TROUBLE IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 20

TROUBLE IN MESOPOTAMIA.

(By Cable). SITUATION UNIMPROVED. TEHERAN, August 17. The situation in Mesopotamia shows no improvement. The lines of communication with Persia are completely interrupted. Widespread outbreaks ore occurring. Bakuba has been looted, the BagdadFelluja railway cut and tho station staff kidnapped. Fresh trouble is reported in Kurdistan." Colonel Leachman was killed at Felluja, DELHI, August 18. A quieter situation is reported in Mesopotamia. No fresh developments occurred in the Hilleh area. Our forces are guarding the Euphrates. 'Communication is stiil interrupted north of Baquabah. Several stations appear to have been burnt and the Government offices looted in this district. AH is quiet north of Bagdad up to Mosul, but some firing on our troops occurred at Felluja. ARAB TREACHERY. DELHI, August 18. Colonel Leachman, of the Royal Sussex Regiment, was treacherously murdered by Arabs at Kufaunyta, " halt-way between Felluja and Bagdad. He spent the night with Chief Zoba, whose son shot Colonel Leachman in the head while motoring. The body was recovered and buried with military honours. August 20. Colonel Leachman, who was murdered at Kufaunyta, was a famous British traveller whose name was a household word from end to end of Arabia. He performed brilliant service as a political officer from the beginning of the, campaign. BOLSHEVISTS SEIZE FOODSTUFFS. DELHI, August 14. It is reported from North Persia that the Bolshevists "seized huge stocks of rice and exported the greater portion to Russia, indirect assistance in the shape of munitions of war being received in return. The Bolshevists are endeavouring to ob-' tain control of all the foodstuffs with a view to starving the population into joining the so-called Persian National Army. They also imposed a fine of £IOO,OOO on the town of Resht. August 15. Advices from. Persia state that British troops successfully engaged the Bolshevist Jungali forces at Yuzbachichai on the Karvisi Resht road. August 18. Reports from Persia show that British troops occupied Yusbashichai, on the Kar-vin-Menjil road, after a highly successful action by a column of infantry and cavalry against the Russians and" Jungali tribesmen. Prisoners were captured. Northeast of Kubin, on the same road, Persian captured 35 prisoners. It is understood that British and Indian troops are returning from Meslen to India. FURTHER OUTBREAKS REPORTED. LONDON, August 19. . The War Office states that further outbreaks occurred in Mesopotamia on a considerable scale, particularly in the northeast and west of Bagdad. Bands of tribesmen cut the railways and telegraph wires from Bagdad to Kifri. Part of the garrison here are besieged and several railway bridges have been burnt. The Euphrates communications with Ramadi-Feluja garrisons have been cut. The tribes south of Bagdad are quiet. The Ktifah garrison is still holding out. The revolutionary movement, which was at first political, has become anarchic. The former ringleaders are alarmed at the turn of events and are throwing their influence on the side of peace. Reinforcements from India are en route.

DELHI, August 20. _ Two British captains (Dregley, a political officer, and Buchanan, an irrigation officer) and two British sergeants are reported killed. These officers and another with Arab levies at a post at Sharabau offered a most gallant resistance against overwhelming numbers. They held out for three days, until all their ammunition was exhausted. The Arab levies remained loyal to the end, and died fighting side by side with their British officers.