ttack in force in the Caucasus and called to England and
France for a diversion. The Mesopotamia campaign working on the right
flank of the Turkish forces, as a whole, was an ideal operation intended
to draw troops from the Russian frontier. Secondly, the moral effect of
any considerable British success in Mesopotamia, and especially the
capture of Bagdad, was bound to be very great. Bulgaria, Greece, and
Rumania were believed to be waiting for a cue to enter the struggle, and
perhaps turn the scales in the Balkans, while the attitude of the
Mohammedans in the French and British possessions was largely dependent
upon the prestige of those two countries.

Finally, in considering the relative importance of particular campaigns,
observers are likely to lose sight of the tremendous importance of
possession. In law possession is said to constitute nine points. In
warfare, and in diplomacy, which must eventually follow, possession is
even more important. When the plenipotentiaries of the warring nations
gather around the peace table to arrive at a basis of settlement and the
cards are laid on the table, that nation in possession of disputed
territory, whatever may be her military and financial condition, is in a
position to largely influence the terms. Only by the concession of
equivalent advantages or considerations will it be possible to oust her.

How widely this is recognized will be evidenced by the scramble that is
made by each of the warring nations to secure possession of the land
regarded as its particular sphere of influence. This is true of
Mesopotamia, as of many other parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

It is evident that the Turkish military authorities were taken somewhat
by surprise by the rapidity with which the British Government in India
perfected their arrangements for an attack upon Mesopotamia. Knowing
that the total British army was extremely limited, it was thought that
France, and possibly Egypt, would absorb British military activity for
some months to come. There was every reason, however, why the British
should not delay the attack upon the shores of Mesopotamia washed by the
Persian Gulf. Running down to the left bank of the Shat-el-Arab to a
point (Abadam) almost directly opposite the Turkish village of Sanijeh
was the enormously important pipe line of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.
Now this pipe line was one of the main supplies of the British navy
which, with the launching of the newer superdr