"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. مجلد I" [ظ‎‎٦‎٢] (٤٥٤/١٢٩)

104 HISTORY OF THE WAR: MESOPOTAMIA
Mosul moving towards Erzerum, and there were left at Baghdad
fourteen guns of the 37th Artillery, thirteen model battalions,
five hundred men of the 114th Infantry and nine thousand
reservists, of whom four thousand were without rifles. This
meant that, excluding gendarmerie and new and partly armed
organizations, there was only one regular division, the 38th,
left in Mesopotamia.
On the 31st, General Delamain received from India the news
of the Turkish attack on Odessa, and was warned to be ready
to move at the shortest notice ; and next day there reached
him the Secretary of State’s telegram of the 31st, saying that
war had broken out with Turkey. At this time, the Espiegle
was still at Mohammerah and the Odin was off Fao, outside
the three-mile limit. The orders for the actual operations in
Mesopotamia were despatched by the Admiralty and the India
Office on the 31st. The telegram from the Admiralty w^as
addressed to the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, and the
Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf, and ran as follows : “ Com
mence hostilities against Turkey. Espiegle to deal with the
guns posted opposite the oil-works and to prevent any attempt
to damage them and generally to protect British interests up
the river. The expedition has been ordered to proceed from
Bahrein to the bar. Odin to await the arrival of the expedition
at the bar and to accompany it into the river, first dealing
with the guns at Fao. Dalhousie should remain at Bushire to
maintain communications by wireless until Fao is captured
and the telegraph cable is working again. Steps should be
taken to obtain all the steam tugs in the river and mount small
guns so as to assist the troops. The armed launches should
be concentrated in the river as soon as possible. Ocean to
assist in landing the expedition and to supply small guns for
the tugs. Although it is not probable that mines have been
laid, every precaution should be taken to guard against them.’ 1 '
The Shaikh of Mohammerah must be reassured as to our pro
ceedings and informed that the main object is to keep the river
open and trade free to his towns and territories. That his
position will be amply secured as we have no quarrel either
with him or with any of the Arabs.” The Dalhousie acknow
ledged receipt of this order on the 1st November and reported
its transmission to the Ocean, Odin and Espiegle.
The telegram from the India Office was addressed to the *
* On 1st November, however, the Political Agent, Kuwait, reported that
the Shaikh had received reliable information from his man at Fao of the
arrival of mines there intended for the mouth of the river.