OVERLAND TELEGRAPH

Evening Post, Issue 51, 2 March 1931, Page 9

OVERLAND TELEGRAPH

ENGLAND TO INDIA

CLOSING AFTER SIXTY YEARS

(British "Official Wireless.) KUGBT, 27th .February. To-morrow; the great telegraph line known as the "Indo Boute" will close clown. The line ran for 6000 ingles from London through Germany, Poland, .Russia, and Persia to the head of the Persian Gulf, thence by submarine cable to India. . On Sunday the land lines become the possession of the countries through which,.they pass and the sea cable revorts to the British'lmperial and International Communications Company. The lino was Aened 01 years ago to onsuro an alternfitive roulo to India in the ' event of an interruption to tho Eastern. Telegraph Company's cables, but beam wireless has made Hsn continued use unnecessary. The history of the maintenance of tho line through Persia by the IndoEuropean Telegraph Department of the Indian Government is full of tales of exciting adventure and fine examples of devotion to duty by the' officers of the Department and by the ( Persian linesmen. j During the war, the 'whole tele-! graphic communication of (ho Mesopotamia Field Force, both with India and England, passed over the Department's cables in the Persian Gulf, and tho enormous traffic was dealt with without breakdown or unduo delay. The Department's officers arc leaving the station in Persia with regrets, I which arc shared,by the Persians with whom they have established relations, of trust and friendship.