'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎461r] (932/1386)

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Viceroy to Secretary erf State for India, dated oth June 1015.
( V )Ylc^rn till ic.)
l^ollowiii; r telegram received from General Nixon at Amara on 4tli June: —
'• General Townshend, accompanied by Captain Nunn, K.N., and Sir Percy Cox in small
o-unboat flotilla, received the surrender of the Governor of Amara, with some MO cilieers ami
about 700 soldiers, at 1.30 p.m. on 3rd June. Aniara is now occupied by us in fore:.
Troons captured comprised advanced guard of 'L'urkish forces retiring before Gmringe; main
bodv following were seen to disperse into marshes. Cur total captures up to dale, including
above, aim-unt to about SO officers, 2,000 men, 7 field guns, G naval guns on gunboat Maniurisx,
12 large steel barges, 1 large river steamer, and 3 small steamers, and considerable number of
rifles and ammunition of all sorts. Further surrenders expected. Of six Germans with
Turks three are prison rs, two were killed by marsh Arabs, and fate of sixth is doubtful. I
am sending this from Amara for Your Excellency's information at once cn clair as wireless
is not working well, and I may not be able to despatch further telegrams to-night.’’
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• . t * O'.'n-ardl Xi.i:e to Secretary of St at- for Lidia, dated -oth July 1915.
‘^Telegraphic.)
Euphrates Line, in continuation of my telegram of 24-th. In evidence of endurance
displaced bv General Gorringo’s troops I would draw attention to the fact that they have
been Editing night and dav with little or no intermission since 5th July up tb to-day. Shade
temperature. 113 degrees,
humiditv. The exertion? :
ms been common in an atmosphere of heaviest and closest
1 hardship} of trench warfare, where guns, ammunition, and
stores had to be moved without the help of animals, under such conditions are difficult
authentically to describe. Twenty days of such work, criminating in an attack on a-series * i
entrenched "positions form a test the severity of which it would be difficult to over
estimate.
Tioris Line. There continues to be some activity on part of enemy, mainly hostile tribes
men. around Kumait area Unconfirmed report that five Turkish guns bad been advanced to
Ali-ash-Sharqi on 23rd. 7th Rajputs proceeded to Kama from Basra, 24th.
NoiU-A
General Nixon to Secretary of State for Lidia, dated 14/A September 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
Headquarters, Sixth E:\ision, reached Sheikh Hand 14th; no enemy there. Geneifl
Officer Commanding Sixth Division made aeroplane reconnaissance of Sinn position without
definite result. Reconnaissance by gunboats supported by infantry being carried out 15th.
General Headquarters remain at Amara for the present.
ITo iU-5-
General Nixon to Secretary of State for Lidia, dated loth September 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
Tigris line. Headquarters,43th Division, reached Abu Rummnnah 15th, six miles from
Sinn position. Result of to-day’s naval reconnaissance tends to show that Turks hold position
in strength. Ships are being returned to Amara to fetch up 63rd and Howitzer Batteries and
further supplies. This will take about a week. Further aeroplane reconnaissance being made
16th. Two machines have been seriously damaged by bad landing, wind has been unfavour
able. Steps being taken to replace them from Basra. Am in communication by land line
and wireless with Abu.
Norjrg A
Secretary of State for India to Viceroy, dated -Uh October 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
Private. My telegram of to-day about Nixon's plans. Your private letter of 10th
September seems*to render it imperative to stop Nixon’s further advance. 1 shall be grateful
for earh' communication of your views.
Kp ISO. A
W
Secretary of State for India to Viceroy, dated bth October 1915.
(Telegraphic,)
Private. My private telegram of 4th instant. Nixon's advance. Cabinet, io whom
position was reported yesterday, dedided to appoint Committee of General Staff, Admiralty,
Foreign and India Offices to consider in all its aspects possibility and policy of advance on
Baghdad. Political reasons were thought to make occupation desirable as isolating Germans
in Persia, if forces available are sufficient to take and hold the place. Barrow thinks we
might be able to capture Baghdad, but that forces weakened by further losses would bo
insufficient both to hold it securely against counter attack and to maintain communications.
Kitchener can hold out no hope of reinforcements from Europe or Egypt. Let me know your
views.
Ko l«2>- A. From Viceroy, 7th October 1915.
Private. Your private telegram of th jHh instant/feir John Nixon's plans. Commander-
in-Chief agrees with view contained in my private telegram of yesterday that it would be
unwise to occupy Baghdad with our present forces.
MS 25G B
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