MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1916, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIA.

i —; THE TURKISH ATTACK. nFUELLED WITH HEAVY LOSS. London, April 26. Details the Turkish counter-attack hi Mesopotamia on April 17 and 18 show that (he enemy essayed to carry the position by sheer weight of numbers. The attack began at 7 o'clock in the evening continued all night. There were six distinct assaults against one brigade, as well as sporadic rushes, yet the BritUh line was unbroken. Thfe glare of bursting shells disclosed the enemy lying flat, and our isfantry -fusiladed oi the ground level. Over MOO dead were counted ia front of on<j '•brigade alone. So fierce was the attack that a portion of the enemy brake through the gap between two battalions, hut, finding their retreat cut off, ioftbled i»cfc in confusion, and all were shot 40W& or captured.

BRITISH SET-BACK. CALLANT REARGUARD ACTION. Received April 27, 9.25 p.m. ■ lif London, April 26. Official: Tn the fighting on Sunday at <juatia (Katizeli ?) a greatly superior force, consisting of a thousand Germans, and also picked Turkish cavalry who fought at Adrianople and Cape Helles, forced the Gloucestershire Hussars and Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeoftmnries to retire. - Hie latter fought a severe rearguard action, inflicting heavy losses. The Wotcestershires were captured owing to > their horses fcfeing shot. • Only a thousand of the enemy remain Quatia oasis; Cto Tuesday an enemy aeroplane ' iboitffoed iPortSaid.