AYLMER'S MARCH TO KUT-EL-AMARA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2672, 19 January 1916, Page 5

AYLMER'S MARCH TO KUT-EL-AMARA

. AN OFFICIAL PROGRESS REPORT OPERATIONS HAMPERED BY CONTINUED BAD WEATHER 1 ■ By Teleemiili—Pro3a Association—Copyright London, January 17. Mr. Austen Chamberlain (Secretary of State for. India), speaking in tho House of Commons, said that after the Turks seemed to be retiring on tho 11th, they advanced on the 12th to the. Waddi position. Telegrams from General Townshend were received to the morning of the 15th, and from Colonel Aylmer to the morning of the 16th. The telegrams showed that Colonel Kemball's column was on the right hank ou the 13th, holding a Turkish division, while Colonel Aylmer was pressing hack two divisions on the loft bank. There was continuous fighting on tho 13th, when the enemy retired. Colonel Aylmer moved his headquarters and motor transport to the - mouth of tho Waddi. ' The wholf\ Waddi position was captured on tho 15th. The enemy's rearguard has taken'up a position at Essim, six miles east of Kut-el-Amara. The weather is seriously hampering Colonel Aylmer's pursuit, and, unfortunately, it continues had. All the wounded are being sent down tho river. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Tho.High Commissioner reports:— London, January 17, 4.25 p.m. "In the House of Commons Mr. Austen Chamberlain (Secretary of State for India) announced that General Aylmer reported on Friday that the enemy was retiring. _ On Saturday the , whole of the Waddi position was captured, the enemy retiring sis miles to the east Kut-el-Amara, where he occupies a position at Essin. General Aylmer reports that the position has been hampered by bad weather." [Note—Hitherto the cablegrams have mentioned Aylmer as an officer of the rank of colonel, but to-day's report from the High Commissioner refers to him as General Aylmer. It is hardly likely that a colonel would be in command of such important operations. The Press Association message, published as received, refers to him as Colonel Aylmer.] LATEST TIDINGS OF TOWNSHEND'S FORCE. (Rec. January 18, 5.40 p.m.) London, January 17. The latest news of General Townshend's force is contained in to-day's. Turkish communique, which states that an, intermittent artillery duel continues at Kut-el-Amara. Tho Russians at Kermanshah are now. two hundred miles distant, partly across desert country, from Kut-el-Amara. TURKS LOSING HEAVILY. London, January 17. The correspondent of the British Press at the Tigris Expedition Headquarters telegraphs from Basra, stating that the 600 prisoners captured at Sheik Shad represented four regiments. They state that they lost SO per ccnt. of their strength, and that largo numbers deserted. The enemy's force, included several thousands of mounted Arab irregulars. Two Turkish divisions which wore fighting on the Tigris wore exterminated and reconstituted during tho war. The Turks are equipped with Gorman tools, water-bottles, and rifles, and German officers aro leading them. General von der Goltz inspected the position at Kut-el-Amara. THE BATTLE OF CTESIPHON TOLD BY A BRITISH OFFICER. London, January 17. An officer, writing from Mesopotamia, says:—Tho operations of the last few months though the outside world heard littlo of our doings, have,become a full-fledged part of the main theatre operations. After the capture of Kut-el-Amara the Turks were nervous for the safety of Bagdad, and sent strong roinforcomonts against the steady British advance from Basra. Our forces for the last three months have been in continuous touch with the enemy, and have fought several minor actions, the last being the battle of Ctesiphon, when we drove out four divisions of Turks from a strong position, inflicting heavy losses. This hard-fought action will rant; as one of the greatest battles of tho Indian Army. Tho troops, emaciated _by tho terrible hot weather, and wearied by tho incessant.work and fighting, boldly faccd enormous odds. The Turks' main positions at Ctesiphon wore situated on both sides of tho river. A rapid retirement mostly prevented the British gel ting to closo quarters. Arabs hung about our flanks and sniped from a safe distance. Whatever were our losses, those of the Turks were more severe. They fought stubbornly to the end, knowing that an attempt to escape over open ground would be instant death. The trenches wero full of their dead, and piles of men showed where 'a lucky shell had fallen.

THE .BRITISH COMMANDS IN THE NEAR EAST. (Roc. January 18, 5.40 p.m.) London, January 17. In tho House of Commons, m reply to further questions regarding the jn'imniiders in tho Near East, Mr. Austen Chamberlain said that General lixon was still in Mesopotamia, and that Glenoral Lake (who succeeds to the Dmmantl) was expected to arrive shortly. Sir Archibald Murray had succeed[l Sir Charles Jlonro in tlio Eastern Mediterranean, and Sir John Maxwell's jrcc in Egypt formed part of Sir Archibald Murray's command. THE PENDING CONFLICT AT SALONIKA BOTH SIDES STEADILY MASSING TROOPS . London, January 17. The "Petit Parisien" that the enemy on tho Greek frontier has inreascd to 250,000. The Britisk are landing reinforcements continuously at Salonika. DESTROYING THE RAILWAY APPROACHES. Athens, January 17. The British blew up KiMndir and other railway stations, and destroyed the ailway from Kilindir to Domirhissar. ARCTIC STORMS IN THE BALKANS. (Red. January 18, 8.50 p.m.) London, January 17. A dispatch from Salonika states that violent winds and snowstorms have plunged Macedonia and Lower Serbia into Arctic conditions, necessitating a suspension of the Bulgarian concentration on the frontier. The roads are impassable. ENEMY TRYING TO CONCEAL NEXT MOVE. (Rec. January 18, 5.40 p.m.). London, January 17. Messages from Berlin, Sofia, and Constantinople indicate that the enemy's lesire is to confuse tho Allies regarding their next attack, which may be on Salonika, Mesopotamia, or Egypt. GERMAN GENERAL ON THE OUTLOOK. London, January 17. General von Blume, in an articlo in the German Press, says: "The enemy, who lost precious weeks at GaUipoli, aio now establishing themselves behind trenches at Salonika, the same as at Gallipoli. Their purpose is not clear, as it seems that nobody at present is threatening an' attack. It is hardly advisable for them to assume the offensive, especially, since there is no prospect of foreign help." ' GERMAN AEROPLANE SCOUTS BROUGHT DOWN. 1 Salonika, January 17. British guns brought down a German aeroplane which was flying over the Allies' lines. Both the airrnon were killed. , CUSTODY OF PRISONERS OF WAR. _ Milan, January 17. Britain, France, Bulgaria, and Greece_ have signed;an agreement at Athens that Bulgarians, British, and French soldiers taken prisoner on Greek soil will be handed;over to tho Greek forces and kept at tho expense of the captors. REPRISALS FOR ARREST OF ENEMY'S CONSULS. Salonika, January 17. Advices from Constantinople state that as tho Entente Powers, refuse to liberate the Consuls arrested at Salonika the Porte will intern in Asia Minor all British, French, Russians, and Italians living in Turkey. Athens, January 17. It 'is semi-officially announced that the Austro-Hungarian Consul at Corfu and the agent of the Austrian Lloyd Company have been arrested. A LIGHTNING STROKE AT CORFU STORY OF THE LANDING. . ; (Rec. January 18, 8.50 p.m.) London, January 17. The landing at Corfu was an outstanding feat of organisation. Every man, gun, and mule, with food and forage, was embarked on French cruisers and convoyed by destroyers. Steaming at nineteen knots' • speed without lights, they reached Corfu oil Monday night, and escaped tho notice of the submarines, who were infesting Corfu Channel. A submarine which was lurking at Corfu torpedoed the Leon Gambetta some time ago. Before the island was awake the Chasseurs Alpines had seized the quays. The German Consul fled in his nightgown, but the French did not troublo to arrest him. The landing w r as completed in fivo hours. HAS MONTENEGRO CONCLUDED PEACE ? London, January 17. Renter's agent at Athens says it i 6 reported that Montenegro has sigued an armistice with Austria. GERMAN MESSAGE: MONTENEGRO SUES FOR- PEACE. (Rec. January 18, 4.55 p.m.) London, January 18. An extraordinary message by the "Times" and Sydney "Sun" service states that according to a German wireless message, Montenegro