'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎419v] (849/1386)

C)
reserve to meet requirements of additional divisions which will shortly concentrate up
river. Action is also being taken to build up a reserve at Nasiriyah to enable a force
to operate from there. Additional advance depots of supply and ordnance are being
established at Aligharbi to facilitate rapid advance.
Para^ap/i G.-—Turks are reported to have four 10*5 centimetre guns which are
said to be superior to our j-inch in rapidity and range.
Paragraph 7 .—Shaitan sprung leak and had to be abandoned. Loss already
reported by Senior Naval Ollicer to Admiralty. All guns were removed from Shaitan.
Those in Comet and Fircjhj and engines of both these ships disabled. Three
aeroplanes missing before and during battle of Ctesiphon already reported. One
Marlinsyde and two 13.lv machines are now in Knt unable to fly for want of spares.
Six barges reported missing, one of which contained some sick men unable to march,
and few wounded, others contained supply and transport stores, aviation stores and
some small arm and lo-pdr. ammunition. Two L class launches, one "motor launch
belonging to aeroplane flight, and bridge pontoons lost.
Paragraph S .—Troops have been very highly tried for past three weeks. There
are now 800 in hospital, but General Townshend is convinced there should no< be
more than 300 when he is relieved. Climate is now cold but healthy. Casualties,
7th and 8 th December, 18; 9th December, 199. Total force in Kut, approximately
9,000. Temper of population depends entirely on our success or otherwise. News
of reinforcements constantly arriving and being pushed upriver is bound to tell in
our favour. Tigris is low at present, but expected to rise shortly, which will
facilitate navigation. Euphrates is navigable for all craft between Qurnah and
Chahbaish, and again between Hakika and Nasiriyah. Dammar Lake is passable at
present only by country boats and our three small stern-wheelers. Unlikely that it
will be passable by other craft until floods commence in March or possiblv earlier.
Last year, water generally was abnormally high. According to present indications
same conditions will not recur this year. Navigability of Shalt-ai-Dai by steamers
by steamers will be affected accordingly, and cannot be relied on this season. We
have at present 1-3 river steamers and 8 tugs each capable of towing 8 barges and
1- other vessels of lesser towing power which are used for local and port work. We
also have 40 barges of varying sizes and capacity, including 8 oil tanks and
8 combined coal and oil barges. Of the above steamers 2 are very old and now
require extensive overhaul. Many ol the barges require urgent and extensive repairs
as soon as others which have been asked for arrive. Generally speaking, each steamer
with 2 barges can carry 1 battalion of infantry or a 4 gun battery, whereas 8 steamers
and G baigcs aic icquned to icmove a ca\ah\ regiment with its first line transport
There are under order in England, G steamers, 8 tugs, 3 stern-wheelers and 43 barons
and India are now endeavouring to supply ? at Aligharbi, and I hope
Sheikh Saad, with winch General Aylmer can commence advance. It is impossible
to forecast developments. Even now I have no definite inhumation as to departure
from Egypt except m the case of 8 units nor of the order in which units will arrive
1 have wired for immediate steamers, 5 stern-wheelers, 10 tugs, and G4 haro-es
During recent operations, as far as yet ascertained, G barges have been abandoned as
mentioned above.
fhe situation is a grave one. Until I kmu
report. Want of adequat
Paragraph 9.—General summary,
bow soon sufficient troops can be
river transport is more acute than ever. The net result of my demands "in 1 th
direction since -July last is one ship from India promised at the end of this month
is hoped that a further supply will be forthcoming from the middle of Jan’uai
onwards.
As a general question of communications the attitude of Persia cannot be ove
looked. As long as present benevolent neutrality maintained, there is no cause, f
anxiety. Attitude of Pnsht-i-kuh is doubtful. Any concentrated hostile action (
part of latter would be a menace to my communications on Tigris and Karun but sim
are at present inoperative. Jt is useless to disguise the fact that the troops of tl
Gth Division are warworn after a year of continuous campaigning, and the result
their recent heavy losses in officers and men has had inevitabWesult, rendering
desirable to employ them when relieved on communications rather than at the fror
General Townshend may be depended on to do everything that is humanly possible
inspire those around him with his own wonderful spirits.. "