Mesopotamia.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 65, 13 October 1916, Page 5

Mesopotamia .

WHY KUT FELL. GENERAL LAKE’S REPORT. i A DEPRESSING RECORD. ! INSURMOUNTABLE DIFFICULTIES. | FAULTY RIVER TRANSPORT, j TIGRIS IN HEAVY FLOOD. INADEQUATE FOOD SUPPLY. TROOPS’ GREAT GALLANTRY. I : Press Association—Copyright, Austra* j lian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.20 a.m.) London, October 12. i General Lake’s despatch covering the operations from 19th January to 13th April is a depressing record of most gallant efforts by an inadequate force to cope with almost insurmountable difficulties.

! General Lake says; The supply by the river steamers never equalled the requirements, consequently it was never possible to concentrate on the Tigris front the whole forces 'available, or was there sufficient transport to enable us to operate freely any distance from the river. General Aylmer’s unsuccessful attempt to force the Hannah defile was carried out with splendid courage and dogged determination. The troops ■bivouaced in driving rain, and thrice advanced over flat country which was deep in mud and absolutely devoid of cover against well-constructed trenches manned by a brave and stubborn enemy. When General Gorringe succeeded to the command in March, the Tigris was in heavy flood, and caused oxtensive inundations. The remainder of the month was a strenuous struggle to prevent the whole country being flooded. Every available man was engaged in digging embankments. Largo Turkish reinforcements on 20th April, enabled them to make strong counter-attacks, which drove back our troops, many of whom were unable to reply to the enemy’s fire owing to the rifles being choked with mud.

The Kut garrison now had only six days’ supplies. General Gorringe’s troops were nearly worn out, but the same troops advanced time and again to the assault during eighteen’ consecutive days upon a scale of inadequate rations which the shortage of the river transport necessitated. The failure of General Aylmer to reach Kut finally obliged General Townshend to surrender.