'Papers relating to transfer of Middle Eastern Affairs to the Colonial Office and creation of a new Department there, 1920-1921, with Cabinet notes of Milner, Montague, Churchill, self, and others' [‎44r] (87/136)

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(iii.) Mesopotamia is the antithesis; the troops are accommodated in tents from
Basrah in the south to 100 miles beyond Mosul in the north, and from Hit in the west
to the Caspian and Ahvvaz in the east.
(iv.‘) Here everything that is done for the comfort of the troops has to be
improvised, and until the strength and permanent location of the garrison are decided
upon the policy must be indeterminate, adding greatly to the administrative work.
Moreover, the climate for four months in the year is trying, and the domination of the
sun adversely affects everything.
(v.) The “Q” staff is concerned with normal peace policy measures, and the
routine work of feeding, equipping and muntaining a force of 21,000 British, 210,000
Indian (including labour and refugees), and 40,000 animals. These numbers far exceed
those of any command at home and have many scales of rations and ordnance demands,
also separate rules and regulations and establishment^. In addition to the above,
the “ Q ” staff has during the past months been engaged m the following greater
problems :—
(a.) The preparation for the arrival in tlie country, and for the first move from the
plains to a hill station at Karind, of all the married families. These plans
entailed the movement of 1,000 women and children. It was necessary
to provide at short notice every accessory of household requirements such as
furniture, glass, china, linen, cutlery, &c., both in the plains and in the hills.
Furniture had to be purchased from India, Rangoon, Singapore and England.
A small amount of furniture was procurable locally, but, after the first day’s
purchase, the price of deal cupboards rose to 100Z. a piece ; consequently all
further transactions had to be completed overseas.
(6.) A constant succession of small wars, often two at a time from January onwards,
during which time it may be affirmed that most of the units in Mesopotamia
had changed their stations at least once, necessitating a constant
re-arrangement of reserve supplies, &c.
(c.) At the present time the administration of the force required to quell a
rebellion throughout Mesopotamia, which has necessitated the arrival of an
extra division from overseas, coupled with the interference with the railway
services throughout the country and the re-expansion of the Inland Water
Transport.
(vi.) Other tasks not usually thrown on a Command in England, which claim
attention day by day here, are :—
(a.) The passing of the country from military to civil control. Correspondence
and decisions regarding railways, public works, E. and M. Directorates,
the port and docks at Basrah, also posts and telegraphs have to be dealt
with.
(b.) The initiation of an organization for collecting hay, for growing vegetables,
and for dairy farms.
(c.) The problem of oil distribution for civil and military throughout the country.
Id.) Supervision of Labour Directorate.
(e.) Supervision of Inland Water Transport and all river problems contingent on
500 miles of river transport both on the Tigris and Euphrates.
(/.) Dealing with overseas tonnage up to approximately 30,000 tons in ten days.
(g.) Direct correspondence with War Office, Army Headquarters, India, Egypt,
Black Sea, Civil Commissioner, &c.
(A) The care of—
15,000 Turkish prisoners of war.
24,000 Assyrian refugees.
16,000 Armenian refugees. #
700 Russian internees.
(i.) The difficulty of billeting in Baghdad and Basrah, where the accommodation
is insufficient to meet the requirements of both the civil and military
administrations.
(;.) Preparation of a scheme for the building of cantonments throughout Mesopotamia
for the post-war garrison, staff offices, hospitals, depots and workshops.
(k.) Negotiations for the purchase of land involved in the above scheme.
(8689)