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'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [57r] (113/274)
The record is made up of 1 file (135 folios). It was created in 3 Dec 1917-24 Jun 1918. 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.
Utjl- *
fsf.
S S C K B T .
OPBllAT ION a.
From;- G*O.C #> Mesopotamia^
^OX - " 'v-»I«!jr«S»
Herjeated India.
Be spate lied 1* 45 p*m. #
Received 3.00 a.m.^ 9.3.18.
X.7010.
W*4- njuc^Jl
Your 53645 March 6th.
As regards railway personnel it i^hot possible at present
to release ah/. A defensive policy entails ray having the means
to move troops rapidly to ary portion of the front from Baghdad or
from one part of the froiat to another, and therefore it is essent
ial that I shBuld have the best possible railway system.
2. Developments on the Persian side also make it accessary
for me to extend the railways on that side. Construction therefore
critical* proceeding on extension of metre gauge to Shahreban and
thence to Khanikin as I could not maintain any large bod/ of
troops in that direction without this line.
3. It is indi spensable tlat the line to Hillah should be
completed by June in order to collect the Euphrates harvest
rapidly and thus saae sea tonnage.
4. I also propose in order to afford freedom of lateral move
ment between the Dialha and Tigris to construct 2-foot 6-inch
line from Baqubah to Tuwair (on Tigris) via Be It aw a.
5. As regards inland water transport I do not think it probable
that any men can be released. Tonnage up river has neveyyet come
up to ny requirements at Baghdad and although conditions now show
improvement (Swing to high river, I must la ok forward to the long
period of low river whi&h begins in July and lasts till January.
6. By the decision contained in W.O. telegram 53059 ctsxed
February 26th I am rendered more dependent on river tonnage.
Further* the development of Euphrates will entail increase i$
shipping and I.W.T. personnel on that river.
7. The question will however be carefully considered and
the result sent you as soon as possible. As regards river
tonnage Freeland will be able to explain the situation.
About this item
- Content
The file, marked secret, contains correspondence and notes regarding rail and river transportation in Mesopotamia [Iraq] during 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
- Military operations targeting the Turkish railways in Palestine
- Planning and progress of the Mesopotamia Transport Commission
- Supply of railway materials, rolling stock, and personnel
- Postwar railway policy in India and Mesopotamia
- The question of substituting oil fuel for coal supply in river and rail transport.
Correspondents include: the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Egypt; the Chief of Imperial General Staff; Director of Railways, Baghdad; the War Office; the Commander-in-Chief, Army Headquarters, India; the Major General Sir Henry Francis Edward Freeland, Chairman of the Mesopotamia Transport Commission; 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 Assistant Director of the Inland Water Transport, Mesopotamia.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (135 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 137; 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
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'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [57r] (113/274), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/788, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100098484043.0x000072> [accessed 15 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/788
- Title
- 'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:136v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence