WEATHER DEADLOCK IN MESOPOTAMIA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2682, 31 January 1916, Page 5

WEATHER DEADLOCK IN MESOPOTAMIA

SIR PERCY LAKE JOINS AYLMER RUSSIAN DRIVE IN- THE CAUCASUS Tho High Commissioner reports: c- -o T I /I) -f ir< i London, January 30, 1.35 a.m. Sir Percy Lake (British Commander-in-Chief in Mesopotamia) has joined Gcnoral Aylmer's relieving force at .Wadi, Mesopotamia. The weather is wretchcd, the mud making movements of troops difficult. INDIANS FROM FLANDERS REACH MESOPOTAMIA. (Rec. January 30, 5.5 p.m.) By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright TnHi Ml "' C f dler , (the Brit . is ? l ™ r corespondent) rejSte"VtTome of the Indian contingent are arriving in Mesopotamia from Flanders. The "Morning Post" sums up the situation in th n fighting on January 8 the Turks retreated eight miles to a position midway between Slicik Hushad, (? Shaad) and the right angle of the bend in the Tigns, near El Owasa. The position is described as (a dr riS bnil' hnT g Tl 6 KrlS ° n f1 i n" k ,' Gen T eral A - vlmcr is advancing on both banks. Hiero was a frontal attack on January 12, combined with an outflanking movement on the north. The Turks at night retired five miles to a position astride the river at the Great Rwlit Angle, the bend of which, 'the nor hern flank, is covered by marshy ground The result of tlio fighting on I 1 "day was indecisive, and General Aylmer was forced to fall back 1300 yards from his position. General Aylmer yesterday reported no change in the situaThere is little prospect of progress until the weather improves and tho country is drained General Townshend, evidently, is too r® to co-operate with the relieving column, " Another British force is advancing along the Shatt el Hai, which joins the Tigris at Kut-el-Amara, and probably a- force occupies the Euphrates Valley, in order to prevent a Turkish advance on Basra. THE RUSSIAN SUCCESS IN THE CAUCASUS (Rec. January 30, 5.5 p.m.) A Russian communique states: "We have defcS'lafge^rWsh 2 forces south of Lake tirnia, taking many prisoners. We, ilsn di-nvo <u_ olc ®s southwards in the neighbourhood of K andelian Pass." enemy / TURKISH COLUMNS CRUSHED AND DISPERSED. (Rec. January 30, 11 p.m.) ■ t, • • , Petrograd, January 29. A Russian communique states:—"We have crushed tho Turkish rolumns west of Melaszert, ami pursued the fugitives. We have entered Khrvskala capturing many prisoners and great quantities of munitions and' supplies."' ' THE RECENT DEFEAT OP THE SENUSSI SEVERE LOSSES SAP THE TRIBESMEN'S MORALE. The High Commissioner reports London, January 28, 10.40 p.m. i "further details of the fighting in Egypt show that tho enemy had no intimation of our advance till dawn on Sunday. It is stated by deserters that the enomy's losses on one flank alone or, cecded their tqtal losses during the engagement on Christmas Day, and included some officers. This severe defeat has greatly discouraged the local Bedouins with theSenussi, and it is reported tliat they are deserting and returning east"

ANOTHER GREEK PORT OCCUPIED BY THE ALLIES By Telcerarh—PreßS. Association—Oopyrifjht ' (Rec. January 30, 5.5 p.m.) Salonika, January 29. The Allies' Marines have occupied, a Greek port on the Karabura Peninsula, which the Greek commander evacuated, after lodging a protest. ' AIR RAIDERS ATTACK ENEMY'S CANTONMENTS. The High Commissioner reports;— London January 30, 1.30 a.m. "On January 28 a fleet of 14 aircraft dropped numerous projectiles on the enemy's cantonments north of Lake Doiran. "The Serbian retreat in Albania was favoured by the weather, and bridges had been constructed across the principal rivers by a British mission." FRICTION BETWEEN GERMANS AND BULGARS By Telegraph—Press Associuikin—Copyright Salonika, January 27. , There is serious trouble between the Germans and Bulgarians. General von Mackensen interviewed King Ferdinand at Sofia, requesting urgent intervention, and also urging him to push the Albaian campaign by bringing up new troops. It is expected that the Germans' campaign will be against Albania and Mesopotamia, not Salonika and Egypt. CORRESPONDENT'S VIEW OF SALONIKA'S DEFENCES. . . , , Milan, January 28. Signor Magrini (war correspondent) says that the defences of Salonika; are extraordinarily strong. The Bulgarian Army is pervaded with malcontents, who are wearied with the strife, and always see the spectre of another Balkan war. , • TURKEY "INTENDS TO CLEAR OUT THE GERMANS SOON " ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, January 28. The "Echo de Paris'' publishes an interview with Chukri Bey, President of the Committee of Union and Progress, who stated: "Rumania neglected two opportunities to enter the war advantageously. She is not likely "to enter the war until the enemy is'defenceless and Greece paralysed by fear of the Central Powers. Turkey is truculently claiming all the' Germanic successes, and intends to clear out the Germans soon. If we are conquerors, we' expect a' new and regenerate Turkey." MONTENEGRIN'S KING LOOKS TO FRANCE, . r , , ~ Paris, January 27, King Nicholas, interviewed at Lyons, said he had unbounded confidence in France saving Montenegro. THE RECENT .FIGHT WITH THE GOEBEN. (Rec. January 30, 5.5 p.m.) ... .. Petrograd, January 28. In the recent engagement with the German battle-cruiser Goeben thirtythree were killed and eighty wounded. [On January _7 the Russian torpedo_ boats engaged the Goeben in the Black Sea, and then withdrew to the /protection of their battleship, which fought the Goeben at long range. The Goeben, having the advantage of superior speed, disappeared in the Bosphorus.]