Mesopotamia.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 88, 20 March 1916, Page 5

Mesopotamia.

GENERAL PEYTON'S ADVANCE. United Phkhs Asbooiattow. London, March 19. General Peyton's force in three weeks captured a hostile commander, killed or captured half his subordinates, took all the artillery, and scattered the remnants of thfi forces far beyond the frontier.

GERMANY'S DESPERATION.

A NAVAL F.XPERT SURMISES. WHAT ARE THE ENEMY'S INTENTIONS? IS HOLLAND TO BE ATTACKED? (Received L 1.5 a.m.) London, March 19. The Daily Chronicle's naval expert, commenting ou the torpedoing of the second Dutch liner within two days, discusses whether there is any calculation in this apparently demented act, or whether Tirpitz took fright at the prospect of such enormities. He adds that Holland has conferred, during the war, many advantages on the Germans. • Must wn now conjecture that her enmity is worth more than her friendship? Are the Germans looking to a forcible occupation of Dutch territory, hoping to seize Rotterdam as the centre of operations against the most hated enemy? The British fleet has made Ostend and other points on the Belgian coast impossible as a base for enemy submarines. The Germans expected much from the possession of these supposed strategic advantage points in the work of naval attrition. Now these hopes have been so effectively dispelled ' Rotterdam would prove a most excellent substitute since it is connected with the Rhine and also affording a safe shelter. Or are the Germans hoping to possess the mouth jof the Rhine? Did they imagine the Dutch would ultimately join us and are the latest outrages their method of stealing a march on us?'

THT BIG BLOCKADE.

NEUTRALS FIRMLY WARNED. BRITAIN TAKES A STAND. (Received 11.5 a.m.) Copenhagen, March 19. Owing to the Moewe incident, the British blockade has been tightened and it is now impossible for the ?nemy's ships to pass even disguised as neutrals. Britain has notified the Scandinavian Governments that the new arrangements have been made whereunder neutrals failing to stop when signalled may ho fired on.