'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎208r] (420/470)

Telegraph Office.—Owing to the shortage of man-power, the military telegraphists
were withdrawn at the beginning of September, and a telephone with a connection
on to the Kut exchange was installed. The arrangement has worked quite well.
CJp to the present Qahat Sikar and Shatrah remain unconnected. Qal‘at Sikar
is in telephonic communication with Hai and Kut, while Shatrah has a telegraph
line to Nasiriyah.
Post Office .—An extra-departmental post office was opened about the middle
of December. The political office head clerk officiates as postmaster in addition
to his ordinary duties. A tri-weekly postal service has been instituted between
Qal‘at Sikar and Shatrah, by means of the Muntafiq Horse. Up to the present
the arrangement has been working quite well.
V,
(b) Karradi .—The cleanliness of Karradi is due to the energy of Yasir, one
of the Muntafiq Horse Squadron Commanders. When first I visited Karradi, in
April of this year, the filth was revolting and the lack of interest pitiful. On
returning in June I found everything altered. The contrast was as striking as it
was pleasing. Yasir had worked like a Trojan. The bazaar and streets were
thoroughly cleaned, shelters had been built for shops, deep pits were being filled
in and the whole atmosphere of the town had undergone a complete change. Then,
and afterwards in Qahat Sikar, Yasir’s work was excellent and 1 have much pleasure
in placing his good work on record.
Shortly after my arrival Shaikh Hamid al Soz was appointed Mudir of Karradi
and has worked well. He naturally attempted to extend his influence beyond the
town, but this was only to be expected, as his tribal influence is considerable. It
was pointed out to him that Karradi alone came under his jurisdiction and no further
trouble was experienced.
Shaikh Hamid has continued the good work commenced by Yasir and the
town is wonderfully clean.
Karradi has been organised as a proper baladiyah with its mukhtars, police,
sweepers, rates, and taxes, and other benefits of a township. The shops and houses
have all been numbered, and on my last visit I found Shaikh Hamid busily engaged
in strengthening and heightening the bund along the river front. This work was
of urgent necessity and has been well carried out.
(c) Suwaij Shijar .—On two occasions last June I attempted to visit Suwaij,
but each time my launch broke down and the attempt has been given up. On the
day of my departure for Shatrah I temporarily appointed Shaikh ‘Atiyah’s son
as Mudir on probation. I afterwards found that the lad was useless and his
appointment could not be confirmed.
Suwaij now boasts of a baladiyah organisation with one Saqban as rais
baladiyah. Saqban is a very capable man, and takes a keen delight in keeping the
small town scrupulously clean. 1 was much struck, on my last visit, by his keenness.
Saqban deserves every encouragement.
Suwaij Shijar will grow considerably on account of its being the junction of
the various caravan routes. Caravans from Hai, Persia, ‘Amarah and Shatrah
all call at Suwaij before proceeding across the desert to Ifaj en route for Najaf and
Karbala. While at Suwaij I was astonished to see the number of corpses which
were being brought into tne town. Generally these corpses are deposited in the
town for a night or so before being taken on to Najaf. This did not strike me as
being a particularly healthy practice, so I immediately ordered the construction
of a small mortuary on the outskirts of the town. This is not yet complete.
I also noticed a very menacing tower about 400 yards outside the town on
the main desert road. Enquiries elicited the fact that this tower was occasionally
used by highwaymen as a fine point of vantage from which caravans could be held
up. I immediately ordered the demolition of the tower. The wood from its roof
provided the material for the roofing of the mortuary.
7 . Judicial. —A town majlis was formed in June last, with Shaikh ‘Atiyah
as the leading member. The majlis has done good work and is exceptionally useful
as an investigating and advisory body. The majority of the judicial cases are so
very closely concerned with tribesmen that the Tribal, Criminal, and Civil Disputes
Regulation is invariably followed. If one can judge from the cases disposed of
during the last six months, it will be some long while before Civil Court methods
can be adopted. At first, cases of murder, robbery and debt—some dating back
50 years—simply poured in; but a ruling was obtained from the Political Officer,