'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎80v] (165/470)

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A.P.O., Town, relates that one of the former was ignored in highly contemptuous
manner because it was facing Mecca. In September a contract was made for the
cleaning of the streets by means of 30 sweepers and 15 donkeymen at Rs. 1,200/- per
mensem. It has been impossible to build a sufficient number of latrines owing
to the scarcity of materials, and it is hopeless to expect the people to refrain from
insanitary practices until latrines are provided.
Early in December the G.O.C. area “ counted two and seventy stenches, all
well-defined, and several stinks,” and forthwith ordered a committee to meet
immediately and submit a scheme to be executed forthwith. A scheme was prepared
with Military promptitude, but an inquiry as to what funds were to bear the cost
has received no reply. It is unlikely that any more will be heard of the proposals.
The question of sanitation must be taken in hand before long, but it is useless
to try to rush the matter. Inquiries should be made from other towns, both in
order to ascertain what methods have proved successful, and to avoid ill-considered
expenditure and waste of money. The municipality is none too wealthy; demands
on its resources will increase in the near future, and it is essential that its funds be
not frittered away on systems that further experience would condemn. The people
have hardly heard of sanitation, and the idea is not popular. Given time, they
will probably appreciate the advantages of cleanliness, and it is far more politic
and more effective to go slowly with public opinion than to dragoon the inhabitants.
As for hustling the East, the end of the fight is a tombstone white. I am informed
that pit latrines have been found the most suitable to the country, and they have
the advantage that they are of a kind known to the people. I propose to make
inquiries on the point. I do not like incinerators. They require a constant supply
of fuel, and diligent supervision, and the fumes they discharge render them naturally
unpopular with those unfortunate enough to live in their vicinity. If proper
arrangements could be made, I would prefer the institution of trenching grdunds,
which, incidentally, form a valuable source of revenue.
The indigeneous system of sanitation consists in pits inside the houses. These
are cleaned out at long intervals; a wealthy citizen informed me proudly that his
pit required cleaning only once in a 100 years. Captain Livesey remarks : “ The
roads have a central system of drainage into pits, which are several feet deep, bricked
up round the sides, with a small opening on the road surface. These have given
way sometimes and caused trouble in repairs, but they serve their purpose well
enough in those streets which are free from animal traffic, and with an occasional
dose of strong disinfectant they are not really objectionable. The same system
in the courtyards of the houses is much worse, owing to the large amount of water
poured into them, and their being confined by the four sides of the house. In
billets taken, these are being treated with strong disinfectant and they are then
sealed up.”
9. Police. —The Civil Police were formed in April with a sanctioned strength
of one inspector and 22 N.C.O.s and men. An Arab head constable was sent from
Baghdad, and the men were given a certain amount of infantry drill. The force
is supposed to effect arrests, serve summonses, and provide a day and night guard
at the baladiyah; but arrests are seldom required, there are few summonses, and
the guard at the baladiyah is unnecessary. At present the men are principally
used to catch offenders against sanitary rules, a duty which they perform without
conspicuous success. The police are quartered in the baladiyah, some little distance
from the A.P.O.’s office; which is unfortunate, but unavoidable in view of the lack
of accommodation.
A Police force of some sort is necessary, but in the present circumstances it
is difficult to exercise a proper control and to prevent those acts of oppression
which generally render an Oriental Police so unpopular. The future of the Police
must largely depend on the use to which it is intended to put the Shabanah but
the time has not yet come for the institution of Police stations or posts outside
the town, and certainly Police should not be habitually employed among the tribes
As a magistrate, an A.P.O. feels the want of an investigating staff which might
on occasion be employed in the villages as well as in the town. Criminal cases
are never sent up by mamurs in a, proper state, and the local inquiry made by them
is generally useless. One or two trained inspectors would be of considerable utility
but it would be necessary to exercise the greatest care in supervision and I would
prefer that the appointment of such officials be postponed until proVision can be
made for a British Police officer, preferably drawn from the Indian Police who
are familiar with the peculiar difficulties and dangers of the work. British s ? uper-