‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 22. PART II. (From 16th to 31st May 1916).’ [‎78r] (160/246)

Steps are being taken to train officers in order to augment the number of
qualified staff officers now in India. It is suggested that you also should take
action to instruct officers in staff duties by attaching them to Headquarters of
formations in the Porce and in this way giving us assistance in providing the
reserve asked for in the latter portion of your telegram No. 148-8-M.-S.
(Dy. No. 53204) of 8th May. It should also now be considered whether in view
of the fact that the 3rd Army Corps is operating under General Headquaters
the present would not be a favourable opportunity for the reduction of the
General Staff at Corps Headquarters to ihe establishment now maintained
in other Expeditionary Eorces, namely, one Brigadier General, General Staff,
one General Staff Officer, 2nd grade, and two General Staff Officers, 3rd grade.
Please also consider whether there are any other staffs which might be reduced
in your force.
Eecord copy to M. S. C.
Copy to M. S. V., G. S. (M. 0. 2, S. D. 1).
Telegram P., No. 173 78-Cipher, dated 25th May 1916. APPENDIX 362
(Despatched 8-55 p.m., received 2 p.m., 26th May 1916.) (Dy. No. 56096)
From—The Director, Military Intelligence, London,
To—The Commander-in-Chief in India.
Your I. G.-2817 (Dy. No. 55752).
There is a possibility that units from the three Austrian Divisions in
Albania and Montenegro are passing through Asia Minor eastwards.
The Germanophile and therefore unreliable Poumanian military attache
at Constantinople reported on 8th May that recently six Austrian battalions
have been sent to Asia Minor to complete an Austrian Division there, and that
this Division should arrive at Baghdad at beginning of June.
Russian report from Athens stated that on 27th April there were 6,000
Austrians at Constantinople. Austrian troops were reported in Constantinople
by a merchant who arrived from that place at Bukharest at beginning of April.
The Turkish Legation at Athens is reported to have spoken on May 21th of
two Austro-German Divisions sent to Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. . Austrian troops were reported
at Smyrna on 12th April.
We admit the possibility of the arrival during next month in Mesopoa-
mia of a weak Austrian division, although we are not yet satisfied that
reliance is to be placed on any of the foregoing reports.
Addressed General Officer Commanding, Eorce “ D, ” repeated Com
mander-in-Chief in India.
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 3).
Copy to M. S. C., M. S. V., G. S. (M. 0. 1, M. 0. 2).
Telegram P., No. 56101, dated 26th May 1916. APPENDIX 303
(Despatched 7 f.m.) (Tty. 56101)
From—The Commander-in-Chief in India,
To—The Director, Military Intelligence, London.
Your 17161-Cipher (Dy. No. 55984), dated 25th May.
It is regarded, under present circumstances, that Persian land lines are
free from sustained interruption and reasonably safe. How long this condi
tion will continue, however, it is impossible to say.
Record copy to G. S. (M. 0. 3).
Copy to M. S. C., E. & P.
Telegram P., No. 56128, dated 26th May 1916. APPENDIX 304
(Despatched 8 p.m.) (Tty. No. 56128)
From—The Chief of the General Staff,
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” Basrah.
Reference your telegrams No. 1172-12-31-A. {Dii. No. 55605) of 23rd May
and No. 1359-6-A. (Dij. No. 55S03) of May 21th.