THE LATEST: WITHIN 30 MILES OF TREBIZOND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2703, 24 February 1916, Page 5

THE LATEST: WITHIN 30 MILES OF TREBIZOND

' ■ CR.ec. February 24, 0.40 a.m.) 1 \ ' Patrograd, February 23. The Russians have reached Rezeli, forty miles east of Trebizond. THE TURKISH LOSSES: ESTIMATED AT 40,000. Petrograd, February 22. The Turkish killed, wounded, and prisoners at Erzeruin are estimated at forty , thousand. / , TURKS ADMIT LOSS OF ERZERUM. (Rec. February 23, 9.15 p.m.)' 1 » » . , Lcndon, February 22. A communique from Constantinople admits the withdrawal from Erzerum, but belittles the operations, saying that the ground was not fortified. KITCHENER'S FELICITATIONS TO THE GRAND DUKE. London, February 22. ' Lord Kitchener teelgraphed to tho Grand Duke Nicholas: "Heartiest congratulations from the British and myself on the brilliant feat of arms of our Russian comrades at Erzerum. \ , _ The Grand Duke Nicholas replied, thanking Lord Kitchener and the brilliant British army.

HARASSING WAR IN MESOPOTAMIA

ARAB VULTURES' GUERILLA ATTACKS. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.; London, February 22. Mr. Candlor, British Press representative in Mesopotamia, states that thousands of Arab irregulars hang on Inc outskirts of liio llesopotamian expedition, even when the expedition is hi arching. Tliey JiiU l'or pillage, swooping down \on isolated detachments, stripping the dead, and digging up the graves. They follow like jackals in the rear of tho expedition. Two jibbing transport ponies were unyoked from a cart, whioli was abandoned; tho Arabs wore down upon it before our rearguard was «;ight hundred yards away, Emboldened by loot tliey close in, and it is difficult owing to the mirage to tell where tliey are. The hazes in Mesopotamia magnify everything. The Arabs haunt tho battlefields foj days, and spare the wcunded only when a sheikh or Turkish officer commands. They murder and pillage even friendly Turks. Important Turkish prisoners said to General *Ay liner: i"lVe should join hands, otvl these scavengers, and settle our differences, afterwards." The Arabs are light-weights. Each carries a bn« of dates and a small ration for his horse. They never wait for our cavalry, cuc.uubered by six stone of equipment, to get amongst them, unloss they believe we are badly outnumbered. During a skirmish near Shaiba, tho Arabs thought us ambuscaded aiuLat a disadvantage in the doe]) mud, and tliey charged. We had 460 horsemen and two sections of horsfc artillery. The Arabs wheeled and charged in thousands. For a miiuito them \Vn« the duali of swurd and luuud j tutm tho enemy broke. Our artillery did bloody execution,

ALLEGED TURKISH SCORE INVESTIGATED. London, February 22. In the House of Commons, Mr. Austen Chamberlain (Secretary of State for India)'referred to the Turkish .claim tlmt the Turks had annihila'tdd a British force. A light had occurred on January 12 _ between a reconnoitring party from Aden and a Turkish detachment. A British olßcer and four Indian soldiers were wounded. There were 200 enemy casualties. The British had been neither annihilated nor defeated.' COLONIAL TROOPS WITH GENERAL SARRAIL BIG ALLIED OFFENSIVE IN THE AIR. '("Times" and Sydney ''Sun" Services.) London, February 22. A Salonika telegram, which states that the latest reinforcements to arrive there included a magnificent body <if colonials, has greatly interested Londoners, who are also awaiting particulars of the inclusion of a party of the popular Anzacs who took part in the expedition against the Arabs in .West Egypt-at the end of January.' . The possibility of a great Allied offensive from Salonika is becoming clearer. The Bulgars and Germans are strengthening their entrenchments on the Greek frontier. They have apparently postponed the idea of storming Salonika. GREEK GENERALS-VISIT SALONIKA ASTONISHED AT THE STRENGTH OF, THE FORTIFICATIONS London, February 22. The "Daily Chronicle's" Salonika correspondent states that, at the.invitation of General Sarrail, Greek Generals inspected the 'Allies' fortifications at Salonika. They were astonished at the strength of the forts. The Greeks agreed that the enemy would need to attack in great force, and with formidable artillerv. Deserters state that there is a serious famine at Monastir. i THE LION OF SERBIA Athens, February 22. The King of Serbia, who is taking sulphur baths, is rapidly recovering. He looks many years younger, and is delighted that he will soon, bo fit Again to lead the army.