(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/40
Image Reference:0006
Reprinted
for the Imperial
War Cabinet.
November
1917.
SECRET.
IMPERIAL
Minutes
W A R CABINET,
6.
of a Meeting of the Imperial
War Cabinet, held in London at 10,
Street, S.W., on Friday, March 30, 1917, at 3\15 P.M.
Downing
Present:
T h e P R I M E M I N I S T E R O P T H E U N I T E D K I N G D O M (in the
The
Right
Hon. the E A R L
KEDLESTON,
K..G,
CURZON OP
G.C.S.I.
G.C.I.E.
L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council
T h e R i g h t H o n . V I S C O U N T M I L N E a, G . C . B . ,
GC.M.G.
T h e R i g h t H o n . A. H E N D E R S O N , M . P .
T h e R i g h t H o n . A. J . B A L F O U R , O . M . , M . P . ,
Secretary of S t a t e for Foreign Affairs.
T h e R i g h t H o n . W . LONG, M . P . , S e c r e t a r y
of S t a t e for t h e Colonies.
The R i g h t Hon. A. CHAMBERLAIN, M . P . ,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for India.
Chair).
The R i g h t H o n . S I R R O B E R T L. B O R D E N ,
G.C.M.G., K . C . , P r i m e M i n i s t e r of
Canada.
The
Hon.
SIR
GEORGE
H.
PERLEY,
K.C.M.G.., Minister of Overseas M i l i t a r y .
Forces of C a n a d a .
The R i g h t H o n . W . F . M A S S E Y ,
Minister of N e w Z e a l a n d .
The R i g h t
Hon.
Prime
S I R J . G. W A R D ,
Bt.,
K.C.M.G., Minister of F i n a n c e a n d P o s t s ,
N e w Zealand.
L i e u t e n a n t - G e n e r a l t h e R i g h t H o n . J . C.
SMUTS, K G , Minister for Defence, U n i o n
of S o u t h Africa.
The R i g h t H o n . S I R E . P . M O R R I S ,
K . C . M . G . , P r i m e Minister of N e w f o u n d ­
*
land.
T h e following were also p r e s e n t :
The R i g h t Hon. t h e E A R L OP D E R B Y ,
K G . , G.C.V.O., C.B., Secretary of S t a t e
for W a r .
G e n e r a l S I R W . R. ROBERTSON, G.C.B.,
K . C . V . O . , D . S . O . , Chief of t h e I m p e r i a l
G e n e r a l Staff.
L i e u t e n a n t - G e n e r a l S IR C . F . N . M A C R E A D Y ,
K.C.B., K.C.M.G., Adjutant-General t o
t h e Forces.
The
Hon.
S I R J . S.
Lieutenant-Governor
Provinces, India;
MESTON,
of
The
United
Hon. S I R E .
CARSON,
The H o n . J . D. H A Z E N , M i n i s t e r of M a r i n e
and Fisheries, a n d of t h e N a v a l Service,
Canada.
Mr.
H.
C. M. L A M B E R T ,
C.B.,
Colonial
Office, S e c r e t a r y to t h e I m p e r i a l W a r
Conference.
Mr.
PHILIP KERB,
Colonel H i s H i g h n e s s t h e M a h a r a j a S I R
GANGA
SINGH,
BAHADUR,
G.C.S.I.,
G.C.I.E., A . D . C . , M a h a r a j a of Bikaner.
S I R S . P . S I N HA, Member-designate of "the
E x e c u t i v e Council of t h e G o v e r n o r of
Bengal.
L i e u t e n a n t - C o l o n e l S I R M. P . A. H A N K E Y , K . C . B . ,
Mr. G. M. Y O U N G , Assistant
Major L. S T O R R , Assistant
[1.142-6]
Secretary.
Secretary.
Secretary.
C a p t a i n L S; A M E R Y , Assistant
K.C.,
A d m i r a l S I R J . R. J E L L I C O E , G . C . B . , O.M.,
G . C . V . O . , F i r s t Sea Lord.
KC.S.L,
the
Rio-ht
M.P.,"First L o r d of t h e A d m i r a l t y .
Secretary.
B
Egypt.
1. T H E Chief of t h e Imperial General Staff reported t h a t j after
t h e b a t t l e , t h e T u r k s h a d fallen back t o their prepared position E a s t
of Gaza, a n d t h a t s t e p s w e r e being t a k e n to deal w i t h t h e m t h e r e .
