Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 12th, 1920. “A LITTLE WAR.”

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1920, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 12th, 1920. “A LITTLE WAR.”

Prior to the Great War, Britain’s regular Army used to receive constant practice in actual warfare in tire petty struggles that were going on against recalcitrant tribesmen in various parts of our Asiatic and African possessions. The Germans, indeed, were inclined to sneer and say that the British put too much importance on successes gained by their troops over seini-civilised troops, aid that if the time ever came when British soldiers were pitted against trained German soldiers the Britishers would be completely outclassed. The time came when the German boast was put to an ample test, and the result has been recorded in the classic doggerel: “We beat them at the Marne, We beat them at the Aisne We gave them hell at Aix-la-pelle, And here we are again.”

In the clays prior to 1914 the British taxpayer was. something of a Jingo, and he did not raise any serious objection to the money spent on what were termed “Britain’s Little Wars.” Things have changed since then. The ghastly slaughter of the Great War has given Britishers a thorough surfeit of war in all its forms. Hence when news comes to hand of fighting between British troops and tribesmen the English taxpayer pricks up his ears and wants to' know the reason, and he closely questions the exnenditure. In the early stages of the Versailles Conference when the Allies were distributing the spoil and each was anxious to secure the lion’s share of what was going, the British representatives eagerly snapped up the mandate for Mesopotamia, The excuse given wag that India was threatened with a Bolshevik invasion, and in order that this might be countered sucmsfully it was necesary for Britain to have control of the valley ,of the Tigris and the Euphrates. This was, no doubt, \ very plausible explanation, but it was somewhat at variance with i

the promises made in the outlining of the covenant of the League of Italians. This was to the eltect that Mesopotamia should be given its independence. The true source of the interest of the British Government in Mesopotamia is to be found in the valuable oil springs with which the region abounds. It is now as of yore that Britain’s policy in regard to any country is dictated to a large extent, by the commercial interests at stake. The Mandate over Mesopotamia has already brought Britain trouble. The cost will run into £25,000,000 per year, and the British taxpayer, who already finds bis financial burdens greater than he can hear with equanimity, is naturally anxious to know what return he is going to get for this outlay. So far there seems to he very little return in sight. _ To make matters worse, the British troops sent to maintain order in the new possessions have received a severe handling at the hands of the tribesmen. A number of British and Indian troops while on a reconnoitring expedition were caught at a disadvantage and roughly handled. Grins and equipment were lost, and the casualties were very heavy. The Manchester's, who were engaged, lost three hundred killed. This is a very serious business, and must excite interest throughout the Empire. The tribesmen seem to he very excited, and seek every opportunity to attack British forces that they can do so with a likelihood of success. Many causes have been assigned for this tribal activity. Tbe Turkish problem may have something to do

with it. The Mussulman section of the populace is greatly perturbed at the treatment meted out to the Sultan and his subjects. Fanaticism is a factor responsible for' many of the tribal outbreaks in Asia. In the present instance, however, the tribes are indignant at the attempt made to deprive them of their independence. Everywhere they see whnt they consider are by the British for the permanent occupancy of the country. Vast irrigation works have been erected, and the tribesmen consider that the British capitalists are more likely to reap benefit than anyone else. The Mesopotamia Question is sure to cause considerable discussion in the House of Commons, and Mr Tilovd George and his colleagues are in for what our French friends would term “a bad quarter of an hour.”