BAGDAD RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1462, 10 June 1912, Page 3

BAGDAD RAILWAY.

THE S?HE XATJMS; : Sir,— Atteritipn'' is : .-.iiraivii- t.P this -subject by a cable' message .ila'ted Ij.onilo.n-' jrav 3, 1912;,-"as.'i6ll6ws';:w j ''ln the- HbiiM : of CommonsHli'b.-Primei'Mi'nisfpr;, in; T.pp'ly ■ to Mr. J. RV^Miasb.ri,.'.siid Hie G.ovcrn-; ment was negotiating, with the P.pr'tp :i'ii respect of British'-' : .i/arikipatip'n> iii .flip" Bagdad-Basrai,-EailV.a'y.--.irt rcfur.n..for compensation elsowhofe;' lii. had thought of ;1 others interested-.,in that line,..,and Any. negotiations ; : w.itli..'tlie-'-Pb.r.te Sunlit bo sub* ject to condi'ti'ou's, '■regarUi'iig. Cjorinan par- 1 ticipation." .-■ A reference. ,to' : l:ho.. : State'sni.an'fl: Yp.ai' Book, 1911, toil's- lis-, that- "the- .'German', concession of/ the ...Bagdad Railway is to extend the Anatolian.'line froni 'Konia;.. to- ■ Adana, MpsnlVyEtSgflad* and- B.iisra With many lirahch-.' , lin;es ! . , aiiil/aiiJb.stcnsjb.lt to a., port (Ivow-eit);'..'in-,:;ti.!P. 'P v pfsi(ln. Ci.i'iif. v ijfc. has been coii t .lis Bulgiii-iii, about 15 miles : 'b'eypn.(l''Erplgi atid. a -qpjn.i pany has Ijeen- fpr.med tp''cniiry it S2O miles furtheri'.- 'The.' Haifa, rni.hyay .has. been extende'd.fp.'ljer'aa, where it joins- the. Mecca Railway', 'The rj&riascu's Meccarailway was.'open' :i'nv,Septembcr-.-,, 1908 iis far as Medina; ;It will tie e'pntinucil.'iro'in Medina to Mpccij. by .jray of Eablgh-.aiid probably a :lihe,-.'-.v, ; i11. .bp. constructed-, 'frotrt Mecca to Ged'dahV' Tfip -first .soil of the'; Hodeidah railway''in the yeiuPn -wa-s cut in March, 19115" 'v .'. ../Schemes afe un Tder consideration fo> thp conrfhic.tipn - of 628 miles of'railway njrid -o'iiiiles of junction lines- ; 'iri. Europp, aiul; IQiO-...miles of railway iii; Asia,-, total feOOS; .inifei in the TurkishVEmpirii,. .T : here is:, a branch line connecting,'Beyrout, and. a ..crp'jecfe'd' line from Daih'asciis'- through Palestine-to-Eiiypt. '; "'.'.■;'':.""

"The Fight-:fp'r thp: Highway .of thp Kations" is the '-heading to an-interesting' 1 article by E'; ; Alexahclcr. Powell, .FiK.trS, late American '.C.phsul'ar. .Sen:i'ce,! that-was : published iri; the: AjickMnd "Graphic", for March 20;. :1912i- lis t ; H:c i.ii.trpdiiqtory paragraphs.tlic-'reto-.tlip,Writer pictiir:ps aii; outspread map.:, doited npross it is; .a trail of tin'y-.:-.'flags~'a.crpss. Ueriiiany,. Ails'--tria on to-'.Belgradp, iiiiil C'piis't.antinp'pie crossing tho ■ Bp'spliprii's -.a'.way across: Asia,Minor, tho jancicntiplaiiiii waiered'by llii) Tigris and ':L'.Ujihra%s,. pn and pn-to :ti. littlo Arab yillagK. Kowoit, in, the. Per-, sian Gulf. Tlie Gerjiian Emperor is. shown studying;jthe' ; hvap. "Tlie greathighway of- ,,,; tr.ailc ,^th(> . -Highway of Nations, somo:.:prie..;h<is oalied. i.Ws- the ,pasr ment which'iT.urkey maileto. the, Gc;nna.ri War Lord for .thevlatter-s reiiisai to take part in the. .'■iat.e'rhationai oee,iiifa.tJbh of' Crete"- (Gerin'aiiy ' -is., 'a past .ma's'ter -at bargain-making);,. .Vhat .are th,ess':c.oneei.--sions. Let 'tke; : '',wTiter tell its in- his. o-wi words.

