Care of War Graves

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 280, 27 November 1939, Page 5

Care of War Graves

NO DIFFICULTIES FORESEEN “Even in spite of hostilities having developed in Europe, it is anticipated that there will be no difficulty in maintaining all the Great War cemeteries at their present standard,” said Brigadier-' General Sir Herbert Hart, Chief Administrative Officer in the Near East for the Imeprial War Graves Commission, in referring, in tho course of an interview, to his duties. These cover the supervision of the 171 separate burial places in tho Near East of the 140,000 soldiers from every part of the Empire to whom memorials have been raised. Sir Herbert’s activities encompass no fewer than ten countries, and once every year he visits every part of his territory. Ho is now on leave in the Dominion. Explaining the extent of his activities in the Near East and the Balkans as Chief Administrative Officer, fc>ir Herbert said the ten countries were the Sudan, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Irak, Iran, Greece, Turkey (including Gallipoli), Bulgaria and. Rumania. In all these areas a largo staff of gardeners was constantly employed in maintaining the war cemeteries which were, in the main, kept as neat and attractive as normal English gardens. “It might be somo satisfaction to any who have friends or relatives buried in those parts to know that, in spite of the troubles which developed in Palestine and continued for the last two or three years, war graves have never been other than honourably respected and treated by the rival factions,” ho said. “As time has progressed we have been enabled, to have

permanent water supplies laid on to the cemeteries, which have enabled tremendous improvements to be effected. Ornamental and flowering shrubs have, over recent years, become a special feature to which attention lias been given. The Jerusalem war cemetery occupies a unique position on Mount Scopus, from which a magnificent view is obtained of the city. This cemetery contains a striking chapel, designed by one of the leading architects of England, the interior being finished with a mosaic decoration supplied by the New Zealand Government as its contribution toward the memorial." Explaining the present relationship of the rival factions of Jews and Arabs, Sir Herbert said that when the war broke out the two peoples, realising the great danger from Germany, ceased to cause trouble and passed resolutions expressing their desire to support the British Government in the present conflict. The troubles might be likened, Sir Herbert said, to the rival religions of India, but the problem was very difficult in that the area was relatively small, being only the size of the Wellington province. Great advances had been made by commercial airways in the Near East in the last three years, continued Sir Herbert. The companies operating were Imperial Airways and Egyptian, Italian and French interests. The services were well patronised, both for through travel and local trips. Sir Herbert has also seen a good deal of the Nairn Brothers' (New Zealanders) inotor-bus service between Damascus and Baghdad, for which they have the largest and most scientifically constructed motor-buses in the world. Multi-wlieeled and airconditioned, they are sprung so to travel at tremendous speeds over the rough roads, much of the journey being covered in the night to save time and to enable the service to compel e against air transport.