New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-19
Britain's Supply
Lines in Tigris
Valley Perfect
BY BRITISH EYEWITNESS

British Army Headquarters IN Meso-
potamia. April 16.-Nothing more ell
fcient than the lines of communlca-
tons and supplies serving the British
forces in the Tigris valley IN Meso-
notamia can well be imagined. Inc
davs OF muddle are ended and order
has been evolved out of chaos. All that
human agency can do has been and IS
being done to turn past failures to
success and prevent future breakdowns
in organization.
Communications BY road, railway and
river have been laid out and developed
on a -thought-out plan. Faculties
for the loading and unloading OF yes
sells at Basra are now on an adequate
scale. Stores in abundance are avail
able and methodcally controlled. Medi-
cal equipment has been introduced on
a lavish scale. An ample water supply
is assured at every base and camp. .,
Sanitation has been taken IN hand;
An anti-hy crusade is beng carried
on. though any appreciate diminutlon
Of the fy plague can only be achleNeu
by herculean effort and after long time
The construction OF public WORKS
houses. stores, electric light plants
cold storage, wharfage. docks. roads
and railways goes merrily on. ana on
so large a scale and of such solidity
that il is not surprising il the inhabl-
tants of the country interpret these
activities as denoting a determination
on the part Of the British visitor to
remain permanently in Mesopotamia.
Feeding of Troops Excellent
The feeding of the troops from the
firing line to the base is excellent, and
in the army canteens there is an
abundance OF purchasable necessities
and Injuries.
From Basra to Sheik Saad one may
travel in considerable comfort in one
of the "P" boats of the newest design
admirably adapted for their purpose
which is that of ferryboat. These
boats are used for the rapid removal
Of wounded when heavy fighting Is
going on. What is wanted for this pur-
pose is as much clear deck space as
possible and no frills. The boats are
admirably designed, adequately manned
and equipped with every conceivable
comfort
Sheik Saad is the jumping-off place fol
troops, stores and ammunition brought
up. and for the transfer from rail and
light vessels to larger ships of sici
and wounded going down to the base
hospitals. Sheik Saad itself has two
large hospitals. one for Indians ano
che for Europeans, and also large
casualty clearing station. Elaborate
arrangements exist for feeding thu
wounded all along the line and at the
rail head, and though the sojourn al
this point of casualties is mostly o.
quite brief duration, the facilities are
as complete as those of hospital IL
| England.
During the stormlng OF Sanna.i-Ya'
the first roar of bombardment begar
at 10 o'clock; the first wounded were
| in the field ambulance at noon. and a
in the afternoon were on then
way down stream, their wounds dressed
their stomachs well filled, their cigar
cites alight.
! The hottest of the hot weather is nov
/ at hand, with all its attendant horror
| and all the obstacles which Nature il
| Mesopotamia filings in the path of The
military commander.
The soil, the rain. the climate, the
floods. the flies and the heat combine
| TO make the conduct of a campaign il
the Tigris valley during the summer
months a task of stupendous difficulty
! The difficulties are being tackled ant
overcome with success.