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'Plan for operations in Turkish Mesopotamia' [‎3v] (6/12)

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The record is made up of 1 file (6 folios). It was created in 1914. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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4
ment for some ten years. The Bani Lam tribe is also reported usually hostile
towards the Turks.
The numbers of the tribesmen in the Basrah vilayat cannot be gauged with
any accuracy. The^ are mostly armed with Martini-Henry rifles, with a sprinkl
ing of Mausers.
For several years the Arabs have been very friendly towards the B itish, and
on several occasions prominent chiefs have come forward with suggestions of a
British protectorate. The Arabs of Basrah and the neighbourhood appear to bo
usually ill-disposed torwards the Turks.
Important local 10. The Shaikh of Muhammareh in 1911-12 and again in 1912-13 raised a
chiefs. force of between 5.000 and 10 000 Arabs for offensive operations. His interests
are bound up with ours.
The Shaikh of Kuwait could probably raise about 16,000 armed men, of whom
about 4,000 would be mounted on camels.
Other important personages are mentioned in " Field Notes on Lower Meso
potamia the most prominent being Abdul Aziz bin Saud, Wahabi Shaikh of
Najd. He was reported lately to be displaying pro-Turkish sympathies, but on 24th
September 1914 the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. did not consider this
report correct.
Saiyid Talib Bey, Deputy of Basrah, has great influence among the local Arabs.
II,
Diary No.
5822
Authority-
British
ambassadDr
at Con
stantinople.
Diary No.
6189
Authority-
British
Consul-
Muhammareh
Latest information indicates that Turkish troops
near the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. are distributed as
follows:-
At Basrah
At Subair
Distributed between j?ao )
and Xhor Abdul la and along )
the ^ubair-Kuwait road
Total number of troops
Also
GrUns
On Shamshuraioh island
At Fao
E battalions
1 battalion
2 infantry
regiments.
3600 infantry
1000 gendarmes.
2 batteries
1 or2 batteries
At Dabba Islanrl opposite ) 300 men
/he moutA o.- the Karun ) and 4 puns.
River. )

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Content

The file is a report, compiled by the Army Headquarters and printed in 1914 at the Government Monotype Press (Simla), regarding planning for operations in Turkish Mesopotamia (Iraq). The report has been compiled on the basis of the latest information available and with approval of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.

The report is divided into two sections. The first section, entitled 'Information' (folios 2-3), gives topographical and geographical information concerning Iraq, as well as details concerning supplies, telegraphic communications, naval and military strength, the local Arabs of Mesopotamia, and important local chiefs. A further paragraph (number 11 on folio 3v) has been pasted into the report after printing. The second section, entitled 'Plan' (folio 4), sets out a plan of operations for the occupation of Basrah [Basra] and the Shatt-al-Arab [Shaṭṭ al-‘Arab], as part of Britain's general scheme of military action against Turkey. Details are given regarding the strength of Turkish forces, landing at Umm Qasr, local chiefs, clothing and tentage, special equipment, transport, and supplies.

The file also includes a map, 'Lower Mesopotamia', on folio 5, which is referenced in the text of the report.

Extent and format
1 file (6 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

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English in Latin script
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'Plan for operations in Turkish Mesopotamia' [‎3v] (6/12), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/86, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023628181.0x000007> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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