"مذكرات الحرب. مقر قيادة الجيش، الهند. [...] قوة المشاة الهندية «د». المجلد ٣٧. الجزء II. (من ١٦ إلى ٣١ أغسطس ١٩١٧)." [و‎‎٥‎٠] (٥٤٦/١٠٤)

Our further comments are embodied in a second part which follows.
iWorking copy to G. S. (M. O 3).
Copy to M. IS. C, G. S. (M. 0. 1).
Letter No. 29-G. M. B. ; dated 16th August 1917. APPENDIX SI#.
(Received in War Section 18th August 1917.1 (Tty. JSo. 56389)
From—The Adjutant General in India,
To—The Assistant Adjutant General, 3rd Echelon, Basrah,
With reference to your No. 1-1627-206, dated 10th July (Dy. No. 50817)
recruiting for most classes of personnel for railways in Mesopotamia is proceed
ing satisfactorily and there are at present 1,600 men for Railway Directorate
awaiting transport in Bombay Depot, and some 1,000 in addition in Camps up
country.
2. In certain categories there is, however, still considerable difficulty in
obtaining the numbers required, and it is anticipated that shortage in the fol
lowing classes may take some time to complete :—
Anticipated shortage
at end August
Coppersmiths . .
Machinemen.
Drivers
Fireman
European Cnarg men .
Ward-Keepers
Booking and receipt clerks
Station Masters and Assistants
Signallers . . •
Pointsmen . . .
Certain Specialist clerks
4
4
20
18
6
8
4
90
16
90
3. It is suggested that the situation might be materially cased by the
transfer of men of certain-categories that are in excess in one Department to
other Department to where there is a deficit. . . , • vj.
Dor instance, some excess carpenters in Engineering Department mig
be used in Locomotive Department. Similarly excess clerks m Engineering
Department might he used in Locomotive or Stores, and so reance deman .
The extra duftry in Locomotive Department might go to Stores Department a
cancel that demand. Again, there are excess Permanent Way Inspectors, who
might fill vacancies in Assistant Permanent Way Inspector class while the
shortage in chargemen might be made good by employing temporarily the extra
foremen who have all presumably passed through ranks of Chargemen. _ Many
other instances where excess men can he used to make good deficiencies m other
grades will, no doubt, suggest themselves. It would greatly help us if th
possibility of such transfer or substitutions were taken into account when
formulating^demandSei ^ the Railway Directorate regarding the
inability to meet the demand for Pointsmen, it was a subsequently, and un
expected demand for a large number of this class from East Africa ^t caused
the difficulty. Similarly, the shortage m Traffic Staff is largely due to t e
exuectedlv large demand recently received from East Africa. The steps t a
were taken to cope with the additional requirements have not yet had time to
take full effect. —
Record copy to A. G.
Copy to M. S. C., Q. M. G.. D. G. M. W.
Telegram P., No. 39771-Ciplier-M.I.-l, dated 18th August 1917. APPENDIX 315
(Despatched 7 p.m., received 6-30 p.m., 19th August 1917.) 6%. No. 5639'J)
F rom —The Director, Military Intelligence, London,
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force ‘ ^ D,•’•’ Baghdad.
(Repeated Commander-in-Chief in India and Egypt.)
My 38552, 39059 and 39128 (JDy. No 51164, 53277 and 53660).