THE VICTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 12, 9 October 1917, Page 5

THE VICTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA

STORY OF THE BATTLE

HOW THE TURKS WERE

TRAPPED

(Rec. October 8, 7.30 p.m.)

London, October 7. Mr. Edmund Candler, the British' correspondent, describing Sir Stanley Maude's victory at Ramadie, • on September 29, says: "The British moved two columns right and left from the Euphrates camp, attacking tho Mishaid Ridge at dawn. Tho first objective wns to clear the ridge across the Habbaniyeh Canal. The first knolls were quickly occupied, the canal dam affording a crossing. When the ridge was bombarded we found that the Turks had evacuated it. As soon, as the infantry carried tho ridge the cavalry made a wido detour till they were astride tile Aleppo Road, cornering the Turks, who had no bridge, and were cut off from reinforccmonts and supplies. The Turks counter-attacked at dawn on September I 30, and tried to escape between the cavalry and tho river. Tho action continued for two hours. A small detachment of Turkish cavalry swam tho river. Meanwhilo the infantry stormed. the ridge; which was exposed to machine-gun and rifle fire fjrum the front and the right, nnd enfiladed by Artillery from tho left. The British and Indians hung on, digging themselves, in. Our second infantry columns seized tho Agiziya bridge, trapping the Turks be- j twoDn the two canals, the cavalry preventing their retreat. Guns and- pompoms from the river barges attacked our infantry nnt.il the reply fire from our guns sank th'em. Air intense bombardr ment of the enemY was maintained until the Turks walked forward with white llfi"S hiing out. The whole ;'orce surrendered in a body."—"The Times."