"السكك الحديدية وسياسة [خطوط الاتصالات] في بلاد الرافدين، المجلد IV" [و‎‎٢‎٧] (٢٧٠/٥٣)

COP* 0? liSUaBAIl.
- 3.0.0.,' BagMftd'
foj- War Office, .Logger*.
16/5
rath reference to prerioue telegroma it appears desirable
to regroui. th. r.neocs why it is still Beessssry as a tsrayorary
meagure to aaintaln part of the sxlstirg X.i.T. organisstlon for
the mainteiiano. of th. krwf, aaA to restate that the prlr ciple that
the X.i . 1 . lg to be recuoed ir aeaordanae with eeor.omy is fully
recogniseo sod is being put into effect as far as possible.
t8£w_J. ’ihe strategloal value of the river an an unbreakable line
of ConmuBloatlOB has stood the teet of the peat war whilst the value '
of the Kailway has yet to he proved. it lies on the flenk of oil
military organisations exposei to grab attacks end in many asses
crosses rivers at which place it Is easily destroyed.
!—!£. *-’• ’ rh ® railways are as yet unable to afford the military
sufficient tonnage to mast requlreuents which average 783 (t) tons
daily. This figure is taken from aotnal deliveries during the lest
three month®.
Para_3. The Civil Administration in their PWtye’tsarah £•& deolined
to take over the formation of a lovernsaect Merinc.
There la to-da/ a© civilian orgaaieatlork 1 t 5 exleteroe in
this country to which the carriage of the military etores oan be
(¥ It la
entrusted with coefldeisce. )P%^M5-po«elble th&t a civillaD orgsclac-
tlon might eventually be perfected to which the carriage of stores
could be handed over, but the chargee would approximate st least
4C rupees per ton Sasrah - Baghdad, whereas l.*.r. chargee amount to
£6 rupees and passengers carried free.
iZI* fii*-?..*.??' a g* of ell . The railways are not yst able to
carry oil which entails a delivery of It, SCO tone per month,
exclusive of civil requirements other than railways. The supply of
oil st Baghdad Is vital to the Army and to the railways, eto. and
there la no other organisation in the country except the (t following')
I.g.T. which is capable of handling the problem of oil dlotrlb ut^