BRITISH ENTRY INTO BAGDAD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3031, 19 March 1917, Page 6

BRITISH ENTRY INTO BAGDAD

RECEIVED WITH CHEERS WHOLESALE LOOTING BY TURKS London, March .16. When the British vanguard entered Bagdad, divers sects and races lined the streets, the balconies, and the roofs, cheering. Groups of children danced before us, shouting and cheering, and the women turned out in holiday dresses. The people had been robbed in order to supply tho Turks, and tho oppression, which for two years had been unendurable, last week degenerated into brigandage. The mere mention of the British, was a punishable offence. The Turks abandoned hope on February 23, and looted the city wholesale, sending the merchandise to Samarra. The German Consul had left a fortnight and the Austrian two days beforo we entered. The bridge and the clothiug factory were blown up on March 10, and the railway station and hospital, and British property, were •rutted. Kurds looted the town when the Turkish gendarmerie left, and rifled the- Bazaar. The merchants are craving our protection. Regiments which were detailed to police the Bazaar and tho houses found the rabble busy dismantling the shops. They even looted the seats in public gardens. The British atlitudo was characteristic. There was no display, and no attempt to create an impression. We entered dusty and unshaven, after the hard fighting, bivouacking, and fighting from March 7 to 10. Extraordinary iralbr.fry was shown in crossing the Diala River. —The "Times." TURKISH REARGUARD DEFEATED London, March 16. An official report; from Mesopotamia states: After establishing posts on the left bank of the Tigris thirty miles upstream, General Maude attacked the Turkish rearguard on the right bant, fifteen miles northward of Bagdad, after a night march on . Wednesday, and drove them back three miles. At dusk we occupied portion of tho town of Bakubah, on tho right bank of the Diala. Our machine-guns caused a fire on a small Turkish steamer which was alternating to cross the Tigris on Tuesday night, and she drifted down, the river and was captured, with a quantity of ammunition.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ENEMY DISLODGED (Rec. March 17. 7.45 p.m.) London, March 16. A wireless Russian official message says: We dislodged the Turks from a fortified summit westward of Kermun-shah.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-lteuter. ATTEMPT TO CUTOFF THE TURKS (Rec. March IS, 11 p.m.) London, March 17. A wing of General Maude's army is endeavouring to reach Khanikin. ahead of the Turkish forces flying before the Russian advance from Kermajishah. If the Turkish retreat is cut off the Turks may surrender or be driven into the desert.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ASIA MINOR TO BE DEFENDED CONCENTRATION OF TROOPS (Rec. March 18, 5.5 p.m.) Athens, March 17. In diplomatic circles it is stated that important councils held at Constantinople decided at all costs to reorganise the defence of Asia Minor. It is intended to retail troops from Riga, Galicia, Macedonia, and Rumania, and employ them in the defence of Ottoman territory. The concentration of troops has already begun. Practically the whole male population has been called to arms.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

COLLAPSE OF TURKEY (Rec. March 17, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, March 16. The collapse of Turkey is reported as probable in view of the conditions ensuing on the British victories. —Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn. WOOLLEN MANUFACTURERS A FEDERATION FORMED. Melbourne, March 17. A conference of woollen manufacturers formed a Federal organisation, to be known by the title of the Asso-. ciated Woollen, Worsted, and Textilo Manufacturers of Australia. The association has adopted uniform sizes, weights, and terms.—Press Assn. RAISING THE AGE OF CONSENT A MOTION DEFEATED. London, March 18. The House of Commons Standing Committee considered the criminal law amendment to raise the age of consent from sixteen' years to seventeen, but it was defeated by 21 votes to 20.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. FEDERAL ELECTIONS ABSENTEE WORKERS' VOTES. Melbourne, March 17. In the Senate an amended Electoral Bill has been introduced enabling all those workers who went to England as the result of Government action to vote. Mr. Hughes lias announced that he will be n candidate for Bendigo. He had received invitations to stand from thirty-four constituencies. —Press Assn. LATE DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT London, March 16. The Hon. W. F. Massey and Mr. Andrew Fisher (High Commissioner for Australia) have condoled with the Duke of Connaught.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Assn. AUSTRALASIAN CLUB OPENING POSTPONED. London, March 16. The formal opening of the new Australasian Club has been postponed, owing to the death of the Duchess of Connaught. The club is now in operation, and is intended for use solely by officers on leave from France. The building is situated in Piccadilly, the centre of clubland. Mr. King, a South African millionaire, gives the rent of the premises free of all charges. Mr. A. D. Steel Maitland (Under-Secretary for the Colonies), Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Vicary Gibbs. M.P., are the trustees. Mr. Gibbs took an active part in securing the money to equip the club.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.