Mesopotamia.
2. The Chief of t h e Imperial G e n e r a l Staff r e p o r t e d t h a t ,
according to p r e s e n t indications, it a p p e a r e d probable t h a t , o w i n g
to t h e slow progress of t h e Russian force, t h e T u r k s r e t i r i n g on
K h a n i k i n would m a k e t h e i r escape.
The Portuguese
Troops.
3. The S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r r e p o r t e d t h a t an excessive
proportion of P o r t u g u e s e w e r e already in hospital a n d largely from
p r e v e n t a b l e causes. H e s t a t e d t h a t t h e necessity for a s k i n g t h e
P o r t u g u e s e G o v e r n m e n t t o allow Labour Battalions to t a k e p r i o r i t y
of t r a n s p o r t from P o r t u g a l over r e g u l a r troops had. to a certain
e x t e n t , been overcome owing t o t h e m e n travelling as civilians
t h r o u g h Spain.
T h e y were being organised after crossing t h e
F r e n c h frontier.
The Military
Situation:
The Need for more
Men.
4. T h e Imperial W a r Cabinet h a d before t h e m a general
review of t h e s i t u a t i o n in all t h e t h e a t r e s of war, prepared by t h e
General Staff ( P a p e r G . T . - 2 2 9 ) .
I n summarising t h i s report, t h e
Chief of t h e Imperial G e n e r a l Staff pointed o u t t h a t t h e G e r m a n s
h a d m a d e an immense effort t o p u t e v e r y m a n into t h e firing line
for t h i s year, a n d t h a t i t w a s essential t o meet t h a t effort, t o p r e v e n t
it from a t t a i n i n g a n y success, and, if possible, to defeat it. This
involved t h e r e q u i r e m e n t of a t least 500,000 m e n more b y J u l y .
It
was t r u e t h a t t h e Allies h a d 13,000,000 m e n in t h e field as corn­
pared wifh 8,000,000 on t h e p a r t of t h e enemy, b u t of t h e s e
5,000,000 were Russians, 2.000,000 Italians, in addition t o which
t h e r e were R o u m a n i a n s , Belgians, P o r t u g u e s e , a n d o t h e r t r o o p s of
comparatively small fighting value. Applications h a d been m a d e
t o each of t h e Dominions, a n d t h e r e had been a generous response,
b u t t h e n e e d for m e n was still very great. H e had hoped t h a t i t
m i g h t h a v e been possible to send t h e fifth C a n a d i a n Division t o
France.
'Canada's Effort,
5. Sir R o b e r t B o r d e n laid before t h e I m p e r i a l W a r C a b i n e t
figures ( A p p e n d i x I ) s h o w i n g t h e total effort made b y C a n a d a u p
t o d a t e in t h e w a r . A t o t a l of 446,330 men h a d been raised for
various purposes directly connected w i t h t h e war, of whom 327,312
h a d been sent from Canada to t h e E x p e d i t i o n a r y Force or to t h e
Forces of t h e Allies. I n addition t o t h i s , t h e r e were 305,000 m e n
w o r k i n g in t h e p r o d u c t i o n of munitions.
The t o t a l population of
C a n a d a a t p r e s e n t was a b o u t 71- millions, of whom over 2 millions
were of F r e n c h origin. More than .600,000 w e r e of enemy origin.
T h e population of British origin was less t h a n 4 millions. There h a d
been enlisted in t h e C a n a d i a n Forces some 9,000 persons, whose­
next-of-kin resided in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , b u t a majority of t h e s e
were p r o b a b l y C a n a d i a n b y b i r t h . W i t h a frontier of 3,500 miles,
a n d a l a r g e population of e n e m y origin in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , it was
necessary t o keep some m i n i m u m of t r o o p s in Canada. This h a d
been fixed a t 50,000 men, a n d 50,000 more w e r e now being called
out for H o m e Defence in order t o release those a t p r e s e n t in t r a i n i n g
in C a n a d a . R e c r u i t i n g was actively proceeding for t h e C a n a d i a n
E x p e d i t i o n a r y Force. Sir R o b e r t Borden also m e n t i o n e d t h a t over
12,000,000^ h a d been raised in Canada b y v o l u n t a r y contributions
to patriotic funds.
Fifth Canadian
Division.
