BRITISH CAPTURE OF KUT-EL-AMARA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3015, 28 February 1917, Page 5

BRITISH CAPTURE OF KUT-EL-AMARA

ENEMY IN FULL RETREAT SIGNS OF A MOVE ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT London, February 5. An official report from Mesopotamia states: Early ou Saturday wo capturcd the ridge across the neck of the Shumran Peninsula. It became evident that the enemy was in full retreat, iu the direction of Baghailah (or Bagela), twenty-five miles westwards of Kut. Many Turkish depots and stores were on fire. A' strong force of cavalry and infantry was heavily engaged all day, infiioting severe casualties. In the meantime we pursued our successes at Sannaiyat. Wo oaptured the fifth Turkish line and the Nakliailat and Suwada positions, and reached the Atas Marsh and the Magasis line. Our aeroplanes co-operated invaluably, dropping bombs and firing machineguns from minimum altitudes. We took 1730 prisoners in two days. The whole of the enemy's positions from Sannaiyat lo Kut-el-Amara were thus Secured, and Kut passed automatically into our hands. The full Turkish losses are not yet known. ; ENEMY ADMITS THE LOSS. London, February 26. A Turkish official communique admits the evacuation of Kut "according to a pre-arranged plan and in,order to effect a junction with reinforce--ments." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ACTIVITY ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT ■ London, February 26. A Russian official communique states: "Our scouts dispersed 1 the Turks on tho western bank of Lake Van, inflicting heavy losses." —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assu.-Reuter. A German official communique states: "Strong Russian attacks northward of the Tartar Pass failed." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.