'Summary of correspondence relative to surveying operations and river conservancy in Mesopotamia' [‎9v] (18/96)

Serial No. 17.
This is in continuation ot my
ion of my No. 443-3-Q! {Diary dated 20th
May.
Telegram P., No. H.-5289, dated 2nd June 1915.
From—The Viceroy (Amy Department),
To—The Secretary of State for India.
Tt has been reported by the General Officer Commanding, Indian Expedi
tionary Force " D," that two dredgers are urgently required m Mesopotamia q
improve the waterways there for military requirements.
Two second hand dredgers have been offered by the Bombay Port Trust
for scale at £52,000. These vessels are the Simons suction and originally cost
£133,332 and were budt in 1908. They are said to be good sea-gomg vessels and
came out from home originally without an escort passing through very bad
weather. The Director, Royal Indian Marine, considers them suitable for the
purpose for which required, also that the price quoted is reasonable, although
both the vessels and their appliances require thorough overhauling. The machmery
of the two vessels however is generally in good order.
We have asked the Port Trust to let us have the vessels on a month's trial
in the Gulf, the vessels, however, to be first put in thorough working order and
equipped with efficient crews, and we have uudertaken to return the vessels at our
risk and expense to Bombay if on actual experience they are found unsuitable.
As we doubt that the Port Trust will agree to let us have the vessels on ap
proval, we request your sanction to their purchase outright should it be necessary
to do so. Your sanction to the cost of all repairs necessary to put the vessels in
thorough working order is also requested. The Imperial Government will be
debited with all the expenditure involved.
Serial No 18 Telegram P., No. H.-5378, dated 6th June 1915.
(Received in War Section, 6th June 1915.)
Trom—The Viceroy (Army Department),
To—The Secretary of State for India.
The General Officer Commanding, Force " D," has reported that the rivers
in Mesopotamia are already falling and that, as it is imperative that communica
tions should remain uninterrupted, the question of providing dredgers is an urgent
one. He considers the military necessity for these vessels sufficient to justify
the cost involved.
We would request urgent sanction by telegraph to the two dredgers being
purchased from the Bombay Port Trust on the most favourable terms obtainable.
In this connection please see'our telegram No. H.-5289, dated the 2nd June
1915.
Serial No. 19. Telegram P., No. nil, dated 7th June 1915.
(Received in War Section, 8th June 1915.)
From—The Secretary of State for India,
To—The Viceroy (Army Department).
I sanction proposed purchase of two dredgers for Force D " on best terms
obtainable.
This is in reply to your telegram, dated 6th June 1915, No. H-5378.