STARVED INTO SURRENDER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2759, 1 May 1916, Page 5

STARVED INTO SURRENDER

: TOWNSHEND'S FORCE AT KUT-EL-AMARA ATTEMPT TO SEND RELIEF SUPPLIES FAILS The High Commissioner reports:— ' , London, April 29, 4.55 p.m. The War Office announces:— "After- a resistance .protracted for 148 days, and conducted with gallantry and fortitude that will be forever memorable, General Townshend has been compelled, by the'final exhaustion of his supplies, to surrender) "Before doing so, he destroyed his guns and munitions. The force under him consists of 2970 British troops of all ranks; and services, and 6000 In- ' dian troops and followers. _ "An attempt'on the night of April 24 to send a ship with supplies for iTownshend's force' at Kut-el-Amara, though carried out with, the utmost gallantry, unfortunately; failed, aeroplanes discovering the ship aground near Magasis, abgut four miles east of 'Kut-el-Amara." ■ ' ■■■'*'■ WHAT THE TURKISH COMMUNIQUE SAYS (Rec. May 1, 0.40 a.m.) ' , Amsterdam, April 30. . £ Turkish offioial communique states: ' ' "General Townshend and his garrison of 18,800 men have surrendered unconditionally." ' .. . _ . „ A - ' London, April 28. A Turkish communique states: Our forces, advancing towards the Suez Canal, annihilated four enemy squadrons. We took some prisoners, and great quantities of war material and provisions." , DUTY-OF THE EMPIRE: "FILL UP THE GAPS" STATEMENT BY MR. W. F. MASSEY. A bnef the re versoJ was made by the Prime Minister Hon. W. F. Massey) 0 . * Jf no disguising the fact that the' news from Mesopotamia is bad, said Mr. Massey, but we have to remember that we cannot expect to get through a great war such as this without reverses. There is nodoubt that General Townshend and bis troops have done everything possible Tinder the circumstances, surrendering only when there was notliwg else lert for them to do. The full story of their endurance has yet to bo told, and we shall find when it comes to hand that there has been nothing done will in.any way tend to the discredit of the Army or the Empire As British citizens we.'must on 110 account allow ourselves to be discouraged bv what,has taken place. On the contrary, we should be stimulated to fresh efforts. A reverse such as this should only strengthen our determination to win at any cost, and lam confident tha tit will have that effect. We have taken up the burden of Empire, and m ust carry it willingly and cheerfully No doubt the enemy are elated over what they will boast of as an important victory, but our answer must be to fill up the gaps by sending troops and . still more troops, from every part of the Empire to where thev are most, urgently required. , - ~ GREECE MAKES MORE TROUBLE REFUSES TO ALLOW TRANSPORT OP SERBIANS. (Rec. April 30, 5.5 p.m.) n r tj. ,i t Athens, April 29. Greece persists in iier refusal to allow tho transport of Serbian troons Over the Greelc railways. ■ The Entente Ministers are awaiting further instructions from their Governments. 1"