‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 41. PART II. (From 16th to 31st December 1917).’ [‎173r] (350/508)

Last draft your telegram, December 22nd, 59379 (T>y. No, 87350)
6. Indian and Chinese Native Labour 33,326
Last draft left Bombay, December 19tb,
Local Labour and crews of Native craft ♦ • • • • • l ’ 0oa
Attached Labour . , • » • * * *
Total , 46,859
Working copy to A. G-.
Copy to M. S. C., Q. M. G.
Letter No. 2214, dated 29th November 1917. APPENDIX 518
(Received in War Section, 21st December 1917.) {-%< No. 87795)
Prom—The Inspector General of Communications, Basrah,
To—The Quartermaster-General in India, Delhi.
With reference to your No. 27d2-T- , Bj. S., dated 2nd November ±917 {Dy.
No. 84888, page 45), forwarding certain correspondence from Mr. Monteath
and asking for my remarks, I would now make the following, in continuation
of my telegram No. 2214 {Dy. No. 78853) of 19th November 1917.
2. The chief points requiring remark are Mr. Monteath s allusions to inter
ference with shipping, and his recommendations that there should be a ship
ping controller free from military control. He also understands that we are
proposing to have a Director of Docks, and recommends Lieutenant-Colonel
Browne for the appointment. He also agrees wdth definite recommendations
made by Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, who was sent to advise us here on
various port developments, and strongly urges we shall not depart from them.
3. With reference to these points I would first remark that Lieutenant-
Colonel Thompson’s recommendations, with for the most part coincided with
our views are being carefully followed, especially those regarding the a^ ou
of the port of Nahr tlmar on the plans obtaining at Kiamari, Karachi,
entirely disagree with Mr. Monteath’s remarks that the port has been laia
out only with regard to military needs, for I am of opinion that the extreme
difficulties existing at Basrah in 1915 and part of 19i6, and the absolute
absence of any labour or any engineer personnel to organise labour conditions
(that cannot now be even visualized) it was quite impossible to have made any
other arrangements than those existing, w r hich, however, unidea, were m
themselves the only possible manner to get on with the work m hand at once.
4. When Sir George Buchanan was deputed to assist us to form a port
at Basrah the whole lay-out of the port, commenced early m 1J16, was
entrusted to him, and with the exception that the port now requires tar greater
development than the maximum given to him as the policy on wffiich to Das
his works his plans have been developed with the greatest possible regard to
shipping though, of course, ideal lay-outs were crippled with the enormous
amount of reclamation and the intersection of the ground by large cree .
The development of Sir George Buchanan’s portion of the port has, whenev
possible, been worked on commercial lines for a general port, the final ay-
being the result of discussion with Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson and Major
Cherry. . ,
5. In this connection Mr. Monteath is mistaken in thinking reclamation
behind the wharves has been neglected. Immense areas have been tilled,
and huo-e flood protection and anti-malarial reclamations carried out. Had
all labour been spent on the port there would have been no ground made or
troops, hospitals, or stores.
6 I was surprised to find that one of my officers, Lieutenont-Colonel
Browne should have informed Mr. Monteath that the interest of shipping were
not considered and I am inclined to think he must have been misunderstood.
The whole of the berthing of storeships is in Lieutenant-Colonel Browne s hands,
and except when the immediate military requirements of the force demand
otherwise, shipping requirements alone rule the matter.
ij!4