IN BAGHDAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1917, Page 8

IN BAGHDAD.

UNBOUNDED RELIEF OF POPULACE. , ; ;■;■ ; '(From Edmund Candler) 'i \ Baghdad, March 11. Our vanguard entered Baghdad soon after 9 o'clock this morning. The city is approached by an nnnietallcd road between palm groves and orange gardens. Crowds of Bagluladis came out to meet us, Persians, Arabs, Jews, Armenians, Chaldeans, and Christians of divers sects and races. They lined the streets, balconies, and roofs, hurrahing and clapping their hands. Groups of school children danced in front of us, shouting and cheering, and tho women of tho city turned out in their holiday dresses. The people of the city have been robbed to supply the Turkish Army. For the last two years the oppression had been becoming unendurable, and during the last week it degenerated into brigandage. I.am told that the mere mention of the British had become penal, and the people were afraid to talk freely about tho war. It appears that all hope of paving the city was abandoned after we effected the crossing of the Tigris on February 23. Since that date the Turkish Government lias been requisitioning private merchandise wholesale and dispatching it by train to Three of four thouFand liras' worth of stuff is believed to have been officially looted, including 500(1 „ sacks of sugar. The German Consul left two weeks ago, and the lAustrians two days ago. j The bridge of boats, the Turkish Army clothing factory, and Messrs. Lynch's offices were blown up or otherwise destroyed last night, and the railway station, the civil hospital, and most British property except the Residency, which has been used as a Turkish hospital, were either gutted or damaged. As soon as the Gendarmerie left at 2 o'clock this morning Khurds and others began looting. As we entered from the Bast this morning they were rifling the bazaar at the other end »f the citj', and among the first citizens we met were merchants who had run out to crave our .protection. Fvegiment;* were detailed to police the bazaar and houses, and pickets and patrols were allotted, but there was much that it was too late to save. Many shops had been gutted, and the valuables'had all been cleared. A rabble were found busily engaged in dismantling tho interiors, tearing down bits of wood and iron, and carrying off bedsteads. They had even looted the seati from the public gardens Our entry was very easy and unofficial, find it iwas clear that the joy of the peo- \ plo was genuine. No functionaries «ame ' out to meet us; there was still fear of reprisals. Our own attitude was eharac- ] teristie;.there was no display or attempt i at creating an impression. The troops entered dusty and unshaven after several days' hard fighting and bivouacking. Fighting between the 7th and 10th had been heavy, and extraordinary gallantry was shown in crossing the Dialah River.