"بلاد الرافدين. اللجنة" [و‎‎١‎٢‎٠] (٢٥٦/٢٤٢)

No.-m.
General Nixon to Secretary of State for India, dated 10/// October
1 Telegraphic.)
Tigris line Tovvnshend reports on 10th that enemy has pushed forward a detachment,
estimated at l,o(M) men, about seven miles in advance of Ids position at Zeur. He further
reports that hostile force of cavalry and infantry approached Aziziyah from north via
Nam-wan dry canal morning of 10th. General Roberts with three squadrons and half No 0
Battery drove them off with loss of about 20 killed and wounded. Our losses were 1 Dafadar
kdled, 4 Sowars wounded, and 1 missing. Captain Hill. 16th Cavalrv. behaved with
cons pic uo us gallan t r v.
Viceroy to Secretary of State for India, dated 11/// October l!»15.
(Telegraphic.)
Private Advance on Bagdad. I communicated to Nixon message contained in your
private telegram of 9th October, and have received following reply:—“■ 10th October I have
at once communicated Your Excellency’s telegram of 10th to General Townshend, who mav be
trusted not to commit himself without absolute military necessity.”
No. “m*
(reneral Nixon to Secretary of State for India, dated 12/// October 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
I ownshend reports that Turkish detachment pushed forward in advance of Zeur on 10th
was withdrawn back to that place at 2 p.m. 11th. Hoghton, with 17th Brigade, arrived at
Aziziyah 11th. Column consisting of one troop 33rd Cavalry, half '* S ” Battei-v, and one
double company 48th Pioneers, left Kut-al-Amara 12th. due Azizyah 14th. In answer to
query, Egypt wires 7th ‘• continual movement of enemy troops from Syria and Anatolia to
Constantinople, and no signs of anything important going to Mesopotamia,” Reliable
information received here indicates no garrison of any importance in Baghdad, 5th October.
No. 254.
Secretary of State for India to Viceroy, dated 14///, October 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
Private. A question has been raised as to sufficiency of reinforcements asked for 1>\
Nixon or even of two divisions to hold Bagdad against forces which Turks might eventuallv
brnig against him. This is now being considered by General Staff, and Cabinet hope to o-et
their report in three days. Are chances of eventual successful advance prejudiced bv delav f
We continue to attach greatest importance to capture of Bagdad if we can hold it securely. '
No. 20^
Secretary of State for India to Viceroy, dated loth October 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
1 rivate. In continuation of my private telegram of 14th instant. War Office contemplate
transfer of the two Indian Infantry Divisions from France to Egypt with the intention of
placing them at your disposal for Mesopotamia if report of General Staff is favourable to
occupation of Bagdad. But owing to uncertainty of position in the near East and possible
need of transport for other purposes they cannot guarantee date of departure. Under these
circumstances they do not consider that it would be safe for Nixon to advance on Bagdad
>efore these troops have actually started from Egypt unless you can undertake to supply him
temporardy with a division from India in the event of these reinforcements being unavoidably
delayed. I request early reply as to possibility of your undertaking this liability.
No.^iir
Viceroy to Secretary of State for India, dated 15/// October 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
Private.^ Your private telegram of the 14th instant. Reinforcements for Force ‘D.”
Unless the Turks strongly reinforce Bagdad in the meantime, of which we see no iilimodiate
sign, delay will not prejudice the chances of eventual successful advance, though that success
will be more costly owing to longer time at enemy’s disposal for completion of defences.
NO. 204
ILs Majesty's Minister Tehran to Sir E. Grey, dated loth October 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
For last few days Germans have been showing great activity. Great quantities of arms
and ammunition and, it is said, bombs are being imported and the number of German agents
has been increased considerably. Exact figures are of course not to be obtained, bid my
reports show that Germans in comparatively large numbers are constantly arriving, and, 1
think, in all Pei’sia there cainmt be less than 60 Germans, 250 Austrians lums tlv prisoners of
war escaped from Tran seas piajhnd perhaps 50 Turks, renegade Indians, &c;, T with 8,000 rides.
/ or 8 machine guns, bombsyXc. Contemptible as this would be elsewhere, in Persia, with
gendarmerie entirely, and police probably disaffected and with Yellow Press ard all worst
elements in enemy pay, it is formidable. Besides which money is being more lavishly spent
than ever. This spurt is probably due to fear that Bagdad is about to fall into our*hands
which event would interrupt their present relatively easy line of communication with
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