‘The strategic importance of the Euphrates valley railway’ [‎14] (25/204)

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Island of Perim, in the Eed Sea, commanding, as it does, the
entrance to that highway to India; and Aden is as important
and necessary to us in those seas as Gibraltar is in the
Mediterranean: it is our great strategic coaling station be
tween Suez and India. Ceylon is our next point, and then
the Islands of Penang and Singapore, which carry us straight
to our Chinese possessions of Hong Kong, There are yet
two places we ought to have, and, possibly, there are many
here who may live to see the day when we shall have one or
both. One of these islands is Karrack,* in the Persian
Gulf, and the other the famous Island of Candia in the
Mediterranean, not far from Alexandria. You will, perhaps,
ask why we should occupy Candia;* here are some of the
reasons. In the troublous times which are coming, it is more
than probable that, if we don 't occupy Candia, France, Prussia,
or Russia may. Candia occupied by no one is at all events
harmless, but Candia occupied by any Power except ourselves
comes to be a very thorn in our side, in the same way as
Malta or Gibraltar would be. Candia is a position which, in
our hands, would completely command the Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. , and would
be practically impregnable; and from its natural wealth,
♦ " Karrack is. perhaps, the only spot in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. which is in every
way suitable for permanent military occupation. Its small extent—about twelve
or fourteen square miles—and rocky conformation, render it easily defensible;
there are many wells of good water, which other islands, as Ormuz, do not
possess, and half its surface is under cultivation. Though the thermometer
ranges between 95 degrees and 100 degrees Fahrenheit, fevers are almost unknown
here, and it is otherwise the most healthy island in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The great
strategical importance of Karrack is discernible by a glance at the map. Com
manding as it does Bushire, which is clearly visible on the one hand, and the
entrance of the Shatt-ul-Arab on the other, it is the key of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , if
not also of Persia, Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. , and Mesopotamia; while, in the event of the
construction of the projected Euphrates Valley line by British money, its occu
pation by us would be absolutely essential.
" Finally, it is ours by the same international right that Perim is ours. We
only occupied Perim for the first time, between the 3rd of May and the 1st of
September, 1798 ; and notwithstanding the energetic protests of Austria, France,
and Turkey, we reoccupied it in 1857, being only just in time to anticipate the
French Government, which had issued instructions to its naval officers to take
possession. Even more essential is it that we should forthwith occupy Karrack,
as there is no Aden in our possession to dominate the Gulf, and we may find
Russia first in the field; for the Power that has sold the Attreck Valley may
part with Karrack for a consideration."—C. R. Low, Lieutenant, late Her
Majesty's Indian Navy. February 25, 1873.