New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-04

vance without reinforcement by an
other division. and he read unpublished
correspondence with the India Office to
that effect.
General Nixon reported directly to
the home government that he could
defeat the Turks and occupy Bagdad,
but that if the Turks were reinforced
he would need another division.
at must be remembered" said Lord
Harding. that General Nixon was at
the head of a victorious army. The de-
cision rested with the home govern
ment; the Indian government could
only make recommendations
knowing that the Galllpoll eXpedl-
ton was not going well and the Cabi-
nets views on the political and mill
tary advantages OF the occupation OF
Bardad. and believing that General
Nixon was in the best position to Judge
the number of troops he required, the
government of India would have eX-
posed itself TO the criticism of having
IGNORED the demands of the empire at
2 critical moment if il had overridden
the opinion of the general commanding
in the field.
Reinforcements Needed
AT would have been case of civilian
Interference with military plans" said
the former Viceroy. AT the same time
we emphasized the necessity of the re-
enforcement of General Nixon by
fully organized division, which should
reach Bagdad not later than one month
after its capture. The question appears
10 have been thrashed out by an inter-
departmental committee in London ana
the combined stats. and all the military
l1d
50 far as Then knew, in Mesopotamia,
rere in agreement that General NiXon's
force was adequate for the capture OF
Bagdad. but not sufficient to insure It's
retention. In consequence presumably
Of this united opinion the advance upon
Baedad received the sanction OF ms
majesty's government"
Turning 70 the medical arrangements,
Lord Hardinge said: at cannot be de-
MED that the wounded coming down
the river suffered terrible hardships
and privation. ! share entirely the
horror and indignation the revelation
Of these sufferings has created.
Hardinge Began Investigation
Owing 10 the conflict between the ru-
r,ors ard tho official reports, Lord mar
dinqe Instituted Investigations when
resulted in report that was incorpo-
ra4od in the commissions report. Inc
o,,i,, observation he could make was
tbat the sending of hospitals and per,
sonnel TO other theatres OF the war had
exhausted an organization which had
never been intended for operations out
side Of India.
REGARDING the shortage Of river
transport, Lord Hardinge asserted that
+ tho army had strained every nerve 10
collect steamers from India, Burma
! china Egypt and even the Thames, but
ewing 20 storms and the light draft OF
The boats required a large proportion
1 foundered on the way.
Lord Hardinge concluded that so lar
az personal imputatons were CON
cerned. he believed his record OF ser
vice was the best reply.
~ may have failed in my endeaVor,
nv lords" said he, but such verdlc,
should only be given in the hgnt OF
India's military effort taken as a whole
and Of the internal situation in that
East empire. and it should be Endorsed
rot only By ny fellow countrymen
here. hut by my fellow subjects IN
India 10 whose continued conhdence
and good opinion | attach the highest
After Lord Hardinge's explanation
tho House passed TO the next business
-, statement by Earl Curzon That the
+ government was not yet fully ADVISED
&c "a tho steps. disciplinary or otner-
wise. which might be necessary. lie
+ boped that the discussion would ne re-
4 surned next week.