IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15462, 15 December 1915, Page 7

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

AT KUT-EL-AMARA. TURKISH ATTACKS REPULSED. BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS PUSHING FORWARD. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copjright.) (Received December 14th. 7.30 p.m.) ! LONDON, December 13. Major-General Ton nshend reports that the eneinv bombarded his position on Wednesday and Thursday, making desultory attacks from all sides on Thursday (December !Uhi. The enemy, on Friday, heavily bombarded Kut-el-Amara. and developed an attack on the northern front, which however was not pressed. Tho bombardment. was renewed on .Saturday, when two attacks were repulsed with heavy leases to the enemy. Since then the Turks have displayed less activity. The attitude of the Arabs is reported to be satisfactory. British reinforcements are pushing forward. The High Commissioner reports: — IX)NDON. December 13 <10.p.m.'. Ma jor-General Townshead states that the enemy shelled his position ail day on Wednesday. The ment continued during Thursday, when the enemy made desultory attacks on all sides. On Friday the enemy again heavily bombarded Kut-el-Amara, developing an attack against the northern front of the British. Tho attack, however, was not pressed. On Saturday the bombardment, wns resumed, and two attacks were made oil our north frcnt, which were repulsed with heavy

loss to the enemy. Since then the enemy has shown less activity. The attitude of the Arabs ig reported te bo satisfactory. British reinforcements are being pushed forward. HOSTILE ARABS. ENCOUNTER. XE.tR MUSCAT. (Received December 14th, 7.30 p.m.) CAIRO. December 13. It is officially announced that reconnoitring forces from Matrak encountered 300 hostile Arabs, and drove them westward, killing thirty-five. Tho British casualties were sixteen men killed, and three officers ar-d fifteen men wounded.

Matrah is a handsome, well-built maritime town in Arabia, one mile west of Mu.rat, on the south-west shore of the Gulf of Oman.

THE PERSIAN SITUATION.

THE RUSSIAN COUP. PANIC AMONGST INTRIGUERS. ("Time.*" :md "Sydney Sun" Services.) (.Received December lltii, 1..") p.m.) LONDON", December 13. A message from Teheran *ays the Russian occupation of the SultanBalak Pass caused a panic at Hamadan. Tho Turkish and German Consuls fled, and the inhabitants rushed to tho telegraph office and cancelled their signatures to a telegram calling on the Government t<> declare war against Russia. A Swedish gendarmerie officer at Dinar collected and confiscated the money iu the Bank of Persia, and then fled. A tribe sifjrounded tho house of tho German agitator Pujin, at. Ispahan, and demanded his treasure. Pujm failed to secure, the aid of gendarmerie and fled to a mosque.