"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٥‎٧‎٩] (١٧٨٢/١٧٣٤)

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his meaning having been misunderstood, he explained that he was far
from advocating the " Comet's" removal " except as a companion
" measure to Baghdad being furnished with another vessel, built on dift'er-
« ell t lines and administered less as a unit in a great department (Indian
" Marine) than as a means of carrying out certain reasonable duties in
"Ottoman waters ; " and he anticipated that, if the Eupharates and Tigris
Steam Navigation Company's steamers one day ceased to run, the
" Comet" would be invaluable as a despatch boat and a means of trans
port. Such being his views, he was informed that the replacement of the
" Cornet' 5 presented many difficulties, and that no immediate action
would be taken.
In the meantime a proposal to station the u Comet" principally at
Basrah had fallen through, in consequence of the rejection of a scheme
for the appointment of the Assistant Political Agent at Basrah to be
Consul at Muhammareh also, under which the services of a British
Government steamer on the Shatt-al-'Arab and Karun would frequently
have been required.
In the winter of 1893 k 1894, as already mentioned in another connect
tion, the two Nordenfelt machine-guns forming the a Co met V'arma
ment were exchanged at Basrah for others of a newer pattern, taking the
Martini-Henry cartridge.
In 1904 Major Newmarch, the Resident, asked to be furnished with
a launch for short journeys on the river at Baghdad, representing that
the need for some such convenience was now great in consequence of the
removal of the Residency from the centre to the outskirts of the town.
The Government of India were willing to provide a launch; but His
Britannic Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople thought that great
difficulties might arise if the Porte were approached on the subject of
this proposed addition to the Residency establishment, and suggested
other methods. The matter was arranged, but not till after 1905, when
a motor launch by Thornycroft was supplied.
It has been shown that in 1861 the Indian military guard of the
Baghdad Residency consisted of only 10 men, having been reduced from
a former strength of about 30 on the institution of a small mounted
escort for the Resident, recruited locally.
In 1878 the military guard, which had to watch the Residency
building, in which there was a Treasury, as well as their own quarters
and the stables of the mounted escort which were then at some distance
from the Residency, was found to be too small for the duties required of
1893-1894.
Question of
a launch for
the Baghdad
Residency,
1904-1905.
British mili
tary guard at
Baghdad,
1878—1905.
1878—1882.
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