![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [‎40r] (84/442)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000214/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3294_0084.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [‎40r] (84/442)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [40r] (84/442)
The record is made up of 1 volume (217 folios). It was created in 12 Jan 1918-28 Feb 1918. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Telegram P. 5 No. 158-S., dated 16th February 1918. APPENDIX 339
(Received in War Section, 17th February 1918.) [Dy- No. 13035)
From—-The Viceroy (Foreign and Political Department), Delhi,
To—The Secretary of State for India, London.
(Repeated to His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran; and Sir P. Cox, Baghdad.)
According to our appreciation of situation there appears no present likeli
hood of Turco-German thrust into North-West Persia. Apart from military
considerations mentioned in Commander-in-Chief s telegram llo25, February
12th to Chief of the Imperial General Staff, it is unlikely for political reasons
that Germany, now posing as liberator of Persia, would undertake such an
advance unless to attack and eject troops sent by us into this area. Thus im
mediate danger reduces itself to enemy agents and acts of brigandage. Against
these Persian Cossacks whether under Russian or British officers should be
adequate [vide Marshall's telegram X.-6505, February 12th {Dy. No 11908), to
Chief of the Imperial General Staff]. Germans moreover in view of failure ol
their former missions will probably not attempt much in this direction,
particularly if a more friendly Persian Government and people is won for us by
liberal policy. If force is to be used it would have to be on scale sufficient
completely to overawe country ; and as Russian co-operation appears out of the
question it vould have to be supplied entirely by ourselves. It is only on
strongest political grounds that such a diversion could be justified. To us there
appear the strongest political objections. In default of serious provocation,
and it would be difficult to shew its existence—such a measure would finally
discredit ns with Persia and bring on us odium of whole Moslem world. It
would obviously make impossible existence of any real Persian Government and
in Afghanistan where our action against neutral Moslem State whose integrity
we have guaranteed, would undoubtedly be misrepresented and it would excite
liveliest suspicions. We trust that a measure which, apart from military objec
tions and transport difficulties, is open to such objections will not be sanctionea
merely for the sake of dealing with possible enemy intrigue, before giving a
fair trial to policy of conciliation, coupled with maintenance of existing
Persian forces, viz., South Persia Rifles and Persian Cossacks.
Necessity of early decision as to definite policy to be pursued is emphasised
by case of Sulaiman Mirza {vide General Officer Commanding, Force 6< DV’
telegram to Chief of the Imperial General Staff, X.-6549, February 16th
{Dy. No. 12628). Every day’s delay makes the policy of conciliation we strongly
advocate less practicable.
This is with reference to Mailing’s telegrams 99-F, and 103-P,, February
12th {Dy. Nos 12196 and 12205). '
Record copy to G S. (M, 0. 3).
Copy to M. S. C, A. G., Q. M. G., G. S. (M. O. 1).
Telegram P., No. X.-6564, dated ] 6th February 1918.
(Despatched 9-30 a,m, received 8-30 p.m., ]6th February 1918.)
p 10m —The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D," Baghdad,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Delhi.
Your 12460- February 15th.
My X.-5874. Begins : Reference your 49090-Cipher-S. D.-2, dated Jan-
uary 1st.
Base—
1 D. D. 0. S.
1 D. A. D. 0. S. (Ordnance officer, 3rd class).
1 temporary Ordnance officer.
G H i D. o s.
1 A. D. O. S.
2 D. A. D. 0. S. (Ordnance officers, one 3rd and one 4th class).
L. of C.—
1 D. D. 0. S.
Advance Ordnance and ammunition depdts—
1 C. O. o.
1 Ordnance officer (3rd class),
1 I. 0. 0, (4th class).
APPENDIX 340
(By. No. 13010)
About this item
- Content
The volume contains a chronological list of brief summaries of papers relating to the activities of the Indian Expeditionary Force D (also known as the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force) between 15 and 28 February 1918. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, tables, memoranda, and letters.
An index to the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3293. The volume concerns:
- Military personnel issues, including: recruitment, reinforcements, and promotions
- The supply of food, construction materials, oil, ordnance, and other items to Force D
- Shortages of copper, brass, and iron in India
- River and road traffic in Mesopotamia
- Evacuation of sick and wounded Force D soldiers
- Attitudes of the residents of Basrah [Basra] to British occupation
- Approval of a scheme to dredge Lake Hammar
- British aerial bombardment of enemy camps near Hit
- Arrest of Sulaiman Mirza [Sulaymān Mīrzā A title of honour originally applied to princes, later to military leaders, and later still to secretaries, chieftains, and other ‘gentlemen’. ] by British troops near Khanikin [Khanaqin]
- Movement of Turkish [Ottoman], Austrian, and German military units
- Conversion of Mesopotamian river fleet and railways to use oil instead of coal
- Proposal for Force D to adopt a ‘purely defensive role’ in Mesopotamia and support the British offensive in Palestine
- Construction of telegraph lines and railways in Mesopotamia and Persia [Iran]
- Location and number of prisoners of war captured by the Russian Army
- Matters relating to Dunsterforce, including: departure of officers, soldiers, and motor vehicles from Baghdad to join Dunsterforce; retreat of Dunsterforce to Hamadan due to Bolshevik and Jangali [Jangalī] opposition; and proposals for British military action against the Jangali forces in Gilan
- Proposed occupation of key roads in Persia by British troops
- Negotiations between British representatives and the Persian Government
- Efforts by the British to ‘secure co-operation between Kurds and Armenians’ in Persia
- Reports of ‘disorders and small massacres’ between Muslims and Armenians in the Caucasus, and Armenian concerns about imminent ‘massacres on a large scale’.
The volume also contains:
- Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of: lines of communication; and general organisation (ff 171-176)
- Strength return of Force D on 1 December 1917 (ff 136-142), 8 December 1917 (ff 145-151), 15 December 1917 (ff 206-213), 5 January 1918 (ff 6-8), 12 January 1918 (ff 16-18), 19 January 1918 (ff 48-50), 26 January 1918 (ff 155-156)
- Report of number of pilots, balloon officers, and aircraft available for service in Mesopotamia, 14 February 1918 (f 11), 21 February 1918 (f 97)
- Returns of sick and wounded dated 2 February 1918 (ff 19-20), 9 February 1918 (ff 83-84)
- State of supplies on 9 February 1918 (ff 20-22), 16 February 1918 (ff 76-77, 118-119), 23 February 1918 (ff 195-196)
- Ration strength of Force D, 12 January 1917 (ff 30-36), 19 January 1918 (ff 157-160), 26 January 1918 (ff 36-39), 2 February 1918 (ff 152-154)
- Distribution of the Turkish Army dated 19 February 1918 (ff 66-68), 26 February 1918 (ff 185-187)
- Distribution Report showing number and condition of motor vehicles with Force D, January 1 1918 (ff 108-117).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (217 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 219; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 3-217; these numbers are printed and are located in the bottom centre of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Dimensions: 21 x 33 cm
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [40r] (84/442), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3294, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100140957926.0x000055> [accessed 2 January 2025]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3294
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:218v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence