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'History of the Great War based on Official Documents: Operations in Persia 1914-1919' [251v] (509/566)
The record is made up of 1 volume (279 folios). It was created in 1929. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
446
OPERATIONS IN PERSIA
Trans-
Caspia ;
February
1919-
line, but lacking the support of a strong British contingent had
neither the men nor the ammunition to carry it out. Moreover
the recent Bolshevik capture of Orenburg* had considerably
altered the situation to our disadvantage, as they would now be
able to obtain support from Moscow. The small number of British
troops, who were the only real obstacle to a Bolshevik advance,
the military inefficiency of our allies and the scarcity of arms and
ammunition rendered the situation so unsatisfactory that it
could not be allowed to continue, and in this General Malleson
agreed with him. We must either, he concluded, help the local
Government financially and with troops, arms and ammunition,
or we must withdraw altogether.
The first of these alternatives would mean bringing up more
Indian troops so as to render the position secure, the minimum
force required in Trans-Caspia, in his opinion, being a cavalry
regiment, a battery of artillery, four infantry battalions, and
some aeroplanes and heavy guns. The conditions were unsuit
able for British infantry and they should be replaced by Indian
infantry. In addition, the armament and organisation of
Turkomans would have to be considered and, though this
would stir up prejudices, they might well be ignored. In this
connection he thought that the formation of a Turkoman State
merited consideration, though their treatment of Russians was
difficult to foresee. The necessity of holding the Merv oasis was
obvious, but strikes at Baku, other difficulties and the mainten
ance of shipping on the Caspian added to possible mischances
on the requisite long line of communications.
In regard to the second alternative General Malleson con
sidered that we were in honour bound to support the local
administration. But General Milne failed to see how we could
do so except as he had stated above. They had done little to
maintain an army, and General Malleson himself admitted that
we were bolstering up a lot of effete Russians. General Malleson
considered that, before we withdrew, we should make the front
safe by advancing to the Oxus. But General Milne did not
believe that we could do this with the means at our disposal in
view of the latest change in the situation, and he considered
that a withdrawal should not be difficult from a military point
of view, though it might be so politically if the inhabitants
turned against us or a railway strike occurred. It would be
necessary to give the local administration money, arms and
ammunition if we withdrew. General Milne would also prefer
to abandon Krasnovodsk, as it would not be easy to hold and
* This had occurred on the 22nd January.
About this item
- Content
A confidential publication compiled, by arrangement with the Government of India, under the direction of the Historical Section of The Committee of Imperial Defence, by Brigadier-General FJ Moberly. The volume is part of the Official History of the Great War series produced by the British Government.
The volume begins with a preface by Moberly and is then divided into 11 (I-XI) chapters, plus appendices, as follows:
- Chapter I: Introductory
- Chapter II: August 1914 to June 1915, Enemy efforts to bring Persia into the War
- Chapter III: July to November 1915, Enemy action and Persian weakness necessitate Allied intervention
- Chapter IV: December 1915 to May 1916, Successful results of Allied operations
- Chapter V: May to December 1916, Turkish invasion of Western Persia and British measures in South and East Persia
- Chapter VI: December 1916 to August 1917, Effects of British success in Mesopotamia
- Chapter VII: September 1917 to April 1918, The failure of Persia to maintain her neutrality necessitates further British intervention
- Chapter VIII: May to July 1918, The effect in Persia of the German successes in France; and the anti-British outbreak in Fars
- Chapter IX: July to September 1918, The tide turns in favour of the Allies
- Chapter X: October to 11th November 1918, The effect of our victories
- Chapter XI: Conclusion
The volume contains fourteen maps, some of which are in a pocket in the inside back cover, as follows:
- 1. Operations at Bushire 1915 (folio 275)
- 2. Portion of Perso-Afghan frontier (folio 276)
- 3. Operations at Dilbar, 13th-15th August 1915 (folio 66)
- 4. Operations of General Dyer in Sarhad, April-August 1916 (folio 277)
- 5. Wanderings of German parties in Persia and Afghanistan (folio 278)
- 6. Affair of Dasht-i-Arjan, 25th September 1916 (folio 128)
- 7. Affair of Kafta, 5th July 1917 (folio 144)
- 8. Northern Fars (folio 177)
- 9. Action of Deh Shaikh, 25th May 1918 (folio 182)
- 10. Shiraz (folio 194)
- 11. Operations from Bushire, September 1918-January 1919 (folio 279)
- 12. Plan of East Persia L. of C. (folio 231)
- 13. Operations for relief of Firuzabad, October 1918 (folio 236)
- 14. Persia (folio 280)
The volume also includes a bibliography (folio 14).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (279 folios)
- Arrangement
At the front of the volume there is a contents page (ff 6-14), list of maps (f 14), and list of illustrations (f 14). At the back of the volume is a general index (ff 269-73). All refer to the volume's original pagination.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 281; 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 file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'History of the Great War based on Official Documents: Operations in Persia 1914-1919' [251v] (509/566), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/28, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100050147654.0x00006c> [accessed 19 April 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/15/28
- Title
- 'History of the Great War based on Official Documents: Operations in Persia 1914-1919'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:280v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence