'Summary of correspondence relative to the administration of the Port of Basrah and measures for the control of the shipping traffic in Mesopotamia.' [‎26v] (52/134)

Dredger and Component Parts.
On the 30th March when Lieutenant Grant and Mr. Renfrew, the dredging
master, were in the R. I. M. Dockyard, Mr. Renfrew by chance came across a number
of indispensable fittings belonging to the dredger. Enquiries were made and the
Storekeeper informed Lieutenant Grant that he did not know what the fittings
were or to whom consigned and that he had intended putting them on the scrap heap
on the following day to make room for his stores.
The Storekeeper was informed as to the nature of the goods and the officers
departed making arrangements to take eaiK delrvery.
The following day 1 personally inspected the fittings and found 42 pieces
there.
The same afternoon Major Niven and Lieutenant-Grant in the Dockyard
noticed our gear had disappeared ; they asked the Storekeeper who said he knew
nothing about it. It then occurred to my officers to go to the scrap heap and on
proceeding to the waste piece of ground across the road from the dockyard they
found there dumped on the scrap heap the missing gear. Comment on an episode
such as this seems unnecessary.
Return of a portion of my Survey equipment on the " Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. ."
In your telegram No. 11U-46-Q., dated 3rd March to Chief General Staff,
Delhi vou gave me a list of the cases and packages not cleared from b. b. Uavil-
dar " and said they were most urgently required and should be returned by the
next ship leaving Bombay.
I have received no advice of the despatch of the cases from Bombay but
as 1 heard the " Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. " was coming back at once I supposed the gear would
be on board and my officers made arrangements accordingly.
When, however, Lieutenant Grant was on board the S. S. " Warturm " look-
ins for the" Rebel 's " gear-he came across some oars, poles and other survey
equipment and on making enquiries he found that the missing 63 cases and bundles
were on board but they were not consigned to any one and if Lieutenant Grant
had not discovered them the cases would have been dumped on the bank at
Magill where they might have remained indefinitely.
Had the authorities in India on receipt of your telegram advised me of the
action taken we could have obtained delivery the day after " Warturm " arrived
?>., the 24th March.
I have detailed Lieutenant Grant to visit every vessel in which we are
advised there are goods for us but he cannot search every steamer on the chance
of small parcels of goods having been shipped without advice being given to
anv one. Even when advices are received they are not reliable as we were
informed that certain timber specified in detail had been shipped by the
" Risaldar " and when the ship arrived none of it was on board.
I enclose a copy of Lieutenant Grant's report.
(Sd.) GEORGE C. BUCHANAN, Colonel,
Director General of Port Administration
and River Conservancy.
No. 164-A-16.
Dated Basrah, the 31st March 1916.
T). G. of P. A. and R. C.
I have to report that on the 30th instant I went with Mr. Renfrew (Master
of the dredger " Oswald") to the R.I.M. dockyard by request to take delivery
of two small motor engines; while taking them away Mr. Renfrew stumbled