6. Sir G. Perley pointed o u t t h a t t h e difficulty a b o u t s e n d i n g
t h e fifth C a n a d i a n Division into t h e field was t h a t , till i t was k n o w n
w h a t t h e casualties would be in t h e other C a n a d i a n Divisions in t h e
n e x t few months, it was impossible to say w h e t h e r t h e reinforce­
m e n t s a t p r e s e n t in s i g h t could k e e p five Divisions u p to s t r e n g t h .
T h e Canadian G o v e r n m e n t were q u i t e willing t h a t t h e
fifth
Division should g o t o France, o n t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t one of t h e
C a n a d i a n Divisions a t a t i m e should be a r e s t i n g Division.
The
m a t t e r was also complicated b y t h e u r g e n t d e m a n d for l u m b e r m e n
to be t a k e n out of t h e p r e s e n t s t r e n g t h of t h e fifth Division.
It
was agreed t h a t :—
The
question of l u m b e r m e n should be f u r t h e r discussed
b e t w e e n t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r a n d Sir G. Perley.
Eeeruiting in the
United States.
7. Sir R o b e r t Borden informed t h e I m p e r i a l W a r Cabinet of
t h e steps h e h a d t a k e n , before coming over to E n g l a n d , t o sound t h e
American authorities w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e possibility of r e c r u i t i n g
Canadians a n d other British subjects in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
The
response h a d been n o t unfavourable a t t h e time, a n d h e considered
t h a t w i t h t h e development of e v e n t s it o u g h t to b e possible largely
t o increase t h e a r m e d forces of C a n a d a from t h i s source.
The S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r informed t h e Imperial W a r
C a b i n e t t h a t t h e W a r Office h a d likewise informally m a d e a r r a n g e ­
m e n t s for r e c r u i t i n g in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s as soon a s t h e l a t t e r were
definitely a t war with G e r m a n y .
New Zealand's
Effort.
8. The P r i m e Minister of N e w Zealand g a v e figures as t o t h e
effort m a d e by N e w Zealand ( A p p e n d i x I I ) . A t o t a l of 70,000
h a d sailed from N e w Zealand, 10,000 were in c a m p , a n d several
t h o u s a n d s more were going into camp shortly. T h e r e h a d also
been a considerable n u m b e r of N e w Zealanders who h a d entered
t h e British or A u s t r a l i a n F o r c e s . H e considered t h a t N e w Zealand
could recruit up to a limit of 100,00.0 m e n , t h o u g h t h e strain on a
I n rep^y
population of u n d e r 1,200,000 w a s a l r e a d y b e i n g felt.
to a cable from N e w Z e a l a n d e n q u i r i n g w h e t h e r t h e tieed for
reinforcements or supplies w a s more u r g e n t , he was telegraphing
t h a t , t h o u g h supplies w e r e u r g e n t , t h e
need
for soldiers
came first.
South Africa's
Effort.
Natives and
Coloured Com­
batant Troops
from South Africa.
9- General S m u t s informed t h e Imperial W a r Cabinet t h a t
S o u t h Africa had p u t into t h e field b e t w e e n 50,000 a n d 60,000 m e n
for t h e suppression of t h e rebellion a n d for t h e campaign in
G e r m a n S o u t h - W e s t Africa.
I t h a d also p u t 30,000 m e n into t h e
field in E a s t Africa, in addition tu t h e b r i g a d e n o w in F r a n c e .
He
believed t h a t practically t h e whole of t h e m e n w h o h a d been
e n g a g e d in E a s t Africa would be prepared to serve in F r a n c e or
a n y w h e r e else as soon as t h e y h a d g o t over t h e effects of t h e E a s t
African climate, a n d these would be v e t e r a n troops, m a n y of t h e m
- with an experience d a t i n g b a c k t o t h e S o u t h African W a r .
He
h a d no d o u b t t h a t t h e force a t p r e s e n t in F r a n c e would be k e p t u p
to s t r e n g t h , and could be increased b y additional u n i t s .
10. I n answer to questions by t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r ,
General S m u t s expressed t h e opinion t h a t t h e 19,000 n a t i v e a n d
coloured g u n n e r s a n d drivers asked for from S o u t h Africa, in
addition t o 8,000 for a m m u n i t i o n column purposes, would be
forthcoming w i t h o u t g r e a t difficulty, a n d t h a t , if t h e r e c r u i t i n g
w e r e spread over a considerable period, possibly 30,000 m i g h t be
secured.. H e considered t h a t t h e s e troops would do excellently for
unskilled work in t h e firing line, as t h e y were both s t r o n g a n d
personally brave.
