‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 22. PART II. (From 16th to 31st May 1916).’ [‎75r] (154/246)

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telegram of 16th May from General Cowper to Colonel Horsley. Begins.
Army Commander asks me to thank you for your telegram of 15th May, and
to point out that rum is an authorised ration for troops in the field. It is only
issued on the advioe of medical authorities. This being so it would not he
justifiable to withhold necessary amount of rum rations from being sent up any
more than any other form o** ration such as flour, tinned meat Bnds. Copy
of a telegram from Colonel Horsley to General Cowper 17th May. Begins.
Thanks your 83. Referring to my telegram of 15th. Ample supplies of rum
forwarded must point out that my telegram included heer, whisky, wines all
being transported. Rum not same character as flour or meat ration. Bnds.
Please see instructions vide No. 3 21-Med.-71-A. M. X)., 15th March
(N. T. W. S.) from Director-General, Army Medical Services, to H. E. the
Commander-in-Chief, from which it appears that Sir Victor Horsley’s supervi
sion is confined to surgical work alone. If as seems evident Horsley desires, to
reopen and go over again whole ground already covered by Medical Commission
including Temperance Crusade I would submit that neither myself nor my
staff could find the time to undertake a second enquiry.
Working copy to D. M. S.
Copy to M. S. C., M. S. V., Q. M. G.
Telegram P., No. G. K. 65-81, dated 25th May 1916. APPENDIX 355
(Despatched 4-10 f.m., received 9-55 a.m., 26th May 1916.) {By. No. 56028)
From—The General Oflicer Commanding, Force “ D,” Basrah,
To—The Chief of the General Staff.
The following has been received from the D. G. Posts and Telegraphs, in
answer to my demand for 20 additional telegraphists, military if possible, for
this force:—
“ For several reasons it is not advisable to spare more military telegraphists
as there are very few in the Department now left. I am thus
sending civil telegraphists/’
To a large extent, I must point out, military telegraphists are much more
suitable than civil telegraphists for the work, which has to be performed
by the Telegraph Department with this Force It is only in the larger and
stationary offices that the latter can be employed and moreover I believe that
selection is confined to those who volunteer for Field Service from among the
civil telegraphists. If this is the casii, this source of supply may possibly be cut
off at any time. To replace casualties and provide for possible extensions of the
Telegraph System in this country, I request that a larger reserve of military
telegraphists may be maintained in India either hy obtaining trained men trom
England, or by training more men in India as telegraphists. There are at
present 82 Civil operators and 101 Military telegraphists on the existing Signal
Establishment of the Telegraph Department in this country.
Addressed Simla; repeated London.
Working copy to A. G.
Copy to M. S. C., M. S. V, G. S. (M. O. i, M. O. 2, S. D. 2).
Telegram P., No. 17179-Cipher, dated 25th May 1916. APPENDIX 356
(Despatched 9-5 p.m., received 11-10 a.m., 26th May 1916.) {By. No. 56041)
From—The Director of Military Intelligence, War Office, London,
To—The Commander-in-Chief in India.
Marsh has sent the following :—
In those villages occupied by the Russians the Kurds have submitted hut
others continue to raid the Russian Lines of Communication.
According to an agent’s report the Jaff tribe on the right bank of the
Diala are being induced by the Turks to attack the Russians.
We have communicated to the Grand Duke our views and enquiries,
regarding the Kurds and Arabs.