'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.' [‎38v] (76/248)

74
PART X.—MEDICAL BREAKDOWN.
C. Medical Administration of Surgeon-General Sir William Babtie. w
* See Part I. C and Part XI. D.
matters also regarded as a “ small side-show ” and did not for that reason receive proper
attention to its special and unique requirements. At any rate and for whatever reason,
Surgeon-General Babtie’s administration was marked by serious faults, for which he must
be blamed, and the importance of which cannot be minimised. But we recognise that
the shortness of his experience as Director of Medical Services when the war broke out,
and the fact that he had to work in an atmosphere very unfavourable to reforming innova
tion, must be regarded as diminishing the weight of the censure he deserves. He is
undoubtedly a man of great ability, and having regard to all the circumstances, we desire
to say that the faults of his administration were not, in our judgment, such as to prove
him unfit for important responsible administrative posts.
D. The Misuse of Reticence.
52. Elsewhere in our report, we have discussed the effects of the campaign of economy
in India.* We have seen how it tended to create an indisposition to put forward, or to
press demands involving expenditure, and we have quoted and endorsed in general terms,
the views of the Vincent-Bingley Commission in this connection. We now propose to
detail from our own evidence a number of instances, in which there has been a failure to
report to higher authorities serious defects in existing arrangements. In almost all these
cases the reporting and remedying of the defects would have involved considerable
expenditure, and possibly censure of the responsible officers. There is no proof
that economy was the motive of the omissions to report. But economy, as we have seen,
engendered a disposition to reticence, and when this was reinforced by the natural tendency
in all men to avoid censure, we fear that there grew up a dangerous habit of concealment.
In matters affecting the sick and wounded the want of frankness has painfully im
pressed us.
The Cdaha Hospital
53. Until 1916, practically the only Military Hospital for British sick and wounded
in Bombay, was the Colaba Station Hospital. In May, 1915, allegations were made that
this hospital was poorly equipped, and in response to a telegram from the Secretary of
State, Sir William Babtie, then Director of Medical Services in India, visited and reported
on the hospital. The gist of his report was telegraphed to England, and we give in full the
telegrams on the subject.
Telegram from Secretary of Stale for India to Viceroy, dated May 26th, 1915.
1864. Allegations being made that Military Hospital at Bombay to which wounded from Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
are being sent, is unprovided with X-ray apparatus and otherwise poorly equipped. Please cable facts.
Telegram from Viceroy to Secretary of State for Lidia, dated June 3rd, 1915.
H. 5304. Your telegram of the 26th ultimo, No. 1864. The station hospital at Colaba is equipped
according to regulation, but much additional equipment for officers and men has been provided through the
agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. of funds, local and others. Arrangements were made some months ago for the provision of electric
fans and light, but the supply has been delayed, owing to shortages of material. The number of X-ray apparatus
available for military use in India is at present limited to one portable set per division, the rest having been
aent overseas, fresh supplies indented for not having been received from home. The Sixth Divisional apparatus
with the specialist is sent to Bombay, when convoys of wounded are expected, and in addition use can be made
of the apparatus in the civil hospitals. Director, Medical Services, will visit Colaba within a week and the gist
of his report will be telegraphed to you.
Telegram from Viceroy to Secretary of State for India, dated June 16th, 1915.
H. 5620. In continuation of our telegram of the 2nd instant, No. H. 5304. Surgeon-General Babtie
inspected Station Hospital, Colaba, and confirms former report. X-ray apparatus and arrangements for
X-raving patients previously reported. No risk of any failure in this respect. He has arranged officers’
accommodation which will not materially affect soldiers. Cooking quite good and sufficiently varied, there
were no complaints. Electric lights and fans should be working in a fortnight. Hospital well staffed with
medical officers and nurses, but some shortage in assistant surgeons, nursing orderlies and menials, which,
as far as present conditions allow, will be met. Director of Medical Services satisfied that all sick and wounded
officers and men have been well looked after and well cared for in a good hospital, and, taken all in all, Colaba.
Hospital is better found than the majority of station hospitals in India.
54. It will be observed that the failure up to date to supply electric fans and light
is admitted. It is also admitted that X-ray apparatus is only sent to the hospital, when
convoys of wounded are expected ; but Sir William Babtie declares that in this respect
“ There is no risk of failure.” A shortage of assistant surgeons and orderlies is also admitted,
but there is a direct denial of any shortage of medical officers and nurses, and the con
cluding paragraph of the last telegram might easily be read as a denial of any other serious
defects in equipment. Bearing these assertions and denials in mind, we will now quote