"When -came to examine" life, ■.pirpvi's.iojis.. tlie-y' stood aghast, tor.they ;sprinfoiind- tiifi't it stituted one'pi 'ttid. iripst jrignnt-'ic ■co'iiiuievcial concessions in all hjslo.iy, S.p't only was Uio. >age. guriraiiioo on. ciilsi) five millions of tlolkfi.s per. '.annum, but. ijiiv wo.i;e' givon in jievpehti'ty- a- tract of lnnd,. 124 miles wid<v aloii.c; life. i?M..ti : r'c l'eiis'fh of lli!> line,. rip, h\ .other word.-.,. I)-- m'iilra mi either '5(1 e.- of I'lij'. rgri \<fiy f'.w ;'i rliV Inner, of fifteen ii.u'n.d'r'ryi nrile'S The £.iil : - 1.-in hid iiid<?"v) t-»W<4 P *'fl»Hn for I lift Ksif»v'V ■fi'i«'S(ris]ii(i i . To. Tll't* fioJWVnll concuijicaar'ies- sas g'tys'n tliij ejjlusiis.

right to cidtivate; tlio itind w-il'h.in t-ho ■W-i.l-iv-ay zoiie—!'So,iMtf Si|iiarp- itiflfrH jit alt,.. ■pvp'r.V' i'li!.-!;- tit ii';,. 10. .a']:! iiiiei.it-s' aiul .piw-. poss/s, Kpi't to \l-o:rk the iiii:iii-s a.pd the forests, wiihiii this to Si'O'iV iy-h.eivt, toijatcfi, -asid cotton, -Jo cidoiiiw, anil to liayfcato ilie Mmiin--—• Jio't to iiiv.u.'.'irtii various siiiis.ii.l'iiVt.v li'-'h-ts.. .Hie con-oessiDTi ad.nii'ts., iiiqiv'sive'r, iff (he niilisiiij; all Wiiter /nlolij; I'-hn. tmU'e lor' pl.i'C.!.ri"ei.il. -.pftrjiosos, and such lipvvtir will eveifiijail-y' be usydi it is pli.rmipi.l for lißhtiir?. -t'ieir- -.iiow-Hs mill, riin.uw.lg. theii: tiiclai-'ie's. tlie grant like-M-i'-i; inc-1-iiiles -iia-vigatioi! -rights, on th.e. Tigris, J ; :unhrales, .and Ihe 'Bliiil-,:l-Arab, ii'-n'd Offlijissiinil." .lii!-!; .1-tM'iv . giflii.tf-d foi ! building f|ii;;ys. at liiigdad at 'fln.ivit, and ill tlie I'cwiivn tlijif. On. both. ,>iilw ■of the raihvav 1-i.im in- M.cs.d.p.o'.tiim.ia lip bitiiiiiviious apit laiidfc of iiiesti.imililt: viilui;, \<Mtp it- is- c.i!l'!i< -liv'lpd- 1 )'::vi A.-iialol-ia, Sy-'ri.a, JSeso.jVofan.iia, liiiil Hip iriik. can .(ii-'tiililce .'nioro: prain t-.l'iiin t hi? whole of I.t;ii.s4a. Tp l.liis pro iu'lik-ii- f.-ho va'l p.rj:si':bi'.l'i:ti(':s of tlie catfen supldy, io that' (:hi! :g'c.ilt-.ie'.!ii<!ii. iii. til.'.' . fpu'ig-ii.- oUfpi'm :o( .f/iniiuh. sonil fiiris a-iid '. is.'!-.- ■i-''l i l:irl- , >:lj!ll , g lieai-iill'g' i'llp. teiMll'S of ; |:J!p grhnt. fh.r.esv iui i'lieir iiaiidi in- iio.'ri'ci.i:.." ,- .(-I.Sd-.ftOa- si|:i!,iiii'niiteT Thiliic nf q -st.rflf.cli (if ffjuiltry, hpt one hiinilrcd srniiuvniiiPS jfndP'r -the co'iiibined. area,? ii.t' l.he W««l----l.iiigtdn. Ikivvltc'-. IkiVj and 'J':.ii"U.i.aki Vtro-VHH-iiil -disfi-ipl;.)-

"i:'-:-ii;-h i-iplojiiiiiy." flic- writer, goes on. '■-■■ -.-iy. "i-< !•.•»■* -l ¥.<■> liind that ■ 1 ■-ti''tip 1" Vinil l-.yi'-'A i\'6 soontfr had th" ttj-w-o? Ihi.. gjttit (jo-nce'ssion becpnie I.'jipivh in i: i-.viiifirj than tho jlailr

