'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [249r] (503/1386)
The record is made up of 1 file (687 folios). It was created in 1915-1918. 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
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19
“ J aking Maskat and tjie
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
together we can draw nothing from there. The
102nd are so inefficient from fever that we must withdraw and replace them. The 3hth must
take up all the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
detachments which in the present position of affairs cannot hr
Reduced and may have to be strengthened. Mussulman troops are in the main averse from
fighting 1 urks and cannot be sent freely to Barrett while we cannot be sure what their
attitude would be if called on to fight Mussulmans on the Frontier when a Jehad was being
preached. It is therefore difficult to spare Hindus of any class. It seems to us that those
an ho are directing the strategy of the Empire should give the situation in Mesopotamia their most
careful consideration. A defeat there would be disastrous to our position in Asia and withdrawal
from that country which might be ordy alternative would be little better. While we fully
recognise the great issues in Europe we cannot ( h ) in East Africa as in any way vital compared
to those in Mesopotamia. Such information as reaches us from East Africa seems to show th;ut
there is no serious threat to British East Africa. The withdrawaT of one brigade of good
tioops from East Africa still leaves seven battalions there, most of them, it is w true, of inferior
quality, but still capable of being useful on the defensive.' A certain amount of pressure
f i om the Belgian Congo seems to be contemplated, and with the rainy season about ti>
commence there seems no chance of serious operations against Colony for some time to come.
In these circumstances we would press urgently that the Loyal North Lancashire Jttegiment,
29th 1 unjabig, 2nd Kashmir Bifies, and 13th Rajputs should be sent to Mesopotamia with the
least possible delay. This would leave Wapshare the 98th, 101st, 130th Baluchis, 61st, 63rd,
• >id Kashmir Rifles, and the Gwalior, Jhind, Bharatpur, Kapurthala and Rampur infantry,
pesides his local white volunteers, the King s African Rifles, his other local troops, the
contingent from Rhodesia and the Corps of Frontiersmen of which we have heard. We have
ventured to make these suggestions in view of refusal of our proposal that Indian troops now
VJ kgypt should be returned for the service and the protection of Indian interests in
Mesopotamia and at Aden. Our military resources in India have now' been ieduced to
bed-rock, and we are only able to reinforce Barrett with such items as two battalions which
will be replaced by two battalions from China, the 7th' Hariana Lancers and a second heavy
battery now on their way to Basra, one battery Territorial Artillery, and possible a battalion
of JSabha Imperial Infantry. We share your view that it is imperative that Barrett’s forces
should be increased to two divisions. You are no doubt aware that since the outbreak of war
we have sent overseas six divisions of infantry and nearly three divisions of cavalry, while in
return for 33 battalions of British infantry we have received 35 battalions of Territorial
infanti v of mixed value. India lias, therefore, done her duty ( to the Empire, and it is quite
impossible, in view' of situation on the Frontier and in interior" to do more. It is of no use to
suggest to us that we should take further risks in India. We have heavy responsibilities
towards European and native population that cannot be lightly set aside. " Our conclusion
therefore, is that though we are at one with you in thinking that Barrett’s force should be
increased to at least two divisions, we are unable in consequence of our generosity towards
His Majesty s Government in the early stages of the war to find the necessary "troops to
complete them, and that responsibility rests with His Majesty’s Government not merely to
find the necessary additional troops, but for any consequences that may arise due to their
refusal to allow India the use of her own troops to protect her own interests.” *
On the 4th March, General Barrett reported the unfortunate result of a
econnaissanoe hi foice sent out from Ahwaz. In this affair we were driven
lack with the loss of two guns and oyer 160 casualties. Alarmed bv this
regrettable incident the General hastened the despatch to Ahwaz of much
peeded reinforcements.
On the same date lie reported lighting in the Shaiba direction.
A tclegiam was also leceived from Sir Percy Oox, which described the
geneial situation in Mesopotamia as it then presented itself to the military
and political authorities on the spot.
“ Telegram from Sir P. Cox to the Secretary of State for India, dated
4th March 1915.
■‘No. 382 B. General situation :—
ei UnB I,ltelli g ence sports confirmed by re-commencement of overtures to me by
Sheikhs between Kurna and Amara indicate with little doubt that we have no'serious opposition
to anticipate in that direction for the present. •
“Euphrates hueAccording to military information there are up to now some eiMit
battalions between Nasinyeh and Basra, but of these four battalions and a large but fluctuaW
force of Arabs are established some 16 miles west of Basra, but are believed to have received
instructions not to attack pending the arrival of more troops. Attack on Basra bv this force
may be expected at any time, but their movements admit of their being watched from day to
day so that there is no likelihood of surprise. J
“Karun line: Considerable force of Turks, estimated at about 1,000 together with lame
but fluctuating force of Arabs has established itself 10 miles west of Ahwaz Former appear
to be gradually gaining in strength. As regards this force Turkish Ambassador at Teheran
lias definitely given out that their intention is to outflank us at Basra.
“ General Barrett has done what he found possible locally to prevent situation getting out
of control but I can but gather that grave possibilities of rapidly deteriorating situation
resulting from iurkish intrusion into Arabistan are not yet fully appreciated,
iv described in my telegram No. 354-B has since developed to the followino- extent
Disaffected Bawl have re-occupied Wais. Sheikh of Muhammerah’s force at Ahwaz has been
.considerably reduced by desertions, and Muhaisin who remain have now intimated to Sheikh
M.S. 137. ' D ’ ' ‘ ‘
About this item
- Content
This file contains working drafts of confidential prints, correspondence and telegrams from the room of Sir Edmund Barrow, Military Secretary in the 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. , collected for the Mesopotamian Commission which was convened to examine the causes of the besieging and surrender of the Indian Expeditionary Force in Kut-el-Amara [Al Kūt].
The papers cover a range of topics and include the following: General Townshend's assessment of the situation after the Battle of Kut-el-Amara; a précis of correspondence relating to the origins and development of the Mesopotamia expedition; and a collection (ff 396-399) of private telegrams between the Secretary of State for India and the Viceroy, prior to the outbreak of war with Turkey.
The file also includes some tables showing the strength of General Townshend's force at Ctesiphon (folio 111) as well as the Indian Expeditionary Force 'D' (In Mesopotamia) Troops of the 6th Poona Division (folio 114).
Correspondents include: General Sir John Nixon; Major-General Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend; the Viceroy of India; officials of the Admiralty; officials of the War Office.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (687 folios)
- Arrangement
The entries are recorded in chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 686; 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. Multiple additional mixed foliation/pagination sequences are present in parallel; these numbers are written in crayon and pencil; where they are written in pencil and circled, they are crossed through.
The file has one foliation anomaly, f 374A.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/768
- Title
- 'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:5v, 7r:89v, 91r:107v, 109r:130v, 131ar, 131r:134v, 135ar, 135ar, 135r:136v, 137ar, 137r:203v, 204ar, 204r:225r, 225ar, 225v:295v, 296ar, 296r:316v, 317ar, 317r:374v, 374ar:374av, 375r:405v, 406ar, 406r:562r, 562ar, 562v:623v, 624ar, 624r:686v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence