MESOPOTAMIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16234, 2 April 1917, Page 7

MESOPOTAMIA.

BRITISH PROGRESS. NORTH OF BAGHDAD. (High Commissioner's 'Cable.) LONDON, March 31 (4.40 p.m ) . Mesopotamia official. —OnMarch23rd wo occupied Shahoroban after lively fighting. On the 25th there was severe at the Diala river, about Jebel Hamrin, and in the direction of Kizilrcbath, where the enemy were heavily punished; ",.r , • I x Dellawah Sindiyah, 35 miles north* of Bagdad ? is now occupied* by lis. Here the remnants -of . the reinforced-defeated*'

enemy_from Rut confront us. * I t Fallujah, 36'-miles 'Westwards -- of Baghdad, was occupied ,on the 19th, the Turks, retreating in the direction of Het ) - r' In the dir6q£ion' of PaitakTass a considerable -i number' of. Turks - ■ ;were> encountered, we inflicting heavy .losses •upon tliem.- ? A DETAILED REPORT. ANGLO-RUSSIAN CO-OPERATION.

- Received -11:5 p.m., April Ist.

LONDON, March 31. > ;Offieial.—Our troops since March 19, operating northwards of Baghdad, have been-., actively engaged pushing the enemy bock and consolidating positions. Our troops, also the Russians converging on Khanikin (on the Persian frontier) have encountered considerable difficulties, we owing to bridging a nun&er of canals and rivers, and the Russians through snow, devastation caused by the retreating Turks, and the formidable Paitak Pass position. •, Our troops encountered considerable forces in this direction, who made .strenuous resistance, but inflicted sere re ' losses and captured prisoners, foodstuffs and suppplies.

We occupied Shahroban op March S&rd after lively fighting, And heavily punished the enemy in the Diala river region, ?.t K.izilro"bath. On March 25 we occupied" Deltwah Sendiyah and rich productive areas thirty-five miles north o'f^Baghdad. We occupied Fallujah, thirty-six westward .of jßaghdad, on the 19th, the Turk's, offering little opposition and retreating to Hit. «r