!['Railways and L. of C. [Lines of Communication] Policy, Mesopotamia. Vol III' [‎271r] (542/549)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000465.0x0002ef/IOR_L_MIL_5_789_0542.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'Railways and L. of C. [Lines of Communication] Policy, Mesopotamia. Vol III' [‎271r] (542/549)")
'Railways and L. of C. [Lines of Communication] Policy, Mesopotamia. Vol III' [271r] (542/549)
The record is made up of 1 file (272 folios). It was created in 22 Jun 1918-5 Oct 1919. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
X*9728. 22nd.
Your 58610 cipher M.R.2. A.473 May 18th*
From »** G.O. C . Mesopotamia^
To War Office; repeated C. in C. India.
Despatched 5 p.m* 22nd June, 1918.
Received 11 P.m. 23rd June, 1918.
—"
From the
surveys and reconnaissances completed up to date it appears
that there are 2 alternative routes practicable. First via
the desert by Karbala (Mashhad Husain) crossing the Euphrates
by the existing barrage near Musaiyib and joining existing
Hillah line 25 miles south of Baghdad: total length of new
mainline 270 miles, Second alignment as far as Samawah is
the same as the first^ thence crosses 2 branches of the
Euphrates just above Samawah thence along the Western
(?) side of the Hillah branch crossing the latter 15 miles
south of Hillah and joining the existing alignment at Hillah ;
total length of new main line 158 miles. To render them
safe from flooding both routes require earthworks but second
alternative via Hillah shows 30saving on this. Irrigation
wish to avoid use of the barrage as a bridge^ and Railways are
doubtful of practicability of temporary bridges in this
locality but no difficulty is presented by proposed crossing
on Hillah route above Samawah. Hillah route is recommended— 1
for these and other reasons.
1 wish to urge strongly that the decision given 3n
53059 cipher M.R.2.A. 6412 February 26th may now be reconsidered
and that 1 may be given authority to proceed with
construction of through railway from Basra to Baghdad by
route 2 above and with metre gauge for the following reason.
1st. Difficulties of supply render standard gauge
out of the question although it is preferable and if the
line/
About this item
- Content
The file, marked secret, contains correspondence and notes regarding rail and road transportation in Mesopotamia [Iraq] near the end of, and immediately following, the First World War. The papers cover several matters, including:
- The construction, conversion, maintenance, and expansion of the railways in the region, including regular progress reports from the Director of Railways, Baghdad
- Supply of railway materials, rolling stock, and personnel
- A proposed survey of Persia [Iran] for the purposes of railway building
- Demobilisation planning
- Transition from military to civil administration
- Expenditure
- A proposal for a direct Baghdad-Haifa line.
Correspondents include: the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Egypt; the Chief of Imperial General Staff; the Director of Railways, Baghdad; the War Office; the Commander-in-Chief, Army Headquarters, India; the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Mesopotamia; the Chief of the General Staff, India; the Director General of Movements and Railways, War Office; and the High Commissioner at Constantinople [Istanbul].
- Extent and format
- 1 file (272 folios)
- Arrangement
The file is arranged in chronological order, from the rear to the front.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 274; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel; these numbers are written in coloured crayon.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'Railways and L. of C. [Lines of Communication] Policy, Mesopotamia. Vol III' [271r] (542/549), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/789, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100094917081.0x00008f> [accessed 4 April 2025]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100094917081.0x00008f
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100094917081.0x00008f">'Railways and L. of C. [Lines of Communication] Policy, Mesopotamia. Vol III' [‎271r] (542/549)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100094917081.0x00008f"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000465.0x0002ef/IOR_L_MIL_5_789_0542.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000465.0x0002ef/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/789
- Title
- 'Railways and L. of C. [Lines of Communication] Policy, Mesopotamia. Vol III'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:30r, 30av, 30v:273v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence