MESOPOTAMIAN INQUIRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16583, 5 July 1917, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIAN INQUIRY.

LOED HABDINGITS CASE.

OPPOSITION TO ADVANCE. (Received 11.5 p.m.) Eeuter - LONDON, July 3. In the House of Lords Lord Hardinge, ex-Viceroy of India, who was one of those censured by the Commission of Inquiry into the Mesopotamian campaign, opened a debate on the report of the commission. He said the report did not give sufficient prominence to the unexampled effort made by India at the outset of the war, nor to the generosity of her contributions of every kind, which necessarily had hampered operations elsewhere. The report, moreover, inadequately weighed the risks and the preoccupation of the Indian Government in 1914-1915 in connection with internal and frontier affairs. India's military expenditure before the war had exceeded the maximum fixed, and had increased in war-timv. beyond the point which his financial advisers considered safe. India's expeditions to France, Egypt, and East Africa, which were despatched before the Mesopotamian expedition was contemplated, had exhausted her military resources and reserves of equipment and stores. Approximately 80,000 British and 210,000 Indian troops, fully trained and equipped, had been sent oversea. Lord Hardinge emphasised the fact that some weeks before the arrival of territorials the British garrisons in India numbered only 15,000. Thus the safety of India was imperilled in the interests of the whole Empire. He took the risk because he trusted the people of India.

I The Government of India strongly J apposed the advance on Bagdad without reinforcements, but the maintenance of its veto was not justifiable in view of the obvious political advantages and expediency of the capture of Bagdad, also in view of the strong pressure from the Home Government and the unanimity of military opinion in favour of an advance. The inadequacy of the river transport was revealed only when it was too late to make it good, although everything possible was done to remedy it. The local military authority had not raised this as an objection tc the advance. Regarding the breakdown in the medical services, which had caused him the deepest pain and sorrow, he confessed that he had been completely deceived by misleading reports from the front, but the moment he knew the truth he had made every effort to effect a remedy.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 6.5 p.m.) LONDON. July 3.

Speaking in the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law gave an assurance that none of the officials censured by the report of the commission on Mesopotamia would be promoted pending the discussion of the report by the House of Commons.