File 2764/1904 Pt 2 'Baghdad Railway: General negotiations 1908-10.' [‎387v] (789/799)

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(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
SJ
BAGDAD HAIL WAY.
SECRET.
[1629]
[January 16.]
Section 1,
War Office to Foreign Office.—(Received January 16.)
THE Director of Military Operations presents his compliments to the Under
secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and begs to forward, for his information, a copy
of a Report recently received from JVJr. David Eraser, who is now travelling in
Asia Minor on behalf of the “Times,” giving an account of his journey over the
Anatolian and Bagdad Railways.
War Office, January 1J, 1908.
!
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Mr. Fraser to Count Gleichen.
Dear Count Gleichen, _ Aleppo, December 14, 1907.
. „ old me m the M ar Office that you had practically no very recent
information on the Anatolian Railways, so I have embodied my notes, and forward
herewith m the hope that they may be useful.
I have been too busy so far to give you anything about the Bagdad route beyond
Boulgurlu. lor the present I will merely say that beyond that point there is
absolutely nothing, and that it is impossible, financially, for anything to he done
without all the world knowing about it. I shall hope soon to send you some notes
on the mountainous district between Eregli and Killis.
In case there arises any point in regard to which I could be useful, kindly note
that my address, up to the Indian mail which leaves London on the 3rd January, is
c/o our Consulate, Bagdad.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) * DAVID ERASER.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Report on Journey between Constantinople and Eregli made in November 1907 by
David Fraser.
EROM Haida Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. to Ismid the track runs along the shores of the Sea of
Marmora, which are often precipitous, the land lying in long smooth folds. In order
to save construction expenses the line goes round and over these folds with a minimum
of cutting and embanking, the result being heavy grades and sharp curves. As far as
Ismid there is a good deal of up and down, the highest probably touching 150 feet
while the lowest levels are almost flush with the sea. The distance is 91 kilom., and
the time taken, exclusive of s'.oppages, was 3 hours 8 minutes; 33 minutes were spent
in the fourteen stoppages, making total time between Haidar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and Ismid
3 hours 41 minutes. In event of delay there is provision for augmentation of speed
between stations equal to 25 per cent. Roughly, the train I travelled by did 20 miles
per hour when moving, and might have accelerated to 25 miles per hour. I think it
is very unlikely that this speed could be materially increased owing to the curves and
gradients. It seems obvious, and I have heard the opinion expressed with reference
to the whole of the Anatolian system, that the high speeds provided for in the
Convention for the Bagdad Railway could not be attained without a decree of
improvement that would amount to partial reconstruction of <he line between & Haidar
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. (Constantinople) and Konia. High speed is certainly impossible on many of the
curves, as upon many of the gradients, and when this is the case, realigning and additional
im p emtive Writing from memory, there is a provision in the
B
cutting
would be
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