Page 274 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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10. In making passages steam should be used in accordance with the Admiralty
instructions and circulars, but the senior officer may grant permission for the most econo*
mical speed being exceeded in urgent eases.
11. All expenses for telegrams, freight, storage, etc., incurred in carriyng out these
orders arc to appear in the monthly return of unauthorized payments.
12. A copy of these orders is supplied to the Commanding Officer of each ship in thq
Gulf Squadron—when finally relieved, lie is to transfer them to his successor.
'
Dated Glaigoxo at Sea, the 15th May 1874,
■ Extract, paragraph 3, from a lettor from Rear-Admiral A. CUM.MING, Commander-in*
Chief of Her Majesty’s Naval Forces in India, to COLONEL H. K. Burne, Secretary
to the Government of India, Marine Department, Calcutta.
Paragraph 3.—l sincerely trust that the plan of relief which I am endeavouring to
institute will meet with the approval of His Excellency the Governor-General in Council,
and that the Political Resident and Agents in the Persian Gulf may be enabled to assist
the Commanders of Her Majesty’s ships in carrying this out. It is, I am sure, quite im-i
possible to maintain a healthy and efficient squadron in those waters, unless periodical
change is allowed, and when this is done, I have but little doubt but that we shall constant*
ly have two out of the three ships ready for any emergency, and this appears to meet the
requirements contained in your letter No. 11 of 3rd February 1871, addressed to the Naval
Commandcr-in-Chicf. ____________ _
No. I474tP-, dated Fort William, tlio 11th July 1874.
Endorsed by Foreign Department.
COPY forwarded to the Political Resident, Persian Gulf, for information and guidance.
23. The second portion of Rule 9 of the rules for the guidance of command­
ing officers of Her Majesty's vessels iq
Political A., February 1875, No». 276-178.
the Persian Gulf is as follows :—
“ The requisitions made by the Political Resident and Agents of course must be
carefully attended to, but should they materially interfere with the system of relief, command­
ing 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 squadron, and requesting their co-operation in attaining this
object.
The "system of relief ” above referred to is that of the three ships of which the Gulf
squadron consisted, each ship was to be relieved in succession, and, if possible, to visit
Kurrachee or Bombay every four months.
24. On the 20th August, Colonel Ross sent an urgent telegraphic requisition
to the Senior Naval Officer, to the effect that the presence of a man-of-war was
very urgently required at Bahrein. It was ten days before the vessel detailed
for the service left Karachi, and three weeks before she reached Bahrein.
Meanwhile a dangerous crisis had occurred, and it is said that the only reason
for not immediately complying with the requisition was that it would interfere
with the system of relief.
25. On this statement of fact Colonel Ross argued that the system of
rigorously carrying out the rules for the relief of these vessels might cause serious
difficulties to the political position in the Gulf, and he suggested that
“ it should be understood what class of duties is to be considered of paramount
importance by the Naval Commanders and to what extent it is intended they should exercise
the discretionary authority vested in them, where important requisitions are made by the
local representatives ol the Government of India.”
26. The Government of India passed the following orders on the suggestions
made by the Resident (No. 246-Political, dated 26th January 1875):—

No. 246-P., dated Fort William, 26th January 1875.
From—C. U. Aitchiiok, Esq., C.S.I., Secy, to the Govt, of India, Foreign Dept.»
To—Libut.-Col. E. C. Ross, H. B. M.’s Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.
1 am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 1055-219, dated x8th
September 1874, inviting attention to certain points connected with the rules for the relief
of the Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf.