PERSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1915, Page 5

PERSIA.

CAMPAIGN MUST GO ON. | BAGDAD TO BE TAKEN. Received Dee. 0, IL2O p.m. London, Dec. fi. The Morning Post says that for the maintainenceof our prestige in the East there wa3 ample justification for the Mesopotamia expediton. It was hoped that a delay would give General Nixon a sufficient force to carry out the offensive. The Daily News emphasises the importance of pushing on to Bagdad, the capture of which would be an immense blow to Turkish and German influence. HURRY UPI GET REINFORCEMENTS VIA INDIA. Received Dec. (i, 8.50 p.m. London, Dec. 5. The Daily Chronicle says that the situation in Mesopotamia should quickly be retrieved. The forces in Mesopotamia can be reinforced easier and quicker from India than from Constantinople. THE BRITISH RETREAT. ,• / _____ OFFICIAL REPORT. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, Dec. 5. In the House of Commons, Sir Edward Grey said that there had been isolated acts of brigandage and revolt in the south of Persia for several years, but it was not until last spring that the British Government received direct evidence that the elements of the disorder were organised and encouraged by German agents in defiance of the Persian Government, Only the regular Persian force was available at the time for the restoration of order. This force totalled 2500, and a portion was sent to Hamedan in . October, but the Persian Government was unable to denude the capital by sending troops to the remoter provincial centres. London, Dec. 5. r A German wireless says that the news of the Turkish victory'in Mesopotamia "was known in Constantinople on Friday afternoon. There was great rejoicing and houses were beflagged. The population of Bagdad gave a concert for the benefit of the wounded. REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL TOO TRUSTFUL. London, Dec. 5. The newspapers do not attempt to minimise the disapopintment at the eighty mile withdrawal from Bagdad, but point out that General Townshend was outnumbered by four to one. It is evident that the Turks losses at Ctesiphon were so heavy that they had to withdraw until reinforced. The Weekly Dispatch says that if Kutelamara is safely reached it does not doubt that General Townshend will be able to await reinforcements, as the position is very strong. The paper suggests that the British force is too weak to defeat the Turks at the end of 500 miles of communications, and a very strong force should have been sent. Amsterdam, Dec. 5. The Constantinople correspondent of the Vossiche Zeitung says that the miscarriage of the British' plans in Mesopotamia was due to the participation of Arab tribes, whom the British believed to be faithful, but they sided with the Turks when the British prospects were most favorable.