IN MESOPOTAMIA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2753, 24 April 1916, Page 5

IN MESOPOTAMIA

TURKS ATTACK IN A DENSE

MASS

The High Commissioner reports i London, April 21) 7.25 p.m. In Mesopotamia, thera was fighting ■oil the 17th and 18th, when. 10,000 of tho enemy,. attacking in dense formation, penotrated part of our front. ■ Bead Turks to tho number of 1500 were counted within 500 lyards in front of one of our brigades, smd more were •lying thick in front of other portions of our line. Ib is estimated that the enemy killed on tho night of the 17th numbered over 3000. , In several instances the attacks were led by Germans, some of whom were killed. Apparently the enemy supposed .that part of our troops' were isolated by the floods, and they could overwhelm them; b,ut, actually, supports were arriving. Our killed, wounded, and missing were fewer than the Turkish killedThe floods are. spreading. OFFICIAL DETAILS CAPTURES MADE Br THE BRITISH By Telegraph—Preag Association—Copyright London, April~2lT* Official details of tlie fighting on the right bank o{ the Tigris on. the 16th and 17th, prorious to the Turkish coun-ter-attacks, show that tho enemy left between 200 and 800 dead in the captured trenches. Two field guns, five .machine-guns, and 180 prisoners, including eight officers, wero captured. Our ,losses were compiratively small. ■ Aeroplane reconnaissances . after the enemy counter-attacks on the night of the 17th and 18th' disclosed a large number, of Turkish ambulances busy all tby, removing the casualties. TURKISH COMMUNIQUE. UNTRUTHFUL AS USUAL'. - ■ (Rec. April 23, 11.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, April 23. A,Turkish communique' states:—-In the Tigris battle on tho 17th two British brigades were cjected from the positions they captured on the Britissa front. The British dispatched three' brigades to stop tho retreat and surprise the attackers on r the flank, but retired, abandoning thirteen machineguns. On the 19th a desperate British attack was repulsed with' the bayonet, and the enemy retreated in panic. • - A Turkish, aeroplane successfully bombed the camp at Elknntara, in Egypt. Our cavalry, surprising a cavalry patrol in the vicinity of the Canal killed seven, und pursued the rest, who fled. '