"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. المجلد IV". [ظ‎‎٣‎٥] (٥٤٠/٧٥)

46 HISTORY OF THE WAR: MESOPOTAMIA
to provide from Europe a fourth machine gun company for
each of the six infantry divisions in Mesopotamia.
On the 26th, General Maude explained, in reply, that he
had been considering the future rather than the present, as
owing to the distances involved and the time required to
organise and move troops it seemed advisable to look well
ahead Except for the Russian lapse he was absolutely satisfied
with his position. The enemy’s concentration was evidently
being much delayed. His railhead had only reached Nisibin
it the beginning of September, his river communications
were insufficient for a large force and his land transport would
have to contend with long distances and indifferent roads.
Moreover, the moral of the Turkish troops was generally low,
and there was evidence that our blockade was making it
difficult for them to obtain local supplies. On the other hand,
our own communications, in spite of obvious difficulties, were
working smoothly and satisfactorily , rail, river and land
transport were well organised, while supplies, stores and
munitions were ample ; the fighting spirit of our troops was
very high; and the development of Basra port facilities
promised well. The additional cavalry brigade would be most
useful and he would be glad of four 6 -inch howitzer batteries
if available. In conclusion he said that he realised fully the
undesirability of stinting France to fulfil his requirements,
and he only wished to represent his views as regards the future
in sufficient time.
On the 27th and 28th September the Commander-in-Chief
in India telegraphed to the Chief of the Imperial General Staff,
saying that he could send practically all the troops required
for a new division, except artillery, to reach Mesopotamia
early in 1918. It did not appear as if Falkenhayn could
develop superior strength against General Maude in 1917, but
as soon as railhead reached Mosul he might be able to do so
and restrict General Maude’s area of manoeuvre by pinning
him to the positions covering Baghdad. To counter this,
General Maude would certainly require reinforcements in 1918.
Recruiting in India was so good that they would shortly begin
there the formation of nine of the twenty-one new infantry
battalions which he had mentioned in July ; and by the greater
development of mechanical appliances he might be able to
free a few more units from India for overseas. He also hoped
that the Chief of the Imperial General Staff would soon see his
way to withdrawing the Indian troops from East Africa and
thus enable India to devote her resources to the increasing