The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1915-12-31
CRADLE OF THE WORLD IS
SCENE OF WARS WRATH

ton. smuEglers and n years war have
brought wealth OF arms and muni
lions; without any cohesion or policy
they are neither for British nor Turk.
on the day OF battle they haunt the
outskirts OF the night, plumber the
wounded and stragglers impartlally.
harass the retreat of the defeated side,
hoist white flags over their tents and
make professions OF answering iidel.
ity 10 whoever seems 10 be In the
ascendant
Before the occupation OF Kut mat,
tiers were thus. astride tho river stood
the Turks; on the left bank three
swamps were linked By chains OF en-
trenchments traced with every device
known 10 the science OF the reutonic
engineer, on the right bank the posi-
ton WAS continued with equal care
and preparation, and 80 conforming IL.
self In relation to the bends In the
river as to oblige an enemy endeaYor-
Ing to turn II from the landward side,
to make detour which could not be
compassed unobseryed In the space
OF one dark night. In this position
was firmly established force OF Turks
numerically superior, well armed,
plent!tully supplied and supported by
a greater number OF field guns than
those against them
Seven miles In rear OF this prepared
position lay the town OF kut. midway
between Kut and the entertainments
the river was spanned by pontoon
bridge On the night OF Septcm.
Der y the striking force OF the Brit.
ish army In Mesopotomia lay six
miles from the Turkish entrench.
,ments On the night OF the ?ath the
British were in occupation OF kut with
above n thousand prisoners. half the
enemy's artillery, and considerable
quantity OF ammunition In their hands,
while the Turkish army was putting
as large an available space between
itself and Its enemy as the river. the
Arabs. the swarnps and canals would
allow
Amid the din and thunder OF the
great war this achievement may pass
almost unnoticed. and yet such bat.
tie fought across a level plain In the
face OF perfect entertainments. mod
ern artillery and machine guns, in AN
unmapped country. with rumors Of
large forces OF hostile ,rihesmen
menacing communications, will. when
things come 10 be reasoned out and
proportional. rank we'll enough in our
annals
Kut the day after It's occupation was
as kut Of the day before. yet with a
difference. the Turks had gone and
the british had come
The British soldier and his brother,
the Sepoy. were In possession. Now
neither Rriton nor Indian owe any
debt Of gratitude 10 the Arab tribes.
men who have plundered wounded
mut!lated the dead. sniped. piltered
spied and betrayed. there Is no reason
why our fighting men should dist.n.
suish between the inhabitants OF the
towns and the encampments. roughly
dress, language. habits and appear.
ance are one, and in war the soldier
has no time for nice chronological dis
serences and the historical Influences.
No Justice or Right ooins,
The British o Indian soldier does
not know that since Jaater the Rar>
needle Was exc, uted by the despair,
Ing harun alRaShid no man south OF
BaSdad has stood for justice aud right
doing that all has been wrong DONG
from the age when Maamun fought
Amin for Bagdad, 10 the day when
Hn.aSu the monster pierced the
canals ard ann'hiIsted BY famine A
population OF II 900, 900, and thence TO
the committee OF anion and progress
and the concessionaires who have
tnrf'ed on intrigue and wicke6nesa In
these later days.