'Blue Book. Paraphrased telegrams' [‎37r] (73/189)

76 fcont)
13
77.
It is presumed that 12th Brigade will not he able to
reach Muhammerah before 7th Feby and this may be too
late for protection of oil fields and pipe line in
▼iew of jehad and reported movements of enemy. Would
it not be possible,in order to support Bakhtiaris and
friendly Arabs who may otherwise lose confidence in us,
to send say 2 battalions and a few pama mountain guns
on steamers to Ahwaz? That place would be a good de
fensible position and action would give confidence to
Sheikh and his ifhnjhft—ma followers whom Turkish raid
is more likely to impress by its numbers than by its
military value. Admiralty is being asked to send Odin
back to the Shatt-el-Arab and War Office has been
pressed to replace 12 th Brigade by troops from England
so that you may reinforce Barrett up to equivalent of
two divisions • Please give me your views and state
action proposed.
78
In reply to your telegram of the 29th Jany although
12 th Brigade in arriving at Muhammerah on 7 th Feby
may be too late to protect oil installation we con
sider that our first object should be the crushing of
any attacks on Kurna and Basra whixh if successful
would involve loss of oil fields. We think therefore
that decision as to Ahwaz ahould be left to judgment
of Barrett who is in the best position to say whether
he is strong enough for operations in that direction.
*f reinforcements can be sent we should prefer the
return of one of our own Indian divisions.