MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1916, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIA.

THE TIGRIS BATTLE. ENEMY SUFFER SEVERELY. PLOODS INCREASING. Received April 23, 5.5 p.m. London, April 21. Official details of the fighting on the Tigris on April 17 and 18 show that ten thousand Turks attacked in iense formation, piercing part of the British front. They left 1200 to 15,00 dead on the front of one British brigade. j The total of the enemy killed was 3000, including several Germans, who ledthe attack. The enemy hoped to overwhelm the British, believing that the floods had isolated us from our supports. The total British killed, wounded, and missing is considerably less than 3000. The floods are increasing. . DETAILS OF FIGHTING. ENEMY'S LOSSES. A .:' , London, April 21. Official,details of the fighting on the right bank of the Tigris on April 16 and 17, previous to the Turkish coun-ter-attacks, that the aiemy left between two and three hundred deaa in the captured trenches and that two field-guns, five machine-guns, 180 prisoners, including eight officers, were captured. Our losses were comparatively small. An aeroplane reconnaissance after the.enemy counter-attacks on the night of April 17 and 18, disclosed a I large number of Turkish ambulances busy all day removing casualties.

OFFICIAL iIEPORT, Wellington, April 22. The High. Commissioner reports under date London, April 21, 7.25 p.m.:— In the Mesopotamia fighting on April 17 and 18, Ifr.OOO of the enemy, attacking in dense formation, penetrated a part of our front. Fifteen hundred dead Turks were counted within 500 yds. in front of one of our brigades and more were lying thick in front of other portions of our line. It is estimated that the enemy killed on the night of tho _l7th numbered over 3000. In several instances the attacks were led by Germans, some of whom were killed. Apparently the eneniy supposed part of our troops were isolated by floods, and that they could overwhelm them. Actually supports were arriving. Our killed, wounded and missing were fewer than the Turkish killed. The floods are spreading.