'Summary of correspondence relative to the administration of the Port of Basrah and measures for the control of the shipping traffic in Mesopotamia.' [‎22r] (43/134)

February, and the equipment is expected by the S. S. " Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. " on or about the
12th February.
Having regard to the fact that I telegraphed you on the 10th January that
it was essential you should personally meet the staff and equipment in Bombay
and accompany them to Basrah, will you kindly explain why you, the staff and
the equipment did not arrive together by the transport " Edavana."
(Sd.) GEORGE C. BUCHANAN, Colonel,
Director General of Port Administration
and River Conservancy.
Office of the Director General op
Fort Administration and River Conservancy,
53, Strand Road,
Basrah, 14th February 1916.
To the Director General of Port Administration and River Conservancy,
Memorandum.
With reference to your No. 21-A-16, dated the 9th instant, I think the fol
lowing explanation will make it clear that the piecemeal arrival of myself, the
staff and the survey equipment was brought about by causes which were not within
my control:—
(1) On January 8th the Government of Burma telegraphed to the Govern
ment of India, Marine Department, asking them to arrange for the transhipment
of the survey staff numbering 44 persons and equipment from Bombay to Basrah
and on the 14th January sent a further wire saying that the party and equip
ment had left on that date on the steamer " Orna " and were expected to arrive
in Bombay on the 23rd January.
I
(2) On January 18th I left Rangoon for Bombay via Calcutta and arrived in
Bombay on the 24th January. I was met at the station by the Surveyors, who
informed me that they arrived in Bombay on the 22nd January, but no one met
them on the " Orna " or made any arrangements for their housing and it was only
after appealing to the Commissioner of Police that the party was provided with
accommodation in one of the rest camps. The survey equipment meanwhile
had been discharged at Victoria Dock and from k a subsequent inspection
1 made it was obvious that no care or supervision had been exercised in the process.
This equipment consists largely of carefully adjusted instruments, and to avoid
their being damaged or unnecessarily handled 1 had them stowed in Rangoon on
the top of the " Orna's " cargo. To instance the lack of care to which these cases
were treated in Bombay I might mention that I found one of them being used as
a loading platform for carts removing goods from the quay. The care bestowed
on the equipment up to its arrival in Bombay was completely undone by the care
less treatment it received there. I reported the matter to Commander Huddleston
who told me that the Agents of the B. I. S. N. Co. were entirely responsible and
that we should claim damages from them. It is clear however that, had the
R. I, M., Bombay, arranged for the transhipment of the equipment according to
the instructions, this would not have happened and I cannot see that the shipping
Agents are in any way responsible,
(3) On arrival in Bombay I reported to the D. R, I. M. who informed me
that the " Orna " with the staff and equipment had not yet arrived, but had been
signalled down the coast. Captain Lumsden only credited my report of the
" Orna's " arrival on my informing him that I had actually seen the staff,
(4) I then got in touch with the S, E. 0, and found that all arrangements
had been made for myself and the staff to leave for Basrah on the Transport
" Edavana " sailing the following day, i.e., Tuesday, 25th January. I pointed out
that 1 could not possibly leave without seeing the equipment off and at my request
the D. R, I. M. wired to the Q. M, G., Delhi, asking his approval to my remaining