NEAR EAST FRONTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16963, 27 March 1917, Page 5

NEAR EAST FRONTS

BULGARIAN ATROCITIES.

TORTURE, MASSACRE, AND PLUNDER.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. CORFU, March 25. A correspondent forwards an authoritativo statement showing that investigation of the condition in liberated Macedonia is revealing ghastly Bulgarian atrocities. Police powers were in the hands X>f local authorities, who proceeded to massacre over a wide area. Mayors, school teachers, and numerous others were killed with bayonets, and one was burnt alive. All classes of the population were blackmailed and plundered.

GERMAN AWFULNESS.

MURDER, OUTRAGE, AND

SACRILEGE.

PETROGRAD, March 25. The Germans have pillaged and ignited many Rumanian villages and part of the towns of Kalawasch, Djurdjino, and Orsova. Children were murdered, women outraged, and churches profaned.

ENTER PASHA,

CONFERENCE AT BERLIN.

Australian and N.Z. Cable . Association and Reuter.

LONDON, March 25.

An official message from Berlin states that Enver .Pasha has arrived at German Headquarters and conferred with the Kaiser and Marshal von Hindenbu ia '. THE CAPTURE OF BAGDAD. . CROSSING THE DIALA, A STIFF TASK. NO ELEMENT OF SURPRISE. Australian and N.Z. Cublo Assooiatibn. LONDON, March 25.

Mr Candler, telegiapning from Bagdad, gives a vivid narrative of the mktiright battle to secure tlie crossing of the Diala River. He says: " After the Turks had destroyed the bridge we pushed on along the left Jjank,, sending cavalry and two columns of infantry to work round on the right bank and enter Bagdad from the west. The column attacking on the Diala had to force a crossing where the element of surprise was eliminated, since the old bridgehead site was chosen. When the first pontoon was lowered over, the ramp the whole launching party shot down in a few seconds in bright moonlight. The* Turks concentrated their machine guns and rifles in the houses on the opposite bank. The second pontoon reached the middle of the stream, and then the whole crew was killed owing to the terrible fusillade."

(Received March 26, at 8.55 p.m.) The third pontoon was almost across when it was bombed and sank. Then crew after crew pushed ofi to certain death, the pontoons drifting down the Tigris past the British camp with their freights of dead. After the failure to make the bridgehead passage, the order to attempt a second crossing was cancelled, but an attempt was made on the second night with equal gallantry. This time a bombardment preceded the attack. The barrage raised such a dust that it formed a curtain behind which 10 boats crossed. Succeeding crossing parties were exterminated when the curtain of dust lifted, but a footing had been secnred. One pontoon drifted back, and a sergeant called for volunteers to gather in the wounded. All .12 volunteers were killed.

Sixty Lancashire men were now established on ,the opposite shore, and they commenced bombarding along the bank, though they were heavily pressed by the TurKs on both flanks. Fortunately the Lancashire's discovered a break in the river bend, which formed a half-moon on the landward side, protected by a neighbouring grove of mulberry trees and palms. Here 'the 60 Lancashires held out through that night and all the next day and next night, against repeated determined attacks. The Turks once reached the top of the parapet, but though the garrison was reduced to 40, these drove back the attackers' The garrison was reduced to almost the last clip of cartridges and a single bomb when the British crossing was completed. Finally our cavalry and two infantry columns threatened to cut oS the Turks, who hurriedly retreated.

CHASING THE TURKS,

THE RUSSIANS ADVANCING.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and

Reufcer.

LONDON, March 26,

r (Received March 26, at 8.50 p m.) Russian official: On the 18th, in the direction of Khahikin, we dislodged the Turks near the village of Harin and Serimlkerind Pass. We attacked on the 19th the Turkish position near Miantag.