Folio 423: History Section Precis. M 01861/14. Telegram from Viceroy to India Office...

Folio 423: History Section Precis. M 01861/14. Telegram from Viceroy to India Office 9th September 1914 - Naval Commander-in-Chief East Indies states Admiralty instructions are that minimum escort must be 2 ships of which one must be superior to [German cruiser] Konigsberg. No escort can therefore be ready till 18th September 1914 and 24 ships detailed for 9th and 10th September 1914 must wait until then and Force C 18 transports can sail with them. Later sailings will be delayed unless Admiralty can make additional ship available, M 01861/14.

Folio 427: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief East Indies 10th September 1914 - [HMS] Espiegle, [HMS] Odin and [RIM] Lawrence are to proceed to Shatt al Arab to patrol from Mohammerah to the sea to prevent any interference with navigation by the Turks. In view of war being declared with Turkey they are to stop Turks from attacking the refinery at Abadan in Persian territory.

Folio 428: telegram from War Office to General Officer Commanding Ceylon 10th September 1914 - send home Captain Legh and Lieutenant Carter Royal Engineers together with 22 men of 31st Company Royal Engineers. The balance is to remain as a detachment from the Company on command at Ceylon. Telegram from War Office to General Officer Commanding Hong Kong 10th September 1914 - send home Major Craster, Lieutenants Buckingham and Momber together with 110 men including 25th Company Royal Engineers. Also send 3 officers other than Chief Engineer. Telegram from War Office to General Officer Commanding Singapore 10th September 1914 - send home all officers, Royal Engineers, excluding Commanding Royal Engineer, Quarter-master, Inspector of Works and 40 men.

Folio 430: telegram from [RIM] Northbrook to Admiralty 11th September 1914 - [RIM] Northbrook sailed for Suez.

Folio 431: telegram from Aden to Admiralty 11th September 1914 - [HMS] Dartmouth arrived Aden.

Folio 433: telegram from Marine Bordeaux to Admiralty 10th September 1914 - [referring to earlier telegram] Dupleix [French cruiser] will watch the entrance to the Straits of Malacca and will escort [French merchant ship] Cordilliere and French transports to Colombo and if necessary to Aden.

Folio 435: telegram from Aden to Admiralty 12th September 1914 - [HMS] Dartmouth sailed for Karachi.

Folio 436: telegram from Commander-in-Chief East Indies, Bombay to Admiralty 12th September 1914 - [HMS] Swiftsure arrived Bombay.

Folio 437: telegram from Commander-in-Chief East Indies, Bombay to Admiralty 12th September 1914 - [RIM] Dalhousie proceeding to Shatt al Arab (Persian Gulf) 13th September to relieve [RIM] Lawrence whilst latter returns to Bombay to have guns B.L.[Breech Loading]4' fitted.

Folio 438: telegram from Commander-in-Chief East Indies to Admiralty 12th September 1914 - Convoy arrangements. [HMS] Chatham meets us at 53 degrees East when [HMS] Dartmouth and [RIM] Hardinge detached with East Africa force. [HMS] Dartmouth preferable than [HMS] Fox as [German cruiser] Konigsberg reported in vicinity of Zanzibar. In present monsoon conditions escort must coal Aden. Bad coaling facilities at Bombay. Karachi convoy awaits [HMS] Dartmouth.

Folio 439: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief East Indies, Bombay 12th September 1914 - telegram approved. Report dates of sailing. Presume [HMS] Duke of Edinburgh will join escort at Aden.

Folio 441: telegram from Admiralty to Senior Naval Officer HMS Odin, Bushire 12th September 1914 - four armed launches were shipped from England to Basra in March last, length 60 to 70 feet, draught 2-5 feet, speed 10.5 to 11.5 knots, each carries two one-pounder Maxims [guns] one forward, one aft.

Folio 444: telegram from Bombay to Admiralty 13th September 1914 - [RIM] Dalhousie sailed for Persian Gulf.

