The Fall of Baghdad

Manchester Guardian, ^ | 16 March 1917 | Edmund Candler

[robowombat]

The Fall of Baghdad by Edmund Candler, Manchester Guardian, 16 March 1917

Our vanguard entered Baghdad soon after nine o'clock this morning. The city is approached by an unmetalled road between palm groves and orange gardens.

Crowds of Baghdadis came out to meet us: Persians, Krabe, Jew, Armenians, Chaldeans and Christians of diverse sects and races. They lined the streets, balconies and roofs, hurrahing and clapping their hands. Groups of schoolchildren danced in front of us, shouting and cheering, and the women of the city turned out in their holiday dresses.

The people of the city have been robbed to supply the Turkish army for the last two years. The oppression was becoming unendurable, and during the last week it degenerated into brigandage. I am told that the mere mention of the British was punishable, and the people were afraid to talk freely about the war.

It appears that the enemy abandoned all hope of saving the city when we effected the crossing of the Tigris on February 23. After that date, the Turkish government requisitioned private merchandise wholesale, and despatched it by train to Samara. Thirty or forty thousand pounds worth of stuff is believed to have been officially looted, including five thousand sacks of flour.

The German Consul left weeks ago, and the Austrian two days since. The bridge of boats, the Turkish army clothing factory and Messrs Lynch's offices were blown up or otherwise destroyed last night, and the railway station, the Civil Hospital and most British property except the Residency, which had been used as a Turkish hospital, were either gutted or damaged.

As soon as the gendarmery left at two o'clock this morning, Kurds and others began looting. As we entered from the east this morning, they were rifling, and among the first citizens we met were merchants who had run out to crave our protection.

Regiments were detailed to police, the bazaar, and houses and pickets and patrols were allotted, but there was much that it was too late to save. Many shops had been gutted, and the valuables had all been cleared. The rabble was found busily engaged in dismantling the interiors, tearing down bits of wood and iron and carrying off bedsteads. They had even looted the seats from the public gardens.

Our entry was very easy and unofficial, and it was clear that the joy of the people was genuine. No functionaries came out to meet us. There was still fear of reprisals. Our own attitude was characteristic. There was no display, or attempt at creating an impression.

The troops entered, dusty and unshaven, after several days hard fighting. Fighting between the 7th and 10th had been heavy, and extraordinary gallantry was shown in crossing the Diala river.

Source: Source Records of the Great War, Vol. V, ed. Charles F. Horne, National Alumni 1923

[robowombat]

The last time.

[bin2baghdad]

Interesting read. Thanks for the post.

[bayourod]

Maybe we should accept the offer of Turkey to send troops. They are Muslims afterall.

[GraniteStateConservative]

We have a magic wand that makes nation building in Arab countries work. So, there.

[sheik yerbouty]

Thee Turks have the experience to rule them.

[davisfh]

My reply is not to this posting but to another one earlier this day entitled "The End Of Western Civilization"

This posting was removed by Admin Moderator with the remark, "No thanks." Could it be that "Political Correctness" and yearnings for "diversity" and "tolerance" have overtaken FR. Let's, for God's sake, hope not. I saw absolutely nothing wrong with "The End of Western Civilization" posting.

[Drammach]

Interesting...

I just finished reading that post before this one.
Upon reading your comment, I returned to it and found it deleted..

While it was definitely anti-immigration, I did not find it particularly offensive, or racist..
Could it be the publisher or the author that was offensive?

[robowombat]

I thought it was a bit over the top but thought provoking. Hence the reason I posted it.

[Peter vE]

Perhaps we should have read this before we followed in the ill fated footsteps of the Brits.... I just read "Kurds, Turks and Arabs" by C.H. Edmonds, a British political officer in Kurdistan from 1918 to 1925. The British higher ups decided that Iraq just needed the imposition of a King, and all would be well. Edmonds details what it's like to have to actually implement the policy. There's a good bit of sending planes in to bomb recalcitrant tribal leaders, and playing off one tribe against another. At least Edmonds spoke Kurdish, Arabic and Persian (now known as Farsi). In the end, the Brits were able to leave a fairly stable regime for about 20 years. It mostly fell apart when the old King died, and his son didn't have his political skills. I don't see a potential King anywhere on the horizon, never mind a Juan Carlos.