New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-07
Russia Negotiating with
Shah for Enlarged
COSSaCk Force.
OFFICERS DRAWING
DOUBLE SALARIES
Teheran Government Resists De-
mand for Elimination of
Swedish Gendarmerie.
tFrom The Tribune Correspondent,


st. Petersburg. May 26.--Right in line
with the recent army increase come the
negotiations between the Russian and
Persian governments on the question OF an
enlargement OF the Persian Cossack Brig
ade AS far back as 1879 the Shah Nasr-
ed-Din, while travelling through the Cau-
casian province Of Erivan, was struck by
the splendid appearance Of his Russian
Cossack escort. and determined to have
such a body. England had been negoti-
ating with Persia concerning the dispatch
OF army officers TO train the Persian cav
airy. but the Shah's enthusiasm over the
Russian Cossacks put an end to the Brit
ish scheme.
Russian officers. under command OF
Colonel Domontovich. took the task in
hand. starting with 500 men. The brigade
increased to a thousand, and by 1910 1t
was increased to $500 men, including four
cavalry regiments. two companies OF in
fantry. two mounted batteries and two
machine gun sections.
Kurds and Shahshevans form the corps
for the most part. but there is sprink-
ling of Turkomans and Afghans, twenty
eight commissioned and sixty-three non
commissioned Russian officers and 20
native officers. All these officers, under
the command Of a Russian colonel, as
sisted by Persian general. are in charge
OF the troops. OF course the real COM
manders are Russians, who also get much
larger salaries. The colonel draws $500
from the Persian government and the
Russian officers $3.50 a year each. while
the Persian general gets only $500.
In addition, however. the Russian Of
ficers, commissioned as well as non-com-
missioned, draw their usual pay from the
Russian exchequer, and their pay. to-
gether with the cost Of the maintenance
of the brigade in general, is formally and
officially secured on the customs revenue
of the northern ports.
Il is needless TO say that this brigade
has throughout been powerful instru-
ment for the extension of Russian nflu-
ence in Persia. The part played by it
during the revolution. and especially on
that historical day, June g, 1908, of the
bombardment of the Mejlis, will no doubt
be still fresh in the public mind. AS a
matter not merely of fact, but also of
contract, the brigade Is only responsible
to the Shah, and stands quite apart from
the regular government and the Minister
of War. Its colonel remains an officer
In the Russian army, acts, therefore
under the direction OF the Russian Lega-
ton at Teheran, and obtains his salary
as well as the pay for his subordinates
through the Russian bank. He also re-
ports directly to the Viceroy of the eau
casus.
What the Russians are at present anx-
ious about is to extend the usefulness OF
the brigade from Teheran, to which it has
hitherto been practically confined, over
the entire Russian zone of influence in the
north. A beginning was made in this d.
rection last year, when a detachment OF
it, under Captain Zapolsky, was sent to
restore order at Hamadan, and series
of posts was placed between Hamadan
and Kermanshah, which insured the
safety OF the Kerbela pilgrims.
But this function, If regularly dis
charged, would obviously be beyond the
present numerical capacity OF the brigade
and, in addition, would clash with the
duties allocated to the Swedish gen.
6armerie The Russians accordingly in
sist that not only should the strength OF
the brigade be increased, but also that the
service Of the Swedish gendarmerie should
be confined entirely to the south. leaving
the Russian zone Of influence in the hands
OF the brigade. But the Teheran govern
nent has so far resisted this demand,
and has been trying with what success is
yet unknown to secure the help OF Brit
ish diplomacy against the elimination of
the Swedish gendarmerie from the north.