ACTIVITY IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3276, 27 December 1916, Page 19

ACTIVITY IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Mesopotamia experts do not look for a great immediate result from the advance. They say that probably General Maudo could have, taken Kut-el-Amara three months ago. . Tho Turks, under Totah Bey, cxpeetcdly evacuated the Essio lines. Wo might have pushed on, turning the Sanna-i----yat entrenchments on the other bank, but General Maudo preferred not to move, as it would complicate the problem of food and water supply. General Maude has now marched through the Essie lines and occupied tho waterway Shat-el-llai, and bombarded Sanna-i-yat. Two light railways are being built, tho river flotilla has been strengthened, and the hospital arrangements reorganised. General Maude has extended his hold on the Shatt-el-Hai. He bombarded the Turkish positions with good results. Our cavalry discovered that the Turks are constructing a bridge over the Tigris six miles westward of Kut. Our casualties were inconsiderable.

British aeroplanes bombed river craft westward of Kut. Strong reconnaissances were made westward of Shumaua, in the bend of the Tigris. The enemy's positions at Sanna-i-yat and Kut were heavily bombarded, and a bridge over the Hal River was set on fire.

A CORRESPONDENT'S ACCOUNT. Mr Chandler, telegraphing from the banks of Shatt-cl-Hai under date 17th inst., says: "We advanced on the night of the 13th across perfectly flat country with no landmarks. The advance was carried out without a hitch. Infantry and cavalry reached their objectives in the exact time allowed. Tho infantry crossed at three fords near Atab at dawn, and tho cavalry lower down the stream. Within an hour tho pionocr3 wero building camps, the enemy outposts having been dispersed, and two pontoon bridges had been erected. "The Hal is n hidden river bordered with low scrub. Ford's' are numerous, but treacherous, and some transport carts wero caught in quicksands. Tho Turks held Ihoir position until the cavalry were within 200 yards, but wero driven out. The main body of cavalry rushed the Rihumran bridge, nino miles from Kut, while the infantry advanced arid consolidated the ground gained. Our losses for the day wero inconsiderable. Aeroplanes by moonlight flew over Kut, bombed a bridge which was bo-

ing towod in sections, and scattered the pontoons, so that the Turks were unable to transport troops except by ferrying. ''During the 15th wo advanced within three-quarters of a mile of the Tigris, southcast of Kut. On the 16th we dispersed a considerable force of Turkish irregulars advancing on the western bank of the Hai. "The troops are in high spirits owing to tho move after so long a halt. We can soo people in Kut upon the roots of houses, and could reduce tho place to a heap of mud bricks if wo liked. The 'weather throughout was most favourable."