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , his experience, was t h a t
n a t i v e s could not be t r a i n e d for all-round c o m b a t a n t w o r k as
infantry in less t h a n nine to t w e l v e m o n t h s . H e considered t h e
n a t i v e troops in East, Africa a useful force, a considerable p a r t of
which might be released for service elsewhere once t h e E a s t
African Campaign was really over.
Sierra Leone
Labour Supply.
11. General S m u t s informed t h e I m p e r i a l W a r Cabinet t h a t
t h e Governor of Sierra L e o n e h a d s u g g e s t e d t o h i m t h e possibility
of raising 10,000 carriers a n d 10,000 krooboys for dock l a b o u r in
t h a t colony.
I t appeared, however, t h a t t h i s h a d b e e n a v e r y
sanguine estimate.
Newfoundland^
Effort.
12. Sir E d w a r d Morris informed t h e I m p e r i a l W a r Cabinet
t h a t Newfoundland h a d provided a p p r o x i m a t e l y four b a t t a l i o n s for
F r a n c e , a n d t h a t t h e r e was a portion of a n o t h e r battalion in C a n a d a
a w a i t i n g t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . A f u r t h e r 2,000 h a d j o i n e d t h e R o y a l
N a v y , and Newfoundland, with Canada, w a s . m a i n t a i n i n g a j o i n t
patrol against submarines on the C a n a d i a n , Newfoundland, a n d
L a b r a d o r Coasts. H e hoped also to be able t o supply a considerable
n u m b e r of foresters.
India's Effort.
13. T h e Imperial W a r C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m
papers
summarising t h e t o t a l efibrt c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e war b y I n d i a ( P a p e r s
G.T.-152, G.T.-184, G.T.-197).
T h e Secretary of S t a t e for India m e n t i o n e d t h a t I n d i a h a d
sent t o various t h e a t r e s of war some 350,000 c o m b a t a n t s , a n d a
t o t a l force of 574,000 including auxiliary services.
The Indian
A r m y h a d also grown from 250,000 t o 430,000.
Very generous
assistance, b o t h in money a n d men, h a d also been furnished b y t h e
P r i n c e s of India.
T h e Maharaja of B i k a n e r mentioned in t h i s connection t h a t
in the first week of t h e war h e h a d offered to raise 20,000 m e n , b u t
t h e offer h a d been declined, and t h e men h a d since enlisted in o t h e r
capacities.
T h e a t t e n t i o n of t h e Imperial W a r C a b i n e t was also d r a w n t o
t h e genuine a n d deep-seated loyalty of t h e I n d i a n troops, a s s h o w n
in t h e i r l e t t e r s from t h e front, a n d it w a s a g r e e d t h a t , in view of
t h e v e r y different conditions prevailing i n I n d i a from t h o s e of t h e
Dominions, a n d of t h e difference of race, I n d i a ' s response h a d been a
remarkable one.
Labour from India.
14. T h e Secretary of S t a t e for I n d i a m e n t i o n e d t h a t I n d i a w a s
ready t o send 50,000 m e n in labour b a t t a l i o n s , b u t t h a t t h e I n d i a n
G o v e r n m e n t h a d been informed b y t h e W a r Office t h a t o n l y 20,000
were t o be actually raised for t h e p r e s e n t .
T h e Secretary of S t a t e for W a r pointed o u t t h a t t h e l i m i t a t i o n
was entirely d u e to shipping considerations.
Further Recruiting
in India.
15. T h e Imperial W a r Cabinet further considered a t e l e g r a m
No. 3457, d a t e d t h e 2 8 t h M a r c h , 1917 ( A p p e n d i x I I I ) , which t h e
Secretary of S l a t e for I n d i a h a d sent t o t h e I n d i a n G o v e r n m e n t ,
u r g i n g t h e l a t t e r t o raise a n o t h e r 100,000 m e n , t o be r e a d y a t a n y
r a t e b y t h e spring of 1918, and, w i t h t h i s object, in view, to t a p
fresh, sources of r e c r u i t i n g a u d t o improve its r e c r u i t i n g m e t h o d s .
T h e r e was a g e n e r a l discussion as t o t h e possibility of finding
fresh sources of recruiting in I n d i a a n d as- t o r e c r u i t i n g m e t h o d s .
