MESOPOTAMIA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 11 July 1917, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIA.

GENERAL MAUDE'S DESPATCH.

VERY GREAT CHANGE FOR THE

BETTER

TRANSPORT AND HOSPITAL ARRANGEMENTS NOW ADEQUATE.

(Australian-N.Z. C.A. and Reuter.) (Received July 11, 9 a.m.)

LONDON, July 10. A despatch has been issued from General Maude covering seven months until March 31. It shows that the period was equally divided in preparations and subsequent operations leading to the .fall of Bagdad, and describes how the advance was successfully carried out in face of difficult conditions through the tenacious spirit and gallantry of British and Indian troops, brilliantly seconded by the Navy.

The Mesopotamia Commission's recent disclosures attract attention to and create special interest in General Maude's references to the present water transport and hospital arrangements. He states that the newlyformed inland water transport directorate is so well organised that by night and day an endless chain of river craft passes up and down the river, thereby assuring maintenance of the troops at the front. Our well-equipped hospitals are, he says, more than adequate to meet the calls, and throughout the operations the treatment of wounded was carried out on model "lines. The arrangements for the comfort and rapid transport of patients from field units to hospitals reflect much credit on those concerned.

General Maude thankfully acknowledges the prompt response to demands from England, India and Egypt.