ON THE TIGRIS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2540, 14 August 1915, Page 15

ON THE TIGRIS

AUSTRALIAN FLYING CORPS The ofGcer commanding the Australian FJyiiig Corps has (says a Melbourne sdvico dated August 2) reported as follows on the work of the corps which has been operating with tho British army in the region of the Tigris River. ''In addition, to tho personnel from Australia, tho following officers had been obtained Major (then Captain) Brooke Smith, lato It.K.C.; Major, (then Captain) Heilly, 11.3?.0.; Lieut. Burn, New Zealand Staff Corps; and Second-Lieu-tenant Wills, of the Indian Army Reserve. Major, I'eilly has already seen .service.in. Belgium and in Egypt. Tho following N.0.0.'s and men wera also provided: Pour partially-trained sergeants, six trained motor drivors, and six native mechanics. Tile organisation' aimed at was a baso for supplies and repairs, including a workshop and stores, this baso being under the command of Major . Brooke Smith and a squadron of one flight at first, afterwards to ho enlarged to its full establishment of three flights under Major Hcilly. Lieutenant _ Burn is a 'flying oliioor, and Second-Lieutenant Wills is in chargo of the workshop at the base. Although the personnel and stores provided by Australia wore only intended for ono half flight with first and second line of transport, and no base, tlioy havo been relied on to a very large extent "to make up tho much larger organisation outlined! above. This fact, coupled with the short hours of work duo to excessive heat aud to frequent sickness, due to the same cause, means that we constantly find ourselves very shorthanded. I am pleased to be able to state that tho Australian N.C.O.'s and men have created an extremely favourable impression upon all tho officers with whom they have come into contact on account of their ability as air mechanics, and particularly on \ account of thoir smart and soldierly appearance. Wo have at present only two Maurioo Farman biplanes, with one spare engine". Theso engines were landed at the flying ground about May 24, And the first reconnaissance flights were made on May 31. The difference which tlio uso of aircraft has made iu this campaign is truly amazing. Though for many mouths there had been no advance bo.vond—it has been possible from tho first day that the aeroplanes were cmployed. The Turkish forces havo retreated continuously, and tile country is now clear of them as far up tlio River Tigris as -—. Tho cause suggested for this' is twofold. As regards ' the Arabs, they are completely cowed by tho very sight of an aeroplane, of which they evidently had no previous knowledge. As regards the Turks, they tako the uso of, aircraft as a sign of a completely-equipped and _ organised army, and arc iualined to give in. The flight with the greater portion of the Gth division is at present stationed at -—on the Tigris, and came here in two portions, one portion in a motorboat following Major Reily on the sth inst. Tho whole country from the mouth of the Shatt El Arab to a few miles south of Ezra's . tomb, on the Tigris, is flooded for a considerable distance ou either bank of tho rivor. Tho average width of the flood on each bank is probably two miles, and in many places there, are marshes of enormous size. Above Ezra's tomb, and especially near Amarah, the floods are less: but liera also they are fairly considerable. These floods come in the spring, owing to the melting of tho snows in the mountains, and sometimes, in spite of tho tremendous evaporation, remain right through the year. As these floods havo only recfiatly stopped rising, military operations are at present confined to the three rivers, Euphrates, Tigris, and Karun.