A.G 400.3295 (12-21-41)MSC PARAPHRASE EHB/Voc From: Cario December 21 To: Adjutant General 414 AMSEG 103 MESSAGE IS SENT BY MAXWELL TO RIGGS PERIOD AS A RESULT OF A MEETING WITH BULLIT, IT WAS REQUESTED BY THE HIGHEST RANKING BRITISH AUTHORITY THAT TROOPS BE SENT TO THE MIDDLE EAST AS SOON AS PRACTOCABLE PERIOD THESE TROOPS WILL CONSIST OF 500 COMMISSIONED OFFICIERS AND ALSO 14 THOUSAND MEN TO AID THE PRESENT COMBINED BRITISH FORCES PERIOD THESE TROOPS ARE REQUESTED IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER OF PRIRITY: A) 2-2 1/2 TON QM TRUCK REGIMENTS, B0 1-10 TON QM TRUCK REGIMENTS, C0 1-HEAVY MAINTENANCE QM REGIMENT, D0 1 LIGHT MAINTENANCE QM BATTALION, E) 2 CONSTRUCTION SIGNAL BATTALIONS F) 1 REPAIR SIGNAL COMPANY , G) 1 BATTALION WITH ONE SIGNAL COMPANY, OPERATIONS, H) 6 ENGINEER BATTALIONS MOBILE SHOP COMPANIES I) 1 ENGINEER SPECIAL INLAND WATERWAYS WITH ONE MAINTENANCE COMPANY J) 1 ENGINEER HEADQUATERS RAILWAY DIVISION K) 2 ENGINEERS BATTALION RAILWAY OPERATING L) 1 ENGINEER BATTALION, RAILWAY SHOP. THE ABOVE OUTFITS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE MEDICAL CORPS AND ORDANCE DEPARTMENT TROOPS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASKED FOR. IT ALSO SHOULD BE DEFINITELY KEPT IN MIND THAT ALL THE ABOVE LISTED SERVICE TROOPS THAT ARE SENT WILL BE SUED BY THE MISSION AND UNDER ITS CONTROL, TO ACCOMPLISH OBJECTIVES SPECIFIED BY THE BRITISH. THE SERVICE TROOPS WILL BE UNDER THE COMMAND OF AMERICAN OFFICIES. THE REQUEST FOR TROOPS IS SO URGENT THATW E REQUEST THAT THE PERSONNEL OF THE MOTOR TRANSPORT ARRIVE BEFORE THE CARGO MATERIEL OF THE GROUPS SO THAT THEY (THE MOTOR TRANSPORT PERSONNEL) MAY OPERATE THE CARGO THAT IS HERE AT PRESENT . ALSO THE SAME SITUATION APPLIES TO MANITENANCE MEN AND IT IS REQUESTED THAT THEY CAN BE SENT EQUIPPED ONLY WITH HAND TOOLS AHEAD OF THE SHIPMENT OF POWER TOOLS SO THAT THEY CAN AID IN THE SOLUTION OF OUR PROBLEMS. A SMALL QUANTITY OF SUPPLIES AND ALSO SOME SHELTER CAN BE TURNED OVER TO THESE TROOPS BY THE BRITISH , BUT WE CONSIDER IT ABSOLUTELY EQUIPPED WITH A HALF-YEAR'S SUPPLY OF SHELTER AND SUPPLIES |