THE MESOPOTAMIAN ADVANCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9600, 5 March 1917, Page 5

THE MESOPOTAMIAN ADVANCE

TURKS IN HEADLONG FLIGHT ' FALLING ON BAGHAD IN CONFUSION. High Commissioner’s Cable. LONDON. March’ 2, 3-30 p.m. A Mesopotamia official dispatch states: Tho retreating enemy on Tuesday passed in groat confusion through Azizeyah. The prisoners taken since February 3rd total 4300. ' : ~--U > ..hUjO Ajsi*oyah ir. 30 miles west* of - Baghdad, exactly half-way between that city—the ultimate objective of the British advance—and Kut-el-Amara. PRISONERS TOTAL 7000 MtTOIT BOOTY SECURED BY BRITISH. V ‘ ~ , B> .Telegraph—Pros* Association—-Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Renter. . >/' ?■- ‘ - LONDON, March‘2. A ; Mesopotamia official message states: Our pursuit of theenomy was continued oh Wednesday- Wo arc systematically clearing thd battlefield, bringing in booty hourly. The prisoners captured since December total 7000, and we have also ’taken 28-guns, 10 trench mortars, three Turkish ahip6,-,tp’o tugs,. 10 barges, and 30 pontoons. RIVER GUNBOATS DO GOOD WORK -7: '. -. BATTLE ON MONDAY LAST. .. ,i r . Australian and Now Zealand CaLI» Association and Reuter. ; , « , - (Received March 4, 11.15 p.m.) - u-. J LONDON, .March 3. "The* AMnnfalty’announce* that in Mesopotamia the river gunboats Tarantula, Mantis and Motes oaaile in contact with and passed the retreating Turkish army westward of Shura ran on February 26th, and inflicted heavy losses. They captured or destroyed four Turkish steamers and a number of barges containing ammunition. ,