‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1918.)’ [‎153r] (314/558)

154 C. G. S.
It is desirable that prior to demobilisation the conditions on which chargers
are to be issued to all classes of officers be definitely decided. In India, prior
to the war, regular officers of British Cavalry and Artillery units alone were
permitted to. hiie chargers from the ranks of their units, whereas all other
officers provided their own chargers and no officer was mounted absolutely free
by the State. The situation is now further complicated by the number and
varieties of Reserve and Temporary Commissioned Officers.
(d) Imperial Service Troops. —To provide for the special case of any
Impeilal Seivice Troops remaining in Mesopotamia, instructions are required
on the following points : —
{i) The establishment on which such units shoujd be fitted out with
horses.
(n) The conditions as regards initial supply and replacements.
II.— Units returning to India to form * Tost Bellum 9 Garrison of India.
(a) Limits of age of horses. —To be returned vrith units.
(h) Silladar In regard to the refitting of the units returning to
India on the peace establishment it is presumed that the fact of each regiment
having a certain number of horses at the depot has been duly considered.
(c) Officers' chargers. —With the exception of an inconsiderable number of
privately owned chargers, the actual numbers of which are now being ascertain
ed, all chargers in this force are public chargers.
It is considered therefore that definite instructions should be issued prior
to demobilisation as to exactly what officers should be permitted to take back
to India their public chargers.
The draft instructions hitherto received on the subject of demobilisation
specify that all units returning to India will leave this force fully fitted out on
the peace scale;—the intention therefore appears to be that all units will also
proceed with officers’ chargers which will be disposed of on arrival in India.
Nothing definite however is laid down as to the procedure to be followed
in the case of staff officers, departmental officers, etc., who will presumably
hand in their Government horses before departure ?
In regard to the disposal of chargers returning with officers including
those of units, it is proposed to send you a complete list of any private chargers
leaving this force and also to intimate their departure through the embarkation
authorities. All other chargers will be presumed to be Government horses
and the question of their disposal, conditions on which they will be held in
charge, etc., can be decided by the Indian Authorities.
(c?) Large Draught There are approximately 7,000 large draught
mules in this force used for mounting, Artillery and other units in lieu of
draught horses.
Experience gained in this country goes to show that mules are particularly
suited to the climatic conditions, etc., of Mesopotamia, and, in view of this, it is
suggested that those mules be utilised to refit the draught units remaining in
Mesopotamia, in preference to sending them to India.
Working copy to Q. M. G.
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (S. D. 1, S. D. 3), A. G.
APPENDIX 147.
DIARY No. 89915.
Telegram P., No. M. D. -00938, dated 7th November 1918.
(Despatched 10-15 p.m., received 9-30 a.m., 8 th November 1918.)
From— General Malleson, Meshed, i
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Simla.
(Repeated Teheran and G. O. C., Force “ D.”)
The following is the daily news report:—
1. Merv front. —There is no news from this front.
2. A further incident, which has created some feeling at Askabad, has
occurred at Krasnovodsk. According to an account which reached me to-night
North Persian force at Enzeli wired to O. C., Krasnovodsk, ordering him not to
allow any shipping moves without permission. It might have saved trouble
and have been more regular if this telegram had been sent to me. Acting on
the order O. C., Krasnovodsk, assumed control of shipping and refused to allow
certain ships asked for by Bicharakov to leave for Petrovsk. Later apparently
4 ships were allowed to go but our definite assumption of complete control
without any preliminary warning by me appears to have created feeling
amongst pajority of Askabad Committee.
3. It is stated by a steamer which arrived the morning at Krasnovodsk
from Petrovsk that heavy fighting was in progress when it left. The Turkish
Commander refused to recognise Thompson’s notification of Armistice.