"مذكرات الحرب. مقر قيادة الجيش، الهند. [...] قوة المشاة الهندية «د». المجلد ٣٧. الجزء I. (من ١ إلى ١٥ أغسطس ١٩١٧.)" [و‎‎١‎٠‎٤] (٤٨٨/٢١٢)

When military operations result in the occupation of an enemy’s country,
it is necessary to continue the civil administration of that country and it is laid
down that this should be done by a Military Governor. Usually the high
officials of the former Government have fled. These are replaced by officers
holding military rank who are called Military Governors and Deputy Military
Governors.
This town is divided into two parts, Baghdad East and Baghdad West*
each of which is under a Deputy Military Governor, who under the direction of
the Military Governor carry on the Government of their areas. In addition^ to
these two Deputy Military Governors, the Military Governor has the following
Staff, viz. :—a Medical Officer, a Sanitary Officer and Assistant Provost Marshal,
a Deputy Commissioner of Police, a Deputy Assistant Adjutant and. Quarter
master-General and a Staff Captain. He is responsible for the carrying out ot
all orders of the Army Commander referring to the civil population, .he is
President of the Municipality, (which is managed by the Deputy Military
Governor of Baghdad East) , and is President of the Economic Board which
assembles from time to time to consider commercial and economic questions
affecting the town. He is also Chief Magistrate, in which duty he is assisted
by the Deputy Military Governors.
For keeping order in the town a force of Military Police is commandedi by
the Provost Marshal. There is also a force of Civil Police and night watchmen
who are under the orders of the Deputy Commissioner of Police and his staff.
A Eire Brigade is in course of formation and at present consists of two
trained British firemen and 26 locally-engaged men. A number of fire engines
and ladders have been ordered from England.
Eor the sanitation of the town (probably one of the most important
improvements effected since the British occupation) there is a force consisting
of 1 Chief Inspector, 3 Sub-Inspectors, 50 Sergeants, 202 sweepers, 202 donkey-
boys and donkeys and 27 bhistis. These are engaged locally but their work is
controlled by a Sanitary Section.
In addition to the ordinary duties of Civil Government, the Military
Governor has to carry out the quartering of all troops stationed in the town.
He has to affix the assessment of rents and of compensation for such demolh
tions as are carried out for military reasons or for the good of the town.
The whole Government machinery of Turkey, such as the Civil and Penal
Codes, the regulation of the Customs, and the Administration of Justice, has
been studied by European experts for many years. The Ambassadors of
various European countries have succeeded in getting alterations made from
time to time. As a result, the machinery is good, where the Turks have
failed so lamentably is in setting it to work.
One item which was found particularly to have been neglected is the
administration of Poor Relief. Since the British occupation separate Poor
Relief Committees have been formed for each Community and all money accru
ing from fines inflicted by the Courts is periodically divided up between the
various committees. Considerable sums have also been received from outside
sources.
As far as maintaining order and the administration of justice is concerned^
it is found that the population of Baghdad is very well-behaved, and, con
sidering the large population, there is little crime.
A regular registration has been instituted for the assessment of house pro
perty and a special committee is assessing the rents to be paid for houses or
premises occupied by troops or Government officials.
All Hotels, Restaurants and barber’s shops are under the control of Mili
tary Government and are, when suitable, given licenses to cater for the
troops.
Already certain facilities have been granted to merchants to enable them
to export and import and every encouragement is given to persons who wish to
build shops or rebuild those demolished by the Turks.
Special attention has been paid by the Staff of the Military Governor to
the cleaning and lighting of the streets, improvement of roads and control of
the markets, and the building up of the municipal finances by the application
of municipal taxes. The roads are getting better every day, but at present,
there being no road metal, it is only by daily watering that their surface can
be kept in fair condition.