'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎49v] (103/454)

78 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
days previously, showing the existence there of strong anti-
Russian and anti-British feeling ; he also stated that the
Turkish gunboat Marmariss was deep down in water, steam up
and coaled ready for a long voyage, and that the Vali of Basra
had notified British merchants that he might commandeer all
supplies of coal and oil. On the 15th, the Secretary of State
telegraphed a report of the despatch of Turkish emissaries to
rouse Pan-Islamic anti-British feeling in India ; and in the
next two days 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.
reported that the oil company’s settlement at Abadan was
nervous of being attacked by the Turks and had asked for the
protection of a British war ship ; that all Moslems were very
anti-British ; that emissaries might go from Basra to stir up
trouble in India ; and that the Turks had requisitioned the
coal at Basra belonging to the Euphrates and Tigris Navigation
Company (Messrs. Lynch), whereby mail steamers were
prevented from running.
The situation appeared to call for precautionary action and
the Government of India at first made arrangements with the
Naval Commander-in-Chief for a warship and one hundred
sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. from the Indian infantry detachment at Bushire to
proceed to Abadan for defensive purposes in case of attack
by the Turks. The local officers pointed out, how r ever, that
such action was likely to precipitate a collision with the
Turks and would be disliked by the Shaikh of Mohammerah.
In the meantime reports showed that the attitude of the
Porte had slightly improved ; and as it appeared to the
Government of India to be of the highest importance that
the responsibility for any hostile action should lie with
Turkey even if it were to entail some military disadvantage
or loss, on the 21st they referred the question to the Secretary
of State for the consideration of His Majesty’s Government
and requested instructions. On the same date they sent the
Secretary of State a further telegram saying that Germans of
the Hamburg-Amerika liner Ekbatana were reported as busy
filling an old Turkish lightship with sand preparatory to taking
her down the Shatt al Arab and sinking her in the fairway.
In London the situation was already engaging the attention
of the Admiralty and the 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. , where Admiral Sir E.
Slade, as representing the Admiralty, and General Sir E. Barrow,
the Military Secretary at the 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. , held several
conferences on the subject. On the 18th, the Secretary of
State had telegraphed to the Viceroy asking him to consider,
in view of the possibility of an early rupture with Turkey, what