The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-02-15

NEGLECTED.. Il vas Link between the
Euphrates ana Persia, and according
Is. after it had been deserted for more
than two months, British OFFICER ar
rived here to take charge OF the Work
OF reconstructing it
The first thing TO do was to clean
the place. The debris was dumped OUT
of the houses into the streets; the &C
cunnulated fiItn was buried or burned.
the barbados were pulled down, the
dnro11ts and trenches we're filled up.
An imposing colianEade bazaar vas
built along the river bank. y begin
ming was made with a coffee room ana
some retail shops for the builders, VINO
;or a long time were the sole popula-
ton Skilled masoDs natives %ho had
been employed by the Germans II con
Eectian with the BaSdad Railway. were
collected aud set TO Tocs. Iney re-
built AID re-Toofed the old bazaars'
wfGecAd the old streets and built ne"
ones. repaired the mosques. the o2ths
and the ice factory, pat new engines
into the flo=r mill, and converted the
flats and shoals in the middle Oh the
Tigris into vegetable gardens.
Though stflI partly in ruins. hut to-
day IS Z cleaner and better town tils-n
ever before in its history. Most OF the
people are back again behind their old
doors. The bazaGrs are throng7d- AID
The people are more prosperous 'haa
ever. Cor there is abundant LABOR tcr
cvery BODY in the nciShOorhood. some
Of the prominent people OF the town
w:I never come back. Eight OF them,
including tie Sfei&n and his sons,
we're hanged bs- the Turks, and forty
others were Si9ot.
The house wa.ch General Townshend
occupied du-iDG the siege has been re-
paired. bGt TIE roof and balcony are
STIR p!tted with shr2pnel. Seven shell
holes have been filed with plaster.
The urecoory- OF the general and OF his
principal officers survives IN the
names of the rev streets There IS
,-oYrshend Road. De!2nain Road NE
Iiss Ro.d. and the names OF brave reSi-
mems are recorded in Dorset ROAD
Norfolk Street, and Mahratta Row.
Every association III tie nomenclature
of the Kut is reminiscent OF the men-
cry OF its former defenders.
Especially the cemetery. The long
drawn agony OF the garrison "cicn
fought and endured here so staunchly
to the edge Of starvation makes one Oh
the most tragic stories in British MS
tory. Nearly 1900 soldiers of the Brit
;eI, ;.rrny died of wounds and disease
dur;lS the siege, and ere buried togeth-
or ~ bare mud field enclosed by q
mad wall. wit ha few starved PAINS III
II. ard hue!eSs dcsoiation all around
,,;lt tiIzt is Atcsopotamia. The Turks
dug trenches all around the cemetery
b;.t they respected the graves.
Volunteer parties of blcejacketS
from passing gunboats have landed
and trimmed these mounds OF earth,
which are as cIean-cut and neat now
as in an English d:urchyard. A brick
Wall is being built around the enclos-
ure. The place is classics. 1t is true,
but the sombre aspect will disappear
;she:1 water is brought to the land and
the scrub palms are fertilized and
cared for.
Three miles below Kut Is the only
enemy relic IN the neighborhood. an
cna!isx PCT up by the Turks il com
rremorStion of the fall OF Kut. 1t IS a
kind Of Cleopatra's Needle on square
plinth, all OF kilrs-dried brick plastered
over. An old converted British Cow
gun stands as a trophy on each side.
ore OF the guns has tumbled forward
and tae plaster and brick are already
crunbI;ag. The monument was never
unveiled and Is still half-covered with
4 canvas sheeting, most of which. how
ever. has been carried away by the
wind.