Manual Arts High School - Artisan Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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SENIORS

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T H E A R T I S A N S ' 3 1 The Cairo-Bagdad Air Mail Bv X ' ennie Abdullah HE STEADY DROVE OF AIRPLANE MOTORS over the vast Syrian deserts seem strangely out of harmony with the cultural background of these countries. But the march of civilization is steady even there. There is an airmail track between those ancient, romantic cities of Cairo and Bagdad covering S66 miles, operated by Britain. The route starts at Hinaidi, a few miles from B.agdad, Per.sia, and many ])laces of biblical significance are on the route. i amadi is the first stop after leaving the little hangar at Miniadi. South of Ramadi is a bizarre lake of strangely different qualities and colors of water. After that the dreaded desert confronts the pilot. The only oasis on the desert of Egypt deserving mention is Kasr Kharana, about 300 miles from Ramadi. It, is one of the outposts of the ancient Roman empire, standing like a sentinel on the desert. Near Ziza, the next stop, is Mt. Nebo, from which Moses viewed the promised land. Here British squadrons take that part of the mail bound for Palestine, and the Cairo-Bagdad plane continues on its way with its precious burden. Some miles out from Ziza is Jehovah ' s Rest where perhaps God rested the seventh day when He made the world. The plane finally arrives at Heliopolis after crossing the Judaean Hills, the Dead Sea Peninsula, and the Suez Canal. The probable location of the place where Lot ' s wife was turned tcj a pillar of salt is near Heliopolis, a few miles from Cairo. Usually the Stjf) miles are covered in thirteen hours. Pilots who undertake to carry mail over this route do so at greater risk of their lives than those carrying mail in many other parts of the world. The Cairo-Bagdad route is the result of many years of scientific exploration. But yet there is room for imi rovement. Large plateaus of limestone, quartz and basalt, a very hard black volcanic rock, stretch in every direction. These geo- graphical conditions have their advantages as well as their disadvantages. Fre - quently, sandstorms occur, playing havoc with the motors and increasing the hazard of l)ecoming lost. Even in fair weather the fear of becoming lost among a few quarreling Bedouin tribes is unnerving to the British pilots. Lack of water forbids many refueling stations on the desert. The British Go ernment has conceived the idea of burying huge gasoline tanks in the sands. However, these tanks are subject to the depredations of the Bedouins, who rob not for the gasoline, but for the useless metal. Summer weather does not permit carrying heavy loads, as in the winter. Since the summer temperature is about 110 degrees in the shade, selection of the wood in the construction of planes, and various instruments must be made with the utmost of care. Air mail in such comparatively slow countries as Egypt, Persia, Palestine, and Syria is but one example of the sweeijing effect of the spirit of Modernism. That spirit is forward ever, backward . . . never !

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10 T H E A R T I S A N S • 3 1 But of what significance is all this carrying of mail over this route? Surely the monetary returns are not enticing to the British Government. The ansvi ' er is, briefly, this : Cairo and Bagdad were at one time centers of rich civilization. Those two cities are rapidly experiencing a change, which is bringing commercial returns to the English coffers. Britain has hopes, and rightfully so. Then too, the recalcitrant India has long been a thorn in Britain ' s side, and India must be watched. And what city is a better strategic point than Bagdad ? What medium is better than the airplane in keeping watch? Perhaps you are now wondering wh} ' they should carry mail in particular to accomplish these ends. An unwritten law is involved in that thought. We are modernists, but we fall back on an ancient faith. It is a faith that has withstood the most horrible of wars, plagues, and catastrophes. An example of this faith is in a letter. A message, however brief, is a sacred thing to those isolated from their loved ones. All countries recognize that fact. This unwritten law re- ferred to is that come what may, we will carry your mail. And the ancient spirit of loyalty referred to is mankind keeping faith with one another, this time through the mail, using the airplane as a medium. The Cairo-Bagdad Air Mail is an evidence of Great Britain ' s Modernism. She is gaining power by following high aspirations, fighting opposing forces in her colonial empire and at home. Britain copes with Oriental and iModernistic India. Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian leader of the peaceful resistance of the masses will yet share in Britain ' s work and responsibility in India. In Africa education is awakening the black people. They have new thoughts and aspirations. It is recognized and feared by Britain that thoughts take form in action. China ' s growth too has become a problem to England. Many banks and some cities have lived in security because of British Arms. The feeling is growing among the yellow p)eople that such holdings as these coupled with the rights of extra-ter- ritoriall} ' are drawbacks. Sun Yat Sen ' s teachings of Chinese salvation are begin- ning to bear fruit. More important than her troubles abroad are her difficulties at home. Millions are unemployed in England ; the dole does not seem to remedy matters. Lloyd George ' s Labor Party promised to ameliorate if not eliminate unemployment. Affairs are now worse, with the Labor Party holding the responsibility. Too, there are war debts to be paid. Rest assured that England will survive the crisis. Ramsey McDonald and Lloyd George are too clever to permit the result to be otherwise. It is only natural for nations to attempt an adjustment in harmony with Modernism. That is the spirit of this graduating class. As we run the gamut of vicissitudes of fortune, we shall always be struggling Forward ever, backward . . . never!