Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10
Mesopotamia Is an undulating plain
covered at intervals with hills several
Topography Of
the Country.

a.. 6.-A and hiding places
e oS~J' for an enemy. These
are. in fact. ancient excavations Of a
depth Of from thirty to forty feet and
extending over seven to eight acres.
These excavations were established
thirty centuries ago by the Ninivitss.
Eiamites and Chaideans In order 70
capture and maintain water during the
rainy season, or. on the other hand,
preserve the water of the brief inun-
dations due to the melting SHOWS in
the mountains. A writer compares
Of Egypt These excavations were we'll
known to the Parthians. who used them
to attack and surprise their enemies.
The Ottoman forces utilised the exca-
yations for the same purpose.
At this point the British commander
learned that the German star at Con-
stantinople had interviewed and was
directing the Ottoman defense. In the
north the Russians had abandoned the
Kherend pass to a mixed troop Of OF
tomans coming from Bagdad: from the
west there was an Ottoman contingent
under German officers. and this force
threatened the British left flank: then
at Susiane, or Elan. on Persian terri
tory, there were the Princes Khadjars
of the reigning family at Teheran.
The British commander did not lose
his head In the emergency. Sacrificing
his operations on both wings. he con-
lutely against the enemy on the west
and defeated them. Reinforcements
having arrived. the British commander
is reported as having forced the enemy
The British campaign in Mesopotamia
has furnished NJ Denim the following
reflections on what he terms IAN affair
of gigantic proportions:
First That the legitimacy of posses
sion is today contested, even refused to
any people who cannot and who do not
know or do not wish to improve or ex-
plot the mineral and agricultural
riches of their possessions: they hold
them without reason, and they should
give place to others in the general in
terest of mankind.
Second That Mussulman peoples. in
capable by heedlessness or in default OF
security accorded to any enterprise
requiring a long term, with their prtm-
tive organization by tribes and their
collective property. to rise above the
pastoral state and to an Agricultural
situation other than devastated fields
reduced to solitudes, are exposed from
proprietors to become simple colonista.
notwithstanding their military quail
ties, their sobriety and the advantage
which acclimation gives them
Third. That a population Of nifty mil
lions Of men can live there where the tn
exhaustible resources are guaranteed by
the natural fertility of the soil: there
where the capacity of purchase 10 as.
sured by a regular labor, healthful and
pecuniarily remunerated in a SUFFICIENT
way. The petroleum. which flows with
out stopping night and day. Is an ele-
ment of riches of such nature that II
authorizes the hope of certain and easy
realization of ambitions for the future
of Mesopotamia-
History is a resurrection and an eter-
nal recommencement- The united eff
forts Of the oocident will accomplish
the same marvels achieved by the SOW.
ereigns of ancient ages After an
eclipse of twenty-five centuries the
civilization misunderstood by the pro-
visional oriental masters will be resur-
rected and renewed in Mesopotamia-
CHI CHAILLE-LONG.