MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1916, Page 5

MESOPOTAMIA.

THE PRISONERS, GENERAL TOWNSHEND RETAINS HIS SWORD. Received May 2, 10.30 p.m. London, May 1. A German communique states thai the prisoners from Kut include four generals, 340 British and 270 Indian officers. General Townshend was allowed to retain his sword. RUSSIAN ADMIRATION. FOR HEROIC DEFENCE, ■Received May 3, 1.45 a.m. Petrograd, May 2. There is universal admiration for General Townshend, who only capitulated by reason of hunger and scurvy. In the direction of Bagdad the Russians repulsed the Turks towards the west, capturing their artillery. THE TURKISH REPORT. RATHER FANTASTIC. Received May 3, 1.45 a.m.

Amsterdam, May 2. A telegram from Constantinople says that the British, in addition to sending an ill-fated food ship, attemped to relieve General Townshend by dropping sacks of flour from aeroplanes, but the latter, which'were old, were easily shot down by the Turks, whereupon General Townshend said that he was willing to surrender if the army was allowed to depart.

The Turks refused this, and demanded unconditional surrender.

GERMAN PRESS OPINION.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received May 2, 5.5 p.m. London, May 1. The German press is jubilant at the fall of Kut. The Lokal Anzeiger says that the capitulation of Kut, combined with the Irish rebellion, make England's Mack week. The Tagoblatt thinks that the fall of Kut must precipitate an English Ministerial crisis.