Observations

Northern Advocate, 1 October 1938, Page 1 (Supplement)

Observations

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IS a means of deflecting thought from ** the horrible means which were proposed, but which are now happily avoided, for scuring conqust of territory in Europe, is is pleasant to reflect upon another kind of conquest, the only purpose of which is to promote the welfare of peoples and save, rather than destroy, human life.

I refer to the transport revolution of the post-war period, by which the world’s greatest deserts have been conquered by the motor car.

POR thousands of years they were * crossed only at the peril of men’s lives, dangers from thirst and killing heat surrounding them on every hand. Even now the bones of pilgrims, traders and countless numbers pf camels lie whitening along the tracks used from time immemorial. But now their- burning sands are trodden not only by the gentle feet of camels, but are flattened by the pressure of the huge wheels of great desert motor coaches developing 200 horsepower, carrying 30 or so passengers and three tons of luggage, and which have reduced journeys once taking many weeks to days.

IN this way new life is being brought * to dead deserts, and towns are springing up where a few years back were nothing but a few dilapidated huts, some forlorn-looking trees, and p veil or two

THE day of the long, wearying march * of the pilgrims to Mecca is also fast becoming a thing of the past. A motor route has been opened across the Arabian Desert from Nejef, in Iraq, to Mecca, via Medina. The first convoy of pilgrims by this route left two and

“The Man on the Look-Out”

a half years back, and parties now regularly travel by it. It enables the pilgrim to travel from Iraq to Mecca in three or four days, whereas the journey, first by camel and then by one or other of the sea routes, takes about a month.

»THE same revolutionary transforma- * tion is seen in the United States where the dreaded Death Valley in the far south-west has been opened up to motor transport. So terrific is the heat that men have gone mad with it, and for days the temperature may be as high as 120 degrees in the shade. It contains gigantic deposits-... of salt, borax and soda of nitrate, which men have risked their lives to exploit. Formerly the loads had to be dragged out slowly and painfully to the nearest railhead by mules, these being the only animals which could stand the scorching heat. Now motor lorries regularly traverse the baked basin of Death Valley, which also boasts an up-to-date hotel.

TURNING again to the Old World we 1 discover that the Egyptian Government is constructing a number of first-class motor highways across the desert to link the country with Palestine, and the Sahara, once the most dreaded of all the deserts on the face of the globe, is being gradually covered by a network of motorways.

THOSE who have crossed the Sahara 1 say it is an absolutely unforgetable experience. The crossing usually takes two or three days, with travelling at night. The sensations are said to be unique, as the silence is so great that it can altnost be felt, and there is not an animal, insect or bird of any description. The period of the full moon is best for the trip, as the beauty

md grandeur of the desert are then at their height, and the sunsets and dawns are wonderful. The fabled city of Timbuctoo, until late last century visited only by about half a dozen or so Europeans, is about 200 miles off the actual route, but even that can be approached by what is described as a fair motor road.

Undoubtedly the most striking change has come over the great desert which separates Baghdad from the Mediterranean Sea. Until after the War this was literally a dead country, traversed only by camel caravans, and the scene of innumerable quarrels between wild tribes. Even now away from the motor routes these characteristics still prevail, but along the section traversed by the huge cars, civilisation has come. The cars used are said to be the largest of their kind in existence, and they can do the trip between Baghdad and Damascus in less than a day, stops for resting and refreshment being made en route.

TOWARDS dusk the coach enters the * wadis (water courses) which seek the Euphrates. In one of these is situated the newly-grown town of Rutbah Wells. The driver stops here for passengers to rest and have food. After this comes the worst part of the journey, for the track, instead of lying over a plateau, runs between low hills and wadi bottoms, and after a long day’s travel passengers are likely to be longing for the end of the trip. After a journey of 200 miles, Ramadi, on the Euphrates, is reached. Here are the Iraqui customs and passport control and welcome refreshment of coffee and food in the resthouse.

ANOTHER two hours’ run of about 40 ** miles bringh the coach to Maude Bridge, which is crossed into Baghdad.