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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎65v] (135/454)

The record is made up of 1 volume (223 folios). It was created in 1923. 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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110 HISTORY OF THE WAR: MESOPOTAMIA
strengthened in this decision by the heavy rain which fell on
the 12th and 13th and which rendered the ground so heavy
and muddy as practically to preclude any military movements^
The force had thus an early illustration of one of the difficulties
of campaigning in Mesopotamia.
On the 13th, transports were reported to have arrived at the
bar and a request for news was received from Lieutenant-
General Sir A. A. Barrett, commanding the 6th Division, who
arrived himself in camp next day and assumed command of
the operations.
In the meantime, the following statement had been published
in London by the Foreign Office, on 1st November:—
“At the beginning of the war the British Government
gave definite assurances that if Turkey remained neutral
her independence and integrity would be respected during
the war and in the terms of peace. In this France and
Russia concurred.
“ The British Government have since then endeavoured
with the greatest patience and forbearance to preserve
friendly relations, in spite of increasing breaches of neu
trality on the part of the Turkish Government at
Constantinople in the case of the German vessels in the
Straits.
“ On Thursday, 29th October 1914, the British Govern
ment learnt with the utmost regret that Turkish ships of
war had without any declaration of war, without warning
and without provocation of any sort, made wanton attack
on open undefended towns in the Black Sea of a friendly
country, thus committing an unprecedented violation of
the most ordinary rules of international law, comity and
usage.
“ Ever since the German men-of-war Goeben and Breslau
took refuge at Constantinople the attitude of the Turkish
Government towards Great Britain has caused surprise
and some uneasiness. Promises made by the Turkish
Government to send away the German officers and crews
of the Goeben and Breslau have never been fulfilled. It
was well known that the Turkish Minister for War was
decidedly pro-German in his sympathies, but it was con
fidently hoped that the saner counsels of his colleagues,
who had had experience of the firm friendship which Great
Britain has always shown towards the Turkish Government,
would have prevailed and prevented that Government from

About this item

Content

The volume is the first volume of an official government publication compiled at the request of the Government of India, and under the direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence, by Brigadier-General Frederick James Moberly. The volume was printed and published at His Majesty's Stationery Office, London.

The contents provide a narrative of the operations of 1914-1918 in Mesopotamia, based mainly on official documents.

The volume is divided into two parts. The first part, entitled, 'Part I. Before the Outbreak of Hostilities', consists of the following five chapters:

  • General Description of the Country
  • The Turks in Mesopotamia
  • British Pre-War Policy
  • The Army in India and Pre-War Military Policy
  • Inception of the Operations

The second part, entitled, 'Part II. The Campaign in Lower Mesopotamia', consists of the following seven chapters:

  • The Landing in Mesopotamia of Force "D" and the Operations Leading to the Occupation of Basra
  • The Occupation of Basra and the Capture of Qurna
  • Commencement of the Turkish Counter-Offensive
  • Development and Defeat of the Turkish Counter-Offensive
  • Operations in Arabistan and the Capture of Amara
  • Operations on the Euphrates and the Occupation of Nasiriya
  • The battle of Kut and Occupation of Aziziya

The volume also includes nine maps, entitled:

  • The Middle East
  • Lower Mesopotamia
  • Map 1 - To illustrate operations described in Chapter VI
  • Map 2 - To illustrate fighting near Qurna
  • Map 3 - To illustrate fighting round Shaiba
  • Map 4 - To illustrate operations in Persian Arabistan
  • Map 5 - To illustrate operations in the Akaika Channel 27th June to 5th July 1915
  • Map 6 - To illustrate operations near Nasiriya 6th to 24th July 1915
  • Map 7 - To illustrate the Battle of Kut 28th September 1915
Extent and format
1 volume (223 folios)
Arrangement

The volume contains a page of errata (folio 5), a list of contents (folios 6-8), a list of maps and illustrations (folio 9), appendices (folios 185v-192), an index (folios 192v-214v), and eight maps in a pocket attached to the inside back cover (folios 217-224).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 225; 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.

Pagination: the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎65v] (135/454), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048172213.0x000088> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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