The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-15
BAGDAD IN RUINS
AS BRITISH CAME
Cavalry Major Describes
What He Saw There.
MASSACRE JUST AVERTED
Troops Arrive Just In Time to Save
the Christians.

ROME. June 15.-"Tve never felt so
completely dirty or so extraordinarily
fit in my life" writes Major c., an Of
ficer in Prince Albert's Own. n crack
Indian cavalry regiment from Bag
dad. There's no doubt about It IL
ones constitution is good, a rough,
open life is the best for one"
Rough this majors life has certain
ly been-IIttle sleep and bad food for
months, and fighting in the saddle for
twenty-four hours on end the general
thing. He goes on:
Here we are in Bagdad. 1t seems
almost impossible TO believe. Since
February % the writes on March 12)
we really have had a devil OF a time
and are heartily glad OF a rest be-
bath. What long for is a change Of
clothes: but, alas! can't get it till It
arrives from wherever II is now.
Whether we shall ever see our kit
again God knows, but meantime
have only what stand up in. and
NAH tell .bu IL , DGLAtI 70 VI DIV a N'AA
over that. Last night we had the
first really good sleep since we started,
as we have only had an average Of
about two hours sleep in the twenty
four for a long time, and it does take
II out OF one. I've been much troubled
with my eyes, owing to the dust and
glare. and practically lost the sight Of
my left eye for several days, but it's
all right again, and otherwise I'm as
fit as ever l was in my life. in fact,
better. The Turks put up a good fight
and made a stiff stand outside Bagdad.
and we were practically at them night
and day and we have lost an awful lot
of horses from sheer exhaustion"
BaEdad All Torn Up.
1--WE got into Bagdad yesterday"
he writes THE Turks had fairly
played hell with the place. and the
American consul, whom Old Smith
and l went TO see this morning. says
he has had a very anxious time for
the last three weeks. as he could get
no news as to whether America had
declared war or not. He also said
IL we'd been twelve hours later all the
Christians and Jews would have been
massacred.
I'VE had lunch at the hotel that
day: it was a luxury after what We've
been through. though It consisted OF
beefsteak and beans, curry and
oranges, washed down with cham
payne. 1t was So topping" he writes,
to be out OF the desert and to see a
tablecloth again. The two brigades
OF the division are split up and we
are in the other brigade to that in
which the regiment is. The staff has
undergone a considerable change, and
there are only three out Of the ofigi-
nal staff left who set out.
l actually saw some French girls
this morning. There are seven OF
them here-teachers in mission.
They were allowed by the Turks to
stay on as they volunteered to nurse
the wounded. They did look funny
somehow in such a place. Two Turk
ish flying officers came and surren-
deFed to me this morning. They had
been hiding in a house. but gave II
up as a bad job. l believe the Russians
are quite near here now. I'm jolly
glad they didn't get here before us.
! was badly off for horses on the
last hunt. ! left my gray and another
horse in camp near Kut to give them
a rest, thinking we would only BE-
out for a day or two and so was en-
tirely dependent on a rat OF n troop
horse till ! got another very debilita-
ted one from one of the STAFF, who
was pushed out (killedl. Ny gray
and the other horse have just arriy-
ed. also that fool OF a bearer OF mine,
but he has brought me no kit OF any
kind except a change OF clothes.
own that's something, but I'd have
welcomed a tent What want more
than anything else are goggles, OF
which have three pairs with my kit.
and lip salve. Ny lips have been in
an awful state-Cracked to pieces. I
saw my face in looking glass this
morning for the first time for a week.
and II made me roar with laughter. l
looked rather like a boar and a very
dirty one"
Didn't Get n Bath.
"On March IL" the Major goes on:
81 went into Bagdad today TO try
and get a bath. but couldn't find the
bloke who told me he knew OF a house
where there was one. lunchcd at
the hotel again with the interpreter.
lie IS an American and an American
subject. lie was born in Boston and
his father who was a missionary.
took him to Turkey. where the family
was killed out, except one. He Joined
the Canadians at the beginning Of
the war and went to France and was
then sent TO GaIIipoli and Egypt, and
then here as Interpreter.