'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [‎109r] (217/274)

Section Kut El Amar»a2i Baghdad open to ©bjectio'xr mentioned
abave for Tigris route* Would therefore recommend Railway
-cute along Euphrates for follovving reasona « Reliable' surface
11 . 10 G: for greater part of distances cun he fo^md frouD neci
hae aiti.yah along all grime nt, selected by Germans for* thrcugju
Baghdad railway and will follow high ground west and south
of riTer, which will be crossed at Musaiyib cr possibly at
Hind, la bar age . This route offers the only possibility of
constructing within time available a reliabl-e? railway and
entails employment of considerably lees labcvuio then either of
Mier routes/c There will be one bridge only and that one of
i .-.nor dimensiems which will in no way interfere with o'*?r rr.ain
IhiS cf river supply. Greater part of material for construii'
can be carried u.p Nasiriyah branch and will not therefore* in-tc;::
with ?capacity of existing line of supply* Right hanh of Trgul
au Baghdad, whence both Samarra. and Fallujah lines radiatey
will be reached without having to cross', the Tigriug important
schemes for local production will necessitate in any case
railway from Baghdad to rear Shinofiyeh in near future^
leaving a gap cf about 100 milec easy alignment fro.*?. Shlnai'i/^:
to ITacariyah, Have consulted General Marshal who v.pprovee
c^jp my recammendaticns and is oommonicatiny the military point
of view do you.. Request therefore that early decision may ce
given in order that no time may be lost in completing detailed
surveys and preparations for the work of construction.
Recommend further that line should he metre gauge throughout
from Baoreli to 7'aghdad owing to difficulty in obtaining ntanda:
gauge locomotiveo» and rolling stock but consider it most desi;. •
to construct track with 75 pound rail and standard, gaiige sleep)
so that later conversion] to standard gauge may be simplified.