MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S RESIGNATION.
LORD HARDINGE'S OFFER TWICE
REFUSED,
A STRIKING DEBATE.
THE AFFAIR
TEN HONGKONG DAILY PREES, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER TH, 1917,
AT NIEUPORT
A NEW SECTOR.
DUNES AND FLOODS.
The Time Military Coffespondent, writing in July, said:
NAVAL DECORATIONS.
LORD BERESFORD ON THE INEQUALITY OF AWARDS.
In the House of Lords recently, Lord
on
the subject Đổ He declared that there was
free
Wis
It
AN AMARA ALPHABET FROM THE ARABIC (I DON'T THINK).
BY WUSSTAL GROUSER, LKF. (1918)
A is the Apple that grew, so they say,
In that famous old garden where Eve went astray (For whose poccadilly wovonil had to pay)
Near Kurna, in Mesopotamin.
is the Hiseuit constructed in Delli; Which, served without urmajade, butter, or jelly, Needs hirverised teeth and a boiler, plate interior For digestion in Mesopotamis. for que Comrades of that famous Curs Which, ploughing and reaping, and fighting no more Is now telling its friends bow it poured out its gore La France and in Mesopotamia for the fligging we've all of us done While tightong the friend of the furious
Hun 3 You earn chota hazri by shifting a ton
Of Mutti, in Mesopotamija.
Beresford asked on what principle orders War is an affair fall of surprises, and and decorations were granted with re- In the House of Commons on Jily 12th in a war of this character we must not ferencs to the number of officers and wen Hi F. E. Smith argued that it was nb take it too tragically when the enemy
in the Royal Navy and· Royal Marine scores a little point against us. The solutely impossible for the Govern-unen etor north of Nietiport is one only Forces mentioned in disputes; and for B ment to not punitively on the report recently taken over by us from the French, other information of the Mesopotamia Commission. He and our people are necessarily less well awards. demonstrated conclusively that this would acquainted with its characteristics than intense feeling in the country relative they are with other sectors which they to the honours that had been given lately. after be & monstrous injustice to the officers have long occupied. This sector is in Politicinos escaped scor
blunders and mistakes, and indeed were and officials concerned, for they had been ordinary times fairly safe, but on Tues
day last a heavy gale was blowing on the often rewarded, while the soldier and examined without any relevance to the const, and we must suppose that naval sailor received the blame and
Our punished. In all campaigns there were laws of evidence, and without having a support was temporarily absent.
troops in possession of the dunes sector complaints about the inequality of opportunity, of replying to the evidenco were therefore thrown upon their own hours and awards, but in this aur of other witnesses or even of knowing resources when the enemy, after a violent these complaints were more justified bombardment of 24 hours, not only levelled than in any other war. In the whole 【『! what these inesses at said.
the local defences, hut broke the bridgeshistory of the Navy there had, be sup-D over the Yarr and probably over the posed, never been more opportunity for heroic action than in Gallipoli, Ho Lantherizyde stream as well,
We have always ditted that any complained of the unfairness of the Ads, Aris making adequate preparations can miraits scale in such a campaign. gain possession for a time of almost any only admitted of about 31 awards and
was the Energy shown by the Staff The position E advanced system of trenches, and the meations for the nen.
in regard to mentions in dispatches was cuemy opposing on the const line of Belgium was and is in a peculiarly
air. That only one in 200 rould he mentioned in six months appeared to favourable position to bring of perfectly monstrous.
The way in of this character, on account of the
const which honours, awards, As mentions his bi that, ries. These extend all along the in dispatches had en handled had chines, and for hint to switch them on to Ased great disgust throughout the within range is a comparatively simple learn the nuber of awards given to the
dunes sector, or to any other point Fleet.
Their lordships would be astonished to] mutter. We have suffered on many occa- sions from this heavy armatent, but in. Daly one man of the sexan class this particular instance greater success from the lower deck whe was in that was obtained, than usual because the battle revived breaking as of the brides, and probably the barraging of the suits and south wret fronts of the advanced position occupied, rendered a retirement impracti cable. Attacked by strong forces and with their defences levelled, our troops were not in a position to resist, and the German bgure of our losses may not be every far from the truth,.
