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'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [80r] (159/204)
The record is made up of 1 file (100 folios). It was created in 18 May 1917-21 Dec 1917. 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.
Copy of Telepiram^
Prom:- General Baghdad. Rec*d 22*8^17.
To:- War Office, repe ated C»G,S., India ..
TVg~7c3 o and In i 7apcr »
Q/2019j, 20th. Your telegram 12th August, 36606/MR3/10603-
Mile tonnage for June quarter is specially favourable, as
this was period of good water with barges loaded deep, while
craft had been released from Field Army for the time being#
This tonnage, moreover, includes marine fuel and actual ef
fective mile tonnage was considerably less# Liabilities
of this force have greatly increased since forecast was made
of 5,000,000 ton miles per week and of 1,200 tons per day by
water and requirements intermediate garrisons have increased.
It is true that we have received an effective million tons per
week extra from India, but at this period of year fleet can
now with difficulty give me 600 tons a day by water and 600
tons at Kut for onward transit by rail, in addition to re
quirements intermediate garrisons and movement of troops*
Effective weekly mile tonnage of craft still to be delivered
is a million and a half, equivalent (termolimato) 430 tons
per day at Baghdad# In view of the increasing liabilities
of this force, and of fact that owing to incessant work
large portion present fleet will require extensive repairs
2.,in^ensurjLng
and possibly replacements (evencrying) 12 months, I consider
original orders should be completed. Extra million tons
miles referred to as having come from India only meets increas
ed liability just mentioned. Addressed Troopers, repeated
C.G.S., I.G.C., and Inwater.
Circulated per M.R.3., to:- D.G.M.R.
M.R.l.
M.0.2«c .
M.G.O.
D *G «M*A •
C. I.GoS.
D. C.I.G.S
D.M.O.
M.0.2.
M • 0 *2. a.
D.M.I.
M.I.2.
Q, .M.G •
D•of Mov •
M.R.3.
S 0 R • 1 9
Ind.Offioe
D.I.W.D#
A «G •
About this item
- Content
The file, marked secret, contains correspondence and notes regarding rail and river transportation for the Mesopotamian campaign during the First World War. The papers cover a number of matters, including:
- Strategic considerations of the use of rail and river communications
- Supply of railway materials, rolling stock, and personnel to Mesopotamia [Iraq] from India, other parts of the British Empire, and allied territories
- Problems with unloading and shipping congestion at Basra
- Progress of railway construction, including weekly reports from the General Officer Commanding or Director of Railways to the War Office, starting from August 1917
- Capacity estimates (for troops, food, ammunition, and materials) and efforts to increase it
- Complaints of shortages of railway stock and personnel in India due to the demand in Mesopotamia
- Preparations for a commission, led by Sir Henry Francis Edward Freeland, to be sent to review rail and river transportation in Mesopotamia
- Questions of flooding and damming of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Correspondents include: the Commander-in-Chief, India; the Chief of the Imperial General Staff; the General Officer Commanding, Mesopotamia; the War Office; the Director of Railways, Mesopotamia; the War Section, Army Department, Government of India; and Major General Sir Henry Francis Edward Freeland.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (100 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 102; 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 and pencil; where they have been written in pencil and circled, they have been crossed through.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/787
- Title
- 'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:101v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence