ON THE TIGRIS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLII, Issue 12822, 14 April 1916, Page 5

ON THE TIGRIS.

Tlii- "Cupi- Time.".'' of Capetown, publishes an infoiesting letter written by a South African officer now serving in Mesopotamia, says the Central News. The letter states:—"The River Tigris plays havoc with the surrounding country when it gets above itself from melting snows coining down from the Caucasus, when it frequently tires ; of its own course and tries. another., The river is the only drinking water, and you can imagine the state of it when Orientals have anytliing to do with it.

"VVc have all kinds of craft up here, improvised for'use higher up. The Clio, a sloop, was marked'down'in 1914 to be destroyed as obsolete, but she, with her sister ships Odin and Espiegle, has done great work in the battles. Now that we nave, got as far as Airiara and Xasariyeh, the vessels that give the greatest assistance are steam launches with guns on them, and flat-bottomed Irawaddy"paddleeteamers. We have transformed? the place wonderfully already— -cut dykes to control the water in flooded areas, made bridges to cross creeks at will, and made loads where none existed before. "1 was much struck with the cleanliness of Basra and the absence of smells. We have restored order, and gained confidence and trust, quite wonderfully. The inhabitants are now very orderly. Of course, all sentiment here will be affected by successes or otherwise up the rivers. We are principally in. occupation in these E arts'on the west of the river, on which ailic Basra stands.

"We are town planning, building bridges (permanent ones), and generally improving the place every day, acquirin<r land, in a fair and orthodox \vay, whicli the inhabitants and owners appear to be strange to, but, all the same, appreciate. We have established customs, and gradually the place will recover its former prosperity, in spite of the absence of the Germans, and no doubt increase very much.

"Some of the Arab tribes are doing a lot for us, and so relieving troops for the front. 1 believe the Turks have any amount of arms buried and hidden in the mosques, which, of course, we cannot, and do not, verify. The Mullahs are the only openly hostile to us just now. The difficulties as we advance are increased to a certain extent, though country and climate are' improving. . Our aerial service is increasing; we have now an R.N. flight- section, which has hydroplanes as well."