§ Mr. WATTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the supply of petrol in Mesopotamia is abundant owing to the proximity of the Persian oilfields; whether a force acting under Major-General Dunsterville in the region of the Caspian Sea was recently unable to proceed further owing to a depot there being short of petrol, only four gallons being in stock; whether it was found necessary to give fifty Ford vans to the Bolsheviks in exchange for sufficient petrol to enable the expedition to proceed; if so, what officer's duty it was to keep that depot supplied with petrol; and whether he is still in charge there?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe Persian oilfields supply an ample amount of petrol to the Army in Mesopotamia, but if my hon. Friend will refer to a map he will find that the oilfields in question are a considerable distance from the shores of the Caspian Sea. In this particular instance the main depot of supply was at Bagdad, which is 500 miles by a river from the refineries and the distance from Bagdad to the shores of the Caspian is 550 miles by a very difficult road, in many places unfit for motor1628W traffic. Along this road not only petrol but every kind of supplies and ammunition for the troops had to be carried in the least possible time. On one occasion it became necessary to obtain petrol in the manner stated, but I am bound to state that the fact that so much was accomplished under the conditions prevailing reflects great credit on those concerned.