MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1917, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIA.

\ OTEJBH LOSSES., . Association and Beater.' t&efceived May 1, SJo p.m. , . London, April 31). jMesopotamiaj, official.—The Turkish Eighteenth Army Corps was reported on Friday as entrenching astride the Tigris, 16 awes northward of Sammara. It has been ascertained that this corps, during tin iSghting on the 18th, ailsfc, and 22nd, list about 4000 men. \ London, May 1. A Mesopotamia official report states: The Turkish 18tl! Army Cor])s on Friday waar'reported to he entrenching fifteen miles northward of Samarra. Its total losses on April 18, 21 and 22 were about 4000< BRITAIN'S NEW 'ALLIES. The 'British advance in Mesopotamia, which has covered more ground in a short period than almost any other movement of the war, has been assisted materially by extensive' defections of the native tribes from Turkish rule, according to private mail advices received in New York, from Asiatic Turkey on March 9. The Turkish troops are menaced not only by the British, 'but by strong forces of Arabs, organised bv the British as their allie3, who are harassing the fleeing Turks. Following the action of the Grand' Sherif of Mecca in declaring independence of Ottoman rule, vari- ; #ua Bedouin tribes have put aside their •!d Enmities. The Emir Afab Ar Rowleh, • near Damascus, and Kakifti Ibri Mahid Hakim, Emir of the great Anzeh tribe, near-LAleppa, covenanted to fight the Turks, and issued a proclamation &ttmg for men and equipment. They were supplied with drill masters, presumably British, who effected the organisation of an Arab fighting unit. Lesser tribes are expending- the "live coal of the movement, from the borders of Syria to 'Egypt." Especially are the promoters of Arab, union anxious "to light the : fire'" in the Irak and between the Euphrates and the Tigris. The importance of the union of the two powerful Alizeh and Shamr tribes is that they ' number no fewer than 4,000,000 souls. They have been bitter enemies for hundreds of years. It is also asserted that Sheikh KhazalKhan has sent a deputation to' the Sherif Suleiman I, King of the Hejaz, announcing his readiness to respond to a call for men and money. That the new order is producing results is shown by a surprise attack of 1501) ; horsemen of the new forces on the soldiers guarding the camels the Turkish Governmcait had purchased preparatory to an attack on the Suez Canal. Fifty Turks yrne slain and the others fled, leaving about 4000 camels behind.