'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎254v] (514/1386)

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jviutV
ready
We concar in Nixon’s views and propose to authorise liim to advance on Kut wlien he'is
“ fai' as we are aware, Nixon knows nothing about the proposal to reinforce him
“ Telegram from Secretary of State for India to Viceroy, Army Department, dated
6th August 1916.
“ N°- 6002. Your telegram No. H. 6793. I concur in course of action proposed by Nixon
and recommended by you unless you think lit to modify it in view of Mar ling’s telegram of
3rd August and his surmise as to objective of Ispahan gathering What is str-ength and
distribution of troops on Karun line ? I presume that they are sufficient with local arrange
ments at Oil-he Ids for defence against raiuers.”
The Viceroy in his telegram H. 7094, dated 18th August, replied
giving in detail General Nixon’s reasons for not increasing the strength
of the force in the Karun Valley and ending as follows :—
"Nixon therefore concludes that the safeguarding of Oil-Fields under such conditions
would be beyond the powers of Force “ D ” without the withdrawal of so iljrge a force o:
troops from the Tigris as would jeopardise the situation on that river, and 114 /desires it to be
made clear that with his present force he cannot render himself responsible for active
operations in Persia so far inland as the Oil Fields. In this opinion we concur. We do not
at present anticipate that the Bakhtiaris are likely to repudiate their agreement to protect the
Oil Fields, but we attach great importance to the early conclusion of an agreement bv which
Bavi shall receive a subsidy either from the Oil Company or the Government for the pro
tection of lower pipe line from raiders. If this be done we do not see any undue risk in
Nixon’s proposed advance to Kut-el-Amarah which strategically is desirable and will have a
quieting influence on Persia and the Bakhtiaris.”
The arguments seemed conclusive and the advance to Kut was finally
sanctioned.
“ Telegram from Secretary of State to Viceroy, Army Department, dated
20th August 1915.
“ 3Q20. Your H. 7091 The penultimate sentence in my 3002 was with reference to local
disorders and not to wider question of Persian or Bakhtiari hostilities. I therefore accept
Nixon’s military arrangements under existing circumstances. As regards political and
financial arrangements see my Foreign Secret telegram, dated 19th August.”
In September the forward movement was commenced. On the 14th the
headquarters of the 6th Division reached Sheikh Saad, and on the£
15th Abu Rummanah, six miles from the Es-Sinn position, tcckin
by the Turks .and abmrt-fche camo distance from Kut ol Amarah. The nexc
few
n
r days were occu pied by reconnaissances a nd- the final advanee y ^Kega]T~oir
> 26th September. By the^UDth after severe fighting against strong 1
opposition the Turks were in full flight and our Cavalry; entered Kut-el-
Amarah. During the action we captured more than 1,7(0 prisoners .1"
guns, and inflicted heavy losses in men and materiel.
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