'Blue Book. Paraphrased telegrams' [‎29r] (57/189)

51.
©
45 (cent)
Pioneers; Signal Company and Hospitals.Remainder of
division will sail very shortly.
46.
Your telegram of 31st Oct and mine of 9 th lov.
General Barrett^ troops will reach Shatt-el-Arab
from about 15th and remainder of division about
28th Hovw. He has discretion to advance on Basra
if after consulting Delamain he considers that his
present force is sufficiently strong.
47.
On a rei)ort that Saihan was occupied by about 1000
of the enemy I sent 3 battalions and 2 Mountain Bat
teries supported by H M S /Odin and Espiegl e to
attack under the comnauid of Brigadier General Del-
^’^^f*** Our troops inflicted severe losses on the
enemy whose entrenched camp was taken in a very
creditable manner.We captured 2 machine guns and
some prisoners including a Turkish Major.
48.
Please congratulate F 0 rce "!)" on its success of the
16th. As Cabinet have decided that Basra shall be
immediate objective I presume that if military and
political situation is favourable you will now
instruct Barrett to advance on that place.Otherwise
he should mwait reinforcements. It is desirable
tha- Barrett should take all possible steps to con
ciliate Arabs and that Basra should be treated not
as an enemy but as a friendly town f every effort
being made to restore confidence.
49.
All troops except two lield Batteries have now ar
rived and have been disembarked. I am about to ad
vance along Turkish bank of river ** with object
of safeguarding Sheikh of Muhammerah who is being
threatened by Turks.I expect resistance.