MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1916, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIA.

THE ADVANCE TO BAGDAD. A WHITE PAPER, WHOSE WAS THE FAULT 2 - AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY. Received May 30, 7.10 p.in, London, May 30. A White Paper of the Mesopotamia correspondence shows that General Townshend warned the Government that if it was desired to occupy Bagdad two divisions would be necessary. He said: "I am taking a grave risk in moving on to Bagdad with my weak division alone, as the Turks will doubtless send reinforcements." 1 The White Paper shows that neither the Home Goyernment nor the Government of India were aware of General TowHshend's so-called protest. Mr. Austen Chamberlain said that lie had made inquiries in consequence of rumors that were being circulated in London, and found General Townshend's statement entered in the War Diary of the oth Division on October 3, to the effect that it was ab-i solutely necessary, if the advance from Kut was to be carried out methodically, that two divisions should be employed, exclusive of garrisons and line 9 of communication." About the time that General Nixon received General Townshend's report, General Nixon heard that another division was coming to Mesopotamia, and communicated the fact to General Towns, hend, and the War Office decided on October 24 that two further divisions should be sent from France. MajorGeneral Kemball twice visited General Townshend by aeroplane, in Octobei and November, but pave General Nixon no inkling that General Townshend was doubtful regarding the adequacy of his force. General Nixon says that he considered that the despatch of the two divisons fulfilled General Townshend's conditions. When Mr. Chamberlain recently asked General Townshend of his recollection of the matter, General Townshend said: "I certainly was taking a grave risk in marching to Bagdad with one weak division, whereof the British Ibattalions •were reduced to half strength. Having called General Nixon's attention to the risk, my conscience was clear, and I was prepared to carry out my orders, which were contrary to discipline, and I made protest in the full sense and meaning of the word." General Townshend adds that, in the first instance, he himself contemplated getting to Bagdad. TURKISH CHIVALRY. GENERAL TOWNSHEND IMPRESSED. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received May 30, 5.5 p.m. London, May 29. The correspondent of a Constantinople journal interviewed General Townshend, who is deeply impressed by the chivalry of the Turkish commander, Halif Pasha. He said: "Our comfort was consulted and our wants attended to beyond ex: pectation, and we will never forget his magnanimity."