Mesopotamia

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 48, 31 May 1916, Page 5

Mesopotamia

CONTENTS OF A WHITE PAPER.

TOWNSHEND'S PROTEST. i f United Pkbsb Association. 1 i London, May 30. A White Paper of the Mesopotamia correspondence shows that General Townshend warned the Government that if it was desired to occupy Bagdad two divisions would he necessary. He said; “1 am taking a grave risk in moving on to Bagdad with my weak division alone, as the Turks will doubtless send reinforcements.” The White Paper shows that neither the Home Government nor the Government of India were aware of General Townshcnd’s so-called protest.

Mr Austen Chamberlain said that he had made inquiries in consequence of rumours that were being circulated in London, and found General Townshend’s statement entered in the War I Diary of the 6th Division on October 3, to the effect that it was absolutely 'necessary, if the advance from Kut was to be carried out methodically, that two divisions should be employed, exclusive of garrisons and lines of communication. GENERAL NIXON. About the time that General Nixon received General Townshend’s report, General Nixon heard that another division was coming to Mesopotamia, and communicated the fact to General Townshend, and the War Office deci'ded on October 24 that two further divisions should be sent from France. Major-General Kemball twice visited General Townshend by aeroplane, in October and November, but gave General Nixon no inkling that General Townshend was doubtful regarding the

adequacy of his force. General Nixon says that he considered that the despatch of the tw6 divisions fulfilled General Townshend’6* conditions. When Mr Chamberlain | recently asked General Townshend -<jf his recollection of the matter, General j Townshend > Said ;v “I certainly was • taking a grave risk in marching lo Bagdad until one weak division, whereof the British battalions were‘reduced to half strength. Having called General Nixon’s attention to the risk, my conscience was clear, and I was prepared to carry out my orders, which were contrary to discipline, and I' made protest in the full sense and meaning of the word.” General Townshend adds that, in the first instance, he himself contemplated getting to Bagdad. TURKISH CHIVALRY. i > London, May 29. The, correspondent of a Constantinople journal interviewed General Townshend, yvho .is deeply ijnpressejA s by the chivalry of the Turkish commander, Halif Pasha. He said: “Our comfort was consulted and our wants attended to beyond expectation, and we will never forget his magnanimity.”