"تقرير لمجلس الجيش عن بلاد الرافدين. بقلم السير جون ب. هيويت، قائد فرسان وسام نجمة الهند، وسام فارس الإمبراطورية البريطانية" [و‎‎٢‎٩] (١١٩/٦٢)

of construction in England or in India, or the price paid to firms whose vessels were taken over, plus the
cost of transport to Mesopotamia.
71. The acting Civil Commissioner does not wish to take over the dockyard. Lieut.-Colonel Wilson
objects to its position, on the ground that it occupies a very costly site and interferes with the residential
quarters of the town. He considers that a dockyard should be situated in closer proximity to the com
mercial port of Upper Magil. The dockyard as it stands is, doubtless, much in excess of the immediate
requirements of the port in peace time. The valuation is, however, extremely reasonable, and it would
be a pity to break it up. The wisdom of neglecting the present opportunity of acquisition at this figure
appears to be open to question. It seems certain that, if the civil administration does not take the dock
yard over, others will be ready to reimburse Army funds by acquiring it. They would then be able to
dominate the commercial position on the river, especially if they should at the same time acquire a
considerable portion of the river fleet. The objection to the site is not convincing. The present site is
centrally and conveniently situated, and seems to involve no interference with the development of a
residential quarter. It looks as if a more suitable place for erecting residences would be to the north, at
the junction of the Gurmat Ali channel of the Euphrates and the Tigris. Nor does the objection as to
the cost of the site appear valid. The actual amount spent on excavation and the formation of the site
as it now exists is Rs. 7,88,000 (£52,533) which cannot be considered excessive. The site itself is partly
Government land, and partly land the income of which is assigned for religious purposes. The latter
cannot under Muhammadan law be sold ; but it is understood that an exchange could easily be effected,
with other Crown property.
72. A very large sum of money has been invested in the fleet, the working of which deserves to be
regarded as one of our chief successes in Mesopotamia. By the aid of the railway and the fleet it has
been possible to secure the health, comfort and efficiency of the troops, who have had to serve during
a large part of the year in very trying surroundings. At one time, when the needs of the forward army
were greatest, and the conditions of the Tigris most favourable, 2,400 tons of stores were landed daily
at Baghdad, 1,500 by railway and 900 by river. The whole amount had to be carried by river from
Amarah to Kut. The general health of the force improved continuously during the past three years.
The strength per mille of sick and wounded in hospital on the last Saturday of 1916, 1917, and 1918
respectively was 49 "7, 45 • 9 and 36*3. The last figure compares not unfavourably with records at
other places in the East during peace time. The statistics in Appendix XXVI regarding the prevalence
of beri-beri among the British and scurvy among the Indian troops are particularly interesting. In
the last six months of 1916 (the first period for which figures are available), there were 104 cases of beri
beri among 57,000 British troops, and 11,445 cases of scurvy in a force of 124,250 Indians. Colonel
Willcox, C.B., C.M.G., Consulting Physician of the Force, conducted a close inquiry into the causes of
the prevalence of these two diseases. His conclusions were that it was due partly to certain defects
in the scale of rations laid down in War Establishments, India, which have long since been remedied,,
and partly to the difl&culties of transport and intense heat, which prevented perishable articles of the
ration scale from reaching the forward area quickly enough. In a confidential note on rations for the
force dated 1st January, 1919, in writing of the conditions existing up to July, 1916, he observed with
regard to the supply of rations to British troops, “ the main cause of the deficiency was really due to the
absence of sufficient river transport ”; and in connection with the supply of rations to Indian troops,
“ i n spite of the improvements of the ration scales, it was not for some months after that the issue of
anti-scorbutics could be complied with owing to the inadequacy of transport: hence throughout 1916
the incidence of scurvy among Indian troops remained high.” Very different results are shown in 1917
and 1918. The number of cases of beri-beri recorded among the British portion of the force (86,700)
fell in the former year to 84, and in 1918 there were only 51 in a force of 108,400. The falling off in
cases of scurvy among the Indian troops was even more remarkable. There were 2,199 cases in 191/
in a force of 236,000, and only 825 cases in 1918 in a force of 307,740. These figures do not by them
selves show the whole improvement, for in the past two years the strength of the force was largely in
creased by labour corps liable to arrive in Mesopotamia in a state of health predisposing them to scurvy.
The improvement in the condition of the force owes much to the organization of the river transport
to its present high state of efficiency. .
73. The disposal of this flotilla, which is stated to be the largest of its kind in the world, presents
considerable difficulty. . . . .
A certain number of steamers will no doubt be returned to the steamer companies in India and to
the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in Burma, and others, such as the towing tugs suitable for the Ganges
and Brahmaputra, are likely to fetch the best prices if sold in India. Some steamers, self-propelled
barges, and tugs are now under orders for a distant base. But, after allowing or t e isappearance
of these vessels, there will be a balance of steamers, barges and other craft, which would appear to be
more than will be needed in Mesopotamia, whether the policy determined on be to maintain a large
Government marine or a small Government marine supplemented by a consit era e ee m e anc s
of private companies. In any case, since it is impossible to despatch vessels to a cutta an
after 1st April, and the preparation of steamers for a sea voyage is a matter of time, it is unlikely ha
the Inland Water Transport can finish its work until the end of the towing season of next year, i.e. pn ,
1920. There should, therefore, be plenty of time in which to determine what policy is to be followed
in respect of the retention or disposal of any part of the fleet, and to ensure that such portions of it as
will be sold are disposed of to the best advantage. The demand which the acting Civil Commissioner
has so far made, is for 2 stern wheelers and 35 motor boats. It seems hard to believe that the needs
of the Civil Department in respect of tours which can only be undertaken by river could be efficiently
met with such a small establishment, supplemented, as it could be, with motor launches pure ase
(C 1781) E