TURKS AND PERSIANS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 8987, 9 March 1915, Page 5

TURKS AND PERSIANS

BRITISH INFLICT CONSIDERABLE LOSSES ON THEM LONDON, March 7. The India Office announces:—“The Awhaz garrision made a reconnaissance on the 3rd, and found 12,000 Turks, including contingents of disaffected Persian tribesmen, at Ghadir. They attempted to cut us off, but we kept them at bay until a retirement was effected. The enemy lost 300 killed and 600 wounded. Our loss was livo British and one Indian officer killed and 63 men killed and 119 wounded —mostly Indians. “A cavalry reconnaissance on the same date, twenty-five miles northwest of Basra, drew 1500 horsemen, when our concealed infantry, with machine and field guns, inflicted heavy loss on the enemy. We lost four British and two Indian officers killed and sis men wounded.” [Awhaz, in the province of Turkestan, is seventy miles north-east of Basra, which is a town in Asiatic Turkey, on the west bank of the Euphrates, fifty-six miles from its mouth, in the Persian Gulf. Basra is spoken of as likely to be the terminus of the Bagdad railway.] HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, March 7, 8.40 p.m. The Secretary for India reports:—“An Anglo-Indian reconnaissance force despatched from Awhaz on Wednesday met Turks at Ghadir. The enemy was in great strength, .estimated at about twelve thousand. In the course of the British withdrawal, the enemy repeatedly attempted to cut off the party, several hand-to-hand encounters occurring. The attackers were held at hay successfully, while the retirement was effected. The enemy lost two to three hundred killed, and five to sis hundred wounded. British casualties Killed. Wounded. Officers 5 3 Men 1 5 Indian officers 1 4 Men '. 55 115 “On the same date there was a cavalry reconnaissance in the direction of Naknila, nor’-west of Basra. The reconnoitrers were followed hy fifteen hundred enemy horsemen. These were ambushed by infantry, machine guns, and artillerv. The enemy fled to Nakaila, suffering heavy losses. Our losses were six killed-”