File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎144r] (298/995)

I
5
Telegram—Cypher. Clear Line.
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—Secretary of State for India, London, repeated to Foreign, Simla,.
H.M.’s Minister, Tehran, High Commissioners, Constantinople, Cairo and
J erusalem.
No. 9751.
Dated 13th August, 1920.
Situation has developed unfavourably during past 48 hours. Attempt
was made on the 11 th to ambush A.P.O., Tel Afar, who was parleying with
Shammar supported by three squadrons of Cavalry : tribesmen treacherously
opened tire on cavalry escort who returned tire with good results.
Secondly : Attempt was made on the 12th to ambush Political Officer,
Arbil, on his way to Fa wand uz to meet Saiyid Taha : P.O. was accompanied by
Levy Officer and got away with assistance of tribal escort but he considers that
attempt was probably first move in preconcerted revolutionary scheme owing
to growing spirit of disorder amongst tribes.
Thirdly : It is reported that Lt.-Col. Leachman was ambushed and killed
on August 12th near Fallujah.
Fourthly: It has become necessary to withdraw A.P.O. from Qalat
Sikar. As a result of this step it is I fear inevitable that A.P.O.s Hai and
Shatrah will also be forced to leave, and this in turn will react unfavourably
on situation both on Tigris and Euphrates.
Fifthly: At present there is no sign of disturbances in Sulaimaniyah
Division itself but country on Persian side of frontier is greatly disturbed and
it is not improbable that it will spread across border as soon as it is realised
that we are unable to detach forces in this direction.
Sixthly : Situation in Samawah also threatening.
Seventhly : Political Officer, Balqubah, has been compelled to evacuate
that place as a result of tribal rising which column was not successful in sup
pressing and it must be assumed that Shahraban and Khaniqin will shortly
follow suit as there are no troops there and our communications with Persia
are thus severed.
Eighthly : G.O.C.-in-Chief is doubtless addressing War Office on mili
tary aspect; I need only say that I think we must now act on assumption that
disorder will shortly become general and we must be prepared for further
withdrawals.
Ninthly: Once Civil Administration lias been thus compelled precipi
tately to evacuate a district it will be difficult if not impossible to restore it
except by military operations in the district affected, and as there is no imme
diate prospect of this and as civil revenues cannot afford to maintain employees
for any length of time who are not doing productive work I am commencing to
send back to India considerable numbers of employees on Civil Departments,
particularly Irrigation Works, Posts and Telegraphs.
Addressed 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. , repeated Foreign, Simla, Tehran, Constantinople,
Cairo and Jerusalem.
Telegram—Cypher. Clear Line.
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—Secretary of State for India, London, repeated to Simla, Tehran, Consta r-
tinople, Cairo, Jerusalem.
No. 9889.
Dated 16th August, 1920.
My telegram of 13th August, 9751.
I regret to have to report further unfavourable developments. Refugee
Camp at Ba c qubah has been attacked. Ba‘qubah itself has been sacked by riff
raff of town assisted by tribesmen. Shahraban and Qizil Rabat have been
sacked and A.P.O. and Levy Officers captured or killed. At Khaniqin Govern
ment offices and house of A.P.O. have been burnt and A.P.O. with his wife and
children have been forced to take refuge at Railhead. A.P.O. at Daltawah is
in his house but no longer in authority. Our detachments at Qara Tappah and
at Qaraghan (the latter being the junction of the Kifri line with the main
line from Baghdad to Persian frontier) are surrounded and various bridges
have been burnt. Our detachments at Kifri and Kirkuk are thus cut off and
it will not be possible to supply them or extricate them for some considerable
time to come.
Our detachments at Ramadi and Fallujah are cut off from Baghdad. Situ
ation is obscure owing to absence of telegraphic communication by land wire
or wireless, but there is little doubt that the Division is in an uproar.
The evacuation of Mosul Wilayet may in my opinion shortly be forced
upon us. Withdrawal of our force from that Mace is 5 most difficult operation
but it may not be impossible of accomplishment without serious loss of life if