CAMPAIGN AGAINST TURKEY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2346, 31 December 1914, Page 5

CAMPAIGN AGAINST TURKEY

TURKS RETIRE WITH HEAVY LOSSES RUSSIANS TAKE MANY TURKISH PRISONERS Petrograd, December 29. A communique, states:—"We crossed the Laursing River in the direction of Olti, in Russian territory, 50 miles north-east of Erzeroum, and checked large forces. We also occupied the Khamour-Agariitz line south-east of Brzeroum, the Turks retiring with heavy losses, many beiiig taken prisoners." [Aganitz is close to Lake Van, at its north-eastern end.] NO DEVELOPMENTS ON'EGYPTIAN FRONTIER: : Cairo,. December 29. There is no development in the situation on the. eastern frontier. A few parties of Turks and Bedouins continue to wander aimlessly in,the eastern half of the Sinai Peninsula, hut at a long distance from the British outposts. | The reports of a Turkish railway into Sinai are sheer inventions. ' The Senussi show a friendly attitude to Egypt. AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ARMY CORPS. _ . Melbourne, December SO. The Defence Department has been advised f»m Cairo that General Birdwood's command will bo called for the present the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.. . ■ ' ' STIMULATING TURKISH WAR FEVER, (Rec. December 80, 5 p.m.) London, December 29. The' Turks assert that the prophet has brought the holy_ _ standard ' to Damascus. The announcement was_ made amid the greatest rejoicings^ Five thousand volunteers in Syria are marching against the British, who are alleged to have advanced to Bagdad.—("Times" ' and Sydney "Sun" Services.) ■ > YOUNG TURKS' PARTY AND THE WAR. (Rec. December 30, 9 p.m.) '-•''■'"."'}■ London, December 30. The "Daily Telegraph's" Athens correspondent says- Talaat Bey (Minister of the Interior) has headed an anti-German section of the Young Turks, and is reported to be really the mouthpiece of the Young Turks' Committco, which is secretly contemplating separation from Germany in the event of Turkey's war taking a bad'turn. . RUSSIANS TAKE THE OFFENSIVE. .'.'.: (Rec. December SO, 9.55 p.m.) ' -i ' ' Petrograd, December 30. Official. —The Russians have assumed the offensive, in the Oiminsk region in the Caucasus, and have occupied Merdenek. near Sari Kamish. Wo repulsed Turkish attacks in tho direction of Khorosan. The Turks are committing atrocities on inoffensives, and entire villages have been massacred.