Catalogue description Page 200e: minute from Sir Edmund Slade 28th October 1914 - attended conference on...

Page 200e: minute from Sir Edmund Slade 28th October 1914 - attended conference on 28-10-14. Secretary of State for India was anxious that we should not fire first shot and suggested that we should sweep up mines laid, upon which Turks will probably open fire. Suggest orders to S.N.O.P.G. [Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf] to have sweeping craft ready, (paper M 03024/14).

Pages 200g-200i 29 October 1914: letters to India Office and Foreign Office forwarding draft instructions to S.N.O.P.G. [Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf] for their concurrence.

Page 203: draft telegram to Commander in Chief East Indies from S.N.O., Persian Gulf [n.d.]: reporting that Turkey has attacked Russia in the Black Sea and to be prepared to defend British interests.

Page 204: telegram to Sir Louis Mallet (Constantinople) from Foreign Office 30 October 1914: following sent to Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf by Admiralty - instructing [HMS] Espiegle to prevent Turks blocking river below Mohammerah and to sweep for mines. If Turks open fire, the miming vessel is to be destroyed. [HMS] Odin to join [HMS] Espiegle if hostilities commence. Telegram drafted by Admiral Slade after seeing Sir Edward Grey and Lord Crewe.

Page 206: telegram to Commander-in-Chief East Indies and Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf from Admiralty 31 October 1914 - instructing that hostilities commence against Turks. [HMS] Espiegle to protect guns opposite oil works and British interests in river. [HMS] Odin to accompany expedition into river first dealing with guns at Fao. [RIM] Dalhousie to remain at Bushire until Fao is captured. [HMS] Ocean to assist in landing the expedition and to supply small guns for the tugs. Sheikh of Mohammerah to be informed that object is to keep river open for trade to his towns and territories.

Page 210: letter from Foreign Office to Under Secretary of State, India Office October 31st 1914 - Marquess of Crewe should be informed that R.I.M.Comet has arrived at Mohammerah and will not be allowed to return to Ottoman waters during the War.

Page 218: Schedule of Reports of Proceedings of Senior Naval Officer Persian Gulf August to October 1914. [HMS] Odin from 22.7.14 to 28.7.14, (paper M 02091/14).

Page 219 to 228: [HMS] Odin from 29.7.14 to 4.8.14, (paper M 02263/14).

Page 220: Persian Gulf Weekly Reports HMS Fox 28th July 1914. Dispositions of Ships: [HMS] Fox-Masqat coaling. [HMS] Sphinx at Bushire, thence to Muhammerah. [HMS] Alert en route to Bombay. [HMS] Odin off Khor Jarma recuperating, half of Engine Room staff being on sick list. [RIM] Minto collecting and delivering mails and stores. [HMS] Mashona Kishm to Biyaban patrol. [HMS] Miner West Mekran patrol. Karanja South Biyaban patrol.

Page 222: Persian Gulf Weekly Report HMS Odin 4th August 1914 M02091/14 and M02263/14. HMS Odin relieved HMS Fox as Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf at 6 0pm July 30th. Muscat Affairs: rumours that further trouble with Iumans may be expected. Sultan reported to have left in his yacht with 25 soldiers and 3 Maxims. Arms Traffic: [HMS] Fox reported that a Dhow from Barka landed at Nazai with 100 rifles and 4000 rounds of ammunition. Disposition of ships: [HMS] Odin, Miner, [RIM] Minto, Karanja, Mashona all at Markat signed Cathcart R Wason, Commander and SNO, Persian Gulf.

Page 224: Persian Gulf Weekly Report HMS Odin 11th August 1914. Muscat Affairs: re the destruction and sinking in deep water of rifles and ammunition at Muscat with the assistance of [HMS] Mashona. Arms Traffic: includes information re: the landing of 12 Mauser and 47 Snider rifles at Gangan - unconfirmed report. Landing of 2 carbines (.303?) and 28 rifles at Gao. 5 Mauser and 6 Snider rifles landed at Tank. Fishing boat captured containing - 1 L.M. [Lee Metford] rifle, 2 M.H. [Martini-Henry] rifles, 1 Mauser pistol, ammunition, springs and main springs. SS Ekbatana landing automatic machine guns, rifles and ammunition for the Sultan of Muscat and Germans importing rifles to Baghdad to help Luristan resistance against British railway survey party. Dispostion of ships: [RIM] Minto, [HMS] Miner, Mashona and Odin left Mascat August 5th to patrol straits of Mussenden, Karanja left at Muscat. August 6th [RIM] Minto, [HMS] Miner and Mashona ordered to return to Mascat. [RIM] Minto sailed for Bombay with crews August 8th. Movements of Merchant Ships: [SS] Ekbatana still at Busra. Hamburg - American steamer Christian X due Bunder Abbas July 30th not reported there - whereabouts unknown.

Pages 229 to 232: [HMS] Odin from 5.8.14 to 11.8.14 M02091/14 and M02263/14 [HMS] Odin from 12.8.14 to 19.8.14, (paper M 02732/14).

Page 230: letter from the India Office 28th September 1914: concerning the sale or loan of French rifles to Somaliland and arrangements for disposal of arms at Muscat.

Pages 233 to 235. [HMS] Odin from 20.8.14 to 23.8.14, (paper M02471/14).

Page 233: report of state of affairs from S.N O. Persian Gulf to Admiralty, September 18th 1914: Wireless Telegraph Station at Reshire closed and ratings employed there transferred to Royal Indian Marine Ships Northbrook, Minto and Dalhousie on being taken over as Auxiliary Cruisers.

Page 234: Persian Gulf Weekly Report, Commander C R Wason - HMS Odin 19th August 1914: [HMS] Odin sailed for Rushire to close the Wireless Telegraphy Station which was handed over to Mr Thornton of Indian European Telegraph Co. Comments on pro-German feeling in Turkey and Persia. Cdr Wason anxious to return to Mascat to coal and water.

Pages 236 to 238. [HMS] Odin from 24.8.14 to 1.9.14, (paper M 02668/14).

Page 236: report of state of affairs from SNO to Admiralty 23rd August 1914: proposal to send RIM Dalhousie to Persian Gulf as soon as she has received armament.

Page 237: Persian Gulf Weekly Report from Commander C R Wason HMS Odin 23rd August 1914: telegraph from Admiralty reporting that German steamer Ekbatana was preparing to block channel. Telegram also received that Strick's oil steamer Arun passed down [channel] at 11am. Anglo-Persian Oil Co's steamer Ferarar en route for Mohommerah has been asked to report on situation. Asks for permission not to remove armament from [HMS] Mashona.

Pages 239 to 242. [HMS] Odin from 2.9.14 to 22.9.14 apparently not submitted by C-in-C EI. [HMS] Espiegle from 23.9.14 to 29.9.14, (paper M 03358/14).