Euphrates Force

Original plan was designed around additional forces from Suez.

Euphrates diversion

In order to divert Turkish forces and also change the nature of the Tigris defence, we will send a Division up the Euphrates to take the Shia holy city of Kerbala, take the rail-head and bypass the Ctesiphon defences to attack Baghdad.

Alas, there are no spare divisions however the key is the belief that there is a force going up the Euphrates.

Instead we will bulk up a battalion (4th Rajputs with a Maxim Gun Btty and a squadron of the 33rd Ind Light Cavalry Rgt with 2 paddle steamers) of 6th Division from Nasiriyah and encourage arab religious and political leaders to assist in the liberation of their holy cities. Bulking up will consist of over elaborate embarcation combined with mis-information about the size of the force. An additional battalion will seem to depart from Nasiriyah to help the impression that there is a full brigade involved.

This unit will avoid battle but otherwise impersonate a the vanguard of a full division. To counter this threat, the Turks will have to consider diverting at least a brigade and probably a division to cover the Euphrates. As they have limited communications, we will cut the telegraph wires to Baghdad to maintain concern about the thrust from this direction.

The second part of this plan is leverage to mobilise the Shia arabs in Mesopotamia. We will badger and cajole the arabs to provide troops to support the mission (this will involve some subterfuge on our part). The threat of an arab uprising will add further uncertainty, potentially draw off more forces and also undermine confidence in the arab militias.