MESOPOTAMIA.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 2856, 29 January 1916, Page 2

MESOPOTAMIA.

ANOTHER FOR.OE ADVANCING

(Received January 29, 8.0 a.m.)

Loudon, January 28

Tbe Morning Pout .sums up.the .situation "in Me-sopotaniia, thus: Af-tei* fighfiiLg for eight weeks, the Turks have retreated eight miles. Thciv position is midway between Sheik Hiisad ami the right angle formed by tho bend of the Tigris, .near Elowa»a. The position is desenibd as a " wadi," which 'm a dry river bed joining the Tigris on the left bank. General Ayliiner is advancing up both banks. A frontal attack was made on. the 12th, combined with an. outflanking movement to the north. The Turks retired in ihe 'night five miles to a. position astride tlie river at a great right angular bend, the uortliern Hank of which is covered with marshy ground. The result of the fighting on Friday was indecisive. General Alymer was forced to fall back 1300 yards from his position. There is little prospect, of progress until the weather improves and the country is drained. General Townshend is. evidently too rigidly beleaguered to co-operate in relieving the column. Another British force is advancing along the Suattolhai, which joins the Tigris at Kut .el Amaru. Probably this force will occupy the. Euphrates A'a Hoy in order to prevent a. Turkish advance on Basra. Genera:) Aylnier yesterday reported that there was no change in his position.