'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎100r] (204/454)

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SITUATION IN INDIA
177
General Delamain came to the conclusion that, in all the
circumstances, it would be too risky to advance farther.
Indeed, he considered it probable that the enemy with their
superior numbers would attack him. They did not do so,
however, and after another comfortless night of heavy rain
at Shwaibda the force returned to Shaiba, and thence to Basra.
On the 5th and 12th February the Secretary of State
for India had telegraphed to India regarding the necessity
for sending more troops to General Barrett’s force, which
he considered should be made up to a strength of two
divisions. The War Office were unable to spare any men
from England or Egypt, and prompt action seemed essential.
In a long telegram of the 16th, the Viceroy placed the
views of the Government of India before H.M. Government.
Lord Hardinge pointed out that India had been depleted
of troops to an extent never contemplated; that the
Territorials sent out were not yet fit to take the field;
and that the limit of risk which could be imposed on the
Indian public had been reached. The Government of India
were anxious about the situation in Mesopotamia, which had
been complicated by the diversion of troops to Ahwaz and
which, in their opinion, required the despatch to Basra of
another division; but they urged strongly that the War
Office should reconsider their refusal to send reinforcements.
It is to be noted that at the time this telegram was sent
the Government of India were considerably perturbed regarding
the position in Aden and their own internal situation. Efforts
had been made to tamper with the Indian troops in all can
tonments in the Punjab, where an extensive conspiracy had
j ust been discovered. The revolutionary elements had arranged
for a general rising on the 21st February, with organised attacks
on most of the arsenals and many of the chief magazines and
treasuries ; and it was uncertain if all the ramifications of
the plot had yet been discerned. On the other hand, from
the information they possessed, it appeared to the Government
of India that the War Office might be able to return some of
the Indian troops from Egypt. An attack on the Suez Canal
by the Turks had just been defeated with considerable loss
to the Turks, who were reported as having retreated well to
the east; Lord Kitchener had told Sir Beauchamp Duff that
on the 15th the navy would start a serious bombardment
of the Dardanelles with a view to forcing a passage ; and,
including the Australian and New Zealand Divisions, there
was now a considerable force in Egypt.
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