'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎26v] (52/1386)

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stir up the tribes against us. Wassmuss's rompauion and bis (Wassmuss) offrots fell into our
hand, but ho himself escaped, and is now reportad to be at Ka/erun, which is midway between
Bushire and Shiraz. He is endeavouring, with the assistance of the Persian (iendarnierie
and local Mullahs, to bring about an attack on Bushire. It is clearlv indicated by an
examination of Wassmuss's papers that part of the German-Asiatic jilan ('f campaign was to
raise Afghanistan and Persia against us. Included in Wassmuss's papers were many
pamphlets in yarious Indian dialects, which were intended to corrupt our Indian Army.
The information which we have thus summarised strengthens the suspicion which we
have had for some time, that the Turko-German movement eastward through Mesopotamia
had India for its ultimate objective.'
On the 17th March more desultory lighting was reported, and on the £0th,
the India OHice, at the instance of the Admiralty, again pressed on the
Viceroy the great importance of safeguarding the oil supply.
"Telegram from Secretary of State for India to Viceroy, Armv Department.
dated 20th March 1915.
“ Xo. 1,72S. Admiralty very anxious for repair and protection of pipe line as shortage of
oil may effect Toluol supply and also seriously limit fuel supply for ships on Shalt, Ac. Slade
considers that regiment of Cavalry could safeguard Hue up to Bakhtiari limits ami that
Bakhtiaris would guard rest.
Presume neither Barrett nor you could spare regiment for purpose, though 1 recognise
desirability."
On the 1st Apcil we were abruptly informed (telegram If. :V.)o2 from
Viceroy) that the Government of India had decided to reorganise Expedi
tionary Force “ 1) ” as an Army Corps, and that they had appointed General
Sir John Xixon to the command. They also notified a large increase of the
Stalf in Mesopotamia. On the Uth April General Nixon landed at Basra and
assumed command. Meanwhile, it became clearly obvious that an attack in
force was about to be made on Basra from the Euphrates side, and to meet
it General Barrett had gradually increased the British force at and bevond
Zobeir to an approximate strength of 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade
and 24 guns. On the 10th, as his health had been indifferent for some time,
Sh' Arthur Barrett was granted leave by the Commander-in-Ohief in India
and at once left for Bombay. The Command of the Gth Division thereupon
temporarily devolved on Major-General Melliss, Y.C., C.B., and that oflicer
with his Brigade marched to Shaiba.
On the 12th and 13th there \yas further fighting round Shaiha. On the
I Ith the decisive victory of Barjisiyah was gained and the whole Turkish
Army put to llight. This brilliant engagement resulted in clearing what
may be styled the delta of the Shatt-el-A rah, of all Turkish or Arab enemies.
Basin was now seeni<3 and Geneial Nixon was free to look around and
decide on bis next movements. The departure of General Barrett and the
assumption of command by Sir John Nixon mark the end of a definite phase
in the campaign, and suggest a convenient termination to this chapter.
1 ai t 1. ended with the captuie of Basra. Part If. marks the consolidation
of our position there. Whereas for the first operation a Division was ample
lor the second two Divisions w'ere by no means excessive. Indeed the
reinforcements only arrived just in time to avert what might easilv’have
been an irreparable catastrophe. The timely advent of the 12th Ihigade
enabled General Barrett to send a sullicient force to stem the Turkish
offensive on the Karun side, while the opportune arrival of the JOth Brimidc
on the battlefield in the very nick of t ime at the crisis of the fight converted
a doubtful defensive engagement into a brilliant victory.^ Basra and
Muhammcrah were saved and our oil interests secured. For nearly a vear
since then this region has enjoyed peace and prosperity and for this happy
conclusion to a period of unrest and anxiety, we have to thank the insistence
of the Secretary of State for India on the augmentation of Force “ D.” T| )0
documentary evidence marshalled above shows irrefutablv that so* far the
India Oflice had been fully justiiied throughout by eveiits. It sent mst
the right force at the right moment to the Shatt-el-A rab. It increased that
force to a sidlieient strength in the lace ol much discouragement before it
was too late. The one small reverse at Ahwaz would never have occurred
nor our oil supply have been interrupted for several months, had its views
been accepted in time.
1st March 1910.