THE DASH FOR KUT-EL-AMARA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2669, 14 January 1916, Page 5

THE DASH FOR KUT-EL-AMARA

BELIEF TROOPS IN HEAVY FIGHTING GERMAN MUNITIONS FOR MESOPOTAMIA 3y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ' « London, January 12. Mr. Edward Candler, the representative of the British Press with the Expeditionary Force in. Mesopotamia, says that Colonel Ay liner's advauce up tlw Tigris to join General Townshend met with stubborn resistance, and tho heaviest fighting at Sheikli Shad. Proceeding up the banks of the Tigris, our cavalry came mcontact with the Turkish advanced troops on the right bank The Turks were in considerable strength astride the river. Our cavalry got behind tlie trenches on tho enemy's extreme right flank, and defeated a whole battalion. The British casualties among the infautry were heavy. Our force came under heavy rifle and Maxim lire from the Turkish trenches at a\distanee of twelve hundred yards. Owing to the flatness and uniform mud colour of the country around, and the haze, the Turkish trenches were remarkably concealed. The Turks' cavalry attempted to envelop our right, but the artillery turner! them. Their infantry was too strong to he dislodged, sn we entrenched for the night in positions two hundred t" seven hundred yards from the enemy. Nothing could exceed the gallantry of our attack. Officers of wide experience say that there was never hotter rifle fire at the same rango in tho French campaign. Many of our casuaHies are slight, the wounds being mostlv The'atest reports show that our force is still advancing. GERMAN ARTILLERY ON THE WAY. Rome, January 12. The Italian journal "La. Tribuna" says that enormous quantities of German artillery, are traversing Constantinople, going to Mesopotamia.