'Mesopotamia. Commission' [‎20r] (42/256)

(a'—U7i?/ we went to Mesopotamia.
Although no actual rupture with Turkey took place until the 5th November,
the Porte had shown signs of great hostility to England from the very
outbreak of the Avar with Germany. As early as the 11th August the
Baghdad Army had begun to mobilise, martial law had been proclaimed, and
the property of British subjects had been seized.
The situation thus created caused grave anxiety both to the Admiralty
and to Lord Crewe, then Secretary of State for India. Under his orders
the subject was closely watched in the Military and Political Departments of
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. .
In a Minute dated the 26th September 1914 1 reviewed the position as
it then presented itself, laying stress on the danger to our interests in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and on the menace, not only to the security of the
Indian frontier, but to dur tranquillity and prestige in India itself, which
hostilities with Turkey would involve.
The Minute then went on to deal with the military arrangements that
would be necessary to meet the case of war.
The primary and immediate objects in view were held to be :—
(1) To safeguard the Indian Frontier from the immediate effects of
Jehad.
(2) To demonstrate our power to strike, and thus check Turkish
intrigues amongst the Arabs.
(3) To confirm the Arab Chiefs of Muscat, Bahrein, Koweit and
Mohammerah in their allegiance to us, and incidentally to
encourage the Arabs generally.
(4) To protect the valuable oil installations at Abadan in which the
Admiralty were so largely interested.
6. These objects had from an early date commended themselves to
Lord Crewe and on that same evening he telegraphed warning instructions to
the Viceroy on the subject.
On the 2nd October the Viceroy was informed that the Government had
decided to take the action already indicated to him, and that he was to
prepare a force accordingly. On the 3rd October further instructions
were given defining the scope of the action to be taken. “ Except under
“ absolute military necessity or orders from you no troops must be landed
“ on Turkish territory or other hostile action taken against Turkey,”
and on the 5th October the Viceroy was told specifically, in answer to a
question, that the object of the Expedition was “ to protect the pipe line and
“ oil tanks by the occupation of Abadan, to give support to Arabs against
“ Turks, and to cover landing of any necessary reinforcements.”
Orders were also given for the despatch of the entire Gth Division
should war with Turkey ensue. Meanwhile the Political Department gave
instructions for Major Shakespear to visit Bin Saood and also laid down
the policy to be followed with the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Arabs generally.
7. On the 10th October the advanced Force under Brigadier-General
Delamain left India with the convoy for Egypt under sealed orders and as
previously arranged was diverted to Bahrein, when three days out from
Bombay.
During rhe last half of October many indications of activity on the
part of the Turks and of co-operation with Germany were reported.
On the other hand Bin Saood and the Arab Sheikhs of the Gulf declared
themselves on our side. Meanwhile General Delamain arrived at Bahrein
on the 23rd October and anchored off that island awaiting orders. On
the 30th October, in consequence of the hostile action taken by the
Turks against the Russians in the Black Sea, the flotilla at Bahrein was
ordered to sail at once to the Shatt-el-Arab, but did not get away till the 2nd
November. On the 5th November war with Turkey was declared, and on