MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1917, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIA.

-* .J THE INITIAL BLUNDERS. STATEMENT BY LOED HARDINGE. Reuter Sfirvica, Received July 4, l'l p.m. London, July 3. Lord Hardinge, in the House of Lords, opined that the Mesopotamia, Commission had given insufficient prominence to the unexampled efforts of India at the outset of the war and the generosity of her contributions of every kind, which necessarily hampered operations elsewhere. The reports inadequately weighed the ris'ks and preoccupation of the Indian .Government in "lffU-lS in connection with internal and frontier affairs. India's, military expenditure' 'before the war exceeded the maximum fixed, and was increased in wartime beyond the point which her financial advisers considered safe. India's expeditions to 'France, Egypt., and East) Africa before the Mesopotamian expedition was contemplated exhausted her military resources and her reserve equipment' 'and stores. Approximately 80,0:00 British and 210,000 Indian troops, fully trained lind equipped, were sent oversea.' .He emphasised that some weeks before, the arrival of British territorials to garrison India there were only 15;000 British troops there. Thus the safety of India was imperilled, as well as the interests of the whole Empire. He took the risk because lie trusted, the people of India. The Government of India strongly opposed tlio advance to Bagdad without reinforcements, but the maintenance of their veto was not justifiable in view of the obvious political advantages and expediency of the capituro of (Bagdad, also in view of the strong pressure from Home and the unanimity of military opinion in favor of an advance. The inadequacy of the river transport, was only revealed when it was too late to make good, although everything possible was done to remedy it. The local military authority did not raise this as an objection to the advance. Regarding the medical breakdown, which had caused him the greatest pain and sorrow, he confessed he nvas completely deceived iby misleading reports from the front, but the moment ho knew the truth lie made every effort to remedy the state of things. Received July 4, u.w p.m. London, July 3. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar La.w gave an asSUrance that none of those censured by the Mesopotamian Commission would be promoted pending ' the House of Commons' discussion of , the report. ■ ROLL OF HONOR. CASUALTY LIST. Wellington, Last Xight. KILLED IN ACTION. 'Bell, J. E., Gunner Todd, 0. M., Gunner Korako, H„ Private. Nikorima, P., Private Savage, C., Sergeant Taiwhanga, H,, Private DIED OF wounds. Brown, H., Private Manuel, J., Sergeant Hape, T., Private Ruddock, W. D., Captain Gregory, A. P., Private DIED OF SICKNESS. Burrotigh, J., Private Burnand, C. S., Staff Sergeant-Major j Previously reported missing, now reported buried by the Germans south of Grenier Wood.—Private A, iR. Clark, Private R. Johnston. Missing.—Private W. N. Elder. Wounded.—Corporal W. H. Claringbold, Private J. E. Hancock, Private H. Hunter, Sapper H. J. Brown, Sapper J. W. Muirhead, Private H. T. Falla, Lance Corporal E. P. Houghton, Private W. T. Jennison. Private L. E. Hocquhard, Rifleman A. A. Pag'gales, (Private T. Ritchie. Wounded.—Corporal T. Brown, Private W. Katau, Corporal H. Kerei, Privates A. Mita, Win. G. Owen, T. Retimana, R. Turi, R. Subritzky, H. Whelpeihana, T. Wilkinson, P. Albert, W. M. Lockwood, Sergeant Petihan, Privates HNTemaru, P. Hautapu, E. Karina, W. Lardelli, 11. Penetito, Lance-Corporals T. L. Brown, T. Mulligan. Wounded, admitted to hospital.— Private T. S. Rickus, Private J. Smaill. Slightly "wounded, remaining with unit.—-Private R. H. Akuhata, Sergeant G. Gardiner, Lieut. H. R. Vcreoc, Private W. Maitai, Gunner Browne, Driver F. Clark, Driver E. W. Worsdell.