TILE DOG RIVER INSCRIPTIONS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
Sta,—Mr. Thompson is right in stating that the inscription at the Dog River, Syria, mentions only the XXIst Corps and " a detachment of French troops." I give below the actual text of the inscription, which is incised in the rock in plain Roman characters :— THE XXI. BRITISH ARMY CORPS WITH LE DETACHMENT FRANCAIS DE PALESTINE ET SYRIE OCCUPIED BEIRUT AND TRIPOLI
OCTOBER 1918 A.D.
The above inscription is enclosed in a fancy panel, with a shamrock leaf in the centre above the inscription, three of whose leaflets contain a " VII." and the fourth and lowest leaflet the word "corps."
Another inscription in Gothic characters states :- THE BRITISH DESERT MOUNTED CORPS AIDED BY - THE ARAB FORCES OF KING HUSSEIN CAPTURED DAMASCUS. HOMS AND ALLEPPO
OCTOBER 1918.
It is to be regretted that the two English inscriptions, unlike the French inscription and the Egyptian and Assyrian ones at the same spot, do not mention the name of the King, nor the regiments which took part in the occupation. The names of people and regiments would have a far greater interest to posterity than " The XXI. Corps," which barely conveys any- thing to the minds of those who have not served in it. A historical inscription should give as much information as possible,ris it might outlast our civilization and other civiliza-
tions following it.—I am, Sir, &c., ERNEST MACKAY. Carmel House, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Palestine, February 5th.
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