"مذكرات الحرب. مقر قيادة الجيش، الهند. [...] قوة المشاة الهندية «د». المجلد ٣٧. الجزء I. (من ١ إلى ١٥ أغسطس ١٩١٧.)" [و‎‎١‎٦‎٨] (٤٨٨/٣٤٠)

appendix 147
\l)y. No, 54031)
Telegram P., No. 54031, dated 9th August 1917.
({Despatched 6-0 p.m.)
From—The Commander-in-Chief in India,
To—The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, London..
(Repeated General Officer Commanding, Force “ D.”)
Clear the line.
In view of the political and strategical considerations involved in ouv
retention of Baghdad being of such great importance, I consider the conclusions
given in Maude’s X.-3098 (Dy. No. 53589),idated 5th August to he thoroughly
sound, and support his request for additional troops accordingly.
The following are available in India.
The 95th Infantry, which have already been promised, will be available as
isoon as released from Waziristan, this month probably. The 55th Rifles and
127th Baluchis are in addition about to leave for East Africa. So tar as is
known here these battalions will arrive in East Africa so shortly before e
rainy season as to be of little value and it is suggested that they be diverted to
Mesopotamia where, on Maude’s L. of C., they would he very useful and
available for relieving tired troops, constituting thereby such a valuable
and immediate reserve to the Army Commander that I consider they should be
additional to the other requests which he has made. I re-open the question
of the non-employment of these battalions in East Africa with reluctance,
but you will realise that it is only the extreme importance of the question
which makes me do so. With the exception of three of those I. -b.
Battalions destined for Egypt no British battalions can he sent from India.
'The departure from India of the Nasiriyah Signal Company is hxe ^or
August 10th and 15th. One Combined Eield Ambulance is now ready tor
despatch and the mobilisation, already proceeding, of _ two further ambulances
will shortly be complete, except that delay is anticipated m the provision or
motor ambulances for these. In the matter of Artillery, two Royal hie d
Artillery Brigades each of two six gun 18 pr. batteries which are now
sunder preparation for the two divisions offered to the War Cabinet can be
made available, but you will remember that they were to be replaced by the
Stokes Mortars asked for in Viceroy’s telegram to India Office No. 8068
{By. No. 14172), dated 2nd March. Should you consider that circumstances
demanded it, we might release these before the arrival of the Stokes Mortars
but we should be left for Internal Security with only 7 Eield Artillery
Batteries. India can supply no further 18 pr. batteries and no I'S"
Howitzer Batteries. It may be possible to form the 3 S. A. A. Sections
in India, but information concerning the War Establishments is necessary
before this can be said definitely. Neither the motor airline section nor
the horsed cable section can be provided. One sanitary section can be
provided. 3 Machine Gun Companies are being formed and should be trained
by middle of September hut equipment mules will not be up to Machine
Gun standard and Vickers gun equipments for these companies have not yet
been received. Eirst line transport could not be provided before the end of
October. Tents can be made available. We cannot spare a suitable Divisional
Commander.
In the matter of staffs, we await the further communication promised.
The provision of the above would use up, it should he noted, the whole of
the artillery of the two new divisions and most of the divisional troops of one
division, so that the two divisions will now be reduced to :—
Indian Battalions . • • . . • « .16
Field Companies ........ 6
Divisional Signal Companies ....... 2
Army Corps Signal Company . . . . . • . 1 *
Machine Gun Companies ....... 3
and administrative units of one division only. That only 4 Territorial
battalions will he available for Egypt should also be noted.
The 55th and 127th and one Territorial Battalion sail in less than a week
so early decision is necessary.
132
Record copy to G. S. (S. D. 3).
Copy to M. S. CM. S. V, G. S. (M O* 1).