HARD-PRESSED GARRISON.

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1916, Page 2

HARD-PRESSED GARRISON.

LONG, TRYING CAMPAIGN

AYLMER'S GALLANT EFFORTS

(Sydney Sun Special.)

LONDON, January 17.

General Aylmer's great march to the relief of the beleaguered forces at Kut-el-Amara is being watched with intense hope and anxiety. Dramatic happenings are possible. General Townshend's small

force hay been isolated in Kut-el-Amara for six weeks—pressed daily by overwhelming hordes of the enemy—after 14 months' tough fighting in the most tryin a climate in the world, 500 miles alom;

the river Tigris. The last news from Kut-el-Amara was on the 41h, but presumably wireless comimiuication is still in operation. The strength of the Turkish pressure on till sides is indicated in General Towmihend's report of the British losses hi the first ten days after tho return. These were 1127. The forces were fnn.her weakened by the continuous aspault late in December. The heavy bombardments were ceaseless, even tho hospitals snlfering. General Aylmers' forced marches indicate the urgency of General Townshend's need of food and supplies and reinforcements.

Tho Times points out that General Townshend is indeed hard pressed. The wet season has converted much of the country into marshland, impeding General Aylmer's march. He has tho strong Turkish position of El Gussa, seven miles below Kut-el-Amara, still to carry. This extends for twelve miles on each side of the river, and is doubtless held by great bodies of Turks. In a. Renter's message lo the Times an officer describes the battle of Ctesiphon as one of tho greatest in the Indian Army's history. Knur divisions of Turks were rooted out from strong positions at a cost so heavy that General Townshend was obliged to tiring' his mixed force of British and Indians back to Kut-el Amaru. The Turks, after the defeat, were strongly reinforced, and once they nearly surrounded General Townshend, whose men. nearly emaciated by the heat, were suffering terribly from the cold. They had been constantly wearied by incessant work and fighting, always against enormous odds. The retreat to Kut-el-Amara was a wonderful performance, revealing the cheerfulness and steadiness of the troops. Nearly 5000 wounded and 1300 prisoners were safely taken away, though the river above Kut-el-Amara river flats are constantly changing, and gunboats are sometimes held up for half a day seeking a channel. The Turkish command of the bank prevents the use of the river for communications. Throughout tho summer the troops marched and fought on the flats, every movement raising .storms of dust which the strong winds blew about in smothering density. No cover is obtainable from the bullets and Turkish positions have necessarily had to be stormed across pitiless open plains. Arabs hang about our flanks, and there is always a fear that they will indulge in sniping. In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain announced that a message had been received from General Townshend dated January 15. (Cheers). General Aylmer's report showed that tho Turks who retired on Essin, six miles east of Kut-el-Amara, on the 11th, advanced on the 12th to the Waddi lines, 25 miles east of Kut-el-Amara.. General Kemball held a division on tho right bank on the 13th, while General Aylmer pressed back the Turks on the left hank. After continuous fighting General Aylmer on the 4th moved his headquarters by transport to the mouth of tho Waddi, capturing the whole Waddi position on tho 15th. It was reported on the 16th that the Turks had retired to Essin. The weather is still bad, and is hampering General Aylmer. All the wounded are. taken downstream. All the operations on the Tigris have been considered and approved by the War Council.

Mr Chamberlain, Secretary for- India, deprecated a discussion on the situation in Mesopotamia, adding that the Government was giving attention to the question of having a force of unquestionably adequate numbers and equipment at the disposal of Sir Percy Lake.