"دراسة نقدية عن الحملة في ميسوبوتاميا حتى أبريل ١٩١٧: الجزء I - تقرير" [ظ‎‎٢‎٠] (٤٢٤/٤٥)

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CHAPTER III.
The British occupation of the" Basra Vilayet, 1915,
General Sir John Nixon took over command of I. E. F. <£ D " on
the 9th April 1915. General Barrett returned to India, sick. General
Nixon was given a fresh set of instructions. These were given him
by India, without previous reference to the Home Government. The
instructions were as follows :—
I. Your force is intended to retain complete control of the lower
portion of Mesopotamia, comprising the Basra vilayet and
including all outlets to the sea, and such portions of neigh
bouring territories as may affect your operations.
II. So far as you may find feasible, without prejudicing your main
operations, you should endeavour to secure the safety of
the oilfields, pipe line, and refineries of the Anglo-Persian
Oil Company.
III. After acquainting yourself with the situation on the spot, you
will 'submit:—
i. a plan for the effective occupation of the Basra vilayet.
ii. a plan for a subsequent advance on Baghdad.
IV. In all operations you will respect the neutrality of Persia, so
far as military and political exigencies permit.
He was also to submit reports on various points including the amount
of animal transport required, the employment of a light railway,
armoured motor cars, M. T., aircraft, and the adequacy and suitability
of certain river transport, then en route to Mesopotamia. These
instructions were posted Home to the India Office by mail, arriving
on May 2nd. The Viceroy was apparently unaware of the issue of
these instructions.
Comparing the instructions with those issued to General Barrett
(which only contemplated the occupation of Basra city and of a move
ment up stream to safeguard Basra) it is clear that the scope of the
campaign was greatly enlarged. For the Basra vilayet includes both
Nasiriya and Amara, and extends to within a few miles of Kut. It-
should be noted that the safety of the oilfields now takes second
place.
The situation of the Turks on the 15th April 1915 was as follows :—
{a) The Turkish right wing was retreating rapidly towards Nasiriya.
(b) A small force was opposite our Qurna detachment.
(c) A small force was in the Ahwaz direction and was causing the
tribesmen to be restless.