"ملخص المراسلات المتعلقة بإدارة ميناء البصرة وإجراءات للسيطرة على حركة الملاحة البحرية في بلاد الرافدين." [و‎‎٢‎١] (١٣٤/٤١)

37
I have, however, designed the weirs to check the flow of the Tigris into canals
during the low-water season and I have heard of one small dredger which it may be
possible to get up before the advent of the monsoon,
18. In conclusion I would say that my staff and myself will do everything
that is humanly possible to expedite all the works, but we feel that these delays
have deprived us of the power of making them the success which might have
reasonably been anticipated.
Basrah : ^ (Sd.) GEORGE C. BUCHANAN, Colonel,
28th March 1916. 3 Director General of Port Administration
and River Conservancy.
APPENDIX L
No. 74-A-16.
Office of the Director General of
Port Administration and River Conservancy,
53, Strand Road,
Basrah, 3rd March 1916.
To
The D. A. and Q. M. G.
Memorandum.
The accompanying papers on the subject of the treatment by the Marine
authorities at Bombay and Basrah of my survey equipment are submitted.
2. Briefly the facts of the case are as follows :—
When I was appointed to my present office the Government of India asked
me to mfoim them in detail of my exact requirements in plant, personnel and
equipment, and on receipt of same, Mr. E. C. Niven, an Executive Engineer in the
service of the Rangoon Port Trust, was appointed my chief Engineering Assistant
and was instructed to get together a staff of subordinates and a complete survev
equipment.
3. On my arrival at Basrah I found nothing could be procured locally and I
was informed by you in your No. 1179-1-Q., dated 5th January, that it would
be Accessary for me to make all arrangements for equipment and personnel in
regard to the execution of any work I might have to undertake, and that it was
understood this was being done.
1 accordingly telegraphed to Mr. Niven emphasizing the necessity for his bring
ing everything necessary for a complete survey equipment and said that neither
men nor appliances could be obtained locally.
4. Mr. Niven carried out my instructions to the letter and a ccmplete survev
equipment was purchased (at a coat cf Rs. 15,000) which was very carefullv
packed and despatched to Bombay per steamer " Orna " which left Ranmm - on
the 14th January 1916. ^ngoon on
The Government of Burma asked the Government of India by telegram to
kindly arrange for the reception of the equipment and personnel in Bombay and
their transhipment for Basrah, and presumably this was done, but when Mr "Niven
who travelled overland from Calcutta arrived in Bombay on the 24th Januarv he
found that the marine authorities had taken no action whatsoever and did not
even know that the steamer from Burma had arrived on the 22nd January
5. From that date our troubles began and instead of my instructions beW
carried out and Mr. Niven, bis staff and equipment arriving together on the 31st
January, the staff arrived on that date, Mr. Niven arrived on the 5th Februarv ™ 1
the steamer " Havildar " with the equipment arrived on the 15th February (