IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 May 1918, Page 5

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

ANOTHER BRITISH SUCCESS, . LONDON, April 30. Mesopotamia official Our forces advanced north of Bagdad along the road leading to Mosul via Kifri, on April 27th, taking forty prisoners. The Turks retreated rapidly towards Kirkuk, but our cavalry overtook them and charged, one column killing over 100, ,and capturing 539 and much war material. Our cavalry forced a passage of the Asqui at a point south-west of Tuzkurmatli on the'2Bth, and simultaneuusly our main forces reached that river. The cavalry in the early morning of the 29th got astride the enemy's communications towards Taug, whereupon the infantry advanced and captured Tuz and Khurmatti, capturing 300 prisoners and six guns. We continue pursuit northwards.

BRITISH STEADILY ADVANCE. I -MANY TURKS AND GUNS ' . •>M I v ";■ CAPTURED. ~:.,, V. r ■ Received 11.5 a.m. ;v„ j V •; , , LONDON, May 1. .j;.,The British are. now within 126 miles of Mosul. They have captured .1200 Turks and many guns.

LOYAL IN 01 A.

CALL FOR GREATER SERVICE. SIMLA, April 30. Lord Chelmsford, in' opening a conference representative of all the official 'departments,' provincial ' govetn'ments, and ruling 'chiefs, to discuss the Prime Minister's- appeal'to India 'to redouble her war efforts, lengthily reviewed the war position and its, effect on the East. He said Germany had long cast her eyes eastwards, and concentrated her diplomacy on its moral and political capture. She hoped that the Indian Moslems' allegiance to Britain would be shaken and she secure an unmolested path to the Persian Gulf. The Russian Revolution had opened the door for the Germans through Southern Russia to Eastern Persi a and Afghanistan. India must guard this opening. Lord Chelmsford urged the need for assistance to the 'Amir of Afghanistan in maintaining neutrality, which, so far he had unswervingly maintained. Lord Chelmsford eloquently appealed to the conference to prove that India was not one whit behind any part of the Empire in determination to win the war. The conference appointed committees to report on the questions of India's pian-power and resources. RECRUITING IN INDIA. Received 11.5 a.m. CALCUTTA, May 1. Four, hundred and forty five thousand recruits joined the Indian army last year.