IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3291, 11 April 1917, Page 15

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

An official message from Mesopotamia states: Russian and British detachments established touch on April 2 on tho left bank of the Diala River. •The Turks are reported to bo retreating towards Kifri. RUSSIAN PROGRESS. Russian official reports state: The enemy attacked in tho Dolotchev region, making six assaults near the viilago of Scnepelu. We eventually dislodged the enemy, compietely restoring tho position. Wo occupied Jiharnkin and SLasrianirin. A battle is pro* oeeding with tho Turkish rearguard, wnich, is making an elfort to hold tho Diala Rive* crossing. A Cossack detachment left Khanikin for Kyzylrabat for tho purpose of joining the British. VVo repulsed a Turkish offensive in tho direction of Pendshvin (on tho Persian frontier, 170 miles south-east of Mosul). Wo occupied Maitaguo, Poitaxt, and Serpoulo, in the direction of Kankhu. Turkish retreat towards JKLasrichirin con* tmucs. , - A Russian official wireless message statesi One of our torpedo boats landed troops at tho mouth of the River Terme, eastward of Samsun, and burnt a Turkish observation post. The sarno torpedo boat captured 10 schooners with valuable cargoes, and brought them to Trebizond. [Samsun is on the southern shore of tha Black Sea, nearly 200 miles west of Trebizond.] THE GAZA BATTLE. The Egyptian official report supplies a further description of the Gaza operations. Wadi was occupied without resistance. In order to compel tho enemy to fight General Dorell decided to attempt the capture of Gaza. By a coup de main the first line wad captured on March 26, and we took prisoner* 700 'Turks. Their German commander moved up three columns, which out mounted forces delayed, but, owing to fog and lack of water, the operation was not completed. Wo then took up a defensive position southward of Gaza and heavily repulsed a Turkish attack on tho 26th. W» withdrew our infantry to Wadi Zuzee on tho 28th, remaining in occupation there. The enemy's casualties are estimated at 8000, and wo took 950 prisoners. Our killed were under 400. Small parties of British, totalling under 200, aro believed to have penetrated Gaza, but they were cut oft and aro missing. Mr Massey, the war correspondent, states that near Gaza on March 27 a swift movement characteristic of tho Egyptian Expedi« tionary Forces surprised tho enemy in a . fog at dawn on the great Gaza Plain. In© fog prevented tho development of our at> , tack until 10 o'clock in the morning, and this was deeply unfortunate, because tho capture of Gaza depended on speed, Turkish reinforcements being within 15 miles. Another two hours of daylight would haye: meant the fall of the city. The battlefield is separated from tho sea by two miles of sandhills, wherein the Turks entronched in a perfect labyrinth of deep trenches and redoubts skilfully placed on selected sites, the garrison consisting of seven Turkish, regiments with Austrian gunners. ine country is intersected by nullahs and wide precipitous cracks. The cavalry crossed tha Wady Ghuzzeh for an enveloping movement. Its banks are 40ffc high and perpen. dicular. The Anzacs, yeomanry, and horse batteries cut the banks and built raxnpß. All tho movements under cover of tho fog > wero made by compas3. Soon afterwards x» was seen that, enemy reinforcements of cavalry were coming from their base among tho Judea Hills at Beersheba. Our artillery preparation seemed to lift up section* of tho trenches, and then our infantry marched to the attack, taking advantage of every scrap of cover. The Welsh Ten* torials engaged in hand-to-hand fighting, in a bewildering mazo of trenches conquering their tenacious opponents by tho evening. Meanwhile a portion of the Anzacs and yeomanry wero ordered to close in from tha north-east and assist the mfantry. ina Anzacs began taking trenches at sunset. Tho New Zealanders got to close quarters and had desperate fighting, until the near

approach of the enemy's reinforcements necessitated -withdrawal, the cavalry being ■between two fires. The next afternoon the Turks_ made a tremendous effort to break our line. Tho two hours' fighting was magnificent. Our ehrapnel was ranged perfectly, and smashed the of the attackers, while the machine guns caused heavy casualties. The Anza'cs, yeomanry, and infantry were all splendid. The New Zealandcrs captured 200 men arrd some howitzers. The Turks, in endeavouring to prevent their removal, entered a country house and enfiladed the New Zealandois, who loaded the howitzers and demolished tha house. The New Zealand Brigade's casualties, during the day were two killed and 29 wounded ; they took 225 prisoners. Another instance of dashing bravery was the _ amazing fight of eight armoured cars against 5000 infantry and artillery. The Cars pushed forward over rough, trackless iground. The enemy tried by every means to capture the cars, and fought sometimes in lines and sometimes in column, but were mowed down at ranges of from 25 to 300 yards, and ran the gauntlet for two hours. Our casualties were one killed and four wounded; while the enemy's killed and wounded wero at least 350.