Mesopotamia

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 32, 13 January 1916, Page 5

Mesopotamia

UNFAVOURABLS WEATHEfI

'AYLMER'S FORCE TEMPORARILY STUCK UP . ] United I'huob Association I London, .January 12. Mr Chamberlain, in the Mouse of Commons, rend it cable which stated that owing to weather conditions in Mesopotamia, and the necessity for despatching wounded by river, Gen#a]/ | Arbiter's force are still halted. The' tents of the enemy had been located, six miles eastward of Kut-el-'Amara. CENERAL AYLMER'S ADVANCE. STERN FIGHTING ON THE WAY. TURKISH BATTALION DEFEATED BRITISH CASUALTIES HEAVY. MANY RIFLE-FIRE WOUNDS. (Received 8.5 a.m.) London, January 12. Mr Candlier, representative of the British Press with the expeditionary force in Mesopotamia says that General Aylmer's advance up the Tigris to join General Townsend at Kut'-el-Amara, met with stubborn the heaviest fighting taking place at Shejkhshad. Proceeding up the banks of the Tigris, our cavalry came into contact with the Turkish advance troops on the right hank. The Turks were in considerable strength astride the ri\er. Our cavalry got behind the trenches on the enemy's extreme right flank and defeated a whole battalion. The British casualties among the infantry were heavy. Our force came under heavy rifle and Maxim gun fire from the Turkish trenches, which were distant twelve hundred yards. There was a flatness and uniform mud color all around, creating a haze of invisibility about the Turkish trenches, which were remarkably well concealed. The Turks' cavalry attempted to envelop our right, but' the artillery turned them, although their infantry was too strong to be dislodged. We entrenched for the night in positions two hundred to seven hundred yards from the enemy.

Nothing could exceed the gallantry of our attack. Officers of wide experience say that never was there hotter rifle fire at the same range in the French campaign. Many of our casualties were slight wounds, being mostly due 'to rifle fire.

Latest reports show that our force is still advancing.

GERMAN ARTILLERY FOR MESOPOTAMIA.

Rome, January 12

The Tribune states that enormous quantities of German artillery is traversing Constantinople towards Mesopotamia.