DEPRESSING RECORD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16751, 14 October 1916, Page 4

DEPRESSING RECORD.

THE MESOPOTAMIA CAMPAIGN

LONDON; October 12. General Lake's despatch, covering operations' from the 19th January to 13th April is a depressing record of the most gallant efforts of an inadequate force to cope with almost insurmountable difficulties. General 'Lake cays that the supply of river steamers never equalled requirements, and consequently it was never possible to concentrate on the Tigris front the whole forces available, or sufficient transport to enable us to operate freely any distance from the river. General Aylmer's unsticcessful attempt to force the Hannah defile was carried out with splendid courage and: dogged determination. The trcops bivouaced in driving rain, and thrice advanced over flat country, deep with mud and absolutely devoid of cover, againet well-constructed trenches, manned by a brave and stubborn enemy..~>— When General Gorringe succeeded- fi> the command in March the Tigris was in . heavy flood, which caused extensive inundations, and for the remainder of the month it was a strenuous struggle to prevent the whole country being flooded. Every available man was engaged in digging embankments. Large Turkish reinforcements on the 20th April enabled them to make strong counter-attacks, which drove back our troops, many of whom were unable to reply to the enemy's fire owing to their rifles being choked with mud. The Kut garrison had now