"دراسة نقدية عن الحملة في ميسوبوتاميا حتى أبريل ١٩١٧: الجزء I - تقرير" [ظ‎‎١‎٥‎٣] (٤٢٤/٣١١)

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2. The advance to Ctesiphon however brought steamers into the most
winding part of the river and every mile the troops marched by road,
doubled the water communication. The stocking of the Kut base and
the feeding of the troops by water was much complicated. The rivet
service was quite inadequate to cater for the operation. Fortunately
the repulse at Ctesiphon and the withdrawal to Kut, shortened the:
communications. The advance of the Turks, and the isolation of Kut
brought riverhead to Ali Gharbi to serve the advancing relieving force.
3. With the necessity of bringing more troops up the Tigris and oi
reinforcing from India and Egypt, some attempt to improve mattem
began. India feverishly bought steamers, but owing to bad technical
advice concentrated on stern wheelers from Burma and bought a few
worthless duds from the Nile. The hurrying of stores and ocean ships,
to a port with no facilities to receive them was resulting in congestion at
Basra which drove the shipping and commercial world wild. In April
1916, 20 loaded ships awaiting handling lay at anchor just below Basra*
and yet stores were still being wired for and despatched from India.
No ship was touched till 6 weeks after arrival.
4. The Indian Government were now endeavouring to make up
leeway and the following measures were being taken :—
(i) A port expert was sent out to plan a port.
(ii) Steamers were being built in England.
(iii) Indian rivers were being searched for steamers, but the poorest
were generally sent.
(iv) Some attempts to organize hospital steamers were being made*
(v) A somewhat ineffective arrangement was made at Abadan by
the A. P. 0. C. to build barges sent out in sections.
5. By the spring of 1916 more divisions were on their way from
France and Egypt, and they arrived piecemeal and were sent up as
best they could, without ammunition, hospitals or enough food.
There* was no marching road up the Tigris and there was not enough
river transport to maintain the force that was going to fight.
6. The country boats were largely required by the Army as 1st and
2nd line transport, and the Army was tied to the river side.
/. A somewhat untrained Q and L. of C. staff were trying to keep
things straight, but were swamped and troops were huddled to the front
in discomfort and often misery. Both units and drafts shed numbers of
sick into inadequate hospitals all the way to the front.
8. With the surrender of Kut and the decision to stabilize the Tigris
front below Kut and prepare for a big campaign, the following main steps
were put into train :—
(i) Creation of port and wharves.
(ii) Filling in of swamps at the Base to make a hinterland to wharves.