Catalogue description Folio 128: telegram from [HMS] Britannia Simonstown to Admiralty 12th August 1914 –...

Folio 128: telegram from [HMS] Britannia Simonstown to Admiralty 12th August 1914 – relates to terms of truce made with Governor after [HMS] Astraea destroyed wireless station at Dar-es-Salam 8th August 1914.

Folio 131: telegram from Secretary of State to Viceroy, Army Department 12th August 1914 – relates to reasons Admiralty selected Alexandria as port of disembarkation for troops from India. Recommends getting in touch with Admiral Robinson Chief Inspector Ports and Lights Alexandria.

Folio 135: telegram from Aden to Admiralty 13th August 1914 – [HMS] Dartmouth arrived.

Folio 136: telegram to Commander-in-Chief East Indies from Admiralty 13th August 1914 – commence hostilities at once against Austria. Telegram to [HMS] Astraea Zanzibar from Admiralty 13th August 1914 – proceed to the cape. [German cruiser] Konigsberg reported in vicinity of Inhambane.

Folio 138: telegram from Commander-in-Chief East Indies to Admiralty 13th August 1914 – First Division not ready until about 20th August. Escort will be [HMS] Swiftsure, [RIM] Dufferin, [RIM] Hardinge, [RIM] Minto all armed ready 15th August. First Division 20 transports from Karachi and Bombay.

Folio 141: telegram from Admiralty to [HMS] Dartmouth 13th August 1914 – as Expedition has been postponed until 28th August 1914 return to Bombay and await orders for convoying transports. Telegram from Admiralty to East Indies 13th August 1914 – [HMS] Alert not to pay off but proceed to Gulf of Aden to search and destroy [German survey ship] Mowe.

Folio 145: telegram from C.I.G.S. to General Officer Commanding in Egypt, Cairo 13th August 1914 – the services of Their Imperial Service Troops have been offered by the Ruling Chiefs of India. We are adding for employment in Egypt the Birkanir Camel Corps to reinforcements now being sent to Egypt.

Folio 147: telegram from [HMS] Britannia, Simonstown to Admiralty 14th August 1914 – report about [German cruiser] Konigsberg off Inhambane not very reliable.

Folio 148: telegram from Aden to Admiralty 14th August 1914 – sailed [HMS] Dartmouth [from Aden].

Folio 149: telegram from Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, Bombay to Admiralty 14th August 1914 – [HMS] Alert has been paid off and crew and armament have been distributed among additional auxiliary cruisers without which they could not be commissioned. She cannot steam more than 5 knots against the monsoon and carries insufficient coal to reach Aden direct.

Folio 151: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief, East Indies 14th August 1914 – approve arrangements for [HMS] Alert to stand. Can [HMS] Odin be used for this service instead.

Folio 152: telegram from Zanzibar to Admiralty 14th August 1914 – [German survey ship] Mowe sunk by German authorities inside Dar-es-Salam.

Folio 154: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief, East Indies 15th August 1914 – [German survey ship] Mowe sunk at Dar-es-Salam by Germans. [HMS] Odin need not proceed to Aden.

Folio 159: telegram from Viceroy to India Office 15th August 1914 – 29th Punjabis and one section field ambulance will sail in Naidisag [Nairung] leaving Karachi 19th. Telegram from India Office to Viceroy 15th August 1914 – have you received concurrence of naval commander-in-chief to despatch 29th Punjabis?

Folio 160: History Section Precis. M 01405/14. (b): letter from Colonial Office 15th August 1914 – reference telegram from Governor East Africa Protectorate of 13th August 1914. As troops in Jubaland need not be moved, it will not be necessary to arrange for transport of troops from Kismayu to Mombasa. M 01405/14.

Folio 162: telegram from Commander-in-Chief East Indies, Bombay to Admiralty 16th August 1914 – [HMS] Fox and [HMS] Espiegle captured [German] Australian Line ships Australia and Furth off Ceylon 10th August and took them to Colombo.

Folio 164: telegram from Admiralty to East Indies 16th August 1914 - [HMS] Duke of Edinburgh and [HMS] Black Prince ordered on arrival at Aden to coal; the first one ready to go to Bombay and escort under orders Rear Admiral [HMS] Swiftsure; the other to escort transports Aden to Suez.

Folio 167: telegram from Intelligence Officer, Singapore 16th August 1914 – [Eastern Extension cable laying ship] Recorder leaving today to execute repairs to the Banjuwangi (Java) Port Darwin (Australia) cable.

Folio 168: telegram from Secretary of State to Viceroy, Army Department 16th August 1914 –Admiralty request you repeat name of ship Naidisag unknown here, also her speed and if fitted with wireless. Admiralty strongly deprecate ship sailing alone on 19th August as proposed by you.

Folio 169: telegram from India Office to Viceroy 16th August 1914 – early information required as to date of sailing of Force A, Force B and Force C.

Folio 170: telegram from Viceroy to India Office 16th August 1914 – 1st echelon of Force A, Force B and Force C all expected to sail 26th August 1914. Naval Commander-in-Chief concur in despatch of 29th Punjabis 19th August 1914.

Folio 172: telegram from Commander-in-Chief China, Hong Kong to Admiralty 17th August 1914 – relating to the possible objective of German Pacific Squadron and steps taken by Commander-in-Chief to protect trade routes between Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Folio 174: telegram from Secretary of State to Viceroy, Army Department 17th August 1914 – owing to ambiguous attitude of Turkey, rapid reinforcements of Egypt necessary. Force B and C must be postponed and remainder of Force A expedited.

Folio 175: telegram from Secretary of State to Viceroy, Army Department 17th August 1914 – Lord Kitchener most anxious that first echelon of Force A should leave by 20th August 1914.

Folio 178: telegram from Commander-in-Chief East Indies, Bombay to Admiralty 17th August 1914 – First Division of Force A will leave Bombay and Karachi 24th and 25th August 1914; Force B will leave 26th August 1914, 2nd Division Force A about 5th September 1914.

Folio 179: Table of proposed movements of troops by sea from India.

Folio 181: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief East Indies, [HMS] Swiftsure 17th August 1914 – order [HMS] Fox to escort 29th Punjabis to Zanzibar. India Office anxious to get them over at once. Telegram from Commander-in-Chief East Indies to Admiralty 19th August 1914 – transport Nairung with 29th Punjabis left Karachi today. Willbe met by [HMS] Fox North Seychelles and thence convoyed to Zanzibar.

Folio 183: telegram from [HMS] Chatham, Suez to Admiralty 17th August 1914 – am making arrangements to send prizes through the canal with prize crews from [HMS] Chatham. On arrival at Port Said both prizes will require coal to reach Alexandria. Consul Port Said will arrange this with Captain of [HMS] Warrior on arrival.

Folio 188: telegram from [HMS] Duke of Edinburgh, Port Sudan to Admiralty 18th August 1914 – left prize [German merchant ship Altair] at Port Sudan proceeding to Aden.

Folio 189: telegram from Admiralty to Senior Naval Officer Singapore 18th August 1914 – owners state steamship St Kilda detained Singapore. State reason why she should not proceed to Java.

Folio 190: telegram from Admiralty to Naval Intelligence Officer Singapore 18th August 1914 – is steamer St Theodore detained at Singapore.