‘Report for the Army Council on Mesopotamia. By Sir John P Hewett, GCSI, KBE’ [‎29v] (63/119)

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from the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John of Jerusalem. There
must also be other civil needs such, for instance, as that of ferrying passengers and goods from the right
bank of the Tigris at Baghdad, where the railway from Basrah will end, to the left bank, from which the line
to Khaniquin and Mosul will start, that could not be met from such an exiguous supply of vessels. It
seems also desirable to retain a number of steamers and barges sufficient to secure the mobility of the
army of occupation ; otherwise the rapid movement of troops, which may at any time become necessary
in areas which have no railways, will be impossible. The whole line of the Tigris from Basrah to Baghdad
will ultimately be without railway communication.
Whatever the decision may be as to the disposal of the fleet, it is desirable that the price to be charged
for such portions of it as will not be retained for the army of occupation in Mesopotamia or for military
purposes elsewhere, should be determined with reference to the original cost of the vessels and the
extent to which the hull, machinery, &c., of individual units has depreciated. The settlement of a
price, after consideration of these factors, is a matter only capable of final determination by an expert
body. No arrangements have been made for the establishment in Mesopotamia of an independent
Sale of Surplus Government Property Board. It would be difficult to arrange satisfactorily for the
sale of the different parts of this valuable flotilla except through a Board of this kind.
Boat Bridges.
74. A number of boat bridges throughout the country have been constructed by the Inland Water
Transport Department. Among these is the south bridge at Baghdad, which is a single track bridge
carried on steel pontoons, and was completed only a few months ago at an estimated cost of Rs. 8,42,000
(£56,133). The Civil Commissioner states that he does not require this bridge, as he considers the cost
excessive and the position unsuitable for the civil population. Had civil needs been considered the
bridge would, in his opinion, have been placed north of its present position in the immediate neighbourhood
of Bank Street and the business part of Bahgdad on the east bank. The bridge is a very good one;
it does not seem possible to do without it, and the Civil Commissioner may perhaps change his mind
upon the matter later. The levy of tolls is undesirable if it can be avoided ; but, if the civil adminis
tration will not acquire the bridge, the military authorities may be driven to protect their interests by
charging a toll to those who use it when not employed on military business.
Other bridges are :—
Kut bridge
Kala Abasayiah ..
Kufah
Nasiriyah ..
Rumaithah
Hillah
North bridge, Baghdad
Amarah
Musayib
Total
Estimated cost.
Rs.
£
1,25,932
(8,395)
46,382
(3,092)
44,602
(2,973)
1,34,320
(8,955)
19,000
(1,267)
31,000
(2,067)
1,13,700
(7,580)
3,40,311
(22,687)
70,876
(4,725)
.. Rs. 9,26,123
(£61,741)
The estimates are based on war rates. It seems reasonable that the charge to the civil administration
for the boat bridges should be half the estimated cost at war rates, viz., Rs. 4,63,061 (£30,871). The
bridges are all in serviceable condition except that at Musayib, which has been removed temporarily
and will have to be replaced. . J
75. The Amarah bridge merits a special description. During my short stay in India I heard it
criticised more than once as an extravagant project. This criticism was, I consider, not justified. The
town of Amarah is built on the left bank of the Tigris. On the right bank are situated the terminus
of the Basrah-Amarah railway, camps for Defence Troops, three General Hospitals, two convalescent
depots, a very large supply depot and the Inland Water Transport loading piers. On the left bank
are the administrative headquarters, Turkish barracks, many billets and camping grounds containing
General Hospitals, the Ordnance Depot and two Infantry Depots of several thousand men.
Intercommunication from bank to bank has consequently throughout the military operations
been of the first importance. Troops arriving by rail from Basrah must cross this bridge to get on to
the marching road to Kut. The evacuation of sick and drawing of supplies have to be provided for.
Theie is a large civil traffic of pedestrians and pack animals to Amarah, which is the most considerable
town between Basrah and Baghdad and a centre of meeting for the Arab population all round it. Further
interruption is caused by the Chahala and Machera canals which take off from the left bank of the Tigris
just above the town.
Before the war, the only means of crossing the river was by a bridge of boats, upstream from the
town, with a subsidiary bridge of boats over the Chahala and Machera. The bridge of boats was both
badly situated and in a very poor state of repair. It was constantly broken by steamers driven against
it by the force of the stream. Its removal and replacement had become a matter of urgent military
necessity.
The alternatives were to purchase 12 to 15 local boats at about Rs. 7,000 (£467) to Rs. 8,000 (£533)
each, and to reproduce the existing clumsy structure, with all the disadvantages of constant interruption