The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-09
THE CONQUEROR OF BAGDAD.
General Mausc, Whose Generalship
Was Equallcd by His MOdesty.


Maude, the conqueror of Bagdad, |
who died recently of cholera in an
army hospital in Mesopotamia, lies
buried in the center of the British
cemetery north of Bagdad, adjoining
the old Turkish cavalry barracks. A
wooden cross marks his grave, and a
heap of wreaths, chrysanthemums and
marigolds were strewn over the
grassless mould of the desert Among
these floral tributes were ribbons and
artificial flowers. the tribute of the
people of Bagdad, of the Naquib, and
of the Jewish school, whose annual
dramatic entertainment he attended
a few days before his death. The
nearest graves to his own are those
Of privates of the division which he
used to command.
The British Eye witness with the
armies in Mesopotamia, in an account
of memorial service held in the
citadel at Bagdad, writes of General
Maude:
Zones first impression Of him was
Of modesty, repose, confidence and
strength. Only gradually did one
realize his thoroughness, his far Wis
ion, and his infinite application to de-
tail. He was a master of detail.
Supply, transport, intelligence, psyche
logical factors-in every branch of
staff work he, was the inspirer and
director.
SEX offico he will have a niche
among the military immortals as the
conqueror Of Bagdad, but none real
ize better than the army he led how
individual his successes We're He
was more than the heart and brain
of the machine. 1t is doubtful if in
the whole of British military history
there is "a parallel instance in which
a series Of military victories can be
more exclusively attributed to the
personality of one man.
The retrieving of the situation af-
ter the British had failed to relieve
Kut, the reconstruction of the fighting
machine, and the breaking up of the
Turkish force in the Tigris, called for
qualities which when found in COM
bination amount to genius. In those
dark days Britain prayed for a great
I'm nj y
The operations which led to the
capture of Bagdad were a series OF
mastery strokes, so brilliant in con-
ception that the Turks never serious
ly contemplated their success. But
Maude was always confident of break
ing through. In the long, costly and
laborious business of evicting the Turk
yard by yard from his elaborate
) trench system about Kut, he was sat.
| isfied all the time that things were
, going well, and his confidence was
infectious.
General Maude's modesty was sc
!, pronounced as to be remarkable. He
detested flattery and would have lik-
/ ed to have carried on the whole
campaign anonymously. No person
al reference to himself was per-
: mitted in any public communique. He
never gave himself the credit for any
successful operation or stroke of
genius, Or sound piece of organiza
ton. He never listened to congratula-
tions without minimizing his own part
in the affair.
Don't congratulate me- he
would say in good-natured impa-
tience. 1T was the men who did it,
He. had probably conceived every de-
tail of the operation, even to the
handling OF single battalions, yet,
when the coup was accomplished, he
would reflect the whole credit on the
subordinate command. He was as
disciplined in his routine as a clock.
He started work at five o'clock in the
morning, breakfast began and was
finished at 7.15. The Office and a full
days work followed, until his ride in
the evening. He travelled light, a
valise and small kit-bag containing
everything he possessed.
Time in war is everything was
his favOrite axiom. Every officer he
said ought to have it inscribed on his
shaving glass His work and actions
were governed by this maxim. He was
never late for an appointment.
HE possessed great personal mag
netism. especially for his troops. On
the eve of every operation he was ac-
customed to send out encouraging
messages to the soldiers, and he made
point of presenting medals imme
diately after any action to those