THE MESOPOTAMIA BLUNDERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3128, 5 July 1917, Page 5

THE MESOPOTAMIA BLUNDERS

EX-VICEROY OF INDIA ON HIS DEFENCE THE BAGDAD GAMBLE ' (Kec. July 4, J 1.10 p.m.) London, July 3. In the House of Lows, V recount JJardinge expressed the opinion that the Mesopotamia Comniissioii liud not given sufficient prominence to the unexampled effort tnac liuliii had made at tile outset ,ot (ho war, and the generosity of tier contributions ot every kiud, which necessarily hampered, her operations elsewhere, 'x'ho report inadequately weighed tho risks winch preoccupied tho Indian Government during lull and 1915 in connection with tho internal and fronUer affairs. India's military expenditure before, the war exceeded tho maximum lixed, and had increased during war time beyond the point which, his hnajicial advisers considered 6afe. India's expeditious to I'runcc, Egypt, aud East Africa before the Sicsopotamiuii expedition was contemplated had exhausted her military resources aud her reserve equipment of stores. Approximately 80,0110 British and 210.0W) Indian troops, fully trained aud equipped, were sent oversea. The speaker emphasised the fact that eoine weeks before the arrival of the Territorials, the British garrison in India was only fifteen thousand. Thus tho safety of India was imperilled. In tho interests of the whole Empire he took tho risk, because ho trusted tho people of Iniifa. The Government of India strongly opposed the advance on Bagdad without reinforcements, but the maintenance of their veto was not justifiable, in fiew of the obvious political advantages and expediency accruing from tho capture of 'Bagdad, and also in view of the strong pressure from Home and the unanimity of military opinion in favour of tho advance. The inadequacy of river, transport was only revealed when it was too late to make that good, although, everything possible was done to remed/it. The local military authority did not raise this as objection to the advance. Regarding the medical breakdown, which caused him the deepest pain and sorrow, he confessed that he had been completely deceived by misleading reports from the front," bnt the moment he knew that truth he made every effort to remedy the matter.— Reuter.

STATEMENT BY MR. BONAR LAW. London, July 3. In tiio House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law gavo an. assurance that none of the officers -who were censured in the Mesopotamia report would Lβ promoted, pending the discussion of the report by tlio House of Commons.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.