KUT-EL-AMARA

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9247, 14 January 1916, Page 6

KUT-EL-AMARA

REPORT OP THE ADVANCE STUBBORN RESISTANCE) AND HEAVY FIGHTING. ily To!eeraoh—Press AssoclaUon-Copyrlfht LONDON, January 12. Mr Edward Candlor, the representative of the British press with tho Expeditionary Force in Mesopotamia, says that Colonel Aylmer's advance up tho Tigris to join General Townshend met with stubborn resistancs and tho heaviest fighting at Sheikh Saad. Proceeding up the bankß of the Tigris, our cavalry came in contact with the Turkish advanced troops on tho right bank. The Turks wero in considerable strength astride the river. Our cavalry got behind the trenches on the enemy's extreme right flank, and defeated a whole battalion. The British casualties among the infantry wero heavy. Our force came under heavy rifle fire and Maxim fire from the Turkish trenches at a distance of twelve hundred yards. Owing, to the, flatness and uniform mud colour of the country around, and the hazo, the Turkish trerxhes were remarkably concealed. Tho Turks' cavalry attempted to en /elop our right, hut the artillery turned them. Thoir infantry was too strong to be dislodged, so we entrenched for the night in positions two hundred to seven hundred yards from the enemy. Nothing could exceed tho gartantry of our attack. Offiosrs of wide experience say that there was never hotter rifle fire at the same range in the French campaign. Many of our casualties are slight, the wounds being mostly duo to rifle fire. The latest reports show that our force is still advancing. GERMAN ARTILLERY TO ASSIST TURKS. ROME, January 12. The "Tribuma" says that enormous quantities of German artillery are traversing Constantinople, going to Mesopotamia. '