Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15485, 12 January 1916, Page 6

Progress of the War.

The ehango in the situation in Mesopotamia is doubtless due to tho arrival of much-peeded reinforcements. It was reported recently that reinforcements were steadily pushing forward, and the welcome addition to the strength of Major-General Townshend's force has at once made its presence felt. . It is not clear whether the troops under Generals 'Aylmer and Campbell have actually joined up with

those at Kut-el-Amara. According to a German wireless message, tho Turks havo " surrounded " Kut-el-Amara and intend to cither carry that placo by assault or starve-out tho garrison. The latter plan would appear to be impossible of realisation. Kut-el-Amara occupies a small peninsula on the north side of the Tigris, formed by a sharp bend in tho river, and so long a s naval co-operation maintains tho lines of communication by water it will be difficult for the enemy to cut off supplies. General Aylmcr's report shows that on Sunday tho Turks were in retreat, but heavy rain was interfering with the pursuit of the enemy. The fighting has been very heavy, and two guns and 700 prisoners are already reported. It is probable that since the British retirement from Ctesiphon the enemy has been heavily reinforced. The Turks, and the Germans also, fully realise the seriousness of tho British menace in Mesopotamia, and ifc may be, as is suggested by a message from Rome, that the Germans will postpone their contemplated advance against Egypt and concentrate their energies upon the campaign in the valley of tho Tigris. On tho Eastern front there appears to be something in the nature of a lull in the Russian offensive. No further movements are reported, but the enemy's losses near Czernowitz aro described as enormous. This suggests that a desperate struggle is proceeding in that district. Or> the Western front tho Germans are reported to have made four attempts against the French positions in the vicinity of Massiges, in the Cliampagno district. Massiges is a small village north of the La Tourbe river. The Butte de Mesnil lies about midway between Tahure and Massiges. Tho French claim to have decimated the enemy, and brought his offensive movement to a dead stop. Tho Germans claim to have jcaptured i over 400 prisoners, and report that tho French counter-attack failed. A later French says that most of the positions were recaptured and that tho German attack, was on an extensive scale, ended in completo defeat.