Sir S. Sinha expressed t h e opinion t h a t t h e y o u n g Bengal s t u d e n t s
a n d professional m e n w h o were anxious t o enlist in order t o " m a k e
good " in t h e eyes of I n d i a would m a k e v e r y serviceable troops.
Sir J . Meston considered t h a t , while a n y t h i n g s a v o u r i n g e i t h e r
of a n a t t e m p t a t indirect compulsion or of our b e i n g in d e s p e r a t e
s t r a i t s would h a v e a bad effect, a g r e a t deal more m i g h t be done b y
intelligent recruiting a n d b y enlisting t h e h e l p of influential
unofficial classes.
The Question of
Indian Officers.
16. T h e a t t e n t i o n of t h e I m p e r i a l W a r C a b i n e t w a s d r a w n t o
t h e g r e a t difficulty of securing suitable officers for so large a n
increase in the I n d i a n A r m y .
T h e Maharaja of B i k a n e r pointed out t h a t t h e class of m e n
now in t h e I n d i a n A r m y fit for promotion was v e r y limited, a n d
t h a t competent I n d i a n officers could n o t easily be improvised.
If
L o r d C u r z o n s proposals for t h e t r a i n i n g of I n d i a n cadets, w h i c h
h a d been m a d e in 1901, h a d been carried out, t h e r e would b y n o w
h a v e been a large supply of t r a i n e d I n d i a n officers.
T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for I n d i a informed t h e Imperial W a r
C a b i n e t t h a t t h e question of g i v i n g commissions to I n d i a n officers
w a s being discussed w i t h t h e G o v e r n m e n t of I n d i a , a n d t h a t h e
hoped before long t o be able to lay definite proposals before t h e
W a r Cabinet.
(Initialled)
D . LI. G.
2, Whitehall Gardens,
S.W.,
March 3 1 , 1917.
APPENDIX
MEMORANDUM
I.
respecting t h e P a r t i c i p a t i o n of t h e Dominion of C a n a d a in t h e
European War.
Canadian Expeditionary Force Enlistments
A c t i v e militia on garrison and guard duty . .
Permanent force
..
.­
..
Canadian naval service enlistments
..
R o y a l navy enlistments..
..
Imperial mechanical transport service
Imperial army reservists
Royal navy reservists . .
.
French reservists (Consular estimate)
Russian reservists (Consular estimate)
I t a l i a n reservists (Consular e s t i m a t e )
Munition workers sent to Great Britain
..
...
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
. . .
. .
..
..
..
..
..
...
..
. . .
..
..
..
..
..
..
.
..
..
.'.
403.000
11,000
2,470
3,310
1,600
1,200
2,750
1,000
5,000
7,500
5,000
3,000
419,780
27,050
Total number withdrawn from manhood of Canada
Total number Canadian Expeditionary Force sent overseas from Canada .
Other forces w h o have gone overseas as above
Total
446,830
300,262
27,050
327,312
March 28, 1917.
[1142-6]
C
SUMMARY
of S t r e n g t h of t h e Canadian E x p e d i t i o n a r y Force in t h e British I s l e s '
a n d in F r a n c e as a t March 28, 1917.
Total Canadian Expeditionary Force who have been sent overseas from
..
Canada
..
. . . .
-^
Total now in France
..
--*'
Total n o w in England
..
t QI
Total casualties—
T o 1st March, 1917 . .
..
v.
From 1st March t o 24th March, 1917 (estimate) . .
-To forestry units—
^
In France . .
---'
"
"'
I n England . .
Total railway u n i t s I n France . .
..
--I n England . .
."
,. "
Total troops in Near East (medical units) (estimated) . . .
.,
. Total number of Canadian Expeditionary Force n o w undergoing training
in Canada
..
7
300,262
125,465
125,278
8
7 g ) 2 9 1
2,019
4,490
5,605
4 j96
'849
^
^
P o p u l a t i o n in 1 9 1 1 . (See " Census of Canada 1 9 1 1 , " Table X I ,
Vol. 2, p. 367.)
CANADIAN
Origins.
1911.
Number per cent,
of Population, 1911.
3.896,985
1,823,150
1,050,384
997,880
24,848
723
54-08
25-30
14-58
13-85
-34
-Qi
2,054,890
393,320
129,103
42,535
9,960
35,158
11,605
29,845
28-51
5-46
1-79'
-59
-14
-49
-l(i
-41
Belgian
Belgia n
Bulgarian
Bulgaria n and
an d Roumanian
Roumania n
Chinese
Chines e
Dutch
Dutc h
. Finnish
Finnis h
Grecia
Grecian
n
Hindu
Hind u
India
Indian
n
Italia
Italian
n
Japanesee
Japanes
-..
