'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎296ar] (597/1386)

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be taken in the event of war with
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Afghanistan.
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ms have passed between the Secretary of State for
the above subject: —
elcgram f rom \ iceroy, Army Department,
Wtk March 1010.
to your No. 3307 of 2nd March, in which you
,o provide necessary transport for two additional
the frontier. We consider that to make the best
s we should contemplate and prepare for the
ensive, should need arise, for the purely defensive
have been possible without this reinforcement,
of transport not merely for the two divisions to
r longer lines of communication.
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rrangements—Firstly, we would require full
d and equipment. Secondly, Field Ambulances
)tor and other ambulance transport. Thirdly,
also require authorised allotment of clearing
tals with personnel and equipment complete,
meral Hospitals. Fourthly, one complete motor
own for an Army Corps, will be essential for
scales of supply referred to are those of W ar
Armies 1915.
nj of State to Viceroy, Army Department,
ISth March 191(1.
telegram, H. 1812, of 10th March. Before
uon, 1 wish to be informed precisely what is
lines of communication ” which you
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“ Ion gel
n Viceroy, 21st March 1916.
3317, dated 18th March. By the term
be in a position to advance
to.
hat we snouia oe m a jjusmuu lu iuivam »
-num munii ivtwtll tlb lo 1 UH 1 llRluding Jellalabad and to maintain sufficient
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force at that place in order to block direct communications between Kabul
and the frontier tribes to the north and to the south ol Kabul Kiver
respectively, and so by separating them from Afghan support to piotect oui
frontier.
Telegram from Secretary of State to T iceroy, Army Department,
24t/i March 1916.
3322. Your telegram H. 2090 of 21st March. Defence of Frontier. I
am alarmed by your suggestion of possible advance to Jellalabad, for which
troops available seem to me insufficient, even if two divisions from Fgypt
are included. I must consult War Committee. I assume that you will not
commit yourself in any way without further communication with me.
From Viceroy, Army Department, 26th March 1916.
H. 2256. With reference to your telegram of the 24th inslant, ■>■>22.
There is no question of our committing ourselves in any way ; we have
merely assumed Jellalabad as the maximum possible point in our advance
for the purpose of regulating our preparations. It must be remembered that
should actual trouble occur there will be no sufficient subsequent time lor
preparation.
M.S. 168.