MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1917, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIA.

GENERAL MURRAY'S SUCCESS

JTHE KING'S APPRECIATION. j£. '4 N.Z. Cable Association and Rcuter. Received April 1, 5.5 p.m. London,, March 31. The Press Bureau Teports that the King, in a message to General Sir Archibald Murray, says: "The good news of your latest success has been received by os at Home with the greatest satisfaction. We are proud of the achievements of your force and the assistance given by our Allies. Convey to all rank's my hearty congratulations and confidence in their further efforts."

OFFICIAL REPORT*

WBTHER SUCCESSES,.

(TDBKS STILL EirffKEATINa

*" V- . Wellington, last Night. The High Commissioner reports,:, LonBoS, 4*o p.m., March 31.—Mesopotamia,, Official.—On March 23 we occupied Shaboroban after lively fighting. On the 25th there wag severe .fighting at the aboijt'JeTjelhamrin and in , tne direction of Kudlrobat, when the enemy were heavily punished. Dellawah Sindiyah; 35 miles north of Bagdad, is now occupied by us. Here the remnants of. the reinforced, defeated enemy from \vb confront us. Falluyah, 36 miles westward of Bagdad,, was occupied on the 19th, the, Turks retreating in the . direction of Bet. In the direction of the Paitak Pass a considerable number of Turks were encountered, we inflicting Josses.

„ EOEMY PUSHED BACK. >f. " »

. k OBEAT DIFFICULTIES ENCOUJfs""*- ' TERBD. .y

JIB Seceded April 1, 11' pjri. -. London, March 31. ,' Mesopotamia Offldal.-JOur troops, Pfoce March IS, have been operating horthward of Bagdad, and have been actively engaged in pushing the enemy tack and consolidating their positions. Our troops, and also the Russians, when converging on Khanikan, encountered considerable difficulties, owing to the necessity of bridging numbers of canals and river*, and the Russians, through the snow and the retreating Turks causing devastation, and also on account of the formidable Paltak 'Pass position. Our troops encountered considerable forces in this direction and strenuous resistance, but inflicted severe losses and captured prisoners, foodstuffs, and supplies. , We occupied Shahrohan on March 23,* ftfttt lively fighting, and heavily pun- ■ fthtd the enemy in the Diala river KVgkm at Cebelhamrin and Kizilrobat. OftMareh2s we occupiedDeltwah SinUrrth7«Uid the rich, productive areas, 35 miles north of Bagdad. We occupied Fallujah, 36 miles wesleward of Bagdad, pn March 29, the Turks offering little opposition and retreating to Hit