‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 22. PART II. (From 16th to 31st May 1916).’ [‎50r] (104/246)

Little charge in the situation is reported by Gorringe.
To effect a crossing over the Hal he is getting forward pontoons overland.
On the left hank of the Tigris the enemy is still holding positions and Gorringe
reports that at present he cannot turn them out without incurring heavy
casualtier—see 1 N 0 . 51945 of May 3rd (See Dy. No. 52019), from 0. I. G. S ,
London, gist of which Gorringe was sent.
Addressed C. G. Simla; repeated Chief, London.
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 1).
Copy to M. S. C., M. S. V., G. S. (M. 0. 2, M. O. 3).
Letter No. 15056-Q., dated 30th April 1916. APPENDIX 315
(Received in War Section on 22nd May 1916,) Ao. 55433)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” Basrah
To—The Chief of the General Staff.
In continuation of my telegram No. 1505-5-Q. of 30th April (Dy. No.
51576), I have the honour to refer to your No. 50400, dated 25th April 1916, in
which you request a report on the proposals put forward by Lieutenant-Colonel
James, A.D.M.S. (San.), I.E. Force “ D,” as regards the methods of carrying out
certain sanitary measures which he recommends for adoption in this Force.
2 The general principles of the sanitary policy advocated by Lieutenant-
Colonel James have already been approved by me, and are being carried out, as
rapidly as circumstances permit, by the Medical and Military Works Services
with the Force.
3. The specific proposals in note 3 of Lieutenant-Colonel James’ memo
randum are however on a different footing, in so far as they call for the employ
ment of private contractors from India to superintend and carry out the measures
recommended, and the purchase at second hand of the material required. I am
of opinion that no useful purpose will be served by the adoption of this method.
4. It is. undoubtedly true that delay has occurred in carrying out Sanitary
and Medical projects here. It is probable, however, that in putting forward his
proposal for remedying this state of affairs, Lieutenant-Colonel James was not
fully aware of the facts of the case. In fact he prepared and wrote the report
under reference only some ten days or so after his arrival in Mesopotamia. It is
useless to compare methods in Mesopotamia with those which have been adopted
in Europe. The conditions are so at variance that any comparison or analogy
is out of the question. The principal difficulty which is encountered here in
carrying cut any works of this nature, particularly up river, is the want of facili
ties for transport of material. It takes a considerable time to obtain materials
from India ; it takes from a week to a fortnight to unload them here from the
ocean Transport ; and it has hitherto been practically impossible to send them
up river, as all river craft are taken up with the carriage of troops, ammunition
and supplies. As a case in point, I may mention that the materials for con
structing certain hospital buildings, which are urgently required at Amarah, have
been lying in Basrah ready for despatch since January last, and that out of a
total of about 5,000 tons, it has so far only been possible to despatch about 200
tons, although these materials are given precedence over everything except
urgent demands from the Tigris Army Corps. It is obvious that the transport
difficulty would not be overcome or lessened in any way by the employment of
private contractors.
5. As regards materials, all arrangements for the supply of our requirements
in this respect rest with you, and this system is of course based on the fact that
you have the best means of ascertaining where materials can be procured. In.
cases wh^re our requirements are not forthcoming, or are forthcoming only after
considerable delay—as in the case of plant for electrical installations in hospitals,
which was asked for by my D. D., Works, on 31st December last, but
which has not yet been received—it is presumed that the resources of India
or of Great Britain are not equal to supplying them earlier. It is then diffi
cult to see how a private firm of contractors could obtain them more readily.
As regards the proposal to acquire existing installations of electric plant from
municipalties, clubs, or other institutions in India, I am doubtful whether the
advantages of such a method would outweigh its inherent disadvantages. The