17 OCTOBER 1908, Page 2

The conflict at Tabriz during the past week has gone

in favour of the Nationalists, who have driven the Royalist forces from several positions. These reverses to the Shah's troops of course explain the dismissal of Ain-ed-Dowleb, who has so long and ineffectually commanded them. It is only' fair, however, to say that he has not really commanded an army in any sense, and his heterogeneous body of brigands have had no common inspiration to match that of the Nationalists. The Persian correspondent of the Times reports in Thursday's paper that Prince Firman Firma has been appointed to take Ain-ed-Dowleh's place.