Folios 445-446: telegrams from Commander-in-Chief East Indies, Bombay to Admiralty 13th September 1914 - Disposition of squadron 13th September - [HMS] Espiegle for Persian Gulf. [HMS] Swiftsure, [HMS] Fox, [RIM] Dufferin to leave Bombay 18th [September] with 31 ships. [HMS] Dartmouth, [RIM] Hardinge, [RIM] Minto to leave Karachi 19th [September] with 12 ships. Two groups to rendezvous 53 degrees East where [HMS] Chatham joins. [HMS] Dartmouth, [RIM] Hardinge and 2 transports then to Mombasa. [HMS] Black Prince, [HMS] Duke of Wellington and [RIM] Northbrook meet off Aden 27th [September], convoy proceeds to Suez without stopping.

Folio 448: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief East Indies, Bombay 13th September 1914 - re purpose of armed merchant crusiers.

Folio 449: telegram from Intelligence Officer Colombo to Admiralty 13th September 1914 - [HMS] Espiegle sailed for Persian Gulf.

Folio 452: telegram from Bushire to Admiralty 13th September 1914 - [HMS] Odin sailed for Shatt al Arab arriving Mohammereh 15th September.

Folio 455: telegram from Intelligence Officer Colombo to Admiralty 14th September 1914 - [German cruiser] Emden with four prizes sighted 18 degrees North 86.16 East aabout 8am (half-way between Calcutta and Madras).

Folio 456: telegram from Commander-in-Chief Cape to Admiralty 14th September 1914 - rumoured at Delagoa Bay that [German cruiser] Emden proceeding Seychelles Islands for coal.

Folio 460: telegram from Intelligence Office Colombo to Admiralty 15th September 1914 - [German cruiser] Emden sighted 13th September sank British ship Diplomat and captured [British ship] Kabinga and Greek collier Pontoporous.

Folio 461: telegram from HMS Dartmouth, Karachi to Admiralty 15th September 1914 - [HMS] Dartmouth arrived Karachi.

Folio 462: telegram from Admiralty to Rinking, Singapore 15th September 1914 - send [HMS] Hampshire to search for [German cruiser] Emden.

Folio 463: telegram from Intelligence Officer Colombo to Admiralty 15th September 1914 - [British merchant ship] Kabinga released by [German cruiser] Emden.

Folio 464: telegram from Admiralty to Marine Bordeaux 15th September 1914 15th September 1914 - orders have been sent to Singapore to hold up the steam packet [ship] Cordillere (French) until further instructions because [German cruiser] Emden has just sunk an English ship in Gulf of Bengal.

Folio 466: telegram from Intelligence Office Colombo to Admiralty 15th September 1914 - British ship Kabinga reported that [German cruiser] Emden sank British ship Indus 10th September, British ship Lovat 10th September, British ship Killin 13th September, British ship Diplomat 13th September, British ship Trabbock 14th September. Kabinga captured 12th September released 14th September with crews of all above steamers on board complete.

Folio 471: telegram from Singapore to Admiralty 16th September 1914 - [HMS] Hampshire left Singapore 5am to operate against [German cruiser] Emden. [HMS] Yarmouth will leave 17th September for same purpose. [French cruiser] Dupleix at Penang with engine defects will cruise off Achen Head as soon as possible.

Folio 472: telegram from Mohammerah to Admiralty 16th September 1914 - [HMS] Odin at Mohammerah. [RIM] Lawrence arrived Abadan.

Folio 473: telegram from Commander-in-Chief China, Singapore to Admiralty 16th September 1914 - Japanese cruiser Chikuma leaves Singapore tonight and will co-operate with [HMS] Hampshire and [HMS] Yarmouth against [German cruiser] Emden. [HMS] Minotaur and [Japanese cruiser] Ibuki leave 18th September for Rabaul as arranged. Commander-in-Chief China remains at Singapore for present.