Mid-level army officers refused to execute orders without higher authorization, paralyzing logistics

Evidence

The best example of the inefficiency of the army bureaucracy is probably provided by the different letters issued by Nazif Efendi, the Commissary-General of the army during the early months of the Syrian campaign. In one of the reports sent routinely to the Divan Efendisi (Ibrahim Pasha’s Aide-de-Camp) he wrote … I have managed today to ship the artillery equipment that I have here [in the army HQ] to where it was needed by loading it on board small boats with the help of Motoș Bey. I still have sixty crates containing the miners’ equipment and a further sixty crates containing seven-pound howitzers (obüs), thirty wooden boards for cannon bases, and eight light-cannon wheels … I was going to send this equipment tomorrow with Hafiz Efendi, the artillery lieutenant who is in charge of this equipment here. But he refused to transport it saying that the army has no need for these things [which he mentions again in the same order and with the same details]. Motoș Bey was witness to that. I am afraid, therefore, if I send this equipment, it will not be needed. Motoș Bey suggested that I write to Your Excellency asking whether I should send it or not. I am therefore asking you for permission to send these things. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 944