'Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report' [‎46v] (97/424)

( 72 )
CHAPTER VII.
Administration 1914—16—General.
This Chapter deals, from the point of view of the higher command,,
with certain parts of the administrative services from the beginning
of the Mesopotamian campaign till the end of the relief operations for
Kut. The services considered will be :•—
(1) Transport, river and rail.
(2) Supply.
(3) Medical.
Two main principles of war organization are firstly mobility and
secondly economy of military force by utilising to the greatest
possible extent the ordinary machinery of civil life to assist the forces
in the field. We shall see how these principles were adhered to in the
organization and development of I.E.F. u D
In November 1914, when General Barrett
River transport. captured Basra with the 6th Division, his river
transport consisted of :—
3 river steamers;
17 lighters, whose total carrying capacity was 2,540 tons ;
A number of mahailas (native boats) usually towed, but capable of
sailing under favourable circumstances, and each capable of carry
ing 25 to 39 tons, when the river was at its lowest.
At this time policy dictated that our forces were not to advance
from Basra and that our object was merely to safeguard the oil-fields
at Ahwaz and the refineries at Abadan. It was recognised that opera
tions, however, would probably have to extend as far as Amara and
Nasariya. A conference was therefore held at Force Headquarters in
November 1914 at which the river transport authorities urged that
12 river steamers should be brought from India. But the limited
scope of the expedition evidently acted as a deterrent and nothing was
done.
In January 1915, the Indian Government contemplated operations
above Qurna and General Barrett stated that he would require, in
addition to existing vessels :—
7 steamers and 2 lighters to carry 1 bde. infantry, 1 sqn.
cavalry, 1 bty. K. F. A., 1 F. Coy., 500 mules and 10 days'
supplies.
This reply indicated the outlook of the miJitary authorities at that
time. Policy up till then had not required more.