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'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [23r] (45/274)
The record is made up of 1 file (135 folios). It was created in 3 Dec 1917-24 Jun 1918. 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
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
From War Office.
TP*- (D C. in C., India.
(2) G•0•C.f Me so po lamia.
, ^ Despatched at 10 p.m. 18.5.18.
*58623 cipher. M.R.2.B/13732.
Reference your 32151 of April 24th and further to our
72208 of 2nd Ma y we es timate further quantities of track required
in different theatres as follows :
1.North of Baghdad. (a) 75 lbs. to provide for possibility
of advance to Tekrit 34 miles to Sharaimieh 34 miles to Mosul
125. Total 193 miles. We suggest June to September inclusive
17 miles per month October to January 20 miles per month. This
qiantity 148 miles together with present Mesopotamian unallotted
reserve 37 reference G.O.C. Mesopotamia X.8749 of May 12th and
8 miles Indian reserve would provide sufficient to reach Mosul.
To form a reserve further material would then be needed.
(b) 50 lbs. Provision has been made for May rolling for
Khanikin extension which will not be completed until January, see
D.Railways 1 X.8065 of April 15th. Moreover after receiving
balance as per your 32151 and 21 miles from East Africa your
33999 of 30th April there will be 51 reserve. No extra 50 lbs.
rails are required therefore north of Baghdad.
2 * South of Baghdad. (a) There are no 75 lbs. rails required,
(b) 60 lbs. See W.0. telegram 68610 cipher May 18th. To complete
Euphrates route would Involve 263 miles whereas to relay and
strengthen Tigris route would Involve 126 miles. In either cose
in immediate future no further 60 lbs. rails appear to be required.
3. Egypt can do without further rails for considerable time *o
far aa can be seen. They have all required for present
programme and a potential reserve of 83 miloa in the Dabaa line
to be picked up if necessary. Consequently you can cancel
request in my 66906 of 7th April to maintain 26 miles reserve.
4. At present Salonika has ample reserve.
About this item
- Content
The file, marked secret, contains correspondence and notes regarding rail and river transportation in Mesopotamia [Iraq] during the First World War. The papers cover several matters, including:
- The construction, conversion, maintenance, and expansion of the railways in the region, including regular progress reports from the Director of Railways, Baghdad
- Military operations targeting the Turkish railways in Palestine
- Planning and progress of the Mesopotamia Transport Commission
- Supply of railway materials, rolling stock, and personnel
- Postwar railway policy in India and Mesopotamia
- The question of substituting oil fuel for coal supply in river and rail transport.
Correspondents include: the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Egypt; the Chief of Imperial General Staff; Director of Railways, Baghdad; the War Office; the Commander-in-Chief, Army Headquarters, India; the Major General Sir Henry Francis Edward Freeland, Chairman of the Mesopotamia Transport Commission; the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Mesopotamia; the Chief of the General Staff, India; the Director General of Movements and Railways, War Office; and the Assistant Director of the Inland Water Transport, Mesopotamia.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (135 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 137; 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.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [23r] (45/274), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/788, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100098484043.0x00002e> [accessed 7 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/788
- Title
- 'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:136v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence