http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/baghdad_candler.htm
The Fall of Baghdad by Edmund Candler, Manchester Guardian,
16 March 1917
Our vanguard entered Baghdad soon after nine o'clock this morning. The
city is approached by an unmetalled road between palm groves and
orange gardens.
Crowds of Baghdadis came out to meet us: Persians, Krabe, Jew,
Armenians, Chaldeans and Christians of diverse sects and races. They
lined the streets, balconies and roofs, hurrahing and clapping their
hands. Groups of schoolchildren danced in front of us, shouting and
cheering, and the women of the city turned out in their holiday
dresses.
The people of the city have been robbed to supply the Turkish army for
the last two years. The oppression was becoming unendurable, and
during the last week it degenerated into brigandage. I am told that
the mere mention of the British was punishable, and the people were
afraid to talk freely about the war.
It appears that the enemy abandoned all hope of saving the city when
we effected the crossing of the Tigris on February 23. After that
date, the Turkish government requisitioned private merchandise
wholesale, and despatched it by train to Samara. Thirty or forty
thousand pounds worth of stuff is believed to have been officially
looted, including five thousand sacks of flour.
The German Consul left weeks ago, and the Austrian two days since. The
bridge of boats, the Turkish army clothing factory and Messrs Lynch's
offices were blown up or otherwise destroyed last night, and the
railway station, the Civil Hospital and most British property except
the Residency, which had been used as a Turkish hospital, were either
gutted or damaged.
As soon as the gendarmery left at two o'clock this morning, Kurds and
others began looting. As we entered from the east this morning, they
were rifling, and among the first citizens we met were merchants who
had run out to crave our protection.
Regiments were detailed to police, the bazaar, and houses and pickets
and patrols were allotted, but there was much that it was too late to
save. Many shops had been gutted, and the valuables had all been
cleared. The rabble was found busily engaged in dismantling the
interiors, tearing down bits of wood and iron and carrying off
bedsteads. They had even looted the seats from the public gardens.
Our entry was very easy and unofficial, and it was clear that the joy
of the people was genuine. No functionaries came out to meet us. There
was still fear of reprisals. Our own attitude was characteristic.
There was no display, or attempt at creating an impression.
The troops entered, dusty and unshaven, after several days hard
fighting. Fighting between the 7th and 10th had been heavy, and
extraordinary gallantry was shown in crossing the Diala river.
Source: Source Records of the Great War, Vol. V, ed. Charles F. Horne,
National Alumni 1923
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