TURKISH CAMPAIGNS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15612, 9 June 1916, Page 7

TURKISH CAMPAIGNS.

IN ARMENIA. ENEMY CLAIMS SUCCESS. RUSSIANS SHELL BLACK SEA COAST. ■;By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received June Bth. 10.1.j p.m.) AMSTERDAM, June 8. A Turkish official communique says: "We drove the Russian'; from positions on the Caucasus front along a line of l-{ kilometres, and chased them back eight kilometres, "We occupied positions on the Mairam Range dominating the enemy's left wing. '"Wo captured much material. Enemy detachments socking to save their guns were killed. "Seven enemy ships bombarded Ivusclicada and the coast to the eastward, and caused a fire." THE RUSSIAN REPORT. TURKISH OFFENSIVE STOPPED. (Received June Bth. 10.15 p.m.) PETROGRAD, June 8. An official communique havs: — "Our. artillery fire stopped a great Turkish offensive in the direction of Erzingan." IN MESOPOTAMIA. TIIR RUSSIAN ADVANCE. FORTIFIED POSITIONS TAKEN. 'Received Jane Bth. 10.10 p.m.) PETROGRAD, June 8. An official communique says:— "We occupied strongly fortified positions in the Khanikin region. Our cavalry attacked the enemy in his tranches and sabred several battalions." ON THE TIGRIS.

j GHURKAS AND TURKS. FIERCE FIGHT DESCRIBED. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received Juno Bth, 10.50 p ; m.) LONDON, June S. Mr Edmund Candler, official correspondent with the British forces in Mesopotamia, describing the fight at Deitaisha on April 15tli, soys the Ghurka'S fought fiercelj', and dead Turks choked the trenches. The turks were either clubbed or bayonetted. The Turks, in the evening, counterattacked 'with twelve battalions, chiefly troop?; from Gallipoli and tlio pick of the Turkish Army. The Ghiirkas held them for twenty minutes, but could not get amnvciui-. tion quickly enough, and fell back. The fight became a promiscuous melee, the killing being done with bayonets, rifle-butts, and revolvers. Some of our field gunners fired chance shots and "rattled" the Turks, who retired. A howitzer battery swept them as they fell back. Fifteen hundred dead Turks in this sector were counted next morning. Three thousand of the enemy were killed during the fight.