THIEVES OF MESOPOTAMIA

Evening Star, Issue 16627, 9 January 1918, Page 3

THIEVES OF MESOPOTAMIA

The worst enemy of both Turks and British in Mesopotamia is the Arab (writes A. T. Clark, a Y.M.C.A. worker with the British forces). The-Arabs plunder both sides indiscriminately, and whenever a battle is fought the Arabs join the winning side. At one time a suggestion was made that the Turks and British call off the war for a while and form a composite Anglo-Turk army to strafe tho Arabs. Arabs are inveterate thieves, and they will risk anything to steal under difficulties. In fact, they prefer to steal where it is difficult rather than easy., Two Arabs entered the tent next to mine at Omara, and, while one of them held a knife over the sergeant who occupied it, the other took everything he could lay his hands on. And they escaped, although that was in the middle of the camp. The Australian wireless detachment at Omara lost 32 rifles one night when their sentry went to sleep. Another time on Indian sentry challenged an Arab, who did not reply. The sentry shot at him and the Arab fell down. The sentry was curious, and went up to investigate. As he approached, the AraJ> jumped up, seized his rifle, and ran away. Another time Arabs stole 10 camels out of a camp that had blockhouses every 500 yds and sentries every 250 yds. By order, Arabs are shot on sight from the advanced base, north. He speaks with warm feeling of the Toriimies, who are "simple, and awfully grateful for anything you do for them." He found them much more sentimental than our men, and they invariably asked Mr Clark, who had his violin with him, to play ' The Rosary.' They liked things like 'Little Grev Home in the West,' ' There's a Long, Long Trail' 'Give Me Your Smile,' and ' Thora.' They never know what is going on in other sectors. They seem to know only just what their owii battalions are doing, and that is principally what they talk about among themselves. In hospitals and at the Y.M.C.A. I found a sure way to interest them was to get out maps and explain the objectives of the campaign. They never complain, and when they are wounded their first demand' is for a cigarette.