‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 22. PART II. (From 16th to 31st May 1916).’ [‎110r] (224/246)

I conclude that 6th Turkish Army may be reinforced by 2 Turkish divi
sions with some batteries of German or Austrian heavy artillery and large
Arab drafts for weak 35th Division, and possibly for Murattab Division or
Khanikin line.
One of these 2 divisions is the 6th Division, completed by the 22nd Regi
ment, and it is thought that the greater part of it is now in the area.
Another Baghdad letter dated 20th May refers to 2 divisions from Cons
tantinople and Caucasus, latter presumably being 6th Division, and consensus
of prisoners’ statements indicates that these 2 divisions are Turkish troops.
My LG.-2502 and I.G.-2752 quoted above reported the expected arrival
of Austrian or German heavy artillery and prisoners’ statements confirm it.
Arrival of 5 12 "5 centimetre howitzers and 415 centimetre guns was reported
in Baghdad letter referred to in my I.G.-2877 (Dy. No. 557£9).
The appointment of a German Colonel to command heavy artillery of
Tigris Army lends further support to the idea re German and Austrian artillery.
It is recently stated by an agent from Baghdad that troops from Aleppo are
expected there, and these would be the Arab drafts above referred to. The
move of Austrian troops and the advent of German or Austrian batteries, to
gether with internal relief movements in Asia Minor and drafts of Arab troops
are in my opinion the cause of the report of 4 several sources of reinforcements
of 2 divisions, which would make a total of 8 divisions, if taken literally,
instead of the 2 to which I believe the reinforcement is at present limited. It
is not likely that Khalil would have given up Sjnn position and transferred
troops towards Khanikin from Tigris line if reinforcements on a very large
scale were shortly expected. Please comment above conclusion and remarks.
Was the publication of Reuters referred to in my telegram of 24th May,
Ko. I. G.-2877 {By. No. 55739), permitted with some special object from a
wider point of view, as other things being equal the publication of such views
has an undesirable effect here, and I suppressed it ?
Addressed Director, Military Intelligence ; repeated India, and G. IT. Q.,
Egyptian Expeditionary Porce.
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. 17281-Cipher, dated 29th May 1916. APPENDIX 406
(Despatched 1-55 p.m., 29th May 1916, received 4-15 a.m., [Du No. 56738)
30th May 1916.)
Prom—The Director, Military Intelligence, London,
To—The Commander-in-Chief in India.
My 15722 of 24th April and 15858 of 28th April {By. Nos. 50401 and
51076). r \ v
The distribution as given by Marsh for May 18th is in the same seven
groups. In all there are 36 squadrons, 178 battalions and 7,000 irregulars. In
the first group there are 34 battalions, namely, in Khorosdagh section 5 all non
regulars. Gumushkhanah section 29 battalions (?) 3 irregulars, 1 of 102nd
Regiment, 3 of 28th Regiment, 1 of 8th Regiment, 3 each of 101st and 100th
and 54th Regiments, 6 of 33rd or 18th Divisions and in reserve 6 of 99th, 97th
and 52nd Regiments.
In the 2nd group there are 60 battalions, viz., 18 in Ispir section compris
ing 9 frontier battalions, 4 each of 30th and 29th Regiments and a battalion of
gendarmerie. In the Kop section 30 made up of 4 each of 60th and 46th
Regiments, 3 each of 96th, 95th, 94th, 90th, 88th and 87th Regiments and one
battalion of gendarmerie {Note —there is an apparent omission of 3 battalions of
the 89th Regiment). Twelve in the neighbourhood of Baiburt (destined) for
1st and 2nd groups comprising 5 of 102nd, 98th and 53rd Redments, 2 sappers
battalions, 2 gendarmerie battalions and 4 of the 4th Regiment. In the 3rd
group are 30 squadrons, and 37th battalions, south-west and west of Mamak
Hatun 5 squadrons each of 25th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 24th Cavalry Regi
ments and 23 battalions made up of 3 of each of 93rd, 92nd, 91st, 84th, 83rd,
51st, 50th and 49th Regiments, 1st and 3rd sapper battalions and 2 unidentified
recently arrived (Ante— there is apparently an omission of 3 battalions : of the
82nd Regiment). There are 3 each of the 85th and 86th Regiments in reserve.
The 4th group consists of two each of 106th and 107th Regiments, 1 frontier
and 2 gendarmerie battalions. 19 battalions and 2,000 Kurds are in the 5th
group, viz., in Mush section 8 battalions comprising one of 13th Regiment, 3 of
17th Regiment, 1 gendarmerie and 3 probably militia with Osman Nuri Ley as
commander. There are 11 battalions and 2,000 Kurds in the Bitlis section
made up of 3 of 13th Regiment and 4 each of 15th and 14th Regiments. The