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'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [89r] (177/204)
The record is made up of 1 file (100 folios). It was created in 18 May 1917-21 Dec 1917. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
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SECRET
oxjEAR the line.
27/7/17 c
From:- C. in C, India.
To:- War Office.
50973.
Reference your X.2960 and X 2960- of 2^-th Jul^,
4
Wo note the/projects your future railway policy. We
/
realise that strategically it would be difficult to forecast
now any precise limit of Bagdad-Samarra extension but would
like a rough estimate of miles likely be required this year
with a view to provision of material. Please state if
Bagdad- Felujah line will be standard gauge. We have at
present 50 miles standard gauge available for Bagdad-Mussiyit
lire and another 50 oar—marked for rosorv#. Of metre gauge
z/e have 15 miles at Bombay available for Bagdad Baqub!ict> and
can supply when required the remaining 21. What additional
standard gauge rolling stock would you require? As its
provision would take time an early estimate on this point is
necessary vide my telegram 49062. As regards out standing
demands for other material than permament way and rollin' 7
stock whole position is stated in Munitions Board letter to
Director of Railways of the 10th inst. It is impossible to
give precise dates on which a large number 1 pf out standing
indents, many for articles to be manufactured, can be met in
their entirety, but you may feel certain that we are doing
al^_ we can to meet all oomands you ma e* Regarding 50 (?group
omitted) we expect to meet by end of August all railway
demands now in our hand* except in regard to following classes
drivers 10, firemen 10, station masters and assistant station
masters 40, signallers 15, (?) outstandings of which we
estimate as likely to be as above. Stores warders and works
subordinates may also be a few short. We hope by end of
About this item
- Content
The file, marked secret, contains correspondence and notes regarding rail and river transportation for the Mesopotamian campaign during the First World War. The papers cover a number of matters, including:
- Strategic considerations of the use of rail and river communications
- Supply of railway materials, rolling stock, and personnel to Mesopotamia [Iraq] from India, other parts of the British Empire, and allied territories
- Problems with unloading and shipping congestion at Basra
- Progress of railway construction, including weekly reports from the General Officer Commanding or Director of Railways to the War Office, starting from August 1917
- Capacity estimates (for troops, food, ammunition, and materials) and efforts to increase it
- Complaints of shortages of railway stock and personnel in India due to the demand in Mesopotamia
- Preparations for a commission, led by Sir Henry Francis Edward Freeland, to be sent to review rail and river transportation in Mesopotamia
- Questions of flooding and damming of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Correspondents include: the Commander-in-Chief, India; the Chief of the Imperial General Staff; the General Officer Commanding, Mesopotamia; the War Office; the Director of Railways, Mesopotamia; the War Section, Army Department, Government of India; and Major General Sir Henry Francis Edward Freeland.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (100 folios)
- Arrangement
The file is arranged in chronological order, from the rear to the front.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 102; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel; these numbers are written in coloured crayon and pencil; where they have been written in pencil and circled, they have been crossed through.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/787
- Title
- 'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:101v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence