A SERIOUS POSITION

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1920, Page 3

A SERIOUS POSITION

NEED FOR MORE TROOPS.

[LONDON fIMES SERVICE —COPYRIGHT] (Received this day. at 9.30 a.m.) ! LONDON, August 22. j The struggle in Mesopotamia, has become as extensive as the South Afri- i can War and more exhausting. Some public support is necessary. Events have proved that the military occupation before the armistice was attempted with too few troops, mostly levies. The cheapness proved unsuccessful, and a perilous situation ip developing, in which the public should reserve discussion for the future. The administration should concentrate on the military necessities. The abandonment of Baghdad might be an intelligent policy, yet it would not be well with us, if on the morrow of the signature of peace, Arab mobs were permitted to drive us out which is quite a poS sible contingency, unless we pull ourselves together. The crisis threatens ; - produce some issues flowing out to j Jerusalem, Damascus, Delhi, Teheran, and above all the Bolshevist frontier. Baghdad already seems isolated. Lord Haldane was obliged to telegraph round a large circle in Asia in, order to communicate with his troops near at band. Tlie Russian frontier garrisons at Ramadiyeli and Felya are 4» cut off from Bagdad. The position on the lower Euphrates is no better. Only the Tigris line to the north and south of Baghdad remains at present. The relief of the situation in which the troops during the present season are Buffering the tortures of an inferno, demands heavy reinforcements. Additional troops are required to restore connections witli Persia.