RUSSIANS ENGAGE TURKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16230, 16 May 1916, Page 7

RUSSIANS ENGAGE TURKS

FRENCH ADVANCE AT VERDUN. r ■ SKIRMISHES AT SALONIKA INCIDENTS OF KUT-EL-AMARA SIEGE.

The Russians fought a 16-hours sanguinary battle with the Turks at the Khurdish village of Sarmil, in Persia, which position blocked the Russian advance to Kermanshah. The Turks defending the historic road to Mesopotamia withstood the devastating Russian guns and successive infantry onslaughts from dawn till midnight, and then fell back.

A very large Turkish force at Erzingan, south-west of Erzeroum, fought a furious battle with the Russians, driving back the tatter's advance posts, but sustaining extremely severe losses, which prevented them following up their success.

In Mesopotamia the Turks precipitately retreated before the Russian advance. * I

According to German newspapers, the Grand Duke Nicholas has been offered a high command in the Russian armies opposing General von Hindenburg in Poland.

German attacks on the Verdun front continue without cohesion or success. The enemy has been everywhere thrown back in that region. The French have appreciably advanced south-east of Haucourt. Intermittent fighting is reported from Salonika. There have been skirmishes between the British yeomanry and Uhlans, with loss to the enemy and no British casualties.

The allies have notified Greece that they will not insist npon transporting the Servian troops across Greek territory.

Three British destroyers were seen off the west coast of Norway pursuing a Zeppelin. It is believed that the airship was shot down, and dropped into 100 ft of water.

The first connected narrative of the siege of Kut°el*Amara, by Mr. Edmund Candler, the official war correspondent with the British forces, describes the fighting in the early stages of the investment.

There are widespread rumours that the British Govern* ment proposes to establish a provisional government in Ireland, representing all parties.

Intense interest is being displayed in London in the trial of Sir Roger Casement, the Irish rebel, on a charge of high treason, which opened yesterday.