~:■ I'm fini(:i ens ajifireijiafed'. 3vow', 1 -.• i-i.i t-: th. Jihvsi.Yii coi.iiigu-i'afjoii of !l:-v skoi'vs i>7 5-iio Cfiilf, Ihfi only port; al. ■wh-i-sli- it would, be :a!t all possiblo' fPr ii railw'a.y to end. is Koweit. It y.'-as here t.l.i.i.h the 'Geriiniii eiigirieei'-s iiad i)la;iii.i.ed 6) eii.d tlioii; ra.iliwy/ Ajid. we shtvll see 'how a P.ri.tish liolificai-agent. .playing a lone iiaiid .iigainst the niasters (if 'Germany and Turkey checkmated flmni,"

Tlio .story is wortji telling' in frill :>•- "Tiib .Britislj 'waited ui.itft ill fa- roihvay ■ waJ so- i-n.r <;iirii'.p'let'fd a-ftif the, i'liv'cstpieiit' so enoriivpns tliat it was .ini'.po'.-s'i'blb for tj.yrtnan.y to, liaffe put, Tlicn cmv day iv Ei-itish guivlroat- dropped anchor -off tli'e. : l'o»:-'lyiiig'duue:= of: Kou«.t. A g.e'n'i-l'cma.u, imiiiacitlato in. ivliitc linert ahd wliito licl-njot, was. rowpd ashojie i'n Hie f'-H-p's gig., a-pd made, his- way Jo -the- i.tiiidw:,al!c.d rc.-id'eiiee of Hip Sheikh, ail.d. aftftf liiiil. caine salioi-s, beiiriivg viirioii.s bulky p.a.'ckiag.es. .Tus.l; wiia.t argunlen'ts 'this agentbrotigJtt to bc.ai' -on the crafl-y old ruler of Iffwei't, Pf no. con.se.T-iisnce here, .Suffice, it-tp say tha.t -iiii- obscure, Ar.ali c'hief.ta.i.iiy iis. t-Ko nil.c.f of a, .siipt deterniine'd li'poi.i. fcr the- tcriiiiiiiis' pf a'li. ep'ochiiin.ki.ng! faitw'ay .system, aiid ■ ii. .'-secret, .agent pf the liidiaii li.itel'ligenq.p SciKi.rt■irie.iiti as the tenfeseniattve. of' his .Britannic. Jhjesty,. ti'mii aiid 'there, ccjiciiidpd. a treaty—a twfiq .i'nfdri.ii;al,.it. is triie-, )int , a trentv all tire' saiiie>—Wheiali'y- tjie Sheikh ■of Kiwcit disiiviiwed his ijj%iiync> tp ('iie.S.ii.itaii, and .accepted th.e li'rotection 6i" ■Great Bintain, as repre.'seiitwi. by oiie s.nyalj; {jiiirljfeiit- in the 'ijarbour. 4s spprt as .tlie treaty -w-n,s signed; fh.'a sailors liro'iight ashore,- and citecfed' '\v-ijtlt i\»\'om islriiig alacrity a llagsta'ff. . The. isai'lors fbniicd rank,, a little i'iall. of b.untrag. rail iip tho iiafl', and reaclii.iig th,e top, (i.rok.e o.iit iiit.ci the T?niph the .dre.iiiii of William tho Ainbi.t'iqu> \ras sl.ihtibi--C(i;"""

