"أوراق متعلقة بلجنة بلاد الرافدين من غرفة السير إ. بارو" [ظ‎‎٤‎٣‎١] (١٣٨٦/٨٧٣)

Developments came quickly. Tlie Arabs in the Kanm Valley rose in
rebellion against the Sheikh of Miihainmerah. On the 17th Sir Anlmr
Darrctt reported that he had sent a column under Brigadier-General
Delamain to check the Turkish advance north-west of Shaiha. On the sai'ie
date skirmishes were reported II miles north-west of Ahwaz hetu-ei r'eor
cavalry patrols and Arabs. The pipe line was cut in several places and tile
manager at the Abadan works reported that the supply of oil stored r
Abadan would he cxhaus'ed before the middle of March " Each dav thin's
looked blacker. On the 21st February, Army lleadq.ua, ie, s Vn Imfia
telegraphed that d,000 lurks with 18 guns and numerous Arab horsemen'
irom Aasariyeh were approaching Basra from the north-west Lord Crew-
accordingly on the 23rd telegraphed to the Viceroy an expression of his
opinion that J'orce ‘1) ’ should lie at once increased to a strength of two
divisions hj... l„..,„x. Hemforcenn nts, however, took time to arrive and
meanwlnle there was tighting both in the Karim Valley and near Shaiha.
11- miles west of Basra. Altogether tne situation appeared critical
12. On the 7th March, in compliance with the orders of the Secretary of
State, the Viceroy reported that he was sending the 33rd Brigade from
rmlm By the 10th March the Mar Office had made arrangements for the
despatch of an Indian Brigade from Egypt. This with the 12th and
33id Brigades practically constituted the Second Division for which Lord
C iewe had so repeatedly pressed. There was now some prospect of our
having sulhcieirt forces to meet the various dangers which loomed in front
ot us. Happily tne karun danger had partially dissipated itself and we
escaped further senons trouble in that direction. Meantime the menace
lioni t.io Jiiiplnates side was rapidly increasing*.
On the 1 st April we were informed tliat°the Government of India had
tr Toll V VC01 "rif l n e ^'^“potamia and had appointed General
bn John kixon to the Gommand. On the «Jth that oflieer landed at Basra
and General Barrett was invalided home.
iheVdilml' li . tll? " d l3 . ,lltllere '™s considerable fighting round Shaibn. On
Armv put to Sr v ,'‘i u ."'' V ol was gained and the whole, Turkish
'i 1 I 1 .i’ 1 ,' 1 nilsdvrilhant engagement resulted in elearino- w hat
may be styled the delta oi the Shatt-el-Arab of all Turkish or Arab enemies.
13. The timely advent of the 12th Brigade enabled General Barrett
to sem a sufficient force to stem the Turkish offensive on the Kanm
of ShaO- hn ?he 01 veT' tlm h an f V i l ° £ "’G 0 * Bri g ade 011 ll ‘ e battlefield
oi y-atUi in the vuy nick of time at the crisis of the fight converted
a doubtful defensive engagement • into a brilliant victory. Basra and
Mubammerah were saved and our oil interests secured. For more than
a >eai since then this region has enjoyed peace and prosperity Our
strong position at Kurna had effectually stopped the Turkish advance
t U raf/fT 1 ! 13 w . hlle 1 ? ur milltar y occupation of tiic Karun Valley secur'd
the salet.v ot the pipe line. Had the extra Division not been added'iml
we contented ourselves with the passive defence of Basra, we should not have
.'-'[O'bf the prestige of the victories at and near Shaiba while the
I Ur ,vs would have been able to move by the Tio-rG linp r i:„ 0 ri ’
combination with flanking attacks both by tbe & Euplirates and 111
r I t? K y-d* I1 G Bakhtiaris^and Arabs wmrlEcertainl^have
wrecked the oil-fields and pipe line, and it is not too much to say diat wt
mig-il have suffered an irreparable disaster. S *' tl at
(c) 11 hy ice went lo Kvt-cl-Amara and Nasiriych.
sVtement mb^nl'amb-'hisbfieatTondor'^ t0 f<)r ^
military policy of the cCpa gn hr k fb 1 ? 7 ^ G 6 "’ « 8 t,le eutire
controllei 1 , by the instrZT
out from Kurna onwards the initiative ami tlm k c ar - ot feLate ’
.0 >h. o, a s;l