Middle East
Front
(383)1914
August
September
- 09
- Ottoman Empire abolishes the capitulationsOn 9 September 1914 the Ottoman government announced an end to the capitulations, foreign privileges, from 1 October. All the powers, Germany too, objected.
- Indian troops arrive at SuezIn September 1914 the first units of Indian Expeditionary Force A reached Suez. Some stayed in Egypt, while the rest sailed on to France.
- 17
- British naval mission leaves TurkeyIn September 1914 the British naval mission of Admiral Arthur Limpus left Turkey. German officers took over the Ottoman fleet.
- Admiral Souchon takes command of the Turkish fleetIn September 1914 the German admiral Wilhelm Souchon took command of the Ottoman fleet. A few weeks later he drew Turkey into the war.
October
November
- 02
- Indian Expeditionary Force "F" sails for EgyptAt the beginning of November 1914 three new Indian brigades sailed from India for Egypt. They were to defend the Suez Canal against the Turks.
- India guarantees the inviolability of the holy places of IslamOn 2 November 1914 the Viceroy of India said Britain would not attack the holy places of Arabia and Mesopotamia or Jeddah if the Turks let pilgrims through.
- 06
- British land at FaoOn 6 November 1914 Indian troops, after a naval bombardment, landed at Fao on the Shatt al-Arab and took the Turkish fort. The Mesopotamian campaign began.
- Submarine B11 in the DardanellesOn 6 November 1914, says a British chronology, the submarine B11 went some 2 miles into the Dardanelles. A month later she sank a Turkish battleship there.
- Russians take KöprüköyIn the first week of November 1914 Russian troops reached Köprüköy on the road to Erzurum. The British chronology states that they took it on 6 November.
- 14
- Turks retake KöprüköyIn mid-November 1914 an Ottoman Third Army counter-offensive pushed the Russians from Köprüköy almost to the border, the first Turkish success in the Caucasus.
- Sultan proclaims jihadOn 14 November 1914 the Sultan-Caliph's call to holy war against the Entente was solemnly proclaimed in Constantinople. Germany hoped for Muslim uprisings.
- 22
- The British occupy BasraOn 22 November 1914 British and Indian troops entered Basra, abandoned by the Turks. The next day the occupation of the city was formally proclaimed.
- Alleged Russian reoccupation of KöprüköyThe British chronology records the Russian reoccupation of Köprüköy on 22 November 1914. Studies do not confirm it. The Caucasus front went quiet.