BRITISH IN BAGDAD

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1917, Page 2

BRITISH IN BAGDAD

Entry of the Troops. Enthusiastic Welcome. The following account of the entry of the British troops into B gdad ou March 11th was supplied by “ Eyewitness ”:— “Our vanguard entered Bigdid scoa after 8 o’clock in tbe morning. The city is approached by an unmetalled road between palm groves and orange gardens. Crowds of Bagdadia came out to meet us, Persians, Arabs, Jews, Armenians, Chaldeans, and Christians of dvera sects acd races. They lined the streets,, balconies and rcofs, cheering and clapping their hands. Groups of school children dancfid in front of us, Bhouting acd cheering, and the women of the city turned out in their holiday dresses. Tbe people of - the city have been robbed to supply the Turkish Army. For the last two years oppression was becomiog unendurable. During last week it degenerated into brigandage. 1 am told that tbe mere mention of the British had become penal, and the people were afraid to talk freely about the war.

“AH hope of saving tha city was abandoned after we effected the crossing of tbe Tigris on February 23rd, i Since that date the Turkish Government has been requisitioning private merchandise wholesale and dispatching it by train to Samarrah; Three or four thousand liraß worth of goods is believed to have been officially looted, including 5000 sacks of sugar. The German Consul left two weeks and the Austrian two days age. The bridge of boats, Turkish Army clothing factory, and Messrs Lynch’s offices were blown np or otherwise destroyed last night, and most Britith property, except the Presidency, which had been used as a Turkish hospital, were either gutted or damaged. “ As soon as the gendarmerie left at two o’clock this morning, Kurds and others began looting. As we entered from tbe east this morning they were rifling the bazaar at the other end of the city, and among the first citizens we met were merchants who had ran out t® crave our protection. Regiments were detailed to police the bezaar and bouses, Picquets and patrols were allotted, but there was much that it was too lata to save. Many shops had been- gutted, and the valuables had all bepn cleared. The rabble were fonnd busy dismantling interiors, tearing down bits of wood and iron, and carrying off/ bedsteads. They had even looted the seats from public gardens. “ The entry was very easy and unofficial, and it was clear that the joy of the people was genuine. No funo*. tiouaries came out to meet ns, as there was still fear of reprisals. Oar own attitude was characteristic. There was no display or attempt at impressment. The troops entered in the order of advance, ready to deploy against a new position, dusty and ud. shaven after several days' hard fighting and bivonacking. It was not knowu until W 8 actually entered that the Turks had evacuated the city. Tbe fighting between the 7th and the 10th bad been heavy. Extraordinary gallantry was shown in crossing the Diala River.”