EARLY RELIEF OF KUT-EL-AMARA EXPECTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16204, 14 April 1916, Page 5

EARLY RELIEF OF KUT-EL-AMARA EXPECTED.

MESSAGE RECEIVED IN LONDON FROM GEN, TOWNSHEND

ADVANCE OF .EXPEDITION IMPEDED BY INUNDATIONS.

TURKS OLAIM DEFEAT OF BRITISH AT FELAHIEH.

(Received April 13. 8.5 p.m.)

London, April 12.

A cablegram has been received from General Townshend dated Friday, saying that all is well with the besieged force, and that it is expected Kut-el-Amara will be relieved in the near future.

Other messages regarding Mesopotamia received in London show that the river is above the level of the land. It is believed that the enemy has purposely flooded some of the area over which the relief expedition is advancing.

A Turkish communique states: '■ The British suffered a fresh bloody defeat at Felahieh. Three thousand dead bodies were counted in front of our lines. After an hour and a-half's artillery preparation on Sunday morning the British attacked our entire forces from the right bank of the Tigris. The battle raged for six hours. The enemy sustained immense losses. Those who penetrated part of our trenches we bayoneted, and we drove back the survivors. Prisoners state that the Thirteenth British Division, which was recently in the Dardanelles, suffered most."