HOW THE BRITISH CLEARED THE WAY TO BAGDAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16499, 27 March 1917, Page 5

HOW THE BRITISH CLEARED THE WAY TO BAGDAD.

GALLANT ATTEMPTS TO CROSS; THE DIALA EIVER. MEN ENTER THE PONTOONS TO FACE CERTAIN ; DEATH. Australian and N.Z. Cable. (E«oewed 11.20 p.m.) '?'■■ '" ! LONDON. March 25. \ Telegraphing from Bagdad, Mr. E. Candler, official correspondent with the British forces h' Mesopotamia, gives "a vivid account of the midnight battle to secure the crossing of the Diala River, \ a few miles south-east of Bagdad, when the British were advancing on that city.' ■' ./.'<.'?' ", : ] /'?;•'?', ...' '.■ .% .- ".•/,'.' ."],. ~ ']■£*/-'- ■ ■ After the Turks had destroyed the bridge, the British pushed up the left bank of the Tigris—of which the Diala is a, tributary —sending cavalry and two columns of infantry to work round and enter Bagdad from the west.' The. column attacking on ?, the 'Diala River had to force a crossing where the element of 'surprise was eliminated. The old site of the old bridgehead was chosen for the attack. The moment'the first pontoon was lowered the', whole ; launching party .were shot down in a few seconds. '. It 'was bright? moonlight, ? and the Turks concentrated, machine-gun and rifle firej from houses, on the opposite bank.; A second' pontoon reached the middle of the .stream, and there the whole of the crew ' were killed owing to the.terrible'fusillade..- "* ''' ', "' ,\y ;-; ', .: A third pontoon 1 was almost across when it bombed, and sank. ■■■ Then crew after \ crew pushed off to certain death. ~ The pontoons drifted' into the ■ Tigris ; and past the British camp; with ? their freight of dead. ,' J t ' , ;;,' ' „",''" .-','..! After this failure, the order to, attempt a second crossing was? cancelled, but an attempt was made the following night, with equal gallantry. This time, a bombardment preceded the attack. The ■barrage T raised such a dust that -it formed a curtain behind which - ten boats crossed. -The" parties in them were exterminated when the curtain of dust lifted, but a footing was. eventually secured. One .pontoon drifted back, and a sergeant called for volunteers to gather in the wounded. Twelve men were chosen, and all were killed. Sixty Lancashire men had now established themselves on the opposite shore, and commenced bombing the : Turks along the bank,'-; although heavily pressed on both flanks. Fortunately, the Lancashire^' .discovered a break in .the river bend which formed a half-moon on the landward side, protected : by a neighbouring > grove of mulberries. Here the sixty Lancashires held out throughout the night, all next day, and all next night against repeated and determined attacks. ■ The Turks once reached the j top of ; the parapet, but although the :garrison > Were reduced to 40 they 'drove back the attackers. The garrison were reduced, almost to their last clip of cartridges and a single bomb when the 'British crossing was completed. Finally ■ cavalry and two infantry? columns threatened ■to cut off the Turks, who retreated - hurriedly. ;■•<??;!?:>. * •.-.■•■ -■• :.;?•''??/?