‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 22. PART II. (From 16th to 31st May 1916).’ [‎92r] (188/246)

telegram P., No. 17238-Cipher, dated 27th May 1910.
(Despatched 6-40 p.m., received 6-30 a.m., 28th May 1910.)
from —The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, ]
To—The Commander-in-Chief in India.
Your 55884 of 25th May.
We are providing air force which on the old establishment is only 4 aero
planes short of 2 squadrons. On account of requirements in other theatres this
is at present the utmost that can he spared. As further supplies become avail
able, the requirements of Force <c D ” will he remembered.
Addressed India, repeated Basrah.
APPENDIX 382
{Dy. No. 56391)
Working copy to G. S. (S. D. 3).
Copy to M. S. C., M. S. V., G. S. (M. O. 1, M. O. 2).
Telegram P., No. 17251-Cipher, dated 27th May 1916. APPENDIX 383
(Despatched 7-85 p. m., received 12-5 p.m., 28th May 1916.) (Dy. No. 56141)
From—The Secretary, War Office, London,
To—The Commander-in-Chief in India.
Telegram as follows sent on 22nd May to Force “ D. ” 'Begins.
Reference your 62-Ordnance (By. No. 55428), dated 22nd May.
Regret that 4* 5 inch howitzer cannot be sent. To replace any of yours
approaching limits of wear we are sending four 5 inch howitzers. Ends.
Working copy to D. G. 0.
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (M. 0. 1, M. 0. 2).
APPENDIX 384
{By. No. 56502)
Memo.No. 114T-1-I.G. (a), dated 9th May 1916.
(Received in War Section on 28th May 1916.)
Irom—The General Officer Commanding, Force <f D,” Basrah,
To—The Chief of the General Staff.
Various persons, suspected of being hostile agents have appeared in Meso
potamia from time to time.
The enclosed list shows the names of these persons, and also the names of
others with whom they are known to have entertained relations.
It is thought that a distribution of the list may facilitate co-operation in
centre-espionage, and copies are sent herewith for such action as you think fit.
Any similar lists in your possession will he gladly received here.
2. It has been found that the statements of suspects regarding their pre
vious movements are often difficult to verify, and this is particularly so when
they refer to places of which we have no local knowledge.
A short list of prominent persons in such as a genuine visitor might reason
ably be expected to have heard of, would greatly assist the Staff of this Force
in checking statements—or the same purpose might be served even better by
small local guide book or directory you could send us.
Working copy to G. S. (M. 0. 3).
Letter No. H.-4446, dated 26th May 1916. APPENDIX 385
(Received in War Section on 28th May 1916.) (By No. 56510)
Prom—The Sec jetary to the Government of India,
To—The Chief of the General Staff.
I am directed to say that the Government of India have had under
consideration a proposal made by the General Officer Commandidg, Indian
Expeditionary Force D,” for the appointment of a Commander and a Staff
Officer for sections of the Lines of Communicatmn Defences in Mesopotamia.