The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-05

no objection to the Germans devoting
capital to the de-, elopment of the
valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates
and to the construction Of the Ana
tolian- Bagdad-P Persian Gulf Railroad.
since all these undertakings were des-
tined eventually to fall into the hands
of Great Britain. who would ultimately
reap the fruits thereof.
II would seem as II the time had
now come for England to garner in
these fruits by Selling the entire val
lays OF the Tigris and of the Eu-
pirates, with the adjacent territory on
either side. already up to Bagdad and
eventually beyond Mosul, and by ac-
curing control of the entire Scutari-
Bagdad Railroad, tapping the richest
districts OF Anatolla and upon which
such a very large amount of Turkish
and, above all, Of German money has
already been spent. OF course Eng
lands mastery of the valleys of the
Euphrates and Tigris. comprising the
vast oil fields and oil wells in the prov
ince of Mosul, will be followed in due
course by the extension IF England's
suzerainty and probable sovereignty
oNtT Nv Nilcle W Nll' ~ Poi tioi
of Persia. 1t will be the natural con-
sequence Of the bringing of Meso-
potamia in one form or another into
the British Empire.
That this has long Leen foreseen by
English statesmen Is apparent from
the fact that a number OF years ago
during the reign of edward VII, Sir
Edward Grey, then as now Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, In negoti-
ating that convention with Russia
which did away with the long standing
and traditional eamlty of the two
great empires. made n point of includ-
ing in the agreement an arrangement
FOR the division OF Persia into two sep
nrate zorIes or spheres. n English
and the other Muscovite. There was
no intention at the time Of any i'm
mediate conquest of Persia. 1t was
merely resolved by the two great
Powers concerned that they would
limit their political and economic ac-
tivi.ies in Persia to their respective
zones and hat when the kingdom OF
the Shah was overtaken by its inevi-
table fate. namely disruption resulting
from internal dlscords. bankruptcy,
malgovernmeHt and general chaos,
Russia and Great Britain should then
each take possession Of the 1rnoiety Of
Persia comprised In their respective
spheres.
:. fortnight ago the London Gdscttc
contained a long list of honors and
promotions bestowed by King George
upon the officers and men who have
borne the brunt of the fray in the
conquest of the valleys OF the Eu-
| pirates and Of the Tigris. These re-
wards have been we'll deserved and
hard won. For the Turkish forces. the
Arab nomad tribes and the settled
native population of the various cities.
towns and villages along the line of
route have given battle at every point
and have harassed h invading forces
both by day and by night without in
terruption.
Most of the ountry on either Side
Of the rivers has been during the
greater part OF the northward march
If the British army n succession OF
p~estilential swdmps and laGoons, hor-
dered by parched and barren deserts
The neat has been intense. ranging
from H. degrees Fahrenheit at day
break to 100 and even 100 degrees AZ
noon. There has been much Illness
and mortality through euteric fovcrs
while the distressing but not danger
Gus malady known as the 'Bagdad
Date Mark" or "Aleppo Button" con-
s!sting Of ugly sores III the face. neck
and hands. has affected most members
Of the expedition. including even =
hardened and tried a veteran Indian
campaiGner as Sir John Nixon. whose
entire career has been spent in India
where he has participated In all the
fighting that has taken place there
during the last ~thirty-five years.
Nor were these the only troubles
with which Sir john has been called
upon to deal since he started from tn,
Persian Gulf, He has had to suffer a
great deal, and the advance of HI,
forces has been delayed through
mutiny and treachery Of some Of tn,
! Moslem tro ps under his command