The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-12

,,,c the entire world, Is one OF
s,akes at issue in the fighting in
..,notamia and on the adjoining
asserts Professor John Adams
seo,t o, the Northwestern University,
.,..oso Who is an international au-
'so-,,v on the Oriental countries.
!, describing the commercial and
,,;p,ary possibilities in the country
,a,ond Bagdad, Prof. Scott said:
There is no doubt that the English
row irving to close the door by
mbich any new troops can reach
yosonotamia. 1t is computed that
ancient Babylonia and the territory
r,der its control covered only about
onaf,th Of Mesopotamia, yet the soil
uas 60 fertile and free from defects
which produce famine that it support
aa in wealth a population greater
han the state of New York now pos
sesses. When Darius was detected
hy Alexander. there was found in the
vaults Of Darius gold and silver to
The value Of s65O,0O0,0OO.
III all Of Mesopotamia can come un-
s,r the control of one great nation so
that there can be comprehensive
and unified development of reservoirs
and irrigation. it is safe to say that it
will be the richest land on earth,
since no other land has soil made in
alluvial deposits and which contains
fifteen per cent of lime. 1t is this
lime bepond all else which makes this
|eountry so vauable, and which makes
rust. mildew. and kindred evils impos-
|sble. Two harvests can be garnered
each year one from rain and one
from irrigation. The one from rain is
1.-The only harvest now.
THE movement from Egypt is In
tended to shut off all access from Eu-
|rope by land since the Russians are
now in control of Armenia and the
overland pass. so that the Turks are
forced to send troops through the Is
sue pass, or by the Alexandretta Gulf.
This is the route of the Bagdad Rail
|road. Asia Minor has a double series
Of most difficult mountain ranges,
|Taurus and Anti-Taurus, othat arm
les must skirt the tmo the north or to
the South Russia now closes the
route TO the north so that If England
can close the one to the south, she
will be as secure in Mesopatamua as
|she Is in South Africa, since there is
|nO avenue by which an army could
|come The great difficulty in coming
|in or out Of Egypt has been the in
tne.s heat Of the desert south and
west OF GAIA. but he papers speak of
"a railroad having been built across
this desert This desert is cool at
|night SO that trains need run through
p only by night, since the distance
pn not great. The English already
|lave naval base at Cyprus, so that
|'hey control the sea and can thus as
|slst the army movink by land. The
English are about 400 miles from
|lheir goal and must cross the high
mountains of Lebanon or swing to
lne east where railroad has already
|Oeen built through Damascus. If
|'ney swing to the asst they will with.
pfaw from the protection Of the fleet
ney may have so completely demor-
nzed the Turks that this protection
not necessary.
ms seems to me the board on
Taich the game of the war is being
prayed Already Germany is helpless
armenia and Mesopotamia and IL
Lnglish forces can get Aleppo then
le power and influence of England
Fil have been doubled by this war
laa the immense resources of Egypt
'uu lhe entire valley Of the Euphrates
4u iigris will fall into her lap. This
rHl mean railroad from Capetown
Bombay and future for the world
4'en mas never entered into the
Ana OF the most enthusiastic dream
-eiueh'ally, it is pointed out that
ae British forces in their northward
a,en through Palestine toward the
'ucient pass of Issus must cross the
upposed field of the battle of Arma.
eddon. " w
OA.o' April 1.-THE marriage ar
slsed J. between Prince vi Yong. son
'ae former Emperor of Korea, and
Masako. a daughter of
.ace Nashimoto. is to take place