'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎59r] (117/1386)

i t
Bahrein
orders.
on
On
the
the
->o ) [ ™r ]nle ^ Tenera l Delamain’s armada arrived at
_.>i. October and anchored oh that island awaiting
0)t i October, in consequence of ihe liostile action taken by the Turks
against the hnssians in the Black Sea, the flotilla at Bahrein was ordered
-o sad at once to the Shatt-el-Arab, but did not get away till the 2nd
^ member. l ids order was supplemented wi —1 Im iwne iliiv* TTv i ho
^ Viceroy; ^ nn v nt :
" F,, ° ni Seci * etH, T of State for In'lhi, to Viceroy, dated 31st October 1914.
• f 1 Ref I e > r< : ,,ce . lu >’ tele b ri ' ai « of 30th October, Xo. 1303. Expedition “ I).'’ Please
V T ,, Mahrein t0 Proceed at once to Shatt-el-Arab and to concert measures with
-Naval iuithontics .for immediate attack on Fao.
“ korce wdl tlien clear Tm-ks out of the Shaft and its vicinity as far as Shumsuniva if
p.^s.blc After which it wdl await arrival of reinforcements from India.
AdmiraHy advise that reinforcements may be sent without escort from Bombay unless
nVl' d ),M " 1,u ‘ PI ’ m M , ,ias !lr d' reason s to contrary. Klniysb^rg located on African coast
south O equator. l ake steps to inform Arab Chiefs in Gulf anil on Aden side. Please
< huaph pmPible date of despatch of reinforcements and composition.”
1399. Expeditionary Force “ '* » mu '
Ordei 1 another Bn'o'ade of dth Division to be
r?ot i eady at once for despatch. Have you
transports ready for this force irrespective of
1 hose already detailed for next convoy to Europe
or Egypt.
“I will arrange with Admiralty for escort.”
Sir E. Harrow,
“ Sir E. Grey
flesirable.
ayroex that this warniny is
30th October I'Jl-k”
(Signed) Ckkwk. - ’
, 1110 Novembot- war with Turkey was declared, and on the same
<ia\ the expedition under General Delamain crossed the bar of the Shart and
I UQ : n f Hlg ; Wa i d ® layed bad weather, but on the morning
oi the 6th If.M.b. Odin bombarded Fao Fort after which a small force was
landed v Inch occupied the y l^ort without opposition. On the 7th the
expedition reached Abadan.
On the 8th November, General Delmnain began disembarking his force
on iiikish sod above Abadan, d’here was an affair of outposts on the 1 1th.
i . i •’ G ? neml 1 Barrett arrived at the mouth of the Shatt-el-Arab with
the 1 Mb Brigade and some Artillery and Cavalry. On the I !th he reached
haniyan, and on the loth Delamam’s Brigade attacked and drove back the
enemy from haihan. On the Kith the Secretary of State despatched the
following telegram to the \ iceroy :—
ti-nni .Secretary of State for India to Viceroy, dated 16th November 1914.
initial l succes! Un ’ 0ttS PleaSe COnve >' ,u * * v congratulations to Force “D” on its
” Consequent on this if politioal situation as regards Arabs is favourable, and if militarv
Barrett's V ° n ' leV * ^ medvdU ' advance both practicable and advisable with the force now at
• uetts disposal I presume you will instruct him to continue movement, Cabinet bavins
arrivai e nf Cai>tUre f Tn ** nuni f liate ob j ect ive of Force. Otherwise Barrett should await
amval of remainder of Divis.on before attacking Basra. How far can ships co-operate in
movement considering obstructions in river ? '
“ Impress on Barrett necessity of conciliating Arabs in every possible way Basra if
* f, ' iend ' y -•"I- »•«» every eXrt Z& to
On the 17th Sir A. Barrett advanced on Zain with two Brigades and
ounjl 1 he enemy strongly entrenched at that point. The position was held
b> about 4,o00 men with 12 guns. The Turks made a resolute defence but
UCMV (ln vmi Irom their enl renclimenrs with the loss of two .<>-im^ T 1 *^
>uc((*ss was decisive, as is shown by the following telegrams :
• J-’rom Sir Percy Cox to Secretary of State for India, dated 31st November 1914.
“4/ U. Steam launcli arrived Muhammerab bringing two Englishmen and deput-ition
from notables of Basra to report that Walisuf Basra and Baghdad'ami remnant of Turk sh
troops have fled up Tigris. All British prisoners safe.”
“ From (leneral Barrett to Secretary of Stale for India, dated 23rd November 1914.
No. 54 G. Basra, 22nd November.
Na\y ships reached Basra last night and our river detachment at 9 am to-dav •
remainder of force at noon. •> •
“All quiet, and inhabitants well disposed and friendly. Little apparent dimace done by
under^uard * (? buni0<1) ' Gei ' ,naa C,msul five German subjects Jo
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