'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎609r] (1229/1386)

War Ofllee to India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. .
01G 1 /S 135. (M.O. 10 Secret. War Office,
Sir, 11th February 1915.
A\ itli reference to your letter Xo. 1G42, of 9th February 1915, 1 am commanded
to say that in view of the present military situation in Egypt the Army Council cannot
withdraw troops from there to deal with the reported incursion of Turks into Aden
territory, which does not appear to have subsequently materialised.
1 am, Ac.,
The Under Secretary of State Id II. Bradk.
for India.
Xo. 7.
India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. to War Office.
M. 5100. India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ,
Sir, 16th February 1915.
With reference to your letter Xo. 121 '2760 of the 11 th February (not printed)
the Secretary of State for India deems it desirable to point out that the improvement
in the quality of the recent drafts despatched'from India to France must not i e
accepted as a proof that the'military organisation in India is capable of indefinitely
coping with the difficulties of the situation. These recent reinforcements .are largely
composed, not as hitherto of reservists and fully trained recruits from regimental
depots and linked battalions, but of detachments and even companies of soldiers from
other Tegiments in India. For example, as the resources of the 39th Garhwalis had
been wholly exhausted, the 3,8th Dogras at the Malakand had been drawn upon to
complete the deficiencies in the 39th, arpl similarly, a double company from the
Guides has been sent to the 57th Wilde’s bifles. This process obviously cannot be
often repeated, as in that casegthe regiments in India; on whom we now rely for the
defence of the Indian Frontier and for the maintenance of internal order would be so
depleted as to be incapable of performing those duties. The superiority therefore of
these recent drafts, so far from proving the elasticity of our military organisation,
clearly indicates the probability that India will soon cease to send drafts of a
satisfactory standard, while at the same time certain units in India will suffer in
efficiency through having furnished these detachments.
2 . In the concluding paragraph of your letter under reply you draw attention to
War Office letter Xo. 0164/3146 of the 11th instant with special reference to the
question of internal security, and you suggest in.paragraph 3 that the three Frontier
Field Divisions should be included in estimates of the forces available for internal
defence on the ground that the railway system connects them closely with the rest of
India. To preclude any misconception on this point Lord Crewe wishes to impress
on the Army Council the view of the India Offiee that serious internal troubles can
hardly arise without external pressure or assistance, and that it is precisely when we
have to resist aggression from without that we may also have to take strong military
measures to repress or prevent disturbances within. In other words the need for
internal defence will synchronize with the necessity for military operations on the
Frontier, in which case it is futile to rely on the Frontier Divisions as being available
ibr internal defence. The danger of denuding the Frontier for this purpose is all the
greater at times like the present when the preaching of “Jehad” may inflame the
dormant fanaticism of the tribes, and possibly of the Afghans. Furthermore, at such
a crisis it is by no means sure that the control of the railways and telegraphs can be
altogether depended on, for it must be borne in mind that the bulk of the personnel
of those services is almost entirely native, and some of them perhaps not of the most
loyal classes.
3. As regards the Volunteer forces, I am to state that for these due allowance was
made when the Nicholson Commission considered their Deport. The strength of the
Volunteer Fqreeon which they base their estimate was 42,027. Its strength is now
(February 1915) only 42,513. Moreover, many of the best officers and men have
volunteered for active service put of India, so that no appreciable reduction in troops
allotted to internal defence appears advisable. Further, I am to observe that it is
scarce!••orrcct to say that we have a white population of 150,000 on which to draw
o; del*':i *e purposes. The exact figure given in the Census Deport (1911) is