‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART II. (From 16th to 30th November 1918.)’ [‎37r] (82/558)

quirecl elsewhere in these territories to extend our Iraq railway system to Mosul.
It may not be linbed up with Mediterranean for years to come and in any c ise
its completion would probably militate against the construction of a British
controlled line from Euphrates to Mediterranean, the surveys for which now
ihat we are in occupation of Anah and El Qaim could, if desired, he pressed
i or word. It ^ is doubtless realized that Baghdad-Mosul line passes almost
the whole oi its length through desert country which is even potentially fertile
except between Baghdad and Samarrah.
Hie alignment lias been designed with an eye to through communication
between Aleppo and Baghdad ; for development of the country the approxi-
mate alignment would be. Khanikin-Kifri-Kirkuk-Altun-Keupri-Arbil-Mosul
with brandies to Sulaimaniyah and Bania Merchant of Indian extraction. but we are now presumably com
mitted to the Tigris route.
Whether or not Mosul is eventually excluded and Iraq sphere is limited
by Greater Zab, it will still be possible to give effect to policy recently
adumbrated for Kurdistan by carrying the railway northward from Tekrit up
ae cesser Zab to Altun-Keupri and Itania. I regard this line as essential
i. we are to exercise any degree of effective control over Kurdistan
and thereby dominate the destination of Armenia : the line would pass through
very fertile ^wheat-growing country and could be extended to the north-north-east
eventuaJly if desired. It could be surveyed forthwith. Its construction would
solve automatically many of the problems which now r face us in Kurdistan,
Armenia and North-West Perisa and might make an extension of the Khani-
km line to Kermanshah unnecessary for the present.
. ^ ^ le ^esser Zab is to be the north-west limit of Iraq it becomes of
primary political, importance to make the most of Suliamaniyah as a Kurdish
centre with this object we might well extend metre gauge system from
Kkanikin U P Hiyala to Halebja plain and Sulaimaniyah. This line would
aluiost certainly be profitable. The Ottoman Tobacco Regie is understood to
ave made £100,000 per annum net profit out of the tobacco grown in this
(iistiict before the war and it is a market for every sort of pastural and forest
pioduce as wMl as a fine wheat-growing area. I recommend that this he
surveyed as soon as possible.
In conclusion I beg to urge importance of an early decision upon the
general questions of railways in and beyond Mesopotamia. Apart from
political and strategical issues involved it must be remembered that river
^ransport is almost entirely military at present, personnel have been enlisted
. umation only, and unless a proportion of fleet and personnel for work-
J T’g it is kept, it is likely to be quite inadequate to meet needs of the garrison
156 C. G. s.
/
and civil population unless supplemented by a through railway. The same
consideration applies in a lesser decree to railway personnel hut the numbers
involved relatively to tonnage handled are much smaller and they should be
more easily obtainable.
Working copy (advance copy for information) to G. S (M. O. 1).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (G. O. 3, S. D. 1), Q. M. G., M. B.
APPENDIX 327.
DIARY No. 92633.
Word code telegram No. 92633 (Q. M. G.-10), dated ISth November 1918.
(Despatched 8 p.m.)
Prom—The Chief of the General Staff, Simla,
To—The G. O. C., Force “ D/ Baghdad.
Tour A.-9497 of 10th instant (Diary No. 90766).
The suggestion made by Army Council in their letter 122—445 (Mob. 2),
dated 13th September (Diary No. 84020), that you should consult India
before replying to this inquiry was accepted by Chief and an order to that
effect telegraphed to you by my 85943(Q. M. G.-10) of 24th ultimo. Question
at issue depends moreover on decision made here as to disposal of surplus
animals ‘in Mesopotamia. Your proposed reply must therefore be held up
and a summary of it telegraphed here for consideration.
Record copy to Q. M. G.
Copy to M. S. C., M. S. V., A. G., G. S. (S. B. 1).
£4
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