APPROACHING BAGDAD.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1917, Page 1

APPROACHING BAGDAD.

Awaiting News(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Rtnltr ) LONDON, March-9. The rapid advance on Baghdad lias caused a thrill of expectation, hue ■whether the Turks have constructed a defence at Diala river requiring the cavalry to halt until the infantry arrives is not yet known. Present information indicates'that the Turks arc hopelessly out-numbered and out-manoeuvred. LONDON, March 9. Messopotainian official: —Our pursuing troops mc|t with little opposition. Our cavalry, traversing Ctesiphon bivou aeked at ILawi, fourteen miles from tho southern outskirts of Baghdad. PARIS, March 9. It is expected by Marcel Hutin; and who believes that Baghdad lias already been captured. Resistance Shattsred. LONDON, March 10th. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Home correspondent says there is information from the Rusiau Embassy that the Turkish resistance is shattered even on their Armenian and Persian fronts,and the RusSian armies are marching victoriously upon their objectives in complete accord with Britain. Turkey now realises her mistake in sending - her best troops to Europe where they were so decimated that they can no longer render effective service even in Europe. LONDON, March lOtli. The announcement of the fall of Baghdad is expected momentarily and it is belieevd that our cavalry will occupy it without opposition. They are now sweeping northward of the city. Turkov’s Plight. LONDON. March 10th. The Daily Chronicle says it is evident that the Turks in Mesopotamia are not in a condition to fight and have probably lost at least two divisions and possibly an army corps. The great thing is that the r l urkisli army no longer exists as a fighting fdree, and it is understood that the country around Baghdad between the Tigris and tho Euphrates can be inundated especially now, because of the rainy season. It is hoped that our cavalry will prevent the opening of the barrages. The importance of tho capture of Baghdad would he immense apart from political reasons, because it serves as base operations against flic Prussian Kermanshah theatre. It is problematical if the Turks can extricate themselves when Baghdad is taken; anyhow they must evacuate Persia. Another great advantage is tliat it will afford the British a freedom to move which has hitherto been restricted to their fighting. front. This was a great- impediment, but tho corridor ceases above Baghdad, and we can expect open fighting for which the Turks have not shown talent, despite their dogged tenacity in defensive warfare.

Russian Co-operaUon (Australia & N.Z. Cable Association) LONBON, March lOtli. The “Daily Chronicle’s” N Petrograd correspondent says that Barrakoff’s troops are advancing with great energy to co-operate with the British advance at the Tigris and legally carry the capture of the positions abandoned in 1910. The conditions*this year are wholly different; the advance is well organised and we'll supported, and the Russians are much better acquainted with the country and with mountain warfare amidst Nomadic tribes. llamada'n was captured, after three days hard fighting though the Turks tried a stand at Asadabad Pass,, .then at Ivingevar and they are now retreating rapidly towards Keroashall. Killed in Action. LONDON March 10. G. W. Callender a Lieut, in the Worstershires son of the General Manager of the Bank of New Zealand has been killed. The Overture. LONDON, March 9. French headquarters states that there are signs of sprng everywhere, and soon -the curtain will ascend on a tremendous drama. German-American correspondents are remaining in Berlin, and the Germans are depending on a long spell of »au weather for preventing operations before April. German Retirement. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Are • iat t .) LONDON, March ■>. German American correspondents make a great display. of intensified [rightfulness, including, terrific mortars throwing bombs eighteen inches in girth, besides a larger and more sys-

tematised use of poison gas and liquid lire, nob to speak of an immense increase in machine guns, automatic rifles and grenade rifles. Where formerly barbed wire defences were five yards deep, they are now a hundred. The retirement of the enemy continues slower, but appearances be deceitful; anyhow the British higher command accurately knows what the Gergigns are doing, and are making their plans accordingly.

French Success (Australian & N,Z Cub'c Assoc a ion and Reuttr), LONDON, March 9. A French communique says:—Our attack ycl-Jterday jbefc-woon Baltte-de-Mesndl and Mnison-de-Champagne was brilliantly successful despite nowstorms rendering marching difficult.

We carried enemy positions on a front of 1500 metres with a depth of 6CO to 800 metres. A violent Gorman counter-attack on the left sector in Ithe evening was repulsed with grenades after an obstinate struggle and with serious enemy losses. Two enemy attempts on our trench at Avocourt Wood failed under our fire. LONDON, March iu. A French communique from Champagne reports that all night there was desperate fighting between Bwtte-do-Mosnil and Maison-de-Champagne. The Germans made several attempts to re-capture the trenches which we took in the west of that sector, but after alternate advances and reitmmenfs we finally beat back the enemy, and made some progress on the right of the sector. Our lire smashed the German, attacks, and wo maintained all positions on the right bank of the Meuse. The Germans (again (attacked the trenches retaken by us north of Gauriers Wood but our immediate counterattacks drove out the enemy, and w< carried out several coup-de-main soutn of the Ancre, notably at Armancourt, where our detachments penetrated tne third German trench. LONDON, March 10th. Accounts of the French equanimity regarding the German capture in the middle of February was fully justified. All the weather conditions on Thursday were unfavorable, with several inches of snow oil the ground, and the aeroplanes were useless in tlio fog. Yet the attack progressed exactly as

per programme. First was the usual methodical bombardment, then the steady advance of our infantry close behind the advancing barrage. It is true that some of the lost ground was not recovered, but it was not wanted, and our infantry asked to retake certain trenches and important posts and they took them all. Haig’s Report. LONDON, March 10. General 'Sir Douglas Haig reports: Yesterday evening the'enemy launched five raids on our trenches northward of Wulveerghem, and re-attacked wtfh .four parties this morning, but only one party in each case reached our .trenches. The enemy left some prisoners, and we raided their first line southward of Biaches and damaged their dug-outs and inflicted many casualties. , THE HAGUE, March 9. Germany is making a census of boots shoes and sandals. Captors' of lr!es. WELLINGTON, March 11. The High Commissioner reports from London on March 10th at 10.35 p.m.: A British official message says the village of Irlesa and the neighbouring defence haves been captured, and u considerable number of prisoners taken.

This represents an advance exceed-

ing a three mile frontage. Hunqer Pinch. (Australian A N.Z. Cablo Assoication and Reuter ) LONDON, March 10th. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Amsterdam correspondent says that while the hunger pinch in Germany is probably at is worst, it is easy to exaggerate its importance. The hunger riots alul other nut:testations will not change the authorities policy, which places the army first, the economic future second, and women and children last or nowhere. Germany is still able to pile up foodstuffs for the army. LONDON, March 10th. The Socialist Kofer’s speech published in the Vonvaerts created a sensation.

He asserted that {he suicides were due to 1 distress increasing, and the parent! were demented because food was not pmurable. and sr met hues the parents tilled their children. He added that the junkers were to blame, and not the so-called wicked British. PARIS, March 9. The Archbishop of Cologne, a faithful friend of the Kaiser, has issued a pastoral letter ordering 18th March to he devoted to prayer, because we are on the eve of military events which will decide the future of the Fatherland. German Failure. LONDON, March 9. Headquarters’ correspondent at Salonika points out that the submarmism, whereby Germany boasted to cut <ur the'Allies at Salonika, has been a complete failure, as the harbour is' Full of shipping, coming and going with clockwork regularity. The- only recent successes was one British, one French, and one Italian vessels.

On the other hand the submarine mortality is not insignificant, and rne Allies arc not even compelled to use an alternative route.

Grow Food

LONDON, March 9. Mr Lloyd George has sent a personal letter to every farmer, urging him ro ;>ow every awe, and so defeat the last ’ ■go c£ *tl;e Prussian submarines,

Russian Operations. (Aus ! rahan & N.Z. Goble A>sosuticn and Reaitr.) LONDON March 10. A wireless Russian official says th i> northwestward of Okna our troops ruo counter attacking to regain the lost heights. We attacked the Turks westward cf Gumiehchang and demolished works and took possession of positions rfc Sennc in the direction of Bidjar. We submarined a large steamer in the neighbourhood of the Bosphorus. LONDON, March 9. A wireless Russian official message states:—We threw back an enemy attack in the Mi’tau region of the enemy tack in the Milan region. The enemy captured three heights northward of O'kets. Attacks westward thereof failed, but we destroyed fortifications at. Mirzonilkiem; northwest of Erzidjan. Our sennits advanced sixteen and a half miles south-west of Sakkiz. German Report LONDON .March 10. A Wireless German official says: Wo repulsed French attacks near Lnueourfc southward of Crapeauineniel and tho the Russians led by French officers penetrated our lines on both sides of the Prosnes. Our counter-attack ejected them and the positions eastward of Chmpagniene several times changed hands resulting no important, change in the situation. Our detachments forced their way through Cauvieries Wood and the remainder of the garrison fled. The prisoners taken at Mogyaaros total 1001. LONDON, March 9. A wireless German official message states: —We entered the British position westward of Wytschaeti and the French attacked southward of ILipout and penetrated our trenches at Hill 185, also in Champagnefe. Our oounter-atifcack regained tne trench dominating the height, but the farm remains in French hands. Between Trotns and Uz valleys wo stormed a high ridge at Magyaros, adjacent to the Hussion positions, and prisonered 601. During February we lost four aero* planes and the enemy lost 91. Broken Heart WASHINGTON, March 9. A message from Philadelphia' says: Countess Anna Dageqfeld, Count Zeppelin’s niece, is of opinion that Count Zeppelin’s death was due indirectly to the failure of his baloons to accomplish.the purposes intended by their invention, _ The Countess recently received a' lettor from Count Zeppelin, wherein the Count expressed regret that his balloons liad not been more effective over the British cities. TurHsh Request. LONDON, Maren y. • Washington messages state that Turkey, witliou/: success, attempted, to secure the consent of the United States to the abrogation of extra territorial rights and foreign connection. They proposed a new form of “exqiiatour 1 ’ issued for Consuls transferred from Germany, omitting the right to sit as judges in cases involving Americans and American jproperty. American replied that she would not consent to the negotiations, and showed that Consuls were detained in Germany to avoid embarrassing tho Allies ir. sending consuls • during negotiations. A Generous Gift. LONDON, March 9. The Press Bureau sates that the Government lias accented tho Nizam of Hyderabad’s gift of a hundred thousand sterling towards the anu-suu-marine campaign. LONDON, March 9. The Imperial Institute has established a department of inquiry- into the Empire’s minerals. LONDON,. March 9. Lord French’s sister, Mrs Harley, matron of a Scottish hospital, has been scverelv wounded at Monastic. LONDON, March 9.

The Press Bureau states that the Minsiter of Munitions is assuming control of all fats and oils, and allied products, including Ail-cake, -soap .aim margeriue, but excluding butter, lard and their essential oils. In the Senate. WASHING SO \ T , March 8 Senator Martin introduced the Closure Amendment Bill, providing for a limitation of the Senate debates and the prevention of filibustering. Both Republicans and Democrats supported the demand for immediate consideration of the amendment. Senator Sherman criticised President Wilson, declaring that if ob- > straction to the Neutrality Bill aas treasonable let them make the most of it. Tiie amendment is expected to pass. Later the Closure Amendment- was adopted bv seventy-six against thiee. WASHINGTON, arch 9. President- Wilson has called, an extra session of Congress for “April lCth. Mr Lansing and the Attorney-Gen-eral (Mr Gregory) have advised President Wilson that he has power to arm merchantmen, and it is understood that the mercantile ships will atm without Congressional power, and that American shipping companies will immediately receive guns and ammunition, and to prepare and allow "their ships to sail.