blamed the Press for commenting on the Report us if defaite charges had been brought against these people and the Sir Jim harks had Leen proved. jou fully agreed that it would be an intolerable wrong" to treat them as guilty, and Lord flugh Creil briefly in terposed to make is clene that the Commidable l Tial Isrä t Ü mission regarded themselves not court of criminal justice, hut as a court
of inquiry int administrative efficiency The Attorney-General was about o illustrate by chapter and verse from the evidence the methods of the Commission in dealing with witnesses, when he was ulled up or a Toint of order. But it made no difference, for nearly everyone bviously agree that it would be quite tupussible to proceed to punishment en such a report
paracridens,
-uch unaimity, however, There was pr aste the tribunal chosen by the Govern- ment, and all the Attorney-General's cla kurate pleading failed to reconcile Hou to the reposed procedure under the Army Courts Inquiry Act of last year. Willant going into technicalities, it ap pears (anya The Daily Telegraph) that under that Burn of pirnendure civil ser rants and cians could only appear iefore the Court as witnesses. Their con- duct would necessarily be reviewed in the process of reviewing the conduct of the Army officers, but they would come in so speak, and not as the principals, which they obviously are. The House felt that this was not the right course to fake, and when it was found dhut the terms of reference to the Court alluded only . Army officers, the proposal was doomed beyond hope of recovery The Attorney General evidently aware that sharp criticism was coming, said that the Government were quite ready to let the House decids between that course and the only feasible alternative, viz., the setting up by Act of Parliament of a Special Tribunal, to deal alike with sol- diers and ely signs on an equal footing. And, later in the sitting, Mr. Balfour announced that fur bad the Prime Mini ter's authority to say that that course would be adopted. Thus the absurdity of taking the Barrett case of last year as a procedent for an inquiry of this wagnitude will happily be avoided.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN DEFENDS HIMSELF.
Our
enmmissioned offerr's
Those
F
In preparing for HANNA, that advertised
strafo ;)
I regret to record that the Turks had the lungh-
Not the Staffin Mesopotamia,
is the Bokker that quarters the sky-- Who'd have thought that a --Turbi” would know how to fly ! The shells from our Archies are possing Rim by,
And falling in Mesopotamia. ·
is the Grazing our beasts do all day;
may
Beissued" again with a ration of hay,
Although we re in Mesopotamie
for the Harems for which, it appears,
dears
Baglular has been famous for hundreds of year, We propose to adopt all the destitute
Why their owners leave Mesopotamia.
stands for India, its Government-but On this subject my mouth is officially
Suffice it to say, we surremlered at kut
---31-Anam 15 Mesopotamia.
rank, and there others of another class G Perhaps, if we to go to the future we received awards, The lower deck felt it to be a great grievance that civilians had entered quite recently over the heads of petty officers of long, service and three In the Battle Yers experience of war. of futland 300 boys under the age of 16 H
cars were killed or wounded. boys gave their lives or risked their lives for us, and the rule ander which servic The repulse of the enemy further south rendered while under the age of 18 should at Lombaertsyde after a preliminary not count for pensions on leaving the success appears to show that the whole Service was unjust, Of three men who incident is without much importance, and faced an appalling death in the engine. a German detachment between British room of a destroyer, and by their courage. trumps to the south and the sea to the ons conduct saved the vessel and the lives north can be satisfied that its position is of the crew of from 70 to 60 hands, only somewhat cheerless. The enemy has shown one received the Distinguished Service himself for some time past to be anxious Order. Such treatment was not right, about the Yser front, and many advertise (Cheers.) He anggested that au Admiral ment has appeared in the German Press should be authorized to bestow & decora of our intention to attack there. It was tion mediately after the
derd in natural. therefore, that he should wish respect of which it was given had been to have a closer look to see what our performed. The bestowal of a decoration ramps were doing, and to hold the right the moment would be gratifying to the bank of the river pear its confluence with Service. The whole syster of awarding the sen if he could.
All this low country position east of the your and youth of the dunes has a charac, ter of its own, It is, on a broad zone south of the dunes, and along most of the rivers and ennals
if due preparations have been unde, subject to inundations, seientifit and unscientific. The scientific inadation has been brought to the highest state of perfection by the Dutch, whose engineers work with the department
that the
over-
orders and decorations needed hauling. Honour should be given to who humour was due, and the authorities should case giving decorations to those who ought to be severely punished. There had been cases in which those in cont and, either through mistaken ideas negligence, or want of knowledge, had lost hundreds of lives. Those officers had been given other commands, in many cases higher than before. They ought to have beun placed upon halt pay and not employed again.
The
shut.
for the Jam with the label that lies When it claires that at Paris it wòn tho first prize, We find it most useful as bait for the!
tire So abundant in Mesopotamin. for the Kiss we'll get from the Fair When arriving in England with wreatha
in our hair.-- Wo all need them, I think, for our heads will be bare By the time we leave Mesopotamin.
for the Lut we are longing to seizė, Such as barrels of whisky and bags of
rupees,
In Baghdari, when the Cauli Ismds over tin keys, To the Army in Mesopotamia,“
M is the local Mosquito, whose lite
}: Keeps us lively and active hy day and
by night And makes of our faces au clegatio sight,
Since we landed in Mesopotamia.
we as the Waterstaat to produce mili tary obstacles of an extremely formidable kind. Their practice is to arrange the Lord Surteley, as an old naval officer, fresh-water shtiere so that belts of inunda supported Lord Beresford's remarks. Linns can be made within a few hours.
