THE VICTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 175, 13 April 1918, Page 7

THE VICTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA

A DRAMATIC SURRENDER

STORY OF THE ATTACK

(Rec. April 12, 8,15 p.m.)

London, April 11. A Mesopotamia correspondent, describing the-brilliant, success on the Euphrates on March 26, states: —"The attack on the Turkish central positions began at 2.30 a.m. on March 25, in brigH moonlight. The Turks opened fire on. the attackers, but the first two lines of trenches wero taken with slight loss. The attackers halted until the artillery came up, and resumed the advance at eleven o'clock. The final line of_trenches was easily captured. An attack was then made on the northern positions, which wero carried with trifling loss, largely owing to a rcmarkaoly accurate barrage. The advance was continued at three o'clock on the morning of March 26. Meanwhile the cavalry made a wide circuit and cut off the enemy's retreat'. The enemy endeavoured all. night to break through the cavalry • barrier, but was repuTseil everywhere. Tlie surrender was a dramatic spectacle, the enemy emerging from dust-storms at, various points and laying down their arms. An oven more dramatic episode occurred noxt day when black masses of tho enemy were discovered in the rough country. The British sealed the ravines,! and eventually the white flag fluttered from a- hill, and the enemy surrendered with his transport. The day was occupied in rounding up smaller parties by means of armoured cars."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.