'Mesopotamia Commission. Report of the Commission Appointed by Act of Parliament to Enquire into the Operations of War in Mesopotamia, together with a Special Report by Commander J Wedgwood, DSO, MP, and Appendices. London: HMSO, 1917.' [‎27r] (53/248)

PAKT IX.—TRANSPORT.
51
A. Shortage of River Transport.
June \Uh. —India asked whether 4 named paddle steamers, 2 stern-wheeled
steamers and 2 tugs, the draught of all being between 2 ft. 3 ins. to 3 ft. 6 ins.,
would be suitable if available.
June \§th. —Mesopotamia cabled accepting as many of the 8 as were procurable.
June '20th. —India telegraphed that some of them were found to be too deep,
and that the others of suitable draught were not available (no reason given). They
added —“ no tugs, as asked for on May 27th, available in India.”
June 20th. —Mesopotamia cabled asking for 4 tugs of 3-ft. 6 -in. draught.
July \0th. —Mesopotamia asked for 6 paddle steamers, 3 stern wheelers, 8 tugs
and 43 barges to be specially built (in England). The draught specified was 3 ft. 6 ins.
for the steamers, and 3 ft. 5 ins. for the tugs.
(N.B.—Orders for these were placed with builders in the United Kingdom in
November, 1915.)
July 11 th. —India telegraphed that tugs suitable to the requirements cabled
on June 20 th were “ not at present available.”
October 0th. —Mesopotamia telegraphed to India : “ Vessels over 3 ft. 9 ins. now
useless; send quickly some light-draught tugs and stern wheelers to serve immediate
needs.”
October 12th. —India replied: “ Have tried Indian rivers without success.”
October 13^A.—Mesopotamia telegraphed, draught admissible for tugs 3 ft. 5 ins.,
stern wheelers, 2 ft. 6 ins., adding, “if anything of suitable draught, and approxi
mating to other requirements, can be sent here soon, they will serve as useful stop-gaps
till new craft arrive. Please do whatever is possible to meet our urgent difficulties
meanwhile.”
October 20th. —India telegraphed, “ No tugs of description given in your telegram
of October 13th are procurable in India or Burma, and stern wheelers cannot make
sea journey.”
October 21th. —Mesopotamia telegraphed, “ Please wire description of any tugs
that are available, with draught.”
November 0th. —Mesopotamia telegraphed, “ Matter urgent, please wire details.”
November 1th. —India wired that they were receiving such large lists of steamers
that they were having them “ whittled down by a special staff,” with a view to select
ing only such vessels as would be suitable. They promised to forward a list shortly.
November 0th. —Mesopotamia telegraphed, “ Please telegraph the list of ships,
details can follow by post. You know our requirements as regards dimensions.
Draught should not exceed 3 ft. 6 ins. Please treat the matter as very urgent.”
November \0th. —India telegraphed to Mesopotamia the names and particulars
of no less than 48 river steamers.
30. Of these latter, according to the description, 9 fulfilled the requirements as to
draught sent by Mesopotamia on May 27th, although on June 20 th and October 12 th the
Indian authorities had telegraphed that no such tugs were available in India. Other 4
fulfilled the requirements of June 20 th. It may be that some of these 13 tugs, while being
of suitable draught, were not in all other less important respects exactly what was wanted,
but, in view of Mesopotamia’s urgent need, we are impressed by what appears to us as
serious neglect on the part of the Director of the Royal Indian Marine in not
offering these craft to Mesopotamia at a much earlier date. If they had been offered, and
accepted in response to the requirements cabled on May 27th, June 20 th and October
9th, they could have been strengthened and prepared for the sea voyage to Basra, in
ample time to make the voyage as soon as the monsoon permitted—say in October or
November, 1915—and have arrived in time to relieve the very critical condition as to
transport which existed in December, 1915. It further appears to us that Captain
Lumsden failed to appreciate his duty, in that he did not at an early date have a complete
list and survey made of all the river steamers and light-draught tugs in India and Burma.
Placing of Orders for River Transport
31. We have already referred to the order sent to the 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. for 6 paddle steamers
of the “ Medjidieh ” class, 3 stern-wheel steamers of lighter draught, 8 tugs of the “ Sumana ”
class, and 43 barges. The order was cabled on August 4 th, 1915, and written despatches
with full particulars were received in London on September 9 th, 1915. The urgency of
the order, and the necessity of adhering to the type, dimensions, and draught of the
(C 48—176) gz