Earl of Lytten
said
the subject These are of no great depth, but as the whole,
Was entirely at low country is usually scored with ditches the discretion and within the power Mr. Chamberlain's speech was a power and channels for irrigation, a sheet of of the First Lord of the Admiralty. ful ane and made a big impression on; the House F. he was able to show that' water a few foes in depth is quite enough in exercising the duty that Minister was N The Canmission had omitted pages to form a belt difficuls to cross without guided by two main principles. Cases of of first-class importance from some of
individual acts of gallantry which were spatial preparations. *:
performed in the course of any particular the telegrams, gitated in their ripos,
We must naturally assume
action were immediately brought under which have had the greatest effect on nemy, long in possess the review, and the decorations which in the publie opinion. In one instance par liable to inundation, has arranged for ticularly he filled up a gap which the their scientific flooding, and most of the ion of the First Lord were deserved were granted as soon as possible after public had naturally interpreted as veil campaigns in the Law Countries show how they had been reported and examined. ing an allusion to the Dardanelles by a very unpleasant such inundations were in this matter he acted upon the advice reference to German intrigues in Persia. even when the science was less perfect Indeed, the Commissioners themselves, ap- than today. The best of all courses to of his naval secretary, and he was under no limitation of any kind. The arcond parently, ought to stand in the dock for pursue with typical low country positions category consisted of decorations for what the erudity of their work is certain pass where else if one happens to be the assail extending over a long period and
is to keep away from them and fight some he would call general service at rea, Then, without casting a word of
quite criticisto upon the military officers con-ant, for a defender has the best of the distinct from specife operations such as Ferned, Mr. Chamberlain made good his deal throughout the game. The dunes those he had alluded to. With regard to statement that all the military opinion at however, are a separate problem, and the this a report was called for from the Cam the disposal of the Government was in question of sen power naturally enters mander-in-Chief every six months and into it. We have had much dune fighting, rewards were made by the Admiralty from favour of advance from Kul
an Baghhad, and success was considered cer- notably in 1799, and very stiff it usually the lists which were received from him tain by every military authority on Flanders is, of course, not all a low coun- Admiralty had in view was to establish is with a hard-figling enemy to deal with.
periodically, The objects which the ked. The Turkish reinforcements which turned the scale at the Battle of try position by any means, but most of
as far as possible some uniform standard Ctesiphon arrived only on the day of this country is not particularly suitable of merit. Senior officers might have very to the bean sabreur, and one would select different standards as to what persons and the battle itself. Not a word was said in excuse of the horrible breakdown" preferably, if one could not keep out of what numbers of officers and men should in hospital arrangements, but Mr. Cham. such a district, a middle-aged engineer be included in list for decorations. It berlain told the House that sixteen who has heard of the Amsterdam Pile and was obvious that some standard of uni should be maintained, otherwise able and insxcusable breakdown." His aces for meticulous staff work. warnings, however, had not been attended
to
is the Navy tied up to the shore, Where they've beir and tobuceo and comforts galore, Wint a jaggins I was not to join it fore
I struted for Mesopotamia? for the Ouders which, issued by Corps Hemiquartors, don't scare me as much as of yore; we get tliem three, they'll be can- !
celtéri by four; That's business, in Mesopotamia. for the Post Office Babus who fail, Each week, to deliver three-fourths of the
Mail;: If 7 l the command, they would all be
iu jail,] Tristel of in Mesopotausir.
If
s for Quinine, which we take every sing By the juhul, to keep naughty ferernway; With head like a bechive it's hard to feed kay In unkarial Mesopotamia.
is for Rations--but see under "B"
There is biscuit for breakfast and biscuit for tea And tot once a week, when we go on the spirre. Economical Mesopotamia!
months ago he had prophesied "a lament all that begins with it, and has a weakwards might be given on a more liberal & for the follows who somehow
to. He had communicated his fears to Lord Hardinge, but the Viceroy's greatest fault was that he had trusted too implicit called it, had been tested by the war
ly his chief military adviser.
contrive
Amid grousing and cursing and burry and driva Insome wonderful fashion to keep us alive
In defiance of Mesopotamia, stands for the puddle they call Umum-el-
Brah' Which guards one of our flanks from all possible turn, And irrigates forringe's nice litte farmi
In the middle of Mesopotamia. was the Victory won at DuaAILA- I heard of it first from a credulous sailor Who read it. in Better aboard his.
