MESOPOTAMIAN RELIEF FORCE HELD UP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 70, 22 March 1916, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIAN RELIEF FORCE HELD UP.

GENERAL AYLMER STILL 23 MILES FROM KUT.

LONDON, March 21. A telegram has been received from Mr. Arthur Candler, the special war correspondent with the British forces, stating that the British in Mesopotamia are still 23 miles from Kut-el-Amara. The Mesopotamian campaign extends a good way back now, and most people have not a very clear idea of its general progress. The following diary of its principal events may clear up one or two perplexities that have occurred latclv: — November 7. 1014.- British force lands at Fao, mouth of the Shat-el-Arab, at head of Persian <lnlf. November 21.— Basra (50 miles up Shat-el-Arab) occupied. December o.— Kurna (60 miles) occupied. April, 191.5.—General Nixon takes command. April 11-12.—Bombardment of Kurna (where Tigris runs into Shat-cl-i Arab), Shaiba (a few miles south-west of Basra), and Ahwaz (on the Anglo- \ Persian oil line). April 13.—Enemy driven back at Shaiba, with 6,000 casualties. May 31.—Advance up the Tigris from Kurna begun. June 3.—Surrender of Amara (160 miles from head of Gulf). : July 24.—Turks driven from Nasiriych (160 miles) and Suk-es-Sheyuk,, both on the Euphrates. September 29.—Kut-el-Amara (240 miles up the Tigris) occupied; 1,600 prisoners taken. Turkish force in flight towards Bagdad. .. November 22.—Battle of Ctcsiphon (300 miles up the Tigris, 18 miles ttom Bagdad). November 23-24.—Turkish counter-attacks driven off. November 25.—Arrival of large Turkish reinforcements compels General Townshend to fall back on Kut-el-Amara. ... .. November I.—General Townshend fights reargnard action at Azizie, 20 miles below Ctesiphon. . December 3.—General Townshend reaches Kut-el-Amara, and is besieged there. i December 12 and 25.—Turkish attacks at Kut repulsed. _.„___ 1 Ja*nuarv 7-9, 1016.-General Aylmer, advancing up the Tigrw to relieve General Townshend. defeats Turks at Sheik Saad, about 50 miles from Knt j January 10,-Sir Percy Lake to succeed General Nixon m Mesopotamian j C ° m January 13.15.-General Aylmer defeats Turks at Wadi, about 25 miles I 21.-Aylmer at Unum-el-Henna, about 20 miles from Kut; 1 fchecked, here by floods. _ . \ March 6.—Aylmer at Es Sinn, seven raflee.from Kit. , March 21.— jWlmer 23 miles from Kut.