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War in the Garden of Eden

By Kermit Roosevelt

Summary of War in the Garden of Eden

The book is a personal account of the author's experiences during World War I in Mesopotamia. The author travels from Taranto to Busra and then up the Tigris River to Baghdad, passing through various towns and cities, and encounters different cultures, including Arabs, Turks, and Indians. The author joins the Royal Engineers and participates in military operations, including the capture of Tekrit and the pursuit of Turkish forces. The author also visits ancient cities, such as Babylon, and reflects on the history and significance of the region. The book provides a detailed and personal account of the author's experiences, including descriptions of the people, places, and events encountered during the journey. The author later joins the American army and is appointed as a captain of field artillery, and participates in the advance into Germany. The book concludes with the author's reflections on the war and their eventual return home. Throughout the book, the author provides vivid descriptions of the geography and climate of the region, the devastation of war, and the challenges faced by the army, including harsh weather conditions, lack of supplies, and difficulty navigating the terrain. The author also highlights the importance of armored cars and the role they played in the military operations. Overall, the book is a unique and personal account of the author's experiences during World War I in Mesopotamia and beyond.

Chapter Summary of War in the Garden of Eden

War in the Garden of Eden

The chapter describes the author's journey to Mesopotamia during World War I. The author travels from Taranto to Busra, and then up the Tigris River to Baghdad, passing through various towns and cities, including Amara and Samarra. Along the way, the author encounters different cultures, including Arabs, Turks, and Indians, and observes the devastation of war. The author also describes the geography and climate of the region, including the desert landscape and the Tigris River. The author joins the Royal Engineers and participates in military operations, including a raid on the Turkish forces at Daur and the capture of Tekrit. The author also visits the ancient city of Babylon and reflects on the history and significance of the region. Throughout the chapter, the author provides vivid descriptions of the people, places, and events encountered during the journey.

Kermit Roosevelt

The chapter describes the author's journey to Mesopotamia during World War I, where he joined the Royal Engineers and participated in military operations. The author travels from Taranto to Busra and then up the Tigris River to Baghdad, passing through various towns and cities. He encounters different cultures, including Arabs, Turks, and Indians, and observes the devastation of war. The author also describes the geography and climate of the region, including the desert landscape and the Tigris River. He visits the ancient city of Babylon and reflects on the history and significance of the region. Throughout the chapter, the author provides vivid descriptions of the people, places, and events encountered during his journey. The author also discusses the military operations, including the capture of Tekrit and the pursuit of the Turkish forces. He describes the challenges faced by the army, including the harsh weather conditions, the lack of supplies, and the difficulty of navigating the terrain. The author also highlights the importance of the armored cars and the role they played in the military operations. Overall, the chapter provides a detailed and personal account of the author's experiences during World War I in Mesopotamia.

Captain Motor Machine-Gun Corps British Expeditionary Forces Captain Field Artillery American Expeditionary Forces

The chapter describes the author's journey to Mesopotamia during World War I, where he joined the Royal Engineers and participated in military operations. The author travels from Taranto to Busra and then up the Tigris River to Baghdad, passing through various towns and cities. He encounters different cultures, including Arabs, Turks, and Indians, and observes the devastation of war. The author also describes the geography and climate of the region, including the desert landscape and the Tigris River. He visits the ancient city of Babylon and reflects on the history and significance of the region. The author participates in military operations, including the capture of Tekrit and the pursuit of the Turkish forces. He also highlights the importance of the armored cars and the role they played in the military operations. The chapter provides a detailed and personal account of the author's experiences during World War I in Mesopotamia.

OFF FOR MESOPOTAMIA

The chapter describes the author's journey to Mesopotamia during World War I. The author travels from Taranto to Busra and then up the Tigris River to Baghdad, passing through various towns and cities, including Amara and Samarra. Along the way, the author encounters different cultures, including Arabs, Turks, and Indians, and observes the devastation of war. The author joins the Royal Engineers and participates in military operations, including the capture of Tekrit and the pursuit of Turkish forces. The author also visits ancient cities, such as Babylon, and reflects on the history and significance of the region. The chapter provides a detailed and personal account of the author's experiences during World War I in Mesopotamia, including descriptions of the people, places, and events encountered during the journey.

THE TIGRIS FRONT

The chapter describes the author's experiences on the Tigris Front during World War I. The author is attached to the Royal Engineers and participates in military operations, including a raid on the Turkish forces at Daur and the capture of Tekrit. The author also describes the geography and climate of the region, including the desert landscape and the Tigris River. The author visits ancient cities, such as Samarra, and reflects on the history and significance of the region. The author also discusses the military operations, including the use of armored cars and the role of the political officers in maintaining order in the conquered territory. The author's duties take them on long rides through the desert, where they encounter various cultures and witness the devastation of war. The author also describes the challenges faced by the army, including the harsh weather conditions and the difficulty of navigating the terrain.

