'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎118v] (241/470)

220
Sari‘ah courts have been opened with a qadhi at Ramadi and naib-qadhis in.
the districts and all matters that come within their scope are referred to them.
Their findings are also referred for confirmation.
7. Education.— A municipal elementary school has been opened at Ramadi
and from 50 to 60 boys attend. It is a start, but properly trained teachers are
badly required.
The inhabitants of both Fallujah and Hit have also asked to have schools, but
any idea of opening them has had to be temporarily abandoned owing to the teacher
question. In the meantime in these two towns the local mudarris teach a certain
number to read and write.
There is a strong feeling that the schools should be free, based chiefly on the
fact that the schools were free in Turkish times.
8. Medical and Sanitation.— Civil dispensaries have been opened in Hit, Ram
adi and Fallujah. The services of a Medical Officer or a Sub-Assistant Surgeon are
lent by the A.D.M.S., 15th Division, and the dispensaries and attendants are supplied
by the Civil Administration. In addition to the treatment of minor ailments, a
considerable amount of vaccination has been carried out.
As well as having a good effect politically, they have been very useful in
reporting the outbreak of any epidemic. This has made it possible to take quick
measure to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Each of these towns is provided
with a sanitary section supervised by a British rank.
In Fallujah and Ramadi refuse is incinerated; but in Hit, owing to the value
of the refuse as manure to the garden owners, arrangements have been made to
sell it to them—garden owners being responsible for its quick removal.
Public latrines have been built in the towns and fines are taken in all cases of
public nuisance. Householders of obviously dirty houses are also fined.
In the bazaars measures are taken to see that all food that attracts flics is
properly covered and the inside of the shops are kept clean. It cannot be expected
that in such a short time the inhabitants should understand the necessity of
cleanliness as a preventive of disease, but there is no doubt that they appreciate a
clean town.
9. Police.— During the period that the blockade was all important, the town
police were abolished and their work was performed by shabanahs. This was
necessary so that there should not be two distinct bodies engaged on the same work.
As the necessity for the blockade ceases, the question of re-establishing the town
police as distinct from the shabanahs will have to be considered.
10 . Shabanahs.— In July, foot and mounted shabanahs were organised and
given uniforms. The police of Hit, Ramadi and Fallujah formed nucleus for the
foot shabanahs. B.O.R.s were obtained as instructors and in a very short time
a promising shabanah force was developed.
By means of the shabanahs it was possible to enforce a rigorous blockade, and
the reports received from outside the occupied area on the decrease in blockade
running were most encouraging. Necessity dictated that the force should be used
at once with very little training and some control was, therefore, required when
sending them out to enforce orders. The custom of always sending a trustworthy
B.O.R. with them has proved a success and has done a lot to steady them up. It
has also helped to teach the N.C.O.s their responsibilities.
In the intervals, training has gone on steadily, and in October it was found
possible to take over certain military guards.
... an Assistant Political Officer was appointed in
charge of shabanahs, and in the near future the various bodies at present working
direct under the orders of A.P.O.s should be linked together into a combined force
tor use m any portion of the Division.
The following military guards have been taken over :
Fallujah - - _
?? - - -
Railway police
Khan Nuqtah Muhammad Sa‘id
Radhwaniyah
Abu Ghuraib - -
Sirriyah Bund."
Survey Party, Hadithah. . —
- Supply Depot.
- Railway station.
- Dhibban.
- Railway stations.
- Anbars.