The Cotton Spies

by Simon Glyndwr John

CHAPTER 17

  Barely a week after Routledge and Clarke had had their meeting about the new Democratic Republic of Transcaucasia they received intelligence that the country no longer existed and had been replaced by three separate states Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. These three new states had made individual approaches to the Ottoman Turks and Germany. In the same week the Emir of Afghanistan had finally transmitted his approval for the Edrich Mission which had now begun its long journey to Kashgar. A meeting with General Harris was arranged to inform him of these facts and discuss proposals for which they needed his backing.

  Clark opened the proceedings, ‘we have received information which is very worrying. The new Georgian republic has signed a treaty with Germany. This treaty clearly is one in the eye for the Turks and may drive a wedge between them and the Germans. Georgia has had close ties to Germany for many years. German troops have apparently already arrived in Tiflis, the Georgian capital, under the command of General Kress von Kressenstein. The troops under his command are Germans, recently based in the Ukraine and the Balkans, plus the Georgian Legion of the Kaiser’s Imperial Guard. The Germans have been granted full access to the Georgian railway system. Although Georgia's eastern boundary does not reach the Caspian the use of its railway would bring that sea much closer for the Germans. Use of the railway will ease troop movements and supply issues if they decide to cross into Turkestan and threaten India.’

  The general murmured to himself before he said, ‘Kressenstein is a good general putting him in charge means that the Hun needs business.’ He turned and stared at Routledge, ‘I hope you have a suggestion for me Colonel?’

  ‘Indeed I have, replied Routledge. ‘First, Mr Clarke does have some information about what the Armenians are doing.’

  ‘Armenia too has signed a peace treaty with the Central Powers, placing itself under the protection of Germany. However, Armenia blames Germany for not doing enough to stop the Turks from massacring Armenians over the last two years. So what Armenia is doing is also appealing to the Austro-Hungarian's for support – though what they can do is anybody's guess. We are almost certain that with these peace treaties signed the way to Baku is open for Germany. The Germans need oil for their submarines and Baku is the obvious place for them to get it.’

  ‘We are sure that this information is correct?’ The general asked looking from one to the other men opposite him who both murmured that it was. The general looked up and stared at the map hanging on the wall as if to remind himself where the countries, they had just been discussing, actually were. After a few moments he shifted his gaze to Routledge and raised his eyebrows. ‘General Muncerville has the task to sort out the threat to Baku with his Muncerforce we cannot get involved even if we wanted to. Instead, I have just received orders from London concerning our new vital role in North-East Persia. He looked at the papers he had received from the Chief of the Imperial Staff’s office. ‘London is worried that Northeast Persia is a possible gateway for an Indian invasion force. They want it plugged and they are sending us Colonel Barber to command a mission based in Meshed. We have to find troops for his command,’ he waved the paper. ‘The colonel will be promoted Brigadier General on arrival from Mesopotamia where he is currently performing an intelligence role. His journey may take a couple of weeks because he has to get a ship from Basra here where after a briefing he will go to Meshed.’ The general sat back, ‘once onboard the ship he will be telling everyone, as usual, how wonderful he is.’ After seeing Routledge's and Clarke’s wry smiles the general continued.

  ‘Colonel Statham currently commanding in Meshed will concentrate on local Persian issues and forestalling German and Turk activities. Brigadier General Barber takes over command from Statham who will report to him. The general will look at events across the border in Russian Turkestan and provide us and London with key intelligence on any troop movements and on the cotton crop. 500 Punjabis of the 19th Punjab regiment will be Barber’s fighting force. I want copies made of General Barber’s exact role and responsibilities when they arrive from London. We cannot afford to get things wrong or we will be up to our neck in Hun and Turk before we realise it. I expect the general’s visit to India to be fleeting - we need him in Persia - yesterday.