has laid down her arms, and asked for peace. ANNOUNCEMENT IN HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT. Amsterdam, January 18. Count Tisza, tho Hungarian Premier, has announced in the Hungarian Parliament that Montenegro had agreed to an unconditional capitulation as a preliminary to peace negotiations. Count Tisza announced that the Montenegrin King and Government had accepted Austria's preliminary condition, for an unconditional capitulation. Ho said that the event was gratifyiing to tho nation, which was reaping the first fruits of its perseverance and heroism. . HAVE THE ALLIES NEGLECTED MONTENEGRO ? ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. January 18, 5.40 p.m.) London, January 17. The "Times" Rome correspondent, answering criticisms charging the Allies with' neglecting Montenegro, "points out that General Cadorna (the . Italian Commander) must be ready with his big offensive when the Allies' War Council orders a general advance. "General Cadorna must also remember the possibilities of a German-Austrian offensive on a grand scale. Assuming that Italy has three hundred thousand soldiers available immediately, it might be unwise to send them across the Adriatic. Italy has not a superfluity of men and material. The latter was in a deplorable condition in 191-1, but superhuman efforts have partly remedied this. It is a pity that each of the Allies has been recently inclined to think that the others ought to be doing more, or hotter, or both. Fault-finding should be eliminated before it becomes an ingrained habit." BOLSTERING UP HIS REPUTATION ~ ENTER PASHA ON THE GALLIPOLI EVACUATION. London, January 17. Enver Pasha, the Turkish Minister for War, is using tho evacuation of Gal'ipoli to bolster up his personal reputation. He delivered speeches of . triumph in both the Turkish Chambers, asserting that after driving back the British to the beaches. ho thought it profitable to draw on the enemy, in the h'r*J )e that while groat battles were being fought in tho Carpathians, together with tho British and French offensive in the West, he would he able to detach Dart of the enemy's forces and relieve. Turkey's allies. His hopes were realised. Ri'rduall'-' ho drew to the Dardanelles 500,CiiO British and French troops. Ho iva's si'ncerclv "rateful at the English wasting their strength there. , 'The re-l treat fron Gailipoli was extraordinarily favoured ,by circumstances. ' Referring to the offensive against EgEnver Pasha said: "I am convinced that 1 can prevent the enemy continuing to defile the territories he has torn from us." ' MORE' FICTION ABOUT THE BOOTY. Amsterdam, January 17. An official message from Constantinople states that the booty captured at Cape Holies is estimated at £2,000,000. Explaining the continuous issue of lists the message says this is due to tho discovery of buried munitions and «ther booty rescued from the sea. THE TURKISH COMMANDER IN ASIA REFUSES TO HAVE GERMANS ON HIS STAFF. (Ree. January 18, 8.50 p.m.) London, January 17. 'A message from Constantinople states that Djemal Pasha (the Turkish military cominaiKler in Asia Minor) has concluded a visit to settle political and strategic questions, and returned to Syria. Ho rofuses to have Germans on his staff except a general as adviser, without command. Diemal Pasha's forces ar'o estimated #1 three hundred thousand. THE FIGHTING IN THE CAUCASUS Amsterdam, January 17. A Constantinople, official message clMmc.that a violent Kufc6iau offensive in Caucasus was defeated.

RUSSIANS CAPTURE MUCH AMMUNITION. The High Commissioner reports:— London, January 18, 3.20 a.m. Petrograd reports:—"ln the Caucasian theatre the Turks twice attempted to cross tlio Artaahvy, but wero repulsed, "During Saturday's fighting we made prisoner 167. "Tlio Turkish artillery store at Sickout, north of Khorassan-, was captured, together with a. million cartridges and thousands of rounds of gun ammunition."