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'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [95r] (189/204)
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.
■V %
Prom:- Par Office.
To:- G.O.C.,Bagdad.
Repeated D .Railv;ays , Basra
C-in-C..India.
SECRET.
18.7.17.
7.30 p.m.
37991 cipher M.R.2.A/171.
Pith reference to your X.2576 of 21st June, and C-in-C's
-6
42124 of 24th June in,reply, also to C-in-C's 41703 of
22nd June, regarding delivery of rolling stock, and your
"Tv.
X.2630 in reply, also War Office 37048 to D.Railways and
F
his 1053. It seems essential that the whole situation as
regards railway supply should be reviewed. In view of the
increasing difficulty likely to be experienced in meeting
your demands for railway materials and personnel including
the provision of the necessary sea transport to Basra and
<of the very large increase in your railway proposals. It
is noted that your X.2380 of the 7th ult.centemplates the
simultaneous construction of the Kurna-Basra, Bagdad-
husaiyib lines and the conversion of the Bagdad-Baquba
line. In view of the recent addition the Kut-Bagdad
ana the 2 feeo 6 inches Bagdad-Baquba line to your programme
a considerable strain would seem to be thrown on your
railway resources in pe.rsonnel, material and plant by your
present proposals for which it may be difficult to make the
necessary provision by the time desired. It is suggested
that you should, if necessary, strengthen your representation
1
on the joint investigation referred to in C-in-C's 42124
and that it should without delay consider your revised
demands fer next six months and after consulting shipping
authorities agree dates of provision besides settling
questions originally for discussion. India will be given
by this opportunity of reviewing necessity for strengthening
their supply and forwarding organisation to cope with
increased business.
Copies to:- D.M.O.
M.O .2 . a
M. 0.2. c ,
D.Mov*
D.G.M.R.
M.R.l.
M.R .2.a.
D.I.W.D,
C .I.G.S.
D.C.I.G.S.
M.O.2.-
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.
.
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