The Cotton Spies

CHAPTER 20

  ‘Brigadier- General Barber to see you General Harris.’

  ‘You know Colonel Routledge my Intelligence Officer, of course? Good trip over?’

  ‘Yes, damn seasick as usual. Unless the water is like a millpond it happens every time.’

  ‘Well where you're going that is one thing you won’t suffer from. Colonel Routledge will bring you up to speed with what is happening in Meshed and exactly what you role is to be there. However before he does that I think I will cover a few salient points.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘General Barber, recently we based a force of cavalry, infantry and local levies in Meshed. These replace the Russian troops who left in February following this damn revolution. Our troops act as a cordon to block any threat coming across the border from Russian Turkestan on their way to India.’

  ‘This revolution can’t possibly last, general,’ Barber said vehemently.

  ‘Well it may not. However, it is causing us all sorts of problems because with the Russians gone the way is open for both the Germans and the Turks, once they are across the Caspian Sea, to threaten us via Persia or Turkestan.’ Barber went to interrupt but Harris raised his hand to stop him and added, ‘if the Germans and Turks do get in a position to invade India we are in serious trouble because of our lack of troops.’ Harris paused for a moment then looked Barber steadily in the eye, ‘there are also Indian agitators, who have been living in Germany, we understand attempting to cross the border and stir things up here. Finally as always there is the threat of jihad. Once again it seems, according to anti-British newspapers in Persia, that the Kaiser has converted to Islam for the fourth of fifth time. Your job is to: stop anti-British propaganda; prevent any German or Turkish spies or agents either getting here or into Afghanistan; stop any Indian agitator crossing back here to India; get us as much information as you can about what is happening across the border in Russian Turkestan, in particular west of the Oxus river and in the plain of Bokhara.’

  ‘What sort of happenings, sir?’ Barber moved his gaze from Harris to Routledge and back again.

  ‘There are various groups who are opposing the Bolsheviks and we need to support those if it is in our interests to do so.’

  ‘How will we know that?’ said Barber.

  ‘I am afraid that is one of your tasks, General Barber. It is unclear to us just what is happening across the Russian border from Meshed. We must find out, from our perspective, which we need to buttress. That identification done, then we can take the appropriate support action!’

  ‘Has Colonel Statham had any success so far in finding out what is going on in Russia?’

  ‘Yes, we had a report last week from him that one of his agents has discovered that Germans are in Tashkent trying to buy cotton.’

  ‘Was it reliable information?’

  ‘Yes. It actually confirmed what we already knew.’

  Barber nodded sagely. ‘I know Statham he has worked for me before. He’s a good support man.’

  Harris tried to stop himself from smiling, ‘quite. Now one other thing if the worst happens and the Germans get across the Caspian the railway will be important to them. You’ll have to try and prevent the German using it when the time comes. Recently we sent two experienced intelligence officers, Captains Fernee and Mawle, to support Colonel Statham. Fernee speaks Russian which might be useful in rooting out any undesirables coming over the border or indeed if you need to send someone into Turkestan on a,’ he lowered his voice, ‘spying trip. You will have to work out how you deal with the Russians, which is a huge responsibility. Whatever you do be wary that you do not commit India to something it cannot fulfil. Questions?’

  ‘No, sir, leave it to me to make the right decisions when necessary – it’s a habit.’

  When Barber had left the office Routledge said, ‘should we have told him about the Edrich Mission?’

  ‘Good lord, no,’ replied General Harris, ‘secrecy and compartmentalisation is important.’