'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎60v] (125/454)

100 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
will take such military and political action as you think feasible
to strengthen your position and if possible occupy Basra."
The “ plans of operation " prepared by the General Staff in
India were based on the latest available information, which it
was noted might require revision. Owing to the state of
affairs when these instructions were issued, it was impossible to
define exactly what the force might have to do, and accordingly
three alternative plans were sent. It was, however, stated
that it was to be clearly understood that these plans were not
intended to fetter the discretion of the officer commanding
as to the action he might consider best calculated to carry the
intentions of Government into effect.
In addition to a summary of specially relevant portions of
the topographical and other information contained in “ Field
Notes* on Lower Mesopotamia,” these plans gave an estimate
of the existing Turkish military strength in Mesopotamia.
This was placed at about 10,000 regular troops, including 1,200
sabres, with 114 guns and 6 machine guns, which the inclusion
of reservists might increase to 15,000 men. It was thought
that not more than 8,000 rifles, 500 sabres, 58 guns and
6 machine guns could be concentrated at Basra, in which
neighbourhood the latest information indicated the following
distribution :—f
Basra.—Two infantry battalions (belonging to the 26th
and 112th Regiments);
Zubair.—One infantry battalion (112th Regiment);
Fao-Hor Abdullah; Zubair-Kuwait.—Two infantry regi
ments (113th and 114th Regiments);
totalling about 3,600 infantry and, in addition, 1,000 gendar
merie. There were reported to be two batteries of guns on
Shamshamiya island (where the Turks had made preparations
to block the channel of the Shatt al Arab), one or two batteries
at Fao, and four guns at Dabba island near the mouth of
the Karun river. The document then went on : “ None of
the troops in Mesopotamia are well trained. The infantry are
hardy and are good natural soldiers. They are armed with
Mauser rifles of two or three different patterns. The artillery *
* This handbook, issued to all units of the force, had been compiled in
September 1914 by the General Staff in India from material supplied by
the War Office, supplemented by local information. It was subsequently
replaced by later editions giving the fuller information that had been
obtained locally. .
f Information from Turkish sources indicates that the total force availabe
in Mesopotamia comprised about 17,000 rifles, 400 sabres, 44 guns, an
3 machine guns; of which 4,700 rifles, 18 guns, and 3 machine guns were
concentrated in the vicinity of Basra. (See Appendix VI, p. 352.)