MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1920, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIA.

Serious situation. REBELS NEAR BAGHDAD. By Tolesiaph.—Pr«!3 Assn.—Copyright. Received August 7, 2 a.m. Delhi, August 6. The situation in Mesopotamia is increasingly serious. The rebels are only 50 miles from Baghdad. All railway communication with Basra has ceased. Tribesmen command the river approaches to Baghdad by way of the Lower Euphrates. Communication with the *ity is difficult. A Baghdad message states all responsible elements in the city unite in urging the Government to take drastic steps against the tribes' eitremists apd leaders, to whose efforts alone, with the help of the Sharifian Government, the present disturbances are due. The tribesmen are nervous of the results of their intrigue, which they fear Will prove a deathblow to their hopes of an Arab Government. They fear the French action in Syria will be followed by similar action by Great Britain. Troops and transports have left India for Basra.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE BRITISH CASUALTIES. London, August 5. The War Office announces that the troops who were attacked by Arabs at Hilla were the second .battalion of the Manchesters. The casualties to the British troops were 12 killed, 26 wounded, and 207 missing, and those to Indian troops 8 killed, 3-1 wounded, and 81 missing.