MEHALA On the Tigris, in Mesopotamia.
stands for the Wonder and pain during the war At the same time he
insane
scale for a minor operation than for a more important operation. The Admiralty alone was able to review the whole opera and found wanting, It must not, he tions of the war and maintain a uniform said, continue to exist. The India Office standard. If honours were to be worth One very noticeable feature of the de-3 was a perfect "apothassis of circumlocu- having it was necessary to maintain a bate was the warmth of the tributes paid ion and red-tape beyond the dreams of high standard in giving them. For these by the leading speakers to several of those any eritie" the Executive of India had reasons decorations were subject to the whose conduct bad been more severely broken down atterly, and the only way though desirable that the list received. review of the Admiralty. If it was impugned. Lord Hardinge's public ser to repair it was to render it more respon- vices were eulogised not only by Mr. sible to the people of India. When chal- from the Commander-in-Chief should be Chamberlain and Mr. Montagu. but also enged as to his ultimate goal, Mr. curtailed, the reductions were sent back by Sir Mark Sykes, who contributed, as Montagu said that he had visions not of to the Commander-in-Chief for his cou asual, one of the best sperches, and spoke singes system of Home Rules for Indin siceration. The decorations given for the with great personal feeling, as he debut of a series of self-governing pro Gallipoli operations were on a far more precated indulgenca in anger and revinces and principaiitjes, with a federated generous scale than that adopted with venge. General Nixon also found control. This was travelling far afield regard to any other raval operationa stout defender in Mr. Montagu, Sir Wil from Mesopotamia, but even route readily admitted that the Gallipoli opera hau. Baptie was championed by Sir show that was not so remote from the Henry Craik, who throw the blame of question at issue as inay at first sight tions were of unique and unprecedent- With which we regard the infirm and
ed character that it was. the medical breakdown on the cheese: appear. And Mr. Chamberlain himself
quite paring policy of Sir William Meyer. Eat told the House that the Government of possible that their
Brass hats who from Didis have botched i very special ferocious economy
is an old story in con india had sent home a suggested scheme features might not have been fully
the campaign nection with Indian medical administra of reform
recognized. The
Unfortunate Mesopotamia 5- suggestion
boys that tion. To make sure of getting a teaspoon- It fell, as has been said, to Mr. Balfour to have the time spent by them at sea. But, so far, there isn't a auit I've met
the Extras the Staff say we got, ful of anything
only way has, been to press for a gallon, Lord Hardinge was
to make the expected announcement that counted as a man's time when pension as the Government were ready to accept the came to be considered would, he had no
That attonits being "issted" with one- described by Mr. Montagu 我除 the most
of them yet popular Viceroy of recent years Mr. by special Act of Parliament, and he number of awards to officers of the naval
alternative of a Special Tribunal, set up doubt, receive consideration. The total Since banding in Mesopotami. Chamberlain said that it would be vil day if he were hounded out of public dressed himself to the congenial task forces during the war was 1.264 naval L For a passage to Basri, and further.
Vis the Yearning we feel every day life at the bidding of "an ignorant and of smoothing matters down. He agreed decorations in other ranks numbered 2,077. that it was natural that public opinion It was not the policy of the Admiralty should be excited by the publication of to promote ratings from the lower deck such E report by a Royal Commission, to the rank of commission officer merely Another speech of which due note must but indignation should never exceed strict on account of bravery, as other quali taken though it threatened to switch Justice, and there was a danger of the fications also were required in an officer. off the debate on to quite another set of public being, rushed over the cataract The number of men made mates since the rails was that in which Mr. Montagu and committing acts of gross injustice. beginning of the war was 213, as well as declared that the time had come for a So he had refused to acc:ps Lord Hard-H5 ngineer ratings, Up to the time of thorough remodelling of the whole system inge's twice offered resignation, and, the beginning of hostilities only Gimen of Indian Administration. "The old while he admired the spirit of Mr. Cham had ever been given the rank of wate as statute-ridden machinery of India, asberlain's action, he profoundly dissented a channel to becoming a commissioned
(Continued at foot of next wolumn.) from it,
the
passionate mob,"
INDIAN REFORM NEEDED.
ar
who had been in action should be allowed
officer.
away:
His Majesty's envoies elsewhere to alay
Elsewhere than in Mesopotanita. After much cogitation, I finally kit On a verse that this letter quite neatly would fit, But the Censor, who's jealous, deleted,
it-
Save the blessed word-MESOPOTABILA,
Rangoon Times.
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