'Summary of correspondence relative to the administration of the Port of Basrah and measures for the control of the shipping traffic in Mesopotamia.' [‎21v] (42/134)

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6. With reference to the partial discharging of the " Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. and the
deliberate departure of the vessel with the portions of my equipment on board
as lucidly described in the notes of Mr. Niven and Captain Lakin my feelings are
such that I have no words that I can respectfully put on paper.
7. I would point out that the loss of portions of my equipment is of grave
importance as an Engineer's instruments, drawing materials, and so on, are to him
what a rifle is to an infantry man or ammunition to a battery, and we can no
more do our work without these necessaries than a modern battle can be fought
without rifles and ammunition.
I might add that as all the oars have been returned to Bombay I cannot
even use the survey boats brought from Rangoon with such care and forethought.
8. I have been given to understand that it is of considerable importance I
should contrive to improve river conditions for the low-water season, but as 1
have pointed out in my note dated 2nd March on river conservancy operations, I
can do nothing until I have had some surveys made and under existing conditions
the prospect of getting my staff to work seems remote.
It is possible that in this emergency the D. D. Works, the officer in charge
surveys, and the Superintendent of the Dockyard might between them furnish
material to enable me to carry on, pending the return of the material from Bombay,
and I suggest that the urgency of the case be represented to these officers and they
be directed to assist me to the best of their ability.
I would further suggest that a telegram be despatched to the first port at
which the " Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. " stops requiring the remainder of my equipment to be at
once discharged and forwarded to Basrah by the first steamer with a special
covering letter in the charge of the Commander to be delivered to me on arrival.
9. In conclusion I would remark that under existing methods of Traffic manage
ment at the port there seems no reason why a recurrence of this incident
should not take place and perhaps when the timber arrives for the Magill jetties,
half of it will be left in the steamer and be returned to India. -
In this connection I may mention that the working drawings of pontoon
landing stages, fixed jetties and wharves for which I telegraphed to Rangoon
some time ago and which I require in connection with the new wharves here were
in one of the cases the " Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. " has taken back to Bombay.
10. I shall be obliged if these papers may be laid before the Army Commander
for- favour of perusal and orders.
(Sd.) GEORGE C. BUCHANAN, Colonel,
Director General of Port Administration and
River Conservancy.
No. 21 -A -ia
Office of the Director General of
Port Administration and River Conservancy.
53, Strand Road,
Basrah y 9th February 1916.
To
E s C. Niven, Esq.,
Assistant Director, River Conservancy.
Memorandum.
A great deal of valuable time is being lost owing to the delay in the arrival
of the survey equipment; the survey staff arrived by the Transport " Edavana "
on the 31st January, you arrived by the mail steamer " Dwarka " on the 5th