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'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [115r] (229/274)
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
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SECRET
From General Freeland, Basra.
To D.G.M.R
Despatched 1.35 p.m, 14th January, 1918
Received 11.15 p.m. 14th January, 1918
Have now had opportunity of obtaining view of General
Piarshall on both present and prospective military situation
Have also received details of tonnage of different
used for a final calculation these figures require consideration
and discussion.
Have be en (? g roup omitted) of proposal for a local
production »f grain and fodder but it is hardly possible that
full benefit will be felt this year.^..^
^ Agricultural scheme to relieve railway transport in India
as well as shipping between Indian port and Basra and also
rail and river transport and port here.
Have been informed of ’work in progress and in prospect
for protection against abnormal floods in Euphrates and Tigris
and shall go further into question as being one ^f vital
importance to railway more particularly.
Saklawia dam has been repaired and is being extended
northward.
Understand from President of Railway Board that Government
of India has formulated no post-bellum railway gauge policy
for Mesopotamia and have not yet obtain(ed) bona-fide definite
pronouncement on the subject from General Staff India.
Transportation situation between Baghdad and Kut has recently
ov/ing to restriction on navigation consequent upon very low
river and simultaneously unreliability (sic) of railway cue
to winter rain, passed, through a most difficult stage.
Railway in this section has fulfilled purpose for which
constructed but these rains bring about swampy conditions
in
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' [115r] (229/274), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/788, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100098484044.0x00001e> [accessed 10 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