IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1916, Page 5

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

ON THE TIGRIS. ADVANCE TEMPORARILY CHECKED. LONDON, Jan. 12. Mr. Candlier, representative of the British press with the expeditionary force in Mesopotamia, says that Colonel Aylmer's advance up the Tigris to join General Townshend met with stubborn resistance. The heaviest fighting was at Sheitsand. Proceeding up the banks of the Tigris, our cavalry came into contact with the Turkish advanced troops on the right bank. The Turks were in considerable strength and were astride the river. Our cavalry got behind the trenches on the enemy's extreme right flank and defeated a whole battalion. The British casualties among the infantry were heavy. Our force came under heavy rifle and maxim fire from the Turkish trenches at a distance of 1200 yards. The flatness and uniform mud color all round, with the haze, aided the invisibility oi the Turkish trendies, which were remarkably concealed. The Turkish cavalry attempted to envelope our right, but the artillery turned them. Their infantry was too strong to be dislodged, and we entrenched for the night in positions 200 to 700 yards from the enemy. Nothing could exceed the gallantry of our attack. Officers of wide experience say tliat never was there hotter rifle fire at the same range in the French campaign. Many of our casualties had ilight wounds, mostly due to rifle fire. The latest reports* show that our forces are still advancing.

GERMAN GUSTS SENT ON. Rome, Jan. 12. The Trtbuna says that enormous quantlties of German artillery are traversing Coturtantinople towards Mesopotamia.