the writer then goes pu to say ivhy "■this -ancient And ■■ln-y'.stprißns' laud, the last pf ; ,i'h.c. world's, i'ron'fjej's,. i?. .worthy 01. . so- fierce a struggle for. ppsscs'sion and exploitation,-'* 'What, h.o. ;sa'y?, fluw.-ld, ■however-,, be read in its-entirety' t.p. gels :a 'spuiid grasp Pf the. i'ios.si'iyil'i'ti'cs-and .tlatcnr : ■tiali'ties thereof, S.ir..W!l.liani- AViicpcks, ; iv-iio did such wonderful: work iii Esypl, .; is ; iipw dpip'toyed oh irrigatio'h iyorks of ; grea't: magiiitti.de in Jlt'sopp'tamia. Sir . : AViliiain estimates Hi.at Vus fiKt area -o. 3,000,000 iiciss thai:: it is -pfopPWd to jrri■gato; will' vicld 1,1100,000 'tons, :Pi: .gram Piia : «Oob'M ckt of toXton yeiirfe .. ' "TnifV' a iicw'spa'l!* published i» Jprusrileiiii. is a- strong .adyocatp 'of a. ship, canal, to br'iu'g: Jenisaleiii j-jitrt cpni- ■ iriiulication with ««■ Meditefranea'i; Be;| .on tfe one sfe, and. oi Ak-bav on the other;. li\ this. cpnnectiott His inte'restiug. to notice that the Liver .lo.rda'ii is many hundreds, flt Ic.e't b.plpw tup lev-el of the'ssa. Lake Tibejias binvig fi;> r 'Teek'atid'flic DM. K'ea 1315: feet bjlpw .ithe'lijyet of tjip. JlEditoraneyn, :, llerpv theii," wo. have; :a large secnon .pt this-Vajp'-Way alveadv Dre.p.arod-. \ciirs ago a' Krlyiiit o'b!ah)<id "froni the 1 J .0it.f,, : t'id- oiiiect boiivg id- uridev'tnko tliis work-. .■ w,as, not j)ro f iseded'-vjitW 'Another., suggestion has ( liow.cve'r-, been considered hi -late J.&vrs. : that instead; of the outlet: being, oil . Gulf of Alibah, that it.be takcji Jn or, ■ oasi'teriy cHrectioii, fh.rougli the: Valley.flt'Shifffhi, 'which lies to the <;pyt-h ot. ttf \ De'aa Sea, to the. Parian «nff- Tm's ■may- W a vefv -.sta-rtlfrig aiiiioiutceniiMi . but shohld. not present as .great diflicul-; 'tics rts have been.' e.iicq.ur;ter'.ed. aii'd. over-, -coino in the, Prviiama Canal.. . " In- Professor Hl'iirshieui'pi.r.oli. the.- -Gcolr ■obv iiiid 6cogr:fphy of Arabia;: Pcfcae:u, ■and I'aies'tinc," imlvlislied by tht PaiQS--tinp. Explor.atioii BP'cieV.y,. wa iparii Mat tl»e-,. iteoipgipat strata qii the west arp -cnintnlpil.; iip'aiid distorted, while, t-hose on the. east ri.e Warallel and i'u Almp.s'fc.'thp same p.osw; - ■tion' iii which thov: ivere laid. I'io.wm ji'na : that this condition, was: l>ioiigh:t ,ab9nt )>y .■ '■ a wedge of hard yfllcanic rppk .:thriist up. ■tlirough tiio- wlfole .Jqwlan \lal ley, from. ■■ Lake toom to the- Gulf 6f am. , 'has. cut through- tiio soft aqueous, rocks ; ' wbicii o.veriio. the ssi.r'fa'.ce .of ..l.a.estnip;., ' This upheaval nnisfc .have b.epn. fcaijsptf by.. : treme'ndous torc'PSi. a.n'i!' may PcPJi'r; .iigaiii.. ■ : Vi'i.i'en it does, shopld it. be .'in- -vlio divciv ti'oii indicated, towards. t'h.e. Pc.rs.iail t'l.ulf,; tli-eii .t'Uo xvafreway of thp- jmtio'n. would. bPcojne an- accomnlislieit 'fact. The fis!ie.rjneii .would 'ih'd'ejSil .spi-ead their'. nets at. ■ .Ei'ig'eili, about j00 : fe'ot'.alxi.y-a the Bead : Se:a,.'.and Jerusalem, ■?o.nio e.fiOO- fffet abpyp ■ i:.he- Ipyel of tiio .M«liten:a>oaiii frSju. .its cPni-iguity to this: wal-pr.waj:i..v;oiilcl be. ■ "comb "the-.metropolis of. svliife worjd. If is ;o'f .sig'nifi.ca'nt'' jiotioo .that:.the : .ap-, proacfe to the.Persian: Qjilfi and.tlie-p.ecl ■ Seai 'are 'lieldJahd'..d'onii.natP.{l by England. ■■ i'd'escriptioii of Palestiho is. to;, bp. I'bii.nd ■in .a, previous letter uhder. t.llpj Ueadiiig ''''Palestine, the Pi.vo'b -What tiio. pufure: : Holds," that app;PS:ra\ in.- 'Silt. Pomisios of 'Octobei' 2> Ai.ii. etc.,, ; GI'IOKGE; .HENET .DAV'IES. . .Earori,.. May lis : fPl3>