India in the Years 1917-1918. A Report Prepeared for Presentation to Parliament in Accordance With the Requirements of the 26Th Section of the Government of India (5 & 6 Geo. V. Chap. 61)

It has -‘seen the last desperate effort of the Central Powers : the threatened approach of the war to the boiders of India : the rally of the country's resources to the Prime Minister's call. [...] The object of the Conference was to invite the co-operation of all classes first in sinking domestic dissesions and in bringing about a cessation of political propaganda during the present crisis ; secondly in concerting measures for the successful prosecution of the war with special reference to man-power and the development of Indian resources ; and thirdly in cheerfully tearing the sacr [...] But with the inauguration of the territorial recruiting system and the establishment of the United Provinces War Board in the middle of the year 1917 the recruitment of men * The work of these Boards i%described in a series of Reports to which reference is invited.11 from the Provinces expanded greatly. [...] John of Jerusalem and the British Red Cross Society the Indian Branch of which has been responsible for the provision of almost the whole of the supplies of comforts for the sick and the wounded since August 1916 has been the Our Day " fund. [...] At first the direction and responsibility of the work devolved on the Royal Indian Marine but after some months the organisation for mine sweeping and patrolling was placed directly under the Naval Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies the Royal Indian Marine remaining resposible for the provision of suitable vessels and the supply of the requisite personnel to man them.