Page 273 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

19
CHAPTER IV.
Rules for the relief of Royal Navy vessels in the Persian Gulf, 1874-75.
22. The following rules were issued by Rear-Admiral A. Cumming, Com-
nriander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s Naval
Political A, September 1874, Nos. toi-102.
Forces, to the Commanding Officers of
. Her Majesty’s ships in the Gulf on ist May 1874.
The ships detailed for service in the Persian Gulf and adjacent water requiring more
constant relief and change in order to keep them in an efficient state, and also for sanitary
purposes, the following orders with respect to these vessels are to be carried out as far as
possible by the senior officer of the Gulf Squadron, and he will fully report from time to
time in his letters or proceedings the steps he takes in consequence:—
1. Three ships will be detached for service in this division. Of these two are con­
stantly to be kept in the Gulf or the adjacent waters as may be necessary; the third ship is
to be allowed to be aosent either at Kurrachcc or Bombay, or on passage to or from either
of those ports.
2. Each ship composing the squadron is to be relieved in succession, and, if possible,
each ship should visit Kurrachcc or Bombay every four months.
3 On a ship leaving for Kurrachcc or Bombay, the senior officer remaining in the
Gulf should be informed on what date she would probably sail again for the Gulf, and
arrangements made as to the port to which she should return. This port should, as a
rule, be on the cast coast, in order that her arrival may be telegraphed from Gwadur or
Charbar to the other stations, and all ships should call at one of these ports for this purpose.
Should, however, the senior officer have ordered the ships to proceed direct to Muscat,
he must make arrangements for her arrival being made known as soon as possible.
Should the ship be delayed at Kurrachec or Bombay, the senior officer in the Gulf
should be informed, with as little delay as possible, either by letter or telegram.
4. The Commanding Officer of the ship leaving the Gulf should be informed of any
stores, provisions, or money which it may be necessary 10 bring from Kurracheeor Bombay
for the ships remaining, timely demands being forwarded by each ship to Bombay as
directed in Article 8.
5. Great care is to be taken by the ship when at Kurrachec or Bombay to obtain
sufficient stores, provisions and money, to last until their return to one of those ports; few
things being obtainable in the Gulf except fresh provisions.
6. Orders should be sent by telegraph, or otherwise, to Charbar or Gwadur, as to the
destination of the ship arriving, and the senior officer will make arrangements for the
departure of the next ship from the Gulf.
7. The ship visiting Kurrachee or Bombay should be allowed to remain to days or a
fortnight, but every effort is to be made for her return at the time fixed previous to her
departure from the Gulf, and any delay is to be immediately reported as directed in
Article 3.
8. Ships should visit Kurrachee in preference to Bombay when no Dockyard work
is necessary. Demands arc to be sent to the contractors at Bombay for such provisions as
will be required of Kurrachee , stating by what date these stores should be at that port.
These demands should be sent as early as possible as special arrangements have been
made with the British India Steam Navigation Company for freight, and this Company
will place any stores in the Custom House at Kurrachee to await the arrival of the ship
requiring them, should they arrive before her.
Timely demands should also be sent for any stores required from the Bombay Dock­
yard and they will be forwarded and stored in a similar manner to the provisions.
9. The Commanding Officer of the ships in this division will be careful to keep the
senior officer as well as the Commander-in-Chief constantly acquainted with their move­
ments. The Political Resident in the Gulf is also to be informed of the movements of the
ships.
The requisitions made by the Political Resident and Agents of course must be most
carefully attended to, but should they materially interfere with the system of relief,
Commanding Officers should point out to these officers what appears to them the best means
for meeting both requirements, informing them that these orders have been given with the
view of affording an efficient suqadron, aud requesting their co-operatiou in attaining
this object.

fa