IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 225, 21 September 1915, Page 5

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

SHARP FIGHTING RENEWED. A BIG GUN BATTLE. I Received 12..t0 p m.) AMSTERDvM, September 20. A Turkish cmrnuiut,!!,- slat. - that tichting has been pr.si-oding f, r several days along the- front ,:, M..„ imii_nia. A lug gut, duel is proo-ohii.. I- two, „ t he nvi-r warships and rurki&li OHlt.-ri.-s. IN THE COMMONWEALTH. CONSPIRACY AUEGED BETWEEN SOLDIER AND CONTRACTOR. SYDNEY. September 20. The, High I ourt, -ittine j n its criminal jurisdiction, has commenced tin- hearing of the charges aga.r.st Arthur Kidman. Major >'. W. Pago, Major A. G. O'Donnel! and Sereeant r_ Leslie, of eons;..ring, amongst ih.-in--oho- and with others, to defraud ihe Commonwealth of large sum* ~f money by procuring the payment of cxcessivo prices !.,r goods for Ihe —rmod forcea. Th-- defendants pleaded n...t g,i:>.y.

Counsel for the Crown said evidence would be supplied to show that Kidman a-.- unduly favoured by certain o—irere. The Government bad to pay* largo sums to Kidman on the recommendation of Pago and O'Donn.-11. The only iniorenca that cou'd lie drawn was that the three ollicials before the Court knowingly violated their duty. He submitted figures showing alleged overchtirg'es on good'-. THREE TIMES AS MAfiT. MR HOLMAN AND COMPULSION SYDNEY. September 20. At an overflowing public meeting the Universal Service League appointed office's and earned v plat I inn. Mr. W. A. Holm.in. Premier of New South Wales, emphatically declared that the voluntary svstom in Australia h&d not produced anything like the result ;- had in Biitain. 'lie wanted nothing but a system that would double or treble trio numbers of Australians at the front. Other speakers favoured nn.votsal WOVEN INTO HISTORY. AUSTRALIA'S GALLANT DEEDS. SYDNEY, this day. A memorial service for the men who have fallen on Gal!ip,>l\ orgnnised by ;.!» Salvation Army, and held in the Tovvn llall. was ii most impressive gathering. |Mr .1. Cook, in paying a tribute to the dead, said the roeor_ of Australia's heroes would never polish, because it would bo woven into the warp and woof of the history of the Empire and civilisation. Ho urged the men to carry r-ti the good work done by their comrades. HEAVY AUSTRALIAN LOSSES. TfTTAyvx-.Ti TOTAL 4.070. SYDNEY. S.-pt. mber 20. To-day's list brings th- casualties to the following total-1 Dead 2113 otticors and 3.502 men. wounded 53-8 officers and 13,932 men. missing 4.', officers and 1.->33 men; total 20.117. MAKING SH-X.LS. (Received 10 40 a.m ) SYDNEY i i.is day. The Government has und-ttss.-n to supply the Federal nntlv ..tic with j 40,006 shells drawn fr. n, •I ■■ Government'and private workshops ! MELBOURNE t, ~ day. •Z_.o Stale Cabinet I ... ,'.- ,|, .J to establish a central shop f.>r the i.ani' , I'i.cturo of munitions at Nc-wooit t&t. cost bgin£ only -11,000. .