MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1917, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIA.

CROSSING OF THE DIALA. A TERRIBLE ORDEAL. A STORY OF BRITISH HEROISM. Received March 20. 5.5 p.m. London, March 25. Mr. Candler, telegraphing from Bagdad, gives a vivid narrative of the midnight battle to secure the crossing of the Diala river after the Turks had destroyed the bridgu. He says: "We pushed forward on the left bark, sending the cavalry and two columns of infantry to work round ou the right bank and enter Bagdad from the west. The column attacking Diala had to force a crossing where the element of surprise fiad been eliminated, since' the old bridgei.cad site was chosen. When the first pontoon was lowered over the ramp, the .whole launching party were shot down in a few seconds in "bright moonlight. The Turks had concentrated their machine-guns and rifles in the houses opposite the bank. The second pontoon reached the middle of the stream, and then the whole of the crew were killed owing to the terrible' fnsilade.

The third pontoon was almost across when it was bombed and sank. Then crew after crew pushed off to certain .death, the pontoons drifting down the Tigris past the British camp with their freight of dead. After- the failure of the bridgehead passage, an order to attempt a second crossing was cancelled, but an attempt was made on the second night -ith equal gallantry. This time a bombardment preceded the attack. The barrage raised such a dust that it formed a curtain, behind which ten boats crossed. The crossing, parties were exterminated when the curtain of dust lifted, but a footing was secured One pontoon drifted back. A sergeant, called for volunteers to gather in the wounded. All twelve volunteers were killed. Sixty Lancashire men were now established on the opposite shore; and commenced bombarding along the bank, though heavily pressed' by the Turks on both flanks. Fortunately, the Lancashire's discovered a break" in the river bend, which formed a half-moon on the landward side, protected by a neighboring grove of mulberries and" palms. Here the sixty Lancashires held out thraiWi the night, all the next day and next night, against repeated and determined attacks. The Turks once reached the top of the parapet, but though the Harrison was reduced to forty they drove back the attackers. The garrison was reduced almost to their last clip of cartridges and single bomb when the British crossing was completed. Finally the cavalry and two infantry columns threatened to cut off the Turks who hurriedly retreated.