Jewish
Jewis
h,
Negro
Polish
Polis h
..
Russian
Russia n
.. '
Scandinavian
Scandinavia
n
..
Swiss
Swis s
Turkis
Turkish
h
Variou
Variouss
Unspecifie
Unspecified
d
9,593
5,875
27,774
54,986
15,497
3,594
2,342
105,492
45,411
9,021
75,681
16,877
33,365
43,142
107,535
6,625
3,880
18,310
147,345
-13
-08
-39
-76
-20
-05
-03
1-46
-63
-13
1-05
-23
-46
-60
1-49
-09
-05
-25
2-04
Tota
Totall population
populatio n
7,206,643
Britis
British
h
English
Englis h
Irish
Iris h
Scotc
Scotch
h
Welsh
Others
Other s
..
..
French
Frenc
h
Germa n
German
..
Austro-TIuugarian
Austro-TIuugaria
n
Austria
Austrian
n ..
Bukovinian
Bukovinia n
Galicia
Galician
n
Hungaria
Hungarian
n
Ruthenian..
- . .
..
..
..
Austria
Bukowina (Austria)
Bulgaria
Galicia (Austria)
German (a.e.s.)
H e b r e w (Austria)
H e b r e w (Germany)
Hungary
Polish (Austria)
Polish (Germany)
Euthenia (Austria)
Turkey
TotalAustria-Hungary
Germany
Bulgaria
Turkev
1912.
1913.
1914.
1915.
4,871
328
3,295
1,594
4.645
269
4
482
2,773
21
13,346
.632
1,050
687
4,616
497
4,938
392
16
578
4,462
29
17,420
770
3,147
1,549
.1,727
1,698
5,525
728
20
833
4,310
46
18,372
187
502
72
4,048
36
2,470
1.60
1
218
1,272
7
5,830
33
32,260
35,455
38,142
14,649
23,663
4,670
3,295
632
25,086
4,983
4,616
770
30,637
5,591
1,727
187
8,090
2,478
4,048
33
32,260
35,455
38,142
14,649
N.B.—As the fiscal year ends the 31st March the figures for 1915, for instance, contain six
months.
Year.
Totals.
1912
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
. .
32,260
1913
35,455
1914
38,142
1915
14,649
1916
44
Total number immigrants from e n e m y countries in Europe since 1911 . .
A P P E N D I X
Copy of Cablegram
W I T H
received from
120,550
II.
the Acting Prime
April 5, 1917.
Minister^
Wellington,
dated
reference to your t e l e g r a m of 31st March.
Firstly—
Main Expeditionary Force and Reinforcements
Maories
'..
..
..
..
Engineer Tunnelling Company . .
..
Wireless Troop
..
..
..
Samoan Expeditionary Force
..
..
British section, " Philomel," R.F.C., &c. . .
Total to date
..
..
..
...
..
V.
..
..
. . . . .
.-
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
...
...
..
62,216
1 .978
758
182
1,895
816
..
67,845
Secondly—
In training
..
..
11,490
ThirdlyNurses despatched
..
'..
..
..
..
Fourthly—
No. 1 Hospital Ship, now returning from fourth v o y a g e , c r e w
Staff­
.No. 1 charter
..
..
..
..
-No. 2 charter
..
..
..
...
N o . 3 charter
..
..
..
...
No. 2 Hospital Skip, proceeding on third v o y a g e , c r e w
..
StaffN o . 1 charter
..
..
..
..
-.
N o . .1 charter
..
..
..
..
.Fifthly­
Motor-boat
Reserve, including seamen
..
pre-war
..
..
--
428
..
Ill
--
71
-.
..
77
3 86
.*
.-
"1
8
8
1
2
2
'"
80,593
SixthlyHorses despatched to t h e front
Despatched t o Samoa
..
A t present in training camps
..
..
..
..
..
..
...
...
..
-..
..
..
..
..
..
£
..23,586,022
EighthlyVoluntary contributions from all patriotic funds—
In money ..'
..
..
..
..
In goods
..
. . . .
..
..
..
..
..
..
Seventhly—
W a r expenditure to 31st March last, approximate
10,117
141
639
2,527,971
215,135
2,743,106
NinthlyBelgian Relief Fund
Belgian School Fund
..
..
..
..
.
..
..
..
. .
Tenthly, War Pensions—
TotaVpayments t o 31st March last
Liability on all Pensions to date . .
N e t Liability to 31st March last . .
..
..
..
Total
(Signed)
Gopy of Supplementary
.
.
.
..
.
.
..
..
..
305,124
18,364
..
..
..
323,488
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
193,500
342,000
270,000
A L L E N , Acting
Prime
Minister.
Telegram
from the Acting Prime Minister, Wellington,
dated
5th April, 1917.
M Y t e l e g r a m 5 t h April, n i n t h l y : I n addition t o v o l u n t a r y c o n t r i b u t i o n s
G o v e r n m e n t contributed t o 31st M a r c h l a s t b y w a y of g r a n t a n d subsidy t o B e l g i a n
Relief 219,084L
.
A P P E N D I X III.
G.T.-317.
From Secretary of State to Viceroy, Army Department,
28th March, 1917.
3457.
I N D I A N r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , Imperial W a r Cabinet, w a n t t o k n o w w h a t a d d i t i o n a l
effort t h e y can promise on behalf of I n d i a on the a s s u m p t i o n t h a t whilst doing all w e
can t h i s y e a r , decisive result will n o t b e obtained till n e x t year. The most i m p o r t a n t
consideration is w h a t fighting man-power can you produce a n d t r a i n to be fit t o p u t
into t h e field in early spring of 1918 in addition t o n u m b e r s to which you a r e a l r e a d y
committed.
This fresh effort would be p r i m a r i l y directed t o t h e relief of B r i t i s h
troops now serving in I n d i a , Mesopotamia, or E g y p t .
B u t you m a y be' able to spare or raise u n i t s n o t suitable for use a g a i n s t T u r k s .
I n t h a t case i t m i g h t be possible to employ t h e m in F r a n c e .
Do you t h i n k you could, for instance, raise 100,000 m e n for these objects?
I realise t h a t t o do so you will h a v e to r e s o r t largely to e n l i s t m e n t of classes t h a t h a v e
h i t h e r t o n o t been considered t h e best for p r o v i d i n g fighting men. I n p a r t i c u l a r , I
wish you t o consider w h e t h e r e x p e r i m e n t of Bengali double company m i g h t n o t b e .
largely e x t e n d e d . Consider also p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e possibility of obtaining more J a t s
a n d M a h r a t t a s , b u t please pass in review all possible resources of India.
Present
r e c r u i t i n g m e t h o d s seem capable of considerable i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d r e c r u i t i n g
organisations would have t o be largely expanded. I s u g g e s t introduction of some
new blood in y o u r r e c r u i t i n g agencies a n d much more use t h a n h a s been m a d e u p t o
d a t e of t h e a u t h o r i t y of ruling Princes a n d Chiefs in their S t a t e s , and of our o w n civil
a u t h o r i t i e s a n d local m a g n a t e s in British I n d i a . The unofficial classes should also,
I t h i n k , b e called upon t o assist.
P e r h a p s some suitable d e v e l o p m e n t s of a d v e r t i s e m e n t
a g e n c y m i g h t also be m a d e use of. You will u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e necessity for
e x e r t i n g t h e m a x i m u m s t r e n g t h of t h e E m p i r e is so g r e a t t h a t every m e a n s t h a t can
b e devised should be employed, a n d a l l possible sources of r e c r u i t m e n t thoroughly­
e x a m i n e d afresh. I realise t h a t i t m a y n o t be possible to m a k e such a large a d d i t i o n
t o t h e A r m y u n d e r t h e conditions on which t h e I n d i a n soldier n o w serves. I s u g g e s t
t h a t you consider w h e t h e r t e m p o r a r y e n l i s t m e n t for t h e t e r m of t h e w a r m i g h t n o t
m e e t t h e case ; also t h a t a s p r e s e n t pay m a y n o t be considered sufficiently a t t r a c t i v e
b y classes who h a v e not h i t h e r t o provided many fighting m e n , some form of t e m p o r a r y
p a y or bonus m a y be necessary. P l e a s e r e p o r t fully by t e l e g r a p h w h a t you t h i n k
could he done. I will t h e n ascertain w h e t h e r arms a n d e q u i p m e n t will be available.
I assume t h a t you will be able to d r a w m a n y officers from Territorials now in I n d i a ,
as y o u will be able t o give t h e m nearly a y e a r s t r a i n i n g .
o