LAWN TENNIS,

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16433, 29 January 1919, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS,

NORMAN* BROOKS'S RETURN.

_ Major Gorman E. Brookes, tho well-known international and Dstvia Cup tennis player, arrived in Sydney last week from Mesopotamia, on his way to Victoria. Major Brookes wua appointed a. Red Cross commissioner for Australia in July, 1915. He returned in December, 1916, and went to England in March of the following year, being invited by the Red Cross to go to Mesopotamia as a commissioner. While there he waa appointed to the Supply and Transport Section, and becamo deputy-assis-tant-director of local resources, with headquarters at Bagdad. Major Brookes'a duties covered_ the' whole of Mesopotamia, and Persia, including tho oversight of tho various branches of local resources.

"I went within 40 miles of tho Caspian," said Major Brookes, "where the heat for four mouths averages 112deg. in the shade. This heat is much more trying than that experienced in Australia. It is more dangerous and there aro frequent cases of sunstroke. For a timo the flies are very trying, but, as the heat increases, it kills thorn off."

Major Brookes lind one or two opportunities of showing that his hand lias not lost its cunning. Xot only did ho easily win the Bagdad championship from a number of English competitors, but lie annexed thrco open events aa well. Major LeithRoss was tho runner-up in the championship.

"I offered to stand down in the singles," said Major Brookes, "but they., wero anxious that I should play. The courts were very fine, being mad© of Bhouaa, a composition of chapped straw and mud. It was quito 'new to me, but- I never played on courts lite them. I consider them the best I havo been on. Of course, you could not get graes courts in Mesonotamia, but the Bhouaa courts are ne*t best to grass.

"In Bagdad we started ii gymkhana club, which was opened by General Maude Bhortlv before lie died. It was run on the American plan, and included golf, cricket, and races. It was a irreat success. Tho golf links were composed of Bhousa, browns being substituted for tho greens."