BRITISH OPERATIONS AGAINST TURKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15770, 19 November 1914, Page 7

BRITISH OPERATIONS AGAINST TURKEY.

TOWN OCCUPIED IN PERSIAN' GULF. CRUISER MINERVA BOMBARDS ANTIOCH. Lokdok, November 17. The Government Press Bureau states that since the occupation of Fao, at the head of the Persian Gulf, two sharp actions have been fought in the vicinity. The enemy were defeated with heavy losses, and two machine guns were destroyed. The British casualties were eight killed and 53 wounded, the latter including two officers. A message from Cairo states that H.M.S. Minerva bombarded the town of Antakia (Antioch). Word was received that mines had been sent there for laying in the Red Sea. Pourparlers with the civic authorities failed owing to the opposition of German officers. Turkish losses in the bombardments of the Dardanelles were 250 men, and two guns were captured. The Goeben and the Breslau have re-entered the Bosphorus. The town of Fao is situated at the head of the Persian Uulf. near the frontier of Persia. The Ottoman Government telegraph line is connected here with the cable to Bnshire and India. Antakia, which is on the site of the ancient city of Antioch, is a town of 25,000 inhabitants on the coast of Syria. The Minerva is a light cruiser of 6600 tons, launched in 1895. She is armed with 11 6in guns, nine 12 pounders, seven 3-pounders, two Maxims, and three torpedo tubes.