PATROLLING THE RUINS OF BABYLON

The chapter describes the author's experiences patrolling the ruins of Babylon in Mesopotamia during World War I. The author is attached to the Royal Engineers and participates in military operations, including raids and reconnaissance missions. They use armored cars, known as Lam cars, which are Rolls-Royces with armor-plate, to patrol the area and gather intelligence. The author also interacts with local Arabs, including a native mounted police force, and visits various towns, including Kerbela and Hilleh. They observe the local culture, including the bazaars, coffee-houses, and games, and note the challenges of communicating with the locals due to language barriers. The author also reflects on the history and significance of the region, including the ancient city of Babylon and the prophecies of Isaiah.

SKIRMISHES AND RECONNAISSANCES ALONG THE KURDISH FRONT

The chapter describes the author's experiences along the Kurdish front in Mesopotamia during World War I. The author is attached to the Royal Engineers and participates in military operations, including skirmishes and reconnaissance missions. They use armored cars, known as Lam cars, to patrol the area and gather intelligence. The author interacts with local Arabs, including a native mounted police force, and visits various towns, including Deli Abbas and Kizil Robat. They observe the local culture, including the bazaars, coffee-houses, and games, and note the challenges of communicating with the locals due to language barriers. The author also reflects on the history and significance of the region, including the ancient city of Babylon and the prophecies of Isaiah. The chapter provides a detailed and personal account of the author's experiences during World War I in Mesopotamia, including descriptions of the people, places, and events encountered during the journey.

THE ADVANCE ON THE EUPHRATES

The chapter describes the author's experiences during the advance on the Euphrates front in Mesopotamia during World War I. The author is attached to the Royal Engineers and participates in military operations, including the capture of Tekrit and the pursuit of Turkish forces. The author also visits ancient cities, such as Babylon, and reflects on the history and significance of the region. The author notes the challenges faced by the army, including the harsh weather conditions, the lack of supplies, and the difficulty of navigating the terrain. The author also highlights the importance of the armored cars and the role they played in the military operations. The chapter provides a detailed and personal account of the author's experiences during World War I in Mesopotamia, including descriptions of the people, places, and events encountered during the journey.

BAGHDAD SKETCHES

The chapter describes the author's experiences in Baghdad, where he spent time with various locals, including Arabs, Kurds, and Armenians. He visited the city's bazaars, attended a play at an Arab theatre, and interacted with people from different walks of life. The author also met with notable figures, such as Oscar Heizer, the American consul, and Hamdi Bey Baban, a Kurdish chief. He discussed the local culture, history, and politics, and reflected on the city's unique character. Additionally, the author described his time with the Light Armored Motor Battery and his role in the military operations, including the advance on the Kurdish front and the capture of Tuz Khurmatli. The chapter concludes with the author's departure from Baghdad and his journey to France, where he joined the American army and was appointed as a captain of field artillery.

THE ATTACK ON THE PERSIAN FRONT

The chapter describes the author's experiences during the attack on the Persian Front, where they were part of the Light Armored Motor Battery. The author recounts their journey to the front, the challenges they faced, and the battles they fought. They also describe the scenery, the people they met, and the cultures they encountered. The author reflects on the difficulties of communicating with the locals due to language barriers and the importance of paying for goods and services to maintain a good reputation. The chapter also touches on the author's personal life, including their transfer to the American army and their eventual departure from Mesopotamia. The author then describes their journey to France, where they joined the American Expeditionary Forces, and their experiences during the war, including the armistice and the occupation of Germany. The chapter concludes with the author's reflections on their time in the war and their eventual return home.

BACK THROUGH PALESTINE

The chapter describes the author's journey back through Palestine after being transferred to the American army. The author travels from Baghdad to Busra, where they board a ship to Egypt. They spend time in Alexandria, where they meet notable figures such as General Allenby and Colonel Lawrence. The author also visits Jerusalem, where they meet Colonel Ronald Storrs, the military governor, and explores the city's historic sites, including the Mosque of Omar. The author then boards a Japanese destroyer, the Umi, which escorts a convoy of ships through the Mediterranean. The author reflects on their experiences in Mesopotamia and the contrast between the war-torn regions and the peacefulness of the sea journey. Eventually, the author arrives in France, where they are assigned to the artillery school at Saumur. They undergo training and are later assigned to the Seventh Field Artillery in the Argonne fighting. The author describes their experiences during the war, including the armistice and the occupation of Germany. The chapter concludes with the author's reflections on their time in the war and their eventual return home.

WITH THE FIRST DIVISION IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

The chapter describes the author's experiences with the First Division in France and Germany during World War I. The author is transferred to the American army and appointed as a captain of field artillery. They attend the artillery school at Saumur, where they learn about French guns and tactics. The author is then assigned to the Seventh Field Artillery in the Argonne fighting and participates in the advance into Germany. They describe the devastation of the war-torn areas and the reception they receive from the German civilians, who are often servile and fawning. The author also notes the differences between the French and German systems of defense and the conditions of the roads and infrastructure. The chapter concludes with the author's reflections on the war and their eventual return home.