STORY OF KUT-EL-AMARA

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 111, 11 May 1916, Page 7

STORY OF KUT-EL-AMARA

EARLY' STAGES OF THE SIEGE,

LONDON, 10th May

General Nixon's despatch, which covers events up to the middle of January, details the earlier stages of the siege^ of Kut-el-Amara. General Tow'nshend,' on arriving at Kut-el-Amara. on 3rd December, organised the defence, sending the prisoners and sick and wounded down the river. The investment of the position was complete on 7th December. Next day,* after a bombardment from three sides, i\\p Turkish general, Nur-ed-din. summoned General Townshend to surrender. Several days' continuous bombardment and many infantry'attacks followed. The I enemy lost heavily, especially on 12th December, when they lost a thousand men. . After that the operations were conducted on regular siege lines. The British sortied successfully on the nights |of 14th and 17th December.,

The Turks at Christmas time twice stormed the parapets, but were driven out. After that there were no serious enemy attacks. !

General Nixon pays a high tribute to General Townshend, who was very severely tried at Ctesiphon, and on the retirement to Kut-el-Amara. He was untiring and resourceful,' and grew more cheerful as the outlook grew darker.

The earlier pages of the despatch show how the losses at Clesiphon on 21st November precluded a renewed offensive. Although t-troiipf first-line positions had been captured, tbe air reconnaissances on 25th December disclosed largo Turkish columns which threatened to outflank the British right, while hostile cavalry threatened to cut off the retreat.

A critical stage/ was reached on 30Ch November, at Ummaltiibal, where the British 'Main Body was forced to halt until the accompanying flotilla had cleared the shoals, thus enabling the entire Turkish force to catch up with the. British. A fierce fight ensued on Ist December, but the cavalry counter-at-tacked, and enabled the British to retire by echelons of brigades in perfect order. Thus tlit- enemy was shaken off.

A new despatch records a briliant episode at Ummalliibal. The war vessels Firefly and Comet werp badly shelled and the Firefly was disabled. The Comet tower! her, but soon both went aground. The Comet vcfwsetl to refloat) nnd the jtoiucsml. SujnM&Jra.ffl6 ujL.Afld vainly^

endeavoured to move her. in spite of the fact that the ships were battered by field guns at short range, and surrounded by infantry at fil'ty yards' distance. The Comet and Firefly caught fire and were abandoned. The Sumana rescued the crews and escaped.

Rear-Admiral Pierce warmly praised Captain Wilfred Nunn for withdrawing the naval forces.