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'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [85r] (169/204)
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.
JLaj it
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SECRET*
11- ‘J'- '1
‘ J . /,_ . . C9FY OF TELEGRAM,
vf//,.. 0[ff-*<br- %
To;— General, Basra,
Coninrunisations, Basra.
Inwater, Basra.
36.603.
M.R.3/10603/X2 .G.X’i'.
Please see letter No. 1518 January 29th from A.Q.M.G,
L * 0f C,> ' t0 D * I ’ W -T., and D.I.W.T's reply No. 2838
of February 3rd, having reference to the estimated re
quirements of the cargo-carrying fleet. See also
your telegram X.2145 of 18th May, The estimated week!
ton-mileage requirements were given as slightly over
5,000,000. The average worked for June Quarter was
4,634,000 with a cargo-carrying fleet at Luga and
barges and exclusive of port work, averaging approxi
mately 295 units. The ultimate fleet of such craft
will be about 640 including any appropriations for
port work and other subsidiary duties. Worked on a
basis of 600 vessels and allowing 33f, for casualties,,
heavy repairs, replacements and loss at sea en route,
we get an ultimate active fleet of 400 units, equiv
alent to approximately 6,450,000 against January
estimate of 5,113,206. There are so many local
factors affecting the situation that we wish you to
give the fullest consideration to the question of a
possible reduction in the number of tugs and barges
ft-till to be supplied*
Circulated to:-
* G. M 0 R. *. )
M.«Rol. )from M.R.3.
C a X * G? * S,
DXC,l.GaSo
D.M.Oc
M. 0*1.
M.0.2.
M # 0,2 *a „
M.0.3.
D. M * I.
A a G c
Q , Me G a
i- } * GA M<-A .
M . G 4 0 e
0 . S, Sc T ,
Q.K-G.Op
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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