VIVID STORY FROM BAGDAO

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3038, 27 March 1917, Page 5

VIVID STORY FROM BAGDAO

FORCING THE PASSAGE OF THE DIALA .RIVER MAGNIFICENT HEROISM IN DEATH ZONE (Rcc. March 26, 8.55 p.m.) London, March 25. Mr. Edmund Candler (tho British correspondent in Mesopotamia), telegraphing from Bagdad, gives a. vivid narrative of the midnight battle to secure the crossing of the Diala River. "After tho Turks bad destroyed the bridge, we pushed on to the left bank, sending the cavalry and two columns' of infantry to work round on the right bank and enter Bagdad from the west. The column attacking Diala had to force the crossing, where the element of-surprise had been eliminated since the old bridogheai .■ yte - had. been chosen. When the first pontoon was lowered over the bank the whole of the'launching party were shot down in a few seconds in bright moonlight. The Turks had concentrated' their machineguns and rifles in the houses on the opposite bank. The second pontoon reached the middle of tho stream, and then the whole crew was killed owing to the terrible fusillade:,

"Tho third pontoon almost got across, when it was bombed and sunk. Then crew after orew pushed off - to certain death, the pontoons drifting down the Tigris past the British camp with their freight of dead. After the failure of tho bridgehead passage the order for, attempts on tho. second crossing were cancelled, but an attempt was made on the second night, wilh equal gallantry. This time . a preceded the attack, 'and the barrage raised such a dust that "it formed a curtain, behind which ten , boats succeeded in crossing. The c'rotssing parties were exterminated when tho curtain of dust lifted, but a footing (secured. One l pontoon driftod 'hack, and a sergeant called for volunteers to gather in, the wounded. All of twelve volunteers were killed.

r A Herolo Band. ( "Sixty Lancashire men were now established on the opposite shore, and commenced bombarding along the bank; though heavily pressed by the Turks on both flanks, fortunately the Lancashires discovered a ,'break in the river bend, which formed a half-moon on the landward side, and protected by a neighbouring 'grovo of mulberries and palms. Here the sixty Lancashires held out through the night, and all next day and noxt night against repeated and determined attacks. Tho Turks once reached the top of their parapet, but though the garrison was reduced ,to forty, it drovo back the attackers. The garrison was reduoed almost to its last clip of cartridges, and a single bomb, when tho British crossing was completed, and'flnrtlly the cavalry and two infantrv columns threatened to cut off the Turks,' who hurriedly retreated."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' . • THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE IN ASIA MINOR (Reo. March 26, 8.45 p.m.)' , London, • March 25. !A Russian official report states: "On March 18, in the direction'of Khanikin, we dislodged tho Turks ;near tho village of Harm. In the ICeririd Pass ■we attacked on March 19 the Turkish position . near Miantag."—Aus.-N.Z. i Cable Assn. : ' , .