IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1917, Page 1

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

The British Successes. (Australian & N.Z. Cable AtsoeUtion and Reuter.) LONDON, -March 11. Mesopotamia official.—Our gunboats and cavalry discovered on Wednesday the nemy holding line at Dialirwer in some strength. Wo engaged the enemy on Thursday. The enemy’s Ctesiphon position has been most carefully prepared, and it is clear that the enemy intended to hold it. The evacuation was probably due to our rapid advance from Assizic. Developments ExpectedLONDON, March 12. Military critics point out that the first ralte road behind Diala, together with marshes should enable the Turks to make an almost impregnable front between the Euphrates and the Tigris. The British victory leaves the Turkish Army in Persia in the air, and only a precipitate retreat will save it. Mosul, on the Upper Tigris, whence the Turks are operating, is a magazine comparable with Sivas and Damascus, and Mosul must now feed their amies facing their opponent on two sides. The junction of General Maud’s forces and the Russians at Hamaa-m will be the next dramatic development.

Rejoicings. LONDON, March 11. The news of ,the fall of -Baghdad caused widespread rejoicings in London and the provinces. German EffortsAMSTERDAM, March 12. German engineers are busy upon projects for the improvements of the Badhdad railway with the view of obviating a ferry across the 'Bosphorus, and they are preparing- plans for tunnelling ithe Bosphorus, or the alternative construction of a bridge of COO metres from Rummellissar to Anatolissa. The Russian PositionLONDON', March 12 The main Russian force is now 18G miles from "Baghdad compared with 108 before the advance from Hamadan. Another column is on the Seinne, seventy-two miles north of Kemshali. Tho northernmost column reached Boreye 04 miles from Mosul on the Baghdad road by which the Turkish main supplies come from the north. Meanwhile General 'Murray is pushing on to the borders of Palestine. Prince Nicholas is advancing on Armenia. A Decided Smash. LONDON, March 12 It .is now apparent that Major-Gen-eral Maude had smashed the Turkish army at Kut more completely than was disclosed at the time. B g Turkish Losses LONDON, March 12 ' Throughout laborious operations extending over many days lie inflicted ter rible losses on the Turks, who were often found dead in heaps. THOUSANDS OF TURKISH PRISONERS. Thousands of prisoners were taken

when the army fled from Baglided and only a remnant remained. The fall of Baghdad means more than the rout of the whole Turkish Army in Oriental eyes, therefore it is doubly India played a great and worthy part in General Maude’s triumph. A large proportion of the troops were Indians, and tliei pursuing cavalry taking Baghdad was especially welcome to the Persians. Half a million of the inhabitants in the Baghdad provinces arc adherents to the Persian form of Islamic faith. It is questionable how long Turkey will rest content to continue an alliance which takes her men to face the Russian front while they failed to save the rich eastern provinces.