'REPORT on the Working of the Line of Communication AND ON THE Withdrawal of the British Military Mission IN EAST PERSIA, 1919-20. GENERAL STAFF INDIA. [‎49r] (104/168)

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_, , C ^ re ^ iatl to be taKen ^ at no special convoy moving up the Hne while the
Meshed columns were moving downwards should clash with a Meshed column
at a halting place. Such convoys were arranged so as to meet the Meshed
columns halt way between two halting places
The reserve of camels—approximately 10 per cent, above estimated actual
requirements-that was detained at posts to relieve the Meshedi or Turbati
camels which accompanied the Meshed columns on the first part of their march
or was detained foi the final garrison of posts, proved unncessarily lar^e for
the particular purpose of replacing possible casualties, though ample use was
found id it in backloading stores that would otherwise have been sold at a loss.
It greatly exceeded the actual percentage of ineffective camels. Tor this
percentage went on decreasing instead of increasing. In organised camel corps
it fell below 10 per cent, at an early stage of the withdrawal and latterly to 7
per cent.
As the Meshed columns and final garrisons reached railhead, the exact
timings of their arrival there had to be slightly readjusted with reference to the
facilities for entrainment. Meshed D column was a large one, and since, during
its approach to Burmuk, there had been a chance cf clearing Duzdapof animals,
it was decided that this column should forego its halt at Safeuawa and also do
the last two marches into Hurmuk in one day and so arrive at Duzdap in time
to get all its camels away before the first of the final garrisons armed. These
final garrisons, as the graph will show 7 , were to follow at intervals of two days
until the end of the withdrawal, and, since, some of them brought as many camels
as some of the Meshed columns had done, it w as particularly desirable that D
column should be cleared before they arrived. It w r as for similar reasons decided
that the Shusp and Birjand final garrisons should forego their day’s halt at
Hurmuk. (These minor modifications of the original marching programme
from Hurmuk to railhead are shown by dotted lines on the graph.;
Since the water supply held out well, it was unnecessary except at Kundi,
two marches south of Safedawa, to deprive the camels of their daily drink.
The weather being comparatively cool, this produced no effect on their condi
tion. At most places they were able to drink both morning and evening. (The
condition of the camels on the arrival at railhead after their long march dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. r n
the line is dealt with in the final remarks on Supply and Transport matters
together w ith other points in camel management).
The four-horsed Tourgon which had for a long time been discarded as a
form of transport on the Lines of Communication on account both ol its com
parative expense and the damage which it at times did to the motor-road, had
to be brought again into use to some extent during the withdrawal, but only
on the northern part of the line. At a very late hour it became a function of
the Lines of Communication to evacuate from Meshed of India a procession of
Russian Polish Czecko-Slovak and other Anti-Bolshevik refugees of all ages
and both sexes. While the Meshed-Duzdap motor mail still ran, a good many
were able to come dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. r n by Mechanical Transport. Afterwards it w r as only a
Tory few, for whom touring cars and ford vans could be specially arranged, to
bring them from Meshed. The remainder had to come down by fourgon as far
as Shusp. They had to leave at intervals, so that one batch could be evacuated
by any available Mechanical Transport from Shusp before the next batch
arrived. It was not practicable to take the fourgon below 7 Shusp in the hot
weather owing to the reluctance of the fourgon-owner to send his horses so far
into the heat of the south. The rationing of the horses and the provision of
quarters and rations for the refugees themselves, and the additional wear and
tear of the motor road (at a time w hen it was specially desirable to have it in
good order for the evacuation of sick) were all somewhat of a strain upon the
Lines of Communication, but it yet proved possible to do all that was required
for these refugees. Tourgons, for reasons to be explained later, had also to be
used from Meshed to Turbat in evacuating sick.
Mechanical Teanspokt.
The role of the Mechanical Transport had to be changed. As already
stated, No. 5 Mechanical Transport Company had hitherto been mainly engaged
] u providing a motor service for mails and passengers between Duzdap an