"السكك الحديدية وسياسة [خطوط الاتصالات]، بلاد الرافدين. المجلد III" [و‎‎٢‎٧‎١] (٥٤٩/٥٤٢)

X*9728. 22nd.
Your 58610 cipher M.R.2. A.473 May 18th*
From »** G.O. C . Mesopotamia^
To War Office; repeated C. in C. India.
Despatched 5 p.m* 22nd June, 1918.
Received 11 P.m. 23rd June, 1918.
—"
From the
surveys and reconnaissances completed up to date it appears
that there are 2 alternative routes practicable. First via
the desert by Karbala (Mashhad Husain) crossing the Euphrates
by the existing barrage near Musaiyib and joining existing
Hillah line 25 miles south of Baghdad: total length of new
mainline 270 miles, Second alignment as far as Samawah is
the same as the first^ thence crosses 2 branches of the
Euphrates just above Samawah thence along the Western
(?) side of the Hillah branch crossing the latter 15 miles
south of Hillah and joining the existing alignment at Hillah ;
total length of new main line 158 miles. To render them
safe from flooding both routes require earthworks but second
alternative via Hillah shows 30saving on this. Irrigation
wish to avoid use of the barrage as a bridge^ and Railways are
doubtful of practicability of temporary bridges in this
locality but no difficulty is presented by proposed crossing
on Hillah route above Samawah. Hillah route is recommended— 1
for these and other reasons.
1 wish to urge strongly that the decision given 3n
53059 cipher M.R.2.A. 6412 February 26th may now be reconsidered
and that 1 may be given authority to proceed with
construction of through railway from Basra to Baghdad by
route 2 above and with metre gauge for the following reason.
1st. Difficulties of supply render standard gauge
out of the question although it is preferable and if the
line/