank, and is occasionally held by the Grand
Wuzeer. There are several well stored arsenals, the
most important of which is that of Teheran: which in-
cludes a foundry, a gun carriage and small-arm manufac-
tory, with an extensive laboratory and workshops.
"The large guns are for the most part of brass, and
800 camels are kept up for the parks and other ordnance
purposes. In addition to the regular artillery, each
large town has a body of trained gunners for local
defence.

" Such are the strength and organization of the Per-
sian army at present.

"The material is in many respects excellent—the men
are tall, powerful, active, and intelligent, sober and tem-
perate in their habits, capable of great endurance, and
by no means wanting in courage ; but they are generally
averse to discipline, inclined to be mutinous, notorious
liars, and incorrigible plunderers ; and they have never
yet proved equal to' their only disciplined enemy, the
Russians. Well supplied with European officers, and
brigaded with European troops, the result might be very
different. The arms and equipments, including the ord-
nance, are of decidedly good quality, and they are ex-
ceedingly well supplied with good horses, either for
cavalry, artillery, or for baggage. Good saddle horses
for artillery or cavalry cost from 20 to 40 tomans, and
strong yaboons from 8 to 12 tomans, while camels fit
for artillery purposes cost the Government from 10 to 15
tomans ; their ordinary load being 120 tabrizimans, equal
to more than 61 cwt.

" Thus it is evident that a British contingent em-
ployed in that quarter would not be likely to want the
means of transport."

The infantry reserve and the militia, though the
raw material is excellent, can be at present little
better than a rabble, and the irregular cavalry
contingents aro mere Bashi-Bazouks, but the artil-
lery is said to be admirable, and Major Rawlinson,
in his letters to the Bombay Government, states
that there is an available force of 40,000 really
good troops. With such an array, and with the
assurance of no interference on our part, there can
be little doubt of Persia becoming paramount in
Affghanistan after Dost Alahomed's death, if not
earlier, and such an event, by strengthening Persia
and giving us a responsible Government on our
North-western frontier, would not be of itself dis-
advantageous to British interests in India, but it
would be so if Persia, thus strengthened, were
allowed to continuo under the influence of Russia.