'Mesopotamia. Commission' [‎124r] (250/256)

49
No.
Secretary of State for India to Viceroy. 24/// November 1915.
(Telegra phic.)
Private. IMease communicate following message from me to Nixon if you see no
objection :—
“ 1 have read with admiration your account of great exertions and magnificent fighting
qualities of your troops, and deeply regret, loss of so many gallant ofticei s and men. I
sympathise with you and General Townshend in disappointment of your hopes, hut have full
confidence that yon and forces under your command have done all that was possible
Reinforcements from Egypt already on their way. Others will be sent as rapidly as possible.’’
No.^L^
I iceroy to Secretary of State for India. 2ot/i November 1915,
(Telegraphic.)
Private. In view of check near Bagdad I have agreed to Commander-ind'hief’s proposal
to despatch immediately two brigades of infantry and one of artillery from India as reinforce
ments. This makes us dangerously weak in India. When may 1 expect two divisions to
arrive from France ?
Secretary <j State for Italia to Viceroy, 25/// November 1915.
(Telegra phic.)
Private. Your private telegram of
my official telegram No. .'1156 of 25th
from Bombay.
25th instant. Reinforcements for Mesopotamia. >See
instant. Troops from Egypt are waiting transports
I
General \txon to Secretary of State for India, dated 'loth November 1915.
ISO
(Telegraphic.)
21th November. General Townshend is still in possession of battlefield and is
clearing wounded. He was advancing afternoon, November 24th, with half his force to
assist collection of wounded from advanced trenches. Reports not vet received of completion
of-this task, but his intention was to concentrate his troops in angle of high wall 2 miles
south-east of Ctesiphon. Four heavy Turkish guns have been active from long" range
throughout the day, and also snipers about our right flank, 3 miles north-east of Ctesiphon,
otherwise no Turkish guns or infantry had advanced up to afternoon November 24th, and
only about 300 Arabs have been seen who keep at distance of 2 or 3 miles Two gunboats
advanced up Bustan reach about mid-day, November 24th. About 1,300 prisoners have been
marched into Eajj, and five steamers leave Lajj November 25th, taking down 1,800 wounded
and General Headquarters to Kut. General Townshend’s future dispositions will depend on
evacuation of the rest of the wounded and other factors. Enemy's distribution as reported
by eight air reconnaissances, November 24th, is as follows Enemy is occupying second line
of trenches, and has some 2,000 troops in second line on left bank, with camps iifrear and on
right bank. General d’ownshend reports, 9.30 p.m., that all his information tends to indicate
steady retirement of lurks back to Dialah in order to defend it, and that he has directed
combined air service and cavalry reconnaissance on November 25th to confirm this. Turkish
boa( bridge has been towed up river from Qusaibah at 5 p.m.. November 24th. 1 shall remain
:,t lvi,t to supervise despatch of reinforcements arriving. Second gunboat Butterfly left Basra
November 94th. J cannot speak too highly of the excellent handling of the situation by
General Townshend, and of undimmed spirit of troops after their severe losses and hardships
from want of water and food. The fortitude displayed by wounded, of whom there are about
2,o00, is beyond all praise.
No.Stt*
Secretary of State for India to General Nixon, dated 25/// November 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
War Committee of Cabinet desire you to report fully by telegraph on present situation
and prospects. What is present estimate numbers enemy Ctesiphon and Bagdad ‘t What
reinforcements can he get before you could again attack ? ‘What, if any, troops, additional to
reinforcements and drafts already promised, do you now require to capture and hold
Bagdad? Your estimate should lie on safe side.' If capture of Bagdad has become
impossible, report what position you propose to hold and what troops vou require for the
purpose. 1
No.
General Nixon to Secretary of St ate. for India, dated 26/// November 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
Tigris line. General Townshend’s force is still in position at Ctesiphon. Aeroplan
reconnaissance morning of 25th November established fact that Turks in force are entrenchei
on hue two miles east of Dialah. Three columns seen marching from Qiisaibh towards abov
entrenched position. General headquarters reached Aziziyah evening of 25th November.
S 30(3 q