"مذكرات الحرب. مقر قيادة الجيش، الهند. [...] قوة المشاة الهندية «د». المجلد ٢٣ الجزء II (من ١٦ إلى ٣٠ يونيو ١٩١٦)" [و‎‎٩‎٩] (٢٧٤/٢٠٢)

APPENDIX 384
Telegram No* 61888, dated 26th June 1916. (Diary No. 61888)
(Despatched 10-45 p - M -)
From—The Chief of the General Staff, Simla.
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force “D”, Basrah.
Your No. 1540-15-Q., dated 16th May {Dy. No. 54448) and cold storage in
general. War Office were asked.
(1) Are any special processes necessary in hot climates for defrosting beef
and mutton respectively ?
(2) Is keeping quality of defrosted meat reduced by previous freezing ?
(3) In cold storage chambers what cubic capacity is required per thousand
pounds of beef and mutton respectively ?
(4) . What weight of frozen meat is carried by smaller vessels engaged in the
trade?
(5) Is much personnel with technical knowledge required to run the business ?
and were informed that if practicable it was proposed to distribute meat from
Basrah by barges fitted with cold storage chambers.
Estimated monthly demard placed at between three hundred and six hundred
tons, and numbers of barges required was as given in your No. 1540 14-Q., dated
15th May (Dy. No. 54249). Also suggested that barges be sent from England
insulated and fitted with refrigerating plant in accordance with Director General
Stores’proposal zw/tf your No. 1540-14-Q., dated 16th May {Dy. No. 54448).
War Office reply as follows:—
(1) No. (2) Yes (3) 50 and 60 cubic feet respectively. (4) 500 tons and
upwards. (5) One man with technical knowledge essential to organise
and run business.
Refrigerator barges cannot be supplied from England for some months since
they would have to be built specially.
In view of above please wire if you wish order placed at home for construc
tion of refrigerator barges since it is considered that construction in India will
probably be slower and less satisfactory. Since railways will probably be com
pleted by time barges could be built, fitted, and reach you, suggest use of refri
gerator cars on the railway or perhaps combination of both refrigerator cars with
fewer barges will be best. Please let me have your views and definite require
ments as early as possible if you still consider supply of frozen meat necessary
and desirable.
Record copy to Q M.G.
Copy to M.S.C., G.S. (M.O.i).
APPENDIX 385
Telegram P., No. 18312-Cypher-M. S., dated 10th June 1916. (Diary No. 61899)
(Despatched 1-40 P.M. ; received 11-45 P.M.)
From—The Secretary, War Office, London.
To—The Commander-in-Chief in India, Simla.
Your 61543 of 24th.
Following in staff of Meerut Cavalry Brigade :—
Brigadier-General I. C. Jones, 7th Lancers—Commandant.
Major W. M. A. Panter, 10th Cavalry—Brigade-Major.
Captain A. M. Baniels, 3rd Horse—Staff Captain.
Working copy to M.S.C.
Copy to G.S. (S.D.i, M. 0 .2).
95
mammas