DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49384#0070
CHAPTER IV.
MUNITIONS AND MATERIAL.
Part I.
Contributions by State Departments, Railways, and Firms.
We have already mentioned in our opening Chapter that these
Provinces were seriously handicapped, in some cases entirely, in the
production of certain classes of munitions of war owing to the lack
of means for their manufacture. This did not prevent the Provinces
from doing their utmost to help to meet the ever-recurring and
ever-increasing requirements of our armies, especially those operating
in Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, and Africa.
It was on March 1st, 1917, that the Indian Munitions Board was
formed under the Presidentship of Sir Thomas Holland. The object
of this Board was to co-ordinate the work then being carried out by
isolated bodies throughout India for the purchase and manufacture
of munitions of war. The Board was energetically assisted by the
Indian States and advantage was taken of their resources and assistance
in various ways. Several Indian gentlemen also afforded valuable
assistance to the Board.
In August, 1917, at the request of the Quartermaster-General,
the Government of these Provinces undertook to supply 50,000 tons
baled hay before the rains of 1918. A special hay division was formed
for this purpose, and, in spite of considerable difficulties, 50,000 tons
of hay had been baled by the 25th of May, 1918. While a further
2,000 tons had been collected and stored unbailed. The total cost of
these operations amounted to a little over 27 lakhs of rupees.
About the same time in 1917, the Provinces undertook to supply
500,000 maunds of baled Bhusa by the end of January, 1918, to meet
the shortage of fodder overseas. In spite of the difficulties of the
season, over 460,000 maunds were supplied by the end of January,
MUNITIONS AND MATERIAL.
Part I.
Contributions by State Departments, Railways, and Firms.
We have already mentioned in our opening Chapter that these
Provinces were seriously handicapped, in some cases entirely, in the
production of certain classes of munitions of war owing to the lack
of means for their manufacture. This did not prevent the Provinces
from doing their utmost to help to meet the ever-recurring and
ever-increasing requirements of our armies, especially those operating
in Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, and Africa.
It was on March 1st, 1917, that the Indian Munitions Board was
formed under the Presidentship of Sir Thomas Holland. The object
of this Board was to co-ordinate the work then being carried out by
isolated bodies throughout India for the purchase and manufacture
of munitions of war. The Board was energetically assisted by the
Indian States and advantage was taken of their resources and assistance
in various ways. Several Indian gentlemen also afforded valuable
assistance to the Board.
In August, 1917, at the request of the Quartermaster-General,
the Government of these Provinces undertook to supply 50,000 tons
baled hay before the rains of 1918. A special hay division was formed
for this purpose, and, in spite of considerable difficulties, 50,000 tons
of hay had been baled by the 25th of May, 1918. While a further
2,000 tons had been collected and stored unbailed. The total cost of
these operations amounted to a little over 27 lakhs of rupees.
About the same time in 1917, the Provinces undertook to supply
500,000 maunds of baled Bhusa by the end of January, 1918, to meet
the shortage of fodder overseas. In spite of the difficulties of the
season, over 460,000 maunds were supplied by the end of January,