MESOPOTAMIA CAMPAIGN.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11502, 17 February 1916, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIA CAMPAIGN.

GAMPS A QUAGMIRE. GOLD AND EXHAUSTION DIMINISHING THE TURKS. London, Feb. 16. Mr Candler, writing from Basra on the lltli, says the camp is a quagmire owing to heavy rains. Arabs report that a number of the enemy died from cold and exhaustion during the January operations and large numbers have deserted. The enemy is also experiencing great transport difficulties, accentuated by the interruption of river communication at Kut. Brooking’s column on the 7th and 9th punished the Arabs near Nasirij’ah, killing 636. A TURKISH REPORT.'^” 1 ’ ! ' / AND WAR OFFICE COMMENT. Amsterdam, Feb. 16. A Turkish communique states that on the Irak front we made successful attacks against the British at Batbia. The enemy fled, abandoning all materia] and live hundred dead. Small enemy detachments surrendered, almost annihilated. In our attack at Kuruu the enemy had heavy losses. Hostile and auxiliary forces, which attempted to relieve the British, were forced to retreat. ■ The Press Bureau states that the correct account of the incident covered by thh Turkish communique appeared in the. War, Office communique, cabled on the 11th.