Page 96: History Section Precis. M 02486/14 6th October 1914. 96(c): telegram from...

Page 96: History Section Precis. M 02486/14 6th October 1914. 96(c): telegram from Viceroy 5th October 1914 - Expect convoy to sail October 14th from Bombay, October 15th from Karachi with part of Force A, Force B, 17th Infantry for Mauritius, and various details for England. (paper M 02486/14). 96(d): telegram from Viceroy 5th October 1914 - Are despatching large convoy October 14th. Shall not be ready to send I.S. Cavalry or composite Infantry Brigades till October 26th, (paper M 02486/14). 96(e): Sir H.B.J. - A day later than anticipated will allow escort to reach Bombay. No action necessary.

Page 97: HS Copy [typescript] from S.N.O. Persian Gulf to Admiralty 7th October 1914: Vali [district governor] Basra has given Consul copy of river regulations which define Ottoman territorial waters and that war ships entering river will be fired upon. Vali Basra intends enforcing these regulations. Has information been received that guns have recently been mounted at Fao. Telegram from same to same 7th October 1914: local Turkish Government will demand [HMS] Espiegle and [RIM] Dalhousie be interned if in river after 7th October. Requests instructions as to action to be taken.

Page 98: telegram from Commander in Chief East Indies, Bombay to Admiralty 7th October 1914 - sets forth the new river regulations received from Constantinople. Ottoman territorial waters are reckoned as extending 6 miles from the shore prohibited area is the Basra Gulf (whatever that may be) the Shatt-al-Arab between Bubian Island and the shore and KhorAbdullah. Entry of warships into prohibited area is forbidden and they will be fired upon. Merchant ships may only enter by day. Commander in Chief has ordered [RIM] Dalhousie to remain off Abadan. [HMS] Espiegle and Odin will be leaving river to escort Expedition B from Bushire. It is presumed passage of Fao will be forced if necessary and fire returned.

Page 99: telegram from Viceroy to Admiralty 7th October 1914 - Sir Louis Mallet's telegram of 6th - I hope that the Espiegle and Dalhousie will be withdrawn as Turkish Government is strictly within their rights. It would be a misfortune to have them interned.

Page 100: telegram from Viceroy to Secretary of State and Admiral 7th October 1914 - Vali has made another stronger protest re presence of British ships in Shatt-al-Arab. 'Samara' has towed a barge carrying three guns and some troops to Fao last night.

Page 101: telegram from Admiralty to Commander in Chief East Indies 7th October 1914 - as the Emden [German light cruiser] is at large on the Western side of India and the large expedition will not be ready to sail until 14th or 15th cannot [HMS] Swiftsure search and protect trade and [HMS] Duke of Edinburgh search to the entrance of the Persian Gulf for Emden or Konigsberg. You might remain behind to complete escort arrangements.

Page 102: telegram from Sir Edward Grey to Sir Louis Mallet (Constantinople) 7th October 1914-no question of HM ships Odin, Espiegle and Dalhousie being interned by Turkish government and ordered out of waters which are not Turkish. One of these ships is to remain at Mohammerah and other two are to remain outside Turkish territorial waters. We reserve long established right to pass freely up and down the Shatt-al-Arab at all times. We hear German merchant vessel 'Ecbatana' is at Basra. Transfer to a neutral flag of belligerent merchant vessels is not in accordance with international law. If 'Ecbatana' appears we shall regard her as liable to capture on the high seas.

Page 103: telegram from Sir Louis Mallet to Sir Edward Grey 7th October 1914 - the Grand Vizier has sent instructions to the Vali [district governor] to avoid all incidents with HM ships.

Page 104a: History Section Precis. M 02461/14 7th October 1914.

Page 104b: letter from Foreign Office to Admiralty 5th October 1914 asking whether [HMS] Espiegle is replacing or is in addition to [HMS] Odin, (paper M 02461/14).

Page 104c: telegram from H.M.A.C. to Foreign Office 2nd October 1914 - Consul Basra wires that [HMS] Espiegle is at Mohammerah but in Persian waters. (paper M 02461/14).

Page 104e: Letter to Foreign Office 6th October 1914 - confirming that [HMS] Espiegle is in addition to [HMS] Odin at Mohammerah, (paper M 02461/14).

Page 105a: History Section Precis. M 02501/14 7th October 1914. Page 105c: telegram from Viceroy to India Office 6th October 1914 - Political Resident, Bushire reports 5th October 1914 that Ekbatana may be used as transport under Turkish flag or work in concert with German warship outside Gulf. (ends). Suggest warning Ekbatana she will be fired on when she reaches open sea if used as transport whether flying Turkish flag or not, (paper M 02501/14).

Page 106: Persian Gulf. Amended orders for Commander-in-Chief, East Indies as approved by Sir Edward Grey and Lord Crewe and signed by Vice Admiral Sir Edmund Slade 7th October 1914: C-in-C should arrange for a watch to be maintained at entrance to Gulf, using Mashona [armed launch]. [HMS] Odin and [HMS] Espiegle to retire into river to fight the Emden if she appears in the river. The Dalhousie may be used to watch the Straits.

Page 109: telegram from C-in-C, East India, Bombay to Admiralty 8th October 1914 - as the Emden is at large on Western side of India and the large expedition will not be ready to sail till 14th or 15th cannot [HMS] Swiftsure search and protect trade and [HMS] Duke of Edinburgh search to the entrance of Persian Gulf for Emden and Konigsberg.

Page 110: telegram from S.N.O. [Senior Naval Officer] Mohammerah to Admiralty 8th October 1914-letter just delivered stating that Shatt-al-Arab belongs to Turkey and warships of countries at war cannot enter from Fao; letter concludes by asking [SNO] to leave within 24 hours. Waiting instructions.

Page 112a: History Section Precis. M 02519/14 8th October 1914.

Page 112c: telegram from H.M.A.C. to F.O. 6th October 1914 - Consul, Basra has carried out instructions but Vali [district governor] says Shatt-al-Arab and sea within 6 miles closed to warships; guns at Fao will fire on warships disregarding prohibition ie [HMS] Espiegle in Karun and [RIM] Dalhousie at Abadan. (paper M 02519/14).

Page 112d: Orders from Sir Edward Slade sent to C-in-C last night 8th October 1914-Vali has been instructed to avoid incidents, (paper M 02519/14).

Page 113: telegram to the Viceroy regarding B.I.S.N. Co's [British India Steam Navigation Company] vessels at Mohammera and Basra 9th October 1914- call of British merchant ships at Basra. Admiralty consider course proposed can be undertaken without undue risk. Foreign Office advises consulting Resident before proceeding into river.

Page 114a: History Section Precis. M 02499/14 9th October 1914.

Page 114c: telegram from Ambassador, Constantinople to Foreign Office 5th October 1914 asking of the risk of a German cruiser getting into Persian Gulf, (paper M 02499/14).

Page 114d: draft minute from Sir Edward Slade 8th October 1914 - not impossible that Emden might enter Gulf but unlikely that a fast cruiser would enter a cul-de-sac, (paper M 02499/14).