WHEN KUT-EL-AMARA SURRENDERED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2768, 11 May 1916, Page 5

WHEN KUT-EL-AMARA SURRENDERED

CHIVALROUS COURTESY OF THE TURK LAST DAYS OF THE SIEGE By Telegraph—Press -Association—Copyright' London, May 9. Mr. Edmuiid Candler, the British war correspondent in Mesopotamia, reports that before surrendering, General Towns-, bend, destroyed the wireless equipment. Khalil Pasha, the Turkish commander, when he received the parlemeufcaires, intimated that he was anxious that the garrison should be well rationed, and that General Townshcnd especially, for whom he expressed the most profound ad-i miration, should receive every possible comfort. It is understood that General Townshend is proceeding to Constantinople with an aide-de-camp. ; . Tho garrison, of Kut-el-Amara, ■ from April 16, subsisted on a loz. ration of flour daily, with a ration of horseflesh. General .Townshend was nearing the end of his resources in January, when considerable stores of grain which were found in the houses, mostly underground, were commandeered and paid for. . 'They furnished the garrison with food for three months. The scale of rations was gradually reduced, while 6000 Arab inhabitants, who had previously been self-supporting, received the same rations as tho soldiers. (Eec. May 10, 11.35 p.m.) London, May 10. General Nixon's dispatch, which covers events up to the middle of January, details tho earlier stages of the siege of Kut-el-Amara. General Townshend, on arriving at Kut-el-Amara on December 3, organised its defence, sending the prisoners, sick and wounded down the river. Tho investment of tho position was com-'' plete ou December 7. Next day, after a bombardment from three sides, the Turkish general, Nureddin, summoned General Townshend to surrender. Several days' continuous bombardment ' and many infantry attacks followed. Tho enemy lost heavily, especially on December 12, when they lost a thousand men. After that the operations were conducted on regular siege lines. The British sortied successfully on the nights of December 14 and 17. The Turks at Christmas time twice stormed the parapets, but were driven out. After that there were- no serious enemy attacks. , . - . General Nixon pays high tributes to General Townshend, who was very severely tried ut Ctesipbon, and on the retirement to Kut-el-Amara.' "He was untiring and resourceful, and grew more cheerful as the outlook grew darker." The earlier pages of the dispatch showhow the losses at Ctesiphon on November 21 precluded a renewed offensive: Although strong first-line positions had been captured, tho air reconnaissances on December 25 disclosed lnrge Turkish columns which threatened to outflank the British'■ right, whilo' hostile cavalry threatened to cut off our retreat. Critical Days. A critical stage was reached on November 30, at Ummaltubal, where the British Main Body. was forced to halt until the accompanying flotilla had cleared the shoals, thus enabling tho entire. Turkish force to catch up with tho British. A fierce fight ensued on December 1, but the cavalry, counter-attacked, and enabled the British to retire by echelons of brigades in perfect order. Thus the enemy was shaken off. A new dispatch records a brilliant enisodo at Ummaltubal. The war vessels, ; Firefly and Comet, were heavily 6helled, and tho Prefly was disabled. The Comet

towed her, and soon both were aground. The Comet refused to re-float, and the war vessel Sumana camp up aad vainly endeavoured to move her, despite the fact that the ships were battered by field guns at short range, and surrounded by infantry at fifty yards' distance. The- Comet and Firefly caught fire and were abandoned. The Sumana rescued the crews and escaped. Rear-Admiral Pierce warmly praised Captain Wilfred Nunn for withdrawing the naval forces. INQUIRY BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE London, May 9. Sir Edward Grey (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) has asked America to obtain from its' Embassy at Constantinople information of the present situation and circumstances of General Townshend's force, and the means whereby medical stores, etc., may be dispatched to them. ENEMY'S AEROPLANES OYER .PORT SAID DRIVEN OFF BY AIR-CRAFT GUNS. Cairo, May 9. Two aeroplanes dropped eight bombs on' Port Said, but without doing any damage. Three civilians were wounded. Anti-aircraft guns drove them off.