'WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. ''D''. Volume 40. PART II. (From...

The volume contains a chronological list of brief summaries of papers relating to the activities of the Indian Expeditionary Force D (also known as the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force) between 1 and 15 November 1917. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, letters, reports, and tables. The volume concerns:. Military personnel issues, including: recruitment; promotions; appointment of officers; and creation of new units for service in Mesopotamia; Reinforcements for Force D, including cavalry, field ambulances, veterinary officers, and equipment mules; Returns of sick and wounded; Supplies sent to Force D; Equipment of newly arrived reinforcements, including troops arriving with unserviceable equipment; Commissioning and construction of ships for military use; Intelligence concerning the activities of the Turkish [Ottoman] and German militaries, including: the location of Turkish and German units, the formation of assault battalions in the Turkish Army, changes in the Turkish command structure, and a visit by Enver Pasha [Enver Pāshā] to Turkish troops on the Caucasus front; Potential movement of German aviation units to Mesopotamia; British aerial bombardments of Turkish camps at Fathah [Al-Fathah]; Intelligence regarding number of Turkish aircraft in service in Mesopotamia; Intelligence received from German military documents concerning the use of gas bombardment; The sentencing of twenty-two Indian subjects captured in Baghdad and found guilty of 'opposing the British or Russian forces in one capacity or another'; Matters related to the death of Lieutenant-General Maude, including: Maude's contraction of cholera; death on 18 November 1917; appointment of Lieutenant-General Marshall as commander of Force D on 21 November 1917; Relations between the British and various Arab tribal leaders in Mesopotamia; Commentary on the strategic situation across the Middle East, including: suggestions that the Turkish Army will not attempt an offensive in Mesopotamia until spring 1918; speculation on a separate Russian peace with the Central Powers; attempts by the Central Powers to intervene in Persia [Iran]; Plans for the construction and staffing of a flour mill at Baghdad; Progress of railway construction in Mesopotamia; Temporary placement of Russian units under British command; Presence of a Russian 'partisan' detachment at Mendali [Mandali, Iraq]; Impact of 'Bolsheviks obtaining control of Railways at Baku'; Events in Persia, including: the formation of a new government; escape of German soldiers captured by Persian authorities in Turshiz [Kashmar]; British support for the establishment of 'a really friendly Government' in Tehran; and intelligence of the 'Persian democrat' Sulieman Mirza [Sulaymān Mīrzā] conducting espionage on behalf of the Germans; The volume also contains:. Number of pilots, balloon officers, and aircraft available for service in Mesopotamia as of 15 November 1917 (f 7), 22 November 1917 (f 87), 29 November 1917 (f 200); Strength report for Force D as of 6 October 1917 (ff 18-19), 13 October 1917 (ff 53-55), 20 October 1917 (ff 133-134), 29 September 1917 (ff 179-197); Ration strength of Force D as of 27 October 1917 (ff 19-22), 17 November 1917 (ff 44), 13 October 1917 (ff 77-80), 3 November 1917 (ff 93-95), 24 November 1917 (f 123), 20 October 1917 (ff 134-138), 10 November 1917 (ff 164-166), 27 October 1917 (ff 167-171); Distribution of Force D dated 4 November 1917 (ff 159-163); Distribution of the Turkish Army dated 20 November 1917 (ff 48-50), 27 November 1917 (ff 142-144); Weekly returns of sick and wounded dated 3 November 1917 (ff 43-44), 10 November 1917 (f 92); State of Force D's supplies measured in days' consumption on 17 November 1917 (ff 86-87), 24 November 1917 (ff 149-150, ff 198-199)

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

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