'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎245v] (496/1386)

12
'On the lOtli December it was reported that the Tuhkisli garrison at Basra
had mostly retired towards Suk-es-Shnyukh and Nasiriyah on the Euphrates.
With reference to this a telegram was sent to the Viceroy on the 14th De
cember asking him for his views as to the practicability of sending a force
to eject the enemy and occupy the district, and the two following telegrams
show that with the British force then in Mesopotamia any^immediate
extension of our sphere of action was considered undesirable.
“Telegram from Viceroy, dated 2nd January 1915.
“H. 2705. Your unnumbered telegram dated 14th December, regarding occupation of
Nasiriyah district, lias been considered, and up to the present our information is not sufficient’to
justify a final decision.
“ \Ye realise that a permanent occupationof Nasiriyah would consolidate our political position
south of Euphrates, but our information as to actual military value of the place is at present
scanty, and the question is complicated by recent reports from Egypt to the effect that the
Turkish troops from Mosul and Baghdad are returning from Syria. "This may lead eventually
to otir having to face superior numbers in Mesopotamia, and as we have no troops available to
reinfol-de our-Divi&ion there, we must be most careful not to disseminate our force without
strong military reasons, by pushing troops up to place, which, once occupied, we cannot again
evacuate withdut great loss of prestige. We would also remark that an advance on Nasirnah
would take us directly towards Kerbela and Holy Places, which might be used by Turks tc
excite religious opposition. Further, we should like Cox to meet Bin Saood or for us to hear
more from Shake spear as to his attitude and the influence he can exert, before committing
Barrett to a move on Nasiriyah. Meantime, we are taking steps to obtain all information
vve can as to value to the Turks of the Euphrates line of advance and of the value lo us of
Nasiriyah for checking such an advance..
“ For these reasons we should prefer to defer our decision until the situation is dearer V
“ Telegram from Secretary of State for India to Viceroy, Army Department^
dated 5th January 1915.
“ 1507. Your H. 2705. I quite agree in your views. We must await developments.”
^ Prior to the despatch of the last telegram the situation had [taken a
disquieting turn, as will be seen from the telegrams that follow.
“ Telegram from Sir G. Buchanan to Sir E. Grey, dated Petrograd
28th December 1914.
“ No. 854. Following from acting Military Attache :—
“ Information has been received by Russian General Staff that 12th Turkish Corps, winch
moved from Mosul to Aleppo, is at present returning to Mesopotamia on account of occupation
of Basra by us and our movement cm Baghdad.”
*****
“ Telegram from War Office to Chief of the General Staff, India, dated
29th December 1914.
“ No. 2594 Cipher, M.O. 1. (d).
” It is reported by our Military Attache at Sofia that 10,000 Turkish troops are moving
from Constantinople to Baghdad. Information has also been received by the Russian General
Staff to the effect that on account of our occupation of Basra, the 12th Turkish Corps, which
moved from Mosul to Aleppo,, is, returning to Mesopotamia. This corns is estimated at
25,0U0 strong, with 72 old pattern guns. We have informed Egypt.”
PIicsg and numerous oilier reports m tbe same sense made it obvious
that the Turks intended to retrieve the situation in Mesopotamia, and on the
16th January the Commander-in-Chief in India cabled to the War Office
‘‘ 11 0 t 1 ; S * Woilld y° u kindl 7 expedite a reply to my telegram of 6th January
JSo. S. 3/o. J ’
“ The need reinforcements for the Indian Expeditionary Force ‘ D ’ is growing and we
are unable to send more troops from India. We shall therefor* be grateful if you can place
at our disposal the South Wales Borderer e> who are believed to have'been recently engaged in
operations at Tsing-Tao, and any other troops that are available.”
E<iter on the mencice of n 1 urkish attack became still more pronounced
and the need lor early reinforcements presented itself.
The following telegrams elucidate this aspect of the situation.
Telegram from the Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , to the Admiralty,
dated 22nd January 1915.
“ Report received through Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , Persian Gull (Bushire). from Vice-Consul.
Ahwaz, states that information received from Arabs that Turkish force amountino- to 12 000
with 64 guns, two of which are large, is divided into three parts, of which one holds Azair’
another Amara, while third intends, crossing Euphrates and attacking Basra, via Zobcir.
‘‘ Latte f for , ee accompanied by large force of Arabs. 100 Germans are stated to he
accompanying them, of whom six are on board Matmarinv,"