'Blue Book. Paraphrased telegrams' [‎9r] (17/189)

it 1 b obviously desirable to finish him while the opportunity
ie present for militaty reasons* I have hopes of annihilating
him now that he has taken refuge in a position fenafcnst which
we can manoeuvre* I do not see any reason which would
warrant our not taking advantage of such a chance. Bagdad^
from the military standpoint # is the principal Junction in t
the enemy’s line of advance and a contaa fro^m which he
obtains large supplies, which it is vitally important for us
to wrest from him end this is a reason for its occupation
in addition to the political effect that would be caused
thereby.
Bo. 182.
M Please inform me, with reference to my proposal to open the
road to Bagdad by another attack on the ~urks, if, in order
that I may consolidate my position there, anothe division is
to be sent from France to reinforce tm£« Should I subsequent
•tly be oorpelled , owing to want of reinforcements, to with
draw down the river from Bagdad, the effect of its occupation
4
would be more than nullified. I should like to be informed
of the Huseian operations in the direction of Van. Has the
Russian progress there boon sufficient to menace the route
from Asia Minot via the upper Tigris? •••••••••
We are of opinion, taking into consideration the present
oonditio^ns in the Dardanelles and in the Balkans, the
activities of the Germans in Persia and the additional pressure
on Afghanistan, that such an effect would be caused in the
near 3ast by the taking of Bagdad and such greet stwrtegical
and political advantages present thefraelves thereby, that
this operation is Justified on these grounds but the addition
of at least another division is necessary to carry them out.
If this division is not forthcoming then Kut-el-Amara is the
forward limit to which we propose to restrict Kixon.
Bo, 183.
<U
Nixon has been oretred not to advance any further, this was
telegraphed to him yesterday. This is the situation at present
With the troops he now has, Nixon could take Bagdad without