Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-28
MOSUL HAS UNDERGONE
TRYING EXPERIENCES
Ancient City Brought Into I.imcIIght
by Russian Operations
Is Described.


WASHINGTON. May 27.-"Mosul. one
OF the cities of Mesopotamia. which
entertained high expectations of re-
Hivcd commercial Importance as 4 re-
suit Of the stimulus to be afforded by
the completion OF the great trade artery
or the Near East. the BaEdad rail
way. has been brought suddenly into
the foreground of the world war by
the Russian operations. which are re-
ported to be duplicating here the sue
cesscs achieved previously at I;rze-
rum and Trebzond." says "A war Geog-
raphy bulletin issued by the National
Geographic Society.
This town. of about $1,000 people,
ree-fourthS Of whom are MoslcmS,
continues the bulletin, lis situated on
the right bank of the Tigris, go miles
above BaGdnd, and just opposite the
extensive ruins of the great Assyrian
capital of Nnevah. Tho Great Mosque.
with it's odd leaning mnaret. is the
chief architectural feature OF this
otherwise unimpreSsive looking city,
with its crumbling limestone walls in
closing cemeteries that occupy almost
AS much space as the habitatiors OF
the living.
Cnnal DIverts Commerce.
The Sucz Canal long ago diverted
much OF Mosul's caravan commerce. but
the town is still "A distributing point
for Northern M.sopotamia. Supplant-
tured wooden and cotton fabrics which
receive the name of muslin from the
city. the chief article of export to-day
is gallnuts. gathered in the adjacent
mountains. This peculiar parasitic
product has medicinal properties util-
lied in an astringent ointment, and il
is also an important Ingredient Of Ger
tain dyes and black inks.
One Of the physical pccuiiarities OF
Mosul is the bridge over the rigris,
ts,,Fr Ia,
ancient Ninev with the ruins Of the
parent city. Onc-sixth of the bridge
Is an ordinary span which joins the
right bank and small island. Beyond
the island the traveller crosses tho
wider branch of the river by means
Of pontoon or boat bridge AS the
high waters Of May are now receding
the Tigris Will soon uncover the silt
enriched islands around Mosul, and by
midsummer there will he a bountiful
harvest and melons and other fruit
provided the natives have had time,
during their preparations for defense
against the grand dukes army to plant
their customary crops
Tomb OF Jonah Nenr-By.
Among the places of interest point
cd out 10 the traveller in this section
OF Mcsop"tainia IS the tomb OF Jonah
on the left bank Of the river recalling
wildly TO mind the history OF the
mighty metropolis founded, supposed
~, oy Minus and the famed Sciniramis
more than 1000 years before the Chris
tian era. and to which the prophet
Jonah had been sent with a warning
a. the time Of his adventure with the
great fish
"Mosul has underro one many vicis-
STUDIES sine" its capture by the Arabs
IN the seventh century. II achieved
us greatest prosperity during the de-
cline OF tho caliphatc Syrians and
Se!juks held IL SUCCESSFULLY during tho
tenth and eleventh centuries after
which came a final Hare Of splendor
under the rulcrship of the remarkable
Atahcg general. Zcngi. II was this
amir who launched from Mosul the
)ohad OF countercrusadc against the
inhd"l Christians Ia Palestine This
crusade resulted eventually in the
overthrow OF the western knights of
the cross who had redeemed the holy
sepulchcr from Moslcm hands and had
set UP kingdom In Jerusalem The
ma! accomplishment OF the MosuI
.hnirs crusade fell TO the lot Of the
Justly renowned Saladin. son OF one of
EeAEIS generals and Il Mathematician
ruled OF many exceptional virtues
After the death Of Zcngis heir Saladin
iald unsuccessful siege to Mosul In AN
effort TO bring all Syria under his
dominion In liS7 he succeeded i'm ex-
acting homage from the city
cor short time during the seven
tecnth century Mosul was occupied hv
the PeTSians. but ii was soon restored
ana has remained subject TO the otto
man empire up to the present time"