'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎437r] (884/1386)

4S.
f
' 0 )ii Viceroy, l^th August 1914.
©
’
Private. Yonr private telegram of 13th. instant. Troops from India.
My private telegram of 12th August was due to my anxiety and that of the
Oommander-in-Chief as to procedure adopted at home by which resources
In officers and war material on which we had reckoned in making our plans
were taken from us without previous consultation. We have, however,
never wavered in our readiness and anxiety to assist kmpire to the utmost
of our power, limited only by considerations of safety of India. Pre
parations for despatch of Expeditions A, B and C are being pushed forward.
As stated in my public telegram No. H 2GG of yesterday troops for Expedi
tion B are being drawn from 6 th division, it being understood that division
will not be required for Expedition A, and this course being that which
allows of the most rapid despatch of Expedition B. As explained in my
above-quoted public telegram instead of four Indian infantry battalions we are
sending a complete brigade, the 16th, with its British battalion and three
Indian infantry battalions. We think from a political point of view it would
be unwise to send a purely native force to attack Europeans, and that from
a military point of view this increase to the fighting value of the force is
necessary having regard to the opposition you have warned us as likely to
be encountered. We are mobilising another brigade to replace the 16th.
■
From Viceroy, 15th August 1914.
Private. Commander-in-Chief has asked War Office whether any
Imperial Service Cavalry would be acceptable with Expedition A. Politically
the despatch of Imperial Service Troops to Europe is desirable, and as
infantry are being employed with Expeditions B and C, I would like to send
at least one regiment of cavalry, but preferably two or three, that are known
to lie really serviceable, with Expedition A.
Would you ascertain War Office views.
.
1
Froiit Sccreiciry of State to Viceroy, 17 1h August 1914.
Private. Your private telegram of 15th instant. Imperial Service
Cavalry. War Office glad to accept ohe regiment of Imperial Service Cavalry
with Expedition A forthwith. It is possible that others may be asked for
later.
From Viceroy, 24t7i August I9l4.
Private. Force B. While all our other efforts to help the Empire are
progressing satisfactory, the Commander-in-Chief represents to me that he is
anxious about Force B which is intended to conquer German East Africa. He
regards this expedition as a side-show, and as having no real bearing on the
final result of the war. In this view he is right as far as I can see. He
would prefer to retain troops detailed for possible requirements which might
become much more pressing should Turkey join Germany. We recognise,
however, that you in England are in a much better position than we can be
to appreciate the situation as a whole, and we are quite prepared to send the
troops asked for to German East Africa if it be decided in the interests of the
Empire that course is desirable. He tells me, however, that he has not been
consulted as to strength or composition of force, that it is to be composed
laro-ely of Imperial Service troops, and that any preliminary failure would
therefore have a political effect. It is obvious that to effect a successful
landing, naval co-operation will be essential, but I have ascertained that
neither Admiral commanding East Indian squadron, nor Admiral com
manding Cape squadron have received any orders to assist, or even any
information that such an expedition is intended. If the expedition is to go,
and if it is to be run from England, and if our responsibility is to be limited
to finding the troops &c. which you may ask for, I have no more to say, but
if responsibility for results is to rest on us then the entire preliminary
arrangements must be left in our hands. Divided responsibility in this case^,
can only mean certain failure. \