‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART II. (From 16th to 30th November 1918.)’ [‎52r] (112/558)

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APPENDIX 349.
DIARY No. 93111.
Letter No, 9154—2 (C. 16-A.) ; dated 16tli November 1918.
(Received in War Section, 20th November 1918.)
Prom—The Quartermaster-General in India,
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force u D } ” Baghdad.
I ara directed to refer to your letter No. S. H.-58S of 30th September 1918
(Diary No. 80890), in which it is suggested that unsuitable substitutes for stores
and clolhing have been supplied without ascertaining whether the substitutes
would be acceptable and to acquaint you that as regards the instances cited,
the facts are as follows :—
(1) The pith hats complained of were ordinary stock and were not those
obtained tor officer’s shops. They were erroneously charged against the
demand for officer’s pith hats .and the mistake was ex])lained to your D. Q. S.
in my telegram No. 39330, dated 20th May 1918 (Diary No. 39330). Those
obtained for officer’s shops were shipped subsequently.
(2) It is regretted that, owing to a clerical error in placing the order,
the first supply of the rat-traps was not of the pattern demanded. When the
mistake was brought to notice the traps were at once replaced by others of
the particular pattern required.
(3) The supply of 100,000 cotton blankets in lien of woollen was necessary
as woollen blankets were not obtainable either in India, Egypt or Ceylon, and
the best available substitute w/as sent. It is to be noted that these" 100,000
blankets were demanded to meet the requirements of an increase to existing
scales which had not been previously referred for sanction. As explained in
my telegram No. 672, dated 3rd January 1918 (Diary No. 672), the utmost was
done to comply with the demand and you were warned in that telegram
that cotton blankets and rezais might he sent.
(4) The articles demanded were merely described as “Bags Ration” and
t ie articles sent were the “ Bags Ration ” described under register No. 411
d the “ Register of Specifications, S. & T. Corps, Part I supply.” The mistake
therefore was due to the insufficient description in the demand.
(d) bhe pattern of latrine bucket supplied, to which exception was taken,
^ tiie pattern used in Indian latrines in this country. There was no reason,
’jerefore, to anticipate that it would be unsuitable for Indian latrines in
J GS °pofcamia. The demand failed to specify the particular pattern required.
6. This matter will be yery fully enquired into, as as soon as the samples
and details of bale markings are received. At present they are still awaited.
It will be observed that with the exception of (3) none of the cases
quoted bear out the suggestion made in your letter that substitutes have been
sent designedly in lieu of approved pattern without consultation wdth you.
As regards (3) it was necessary to make an immediate response to a cabled
demand from your D. O. S. for blankets ; and no woollen blankets being
available, for despatch, the alternatives lay between refusing the demand
altogether or supplying the substitute cotton blankets which are largely
used in this country.
I am to add that your proposals as regards consultation with you as
to substitutes have, for some time past been given effect to, when ahy doubt
is felt as to the suitablity of an article not conforming exactly to pattern,
e.ff., manda shoes, pith helmets, cotton vests and patterns of officer’s clothing,
hut it will be realised that, in the fifth year of "war, provision has
had frequently to be governed by the factor of availability rather
than by pattern.
Working copy to Q. M. G.
Copy to M. 8. C., M. B.
APPENDIX 350.
DIARY No. 93116.
Telegram P., No. X.-3890, dated 18th November 1918.
(Despatched 12-50 p.m. ; received 10-30. a. m., 20 November 1918.)
From— Tlie General Officer Commanding, Force “D/’ Baghdad,
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
(Repeated India and Wilson, Constantinople.)
Staff Officer of North Persian Force froipi Baku reported on November
*1 change Utlb that the bridge over the river
, , ' Aragva between Batum and Tiflis near *
the latter place was partially destroyed.
He was informed by a deputy from the Georgian Parliament that
the people of Georgia would willingly give every facility for the passage
of the Turkish troops as they would be only too glad to see their backs.