Mesopotamia

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 24, 3 May 1916, Page 5

Mesopotamia

( V PRISONERS OF WAR. GENERAjL TOWNSHEND RETAINS I , HIS SWORD. ' I f-ly! ■ ' ' UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. London, May 1. A German communique states that* the■'(prisoners from Kut include ,four generals, 310 British and 270 Indian officers. General Townshcnd was allowed to retain his sword. RUSSIAN ADMIRATION FOR HEROIC DEFENCE. Petrograu, May 2. ' There is universal admiration for General Townshcnd, who only capitulated, by reason of hunger and scurvy. ...In the direction' flf" Bagdad' Russians repulsed towards the west', capturing their artillery. THETURKISH REPORT. Amsterdam, May 2. A telegram ' fro'nx • Constantinople "says that the British, in addition to sending an ill-fated food ship, attempted to relieve General Townshend 1 ir,- dropping sacks of flour from aeroplanes, but the latter, which were old, were easily shot down by the Turks, whereupon General Townshend said that he was billing to surrender if the army was allowed to depart. The Turks refused this, and demanded unconditional surrender. GERMAN PRESS OPINION. ■ , A i ) - London, May 1. The German press is jubilant at the fall of Kut. The Lokal Anzieger says that the capitulation of Kut, combined with the Irish rebellion, make ■England's black week. The Tageblatt thinks that the fall of Kut must precipitate an English Ministerial crisis. AUSTRALIA'S SYMPATHY. (Received 9 a.m.) Melbourne, May 3. Sir Ronald Munro-Ferguson (Gover-nor-General) cabled to the Viceroy of India his deepest sympathy at the loss of the gallant force at Kut-el-Anuira.