MESOPOTAMIA

Timaru Herald, Issue 170307, 31 August 1920, Page 2

MESOPOTAMIA

ILL NEWS TO WAR OFFICE. Beuter's Telegrams. LONDON ; August 28. ? A' War Office Mesopotamia, eommumque states that the trouble has spread to the Muntefix area. The situation at"- Shattereh is critical. . The political officer tnere has 'deen withdrawn by aeroplane to Nasiric. British troops encountered a strong hostile force south-east of Hillah and drove tb«n across the Euphrates. Forty tribal banners were counted. Opposition north-east of Baghdad is still strong. The beseiged garrison at Quai-aeban, thirty miles south of Kifri, lias been relieved. The communique confirms the report thnt Bolsheviks in north-west Persia, forced the. Cossacks to abandon Resht, the latter losing heavily. DELHI, August 20. According to advices from Baghdad Kijri has been attacked a.ud the political officer there captured. The political officer at Detawah was also' captured and taken to Dali Abbas where They are reported to be well treated There are no fresh developments elsewhere. The indications are that the insurgents:' losses at Bauba were heavy, and that they are dispersing. BRITISH LETTING GO. LONDON, August 26. The "DilJly Express" say s that the Government has decided no longer to employ a largo garrison to hold Mesopotamia. The Arabs will be given the right of self-government under their own eiiH'ls, assisted by British, administrators if desired A mission, including Sir Percy Cox, and Mr Harry Philby, is going to Bagdad to put the new policy into action.