IN MESOPOTAMIA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2781, 27 May 1916, Page 7

IN MESOPOTAMIA

GENERAL LAKE'S REPORT London, May 25, 8.35 p.m. The High Commissioner reports:— General Laics reports on Wednesday: "The enemy is still holding his positions on the left bank of tho river in the vicinity of Sanna-i-Yat. Our artillery oil tho right bank maintains an effective fire on his communications along the left bank." RUSSIANS JOIN THE BRITISH, BELOW KUT-EL-AMAftA. (JRec. -May 21>, 5.5 p.m.) Petrograd, Itfay 25. Official.—"Tho Russians from Hermanshah have junctioned with the British below Kut-el-Amara." i HARASSED BY AEROPLANES GOOD WORK BY BRITISH FLYING CORPS London, Uay 25, 11.55 p.m. The High Commissioner reports: Since the enemy's attack on Port Said on Wednesday and* Thursday, he liasbeen allowed little rest by the Royal Flying Corps. This morning the enemy's advanced posts -were heavily bombed by four machines, forty bombs were dropped, having considerable effect. Buildings-and plant at El Hamma were seriously damaged, and water tanks at Bir Rod Salein were smashed by direct bombs. This upsets ilio whole plan of the enemy, who since the destruction of the drilling plant at Bir Gifgaffa by the British patrol have greatly valued the waterwarks at Ulir Rod Salem. According to reports, the column of troops who suffered heavily from a bomb attack at El Arish by the Royal Flying Corps on May 38 were Germans. This explains the hasty retaliation of dropping bombs on l'ort Said .civilians. Further details of the naval Ijombardment at El Arish on May IS show that the accurate lire of two monitors and a sloop, directed'by seaplanes, had a great effect; 34 shells were fired by tho heavyguns from the monitors, two hitting a hangar or aerodrome. Most of them burst among tents in the camp, scattering the enemy in.all directions.- Under cover of the' fire", by the monitors, the' sloop neared the shore and thoroughly.,searched with salvoes,: the .shelterers. ,':in .. the palm groves. During the two hours' bombardment a strong fort was .veduced to ruins. There was no reply to our firo.