Page 191 - Life of Gertrude Bell

ORIENTAL SECRETARY *73
and in wandering around the suqs and bars of Cairo where he
accidentally uncovered one of the boldest German espionage
missions of the war.
Gertrude left India for Basra on March ist, 1916. Before depart­
ing she wrote a note to Captain Hall at the Admiralty, anticipating
her arrival: ‘Before I came to Basra I remember your putting
your finger on the Baghdad corner of the map and saying that the
ultimate success of the war depended on what we did there. You
are one of the people who realised how serious are the questions
we have to face ... I have had a most useful fortnight here... I have
got on terms of understanding with the Indian FO, and the ID
[Intelligence Department]. It is essential that India and Egypt
should keep in the closest touch since they are dealing with two
sides of the same problem ... *
On March 3rd she wrote to her father: ‘We are within half
an hour of Basra. I’ve come on a transport... steaming up the
river all the morning through a familiar landscape of palm grove
and Arab huts, with apricot trees blooming ... I wish I knew how
Maurice is and were certain that he is not going back to France
yet.’ She stayed for the first two weeks with Sir Percy and Lady
Cox, and was soon engaged in a hectic round of activity. ‘I’m still
with the Coxes, but I only dine, sleep and breakfast here—for I
go to lunch next door to GHQ ... I went to the Intelligence
Department this morning, saw Colonel Beach who is at the head
of it, and Captain Campbell Thompson whom I had known
when he was an archaeologist... I’m now looking for a servant.
It’s delicious weather ... muddy, stagnant creeks and crowds of
Arabs —but I like itl ...I dined last night with some American
missionaries called Van Ess. I also saw Mr Dobbs. He is now a
Political Officer here ... the Head of the Revenue Office and so
has been brought into very close knowledge of all the Turkish
system ... I am still with the good Coxes. Sir Percy is most charm­
ing, well read and interesting and a really considerable politician
... I walked with ... a nice and intelligent young man called
Bullard who was for a long time at the Embassy at C’ple. We
walked right out of the palm groves into the desert the first
time I had seen it for two years ... The hasty recall of General
Aylmer is sufficient comment of recent events here. Heaven send
someone more competent to command, otherwise I see no chance
of advance until the Russians clear the way for us—not a satis­
factory thought.’