'Summary of correspondence relative to the administration of the Port of Basrah and measures for the control of the shipping traffic in Mesopotamia.' [‎2v] (4/134)

o
Sanction was accord 3(1 to the compliance in full with demands for various articles of plant.
Serial No. 18. tools, machinery, material, and stores demanded
by Sir George Buchanan. These demaflds included
the provision of electrical ins allation with fans and lights for each of Sir George's two
survey launches, steam travelling crane with rails, and trollies. Sanction was also accorded to
the construction of four pontoon wharves by Burn and Company for use at Basrah ; these have
all been completed and despatched from Bombay to Basrah.
r I he Government of India also sanctioned the employment of a contractor with some 1G0
men for the construction of weirs on the Tigris.
Requests for additions to his engineering and other personnel have been received from Sir
George Buchanan from time to time, and these were sanctioned by Government in every case.
In instances in which any particular individual asked for was unwilling to take up the appoint
ment a substitute was obtained.
In telegram No. 55771, dated 24th May 1916, the General Officer Commanding was informed
Serial No. 19. that it was desirable that the whole question of the
organization, maintenance, repair, etc., of the
river fleet in Mesopotamia should be referred under his orders to a Committee of which Sir
George BucHanan should be President. The services of Mr. Home of the Irrawaddy Flotilla
Company were obtained to serve on this Committee and the General Officer Commanding was
so informed, and instructed that he should appoint such additional members to the Committee
as he considered necessary and forward their report witih his own recommendations. At the
request of the General Officer Commanding, however, it was decided to assemble two Commit-
Serial No. 20. tees, one Committee with Sir George Buchanan
'Serial No. 21. as P^ident to deal with the numbers and
natures of the vessels required to convey a certain
tonnage for the maintenance of the troops and with the system on which the river fleet should be
kept in a state of efficient repair, the other Committee with General MacMunn as President and
Mr. Home as a Member to deal with the organization, including provision of personnel, of the
river fleet recommended and with the system on which the traffic up and down the river should
be Vi orked so as to get the best use out of it. The reports of these Committees have recently
been received. The General Officer Commanding
Semi No. 22. " D " has recommended that no action be taken
Serial No. 23. on them at present in view of the appointment
of Lieutenant-Colonel Gray as D. D. I. W. T.
G. M. Frees, Simla.—No, S687(w)A.D.—15-9-lG~ 50—B.A.
%