Folio 1: East Indies General Operation Telegrams, 27 July - 30 September 1914. Folio...

Folio 1: East Indies General Operation Telegrams, 27 July - 30 September 1914.

Folio 2: Explanatory Note. This volume contains undocketed telegrams and papers relating to operations in the East Indies Station from 27 July to 30 September 1914.

Folio 3: Historical Section Reference Notes. East Indies August and September 1914.

Folio 4: Historical Section Reference Notes (Published Works) East Indies August-September 1914. For [P&O ship] Dongola's voyage (arrived Bombay 5 September) see 'Zodiac' (Journal of Eastern Telegraph Company) February-March 1915.

Folio 5: Historical Section Reference Note continued.

Folio 9: Limits of Naval Stations. Circular Letter 14 April 1913 with chart attached.

Folio 10: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief East Indies, Bombay 21st July 1914 - German (gunboat) Geier visits Singapore 26 July to 3 August.

Folio 11: telegram from Admiralty to East Indies 27th July 1914 - precautionary telegram relating to European political situation.

Folio 12: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief East Indies 28th July 1914 - HMS Nottingham must be prepared to shadow German cruiser Konigsberg now at Dar-Es-Salaam.

Folio 13: telegram from Ambassador, Berlin to Admiralty 28th July 1914 - (German cruiser) Konigsberg coaling at Dar-Es-Salaam. Governor's proposed trip to southern ports abandoned.

Folio 14: telegram from Admiralty to East Indies 30th July 1914 - Put in force War Position Table.

Folio 17: telegram from Admiralty to Navy, Bombay 30th July 1914 - HMS Dartmouth to proceed to Zanzibar.

Folio 18: telegram from Diyatalawa to Admiralty 30th July 1914 - movements ordered: HMS Fox to Colombo, HMS Espiegle to Aden, HMS Alert to Bombay, HMS Sphinx to Bombay preparing to pay off. HMS Dartmouth to Zanzibar as soon as possible undock Bombay shadowing (German cruiser) Konigsberg. HMS Swiftsure remaining Colombo ready for sea. HMS Odin remaining in Persian Gulf.

Folio 19: telegram from Diyatalawa to Admiralty 30th July 1914 - HMS Dartmouth not ready to proceed until 8 August.

Folio 20: telegram from HMS Fox to Admiralty 30th July 1914 - HMS Fox left Maskat 6pm 30th for Colombo.

Folio 23: telegram from Commander-in-Chief, East Indies to Admiralty 31st July 1914 - desirable transfer RIM Dufferin and RIM Hardinge to Royal Navy.

Folio 24: telegram from Admiralty to East Indies 31st July 1914 - send a sloop to Colombo ready for Singapore if crew wanted for HMS Triumph.

Folio 25: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief, East Indies 31st July 1914 - approved arm and prepare RIM Dufferin and RIM Hardinge informing Government of India.

Folio 29: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief, East Indies 1st August 1914 - (German cruiser) Konigsberg left Dar-Es-Salaam 4 30pm 31st July. Inform HMS Dartmouth. Commander-in-Chief, Cape confident she will remain on coast.

Folios 31-32: letter from Blue Star Line to Admiralty 1st August 1914 - requesting convoy to escort British steamer Brodmore which sailed from Sabang 29th July to nearest safe British port - Colombo or Aden. Steamer fully loaded with valuable cargo of frozen food from Hankow and Nanking - total value of ship and her cargo approximates £250,000.

Folio 35: telegram from Admiralty to Navy, Colombo 2nd August 1914 - [P&0 ship] Nubia due Hong Kong 20 August conveying 140 tons of Government stores left Aden 29 July.

Folio 38: telegram from Viceroy (Simla) to India Office 2nd August 1914 - relates to troop movements at Aden, Bombay, Karachi and Rangoon.

Folio 41: telegram from Superintendent, Eastern Telegraph Company to Managing Director 4th August 1914 - several thousand German subjects resident Zanzibar likely to receive arms if Zanzibar attacked. German cruiser and gunboat also four large German steamers in neighbourhood latter supported by well equipped guns. Two Maxims (guns) with trained gun teams at Bawi which fortified. Maxim to be mounted at station morning. Attack expected on station before war declared. Staff armed guarding station, military guard doubled. Cruisers cleared [for action] men sleeping at guns. Mombasa strongly guarded, attack expected there also.

Folio 42: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief, East Indies 4th August 1914 - British ultimatum to Germany expires midnight 4 August 1914. No act of war should be committed before then.

Folio 43: telegram from Admiralty to Navy, Colombo 4th August 1914 - advise all British shipping to abandon regular tracks, complete voyages without bunkering if possible, reduce brilliancy of lights. On arrival in United Kingdom call early for orders.

Folio 45: telegram from Admiralty to all ships 4th August 1914 - commence hostilities at once against Germany.

Folio 47: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief, East Indies 4th August 1914 - what movements are you proposing. Zanzibar reports German cruiser and four large German armed steamers. HMS Astraea at Zanzibar. These steamers may get on Indian trade route.

Folio 48: telegram from Admiralty to Privy Council Office 4th August 1914 - request Royal Indian Marine Service vessels Hardinge and Dufferin be placed under command of Commander-in-Chief, East Indies.

Folio 50: telegram from Commander-in-Chief, East Indies to Admiralty 5th August 1914 - propose to leave for Singapore in HMS Swiftsure. Is a sloop required there to complete HMS Triumph.

Folio 51: telegram from Commander-in-Chief, East Indies to Admiralty 5th August 1914 - have told Commander-in-Chief China I shall not require HMS Triumph unless Holland becomes hostile.

Folio 52: telegram from Director of Royal Indian Marine Bombay to Admiralty 5th August 1914 - HMS Sphinx arrived today.

Folio 53: telegram from Commander-in-Chief East Indies to Admiralty 5th August 1914 - HMS Dartmouth leaves Bombay for Zanzibar on 8 August. RIM Dufferin will be ready for sea by 12 August, RIM Hardinge 15 August.

Folio 54: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief, East Indies 5th August 1914 - make all preparations to take up and arm at once Royal Indian Marine ships Northbrook, Minto, Dalhousie.

Folio 55: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief, East Indiea 5th August 1914 - HMS Swiftsure not required to proceed to Singapore. Inform China.

Folio 56: telegram from Intelligence Officer, Colombo to Admiralty 5th August 1914 - HMS Fox arrived.

Folio 63: telegram from Commander-in-Chief, Colombo to Admiralty 6th August 1914 - am leaving in HMS Swiftsure to patrol Colombo Aden trade route. HMS Espiegle today to patrol Colombo Singapore trade routes. Staff note: 3 - 5 German armed merchant cruisers believed between Aden and Colombo.

Folio 65: Historical Section Precis, T 5428/14. b&c: letter from War Office to Director of Transport, Admiralty 4th August 1914 - it has been decided to move 1 native regiment and proportionate S.&.T. Corps and Mule Corps from Hong Kong to Calcutta. Please arrange freight, T 5428/14. g&h: letter from Admiralty to War Office 6 August 1914 - reduction of Hong Kong garrison strongly deprecated. No ship can be spared for convoy, T 5428/14.

Folio 67: telegram from Commander-in-Chief, East Indies to Admiralty 7th August 1914 - I am paying off HMS Alert to provide armaments and ratings for RIM ship.

Folio 70: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief, East Indies 7th August 1914 - HMS Dartmouth left Bombay for Zanzibar this morning and you should now order her to assist you in protection of trade between India and Aden. To HMS Dartmouth: Get in touch with Commander-in-Chief.