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'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [81r] (161/274)
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.
cn policy of preparedness for campaigning season 1918 -
1919 as laid dov:n in Chief of Imperial general Staff’s
instructions Cl - If3 - 331 Oct. Ibth and after consult
ing Gr. 0 . C .-in-C . here as to meaning of last paragraph
of Chief of Imperial General Staff’s Fo. 47961 December
14th 1917. Previously I have not assumed that there
uould be 12 months still available for preparations.
Existing line from Kut el Amara to Baghdad relies entirel
for its protection on certain works the adequacy of
which has yet to be tested under high flood. At the
same time during rainy season this line has been for
short periods interrupted. Similar condition would
apply to any surface line built between Amara. and Kut
el Amara which would also be liable to be completely
obliterated over certain lengths by flood. Until sunh
floods subside an event which may not happen for weeks
communication by rail would be impossible and no traffic
could be carried.
As stated in my previous wire even if all labour
cud raveting material were available I could hardly
complete in 12 months earthwork and revetment necessary
n moke section from Amara to Baghdad reliable.
According to information available at present,
if railway it to be considered reliable, no intermediate
htage can be considered adequate. In addition Basra -
urn: a v line would have to be raised slightly at certain
ooiris wo bring it above highest flood level, and bridge
oaphoje of carrying traffic at all times must be
-uur trusted over Gurmat All river. Railway connecting
port Mag11 and Amarah crosses this river by floating
bridge. On account of the depth, which prohibited •'? ;
piling, this was necessary. Conditions of tide proven!
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' [81r] (161/274), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/788, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100098484043.0x0000a2> [accessed 9 August 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