'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎558r] (1126/1386)

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mail steamer ? Peninsular and Oriental Company have offered to put on a good ship
for me, and everybody in India will understand that 1 am going by-mail steamer as
an exceptional case in' war time when Indian Marine steamers are better employed,
it will be more ^comfortable, and will effect a considerable saving to Government in
cost. /
xSO.
Telegram from Secretary of Stale for India to 1 iceroy, dated
24.th January 1916.
Private. Following issued London, Sunday
“ Take Cypher R. Telegram received from Sir Percy Lake, dated 22nd January,
states that General Aylmer attacked the Turkish position at Kssinn on the 21st. and
fierce fighting continued during the day with varying success. The weather
throughout was atrocious, pouring rain rendering the movement of troops extremely
difficult. .
“ Owing to the floods it was impossible to renew the attack on the 22nd, and
General Aylmer took up a position 1,600 yards from tiie enemy’s trenches. The
weather continues very bad, with incessant ram. 1 lie floods are increasing.
“ No details of the casualties have yet been received, but they are reported to
have -been very heavy on both sides.’
No (d.3
Telegram from General Lakc[Chief of General Staff, Indin, dated
29f/i Jcniuary 1916.
129/320/0. 23th. Tigris line, 28th January. I joined Aylmer’s Headquarters
morning of 28th at junction of Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. with Tigris. Whole of country is deep in mud
rendering movements very difficult. I fully realised that troops have undergone and
are undergoing extreme discomfort under most adverse weather conditions. Aylmer’s
present dispositions are the best he can make under the circumstances pending
arrival of reinforcements. Transfer of troops to right bank referred to in previous
telegrams is being carried out by tugs and barges pending arrival of fresh bridging
material. General indications, 28th, from observation by Townshend and air
reconnaissance, tend to show that enemy is moving force, which may be a Division,
across Hai to right bank of Sinn position. There has been exchange of artillery fire
throughout day. Weather continues cold and threatening. Cannot state at present
when Aylmer is likely to be able to continue his advance. Much depends on weather
and the date when reinforcements by road are able to arrive.
No.6/^
Telegram from Secretary of Stale for India to Viceroy, [date d olst January 1916.
3281. The want of shipping has delayed the despatch of troops from home and
Egypt, but I am satisfied that both War Office and Admiralty are fully alive to the
emergency.
(a) The four Territorial Battajois are completely equipped and ready to leave.
They are very efficient regiments, andT hope you will be able to employ them 'Trans-
Indus as they expected to be sent to France.
{h) The Indian battalions in Egypt are about to embark for India.
(rj The Garrison Regiments still due arc ready for embarkation here when .ships
arc forthcoming.
(d) 2,000 drafts have been got ready to replace recent casualties; ;
I hope the whole of (a), (b) and (J)'will have left by mid-February.
La addition to above, Commander-in-Chief, Egypt, has been warned to get a
Division in readiness to reinforce if need be.
No. C/ 1
Telegram from Viceroy to Secretary of State for India, dated 1st February 1916.
H. 809. Lake, after visiting Aylmer, has sent following :—
“ 8'23 ; 0. 29th January. I had long discussion with Aylmer Upon situatioi
to-dav. His difficulties have been enormous, due to atrocious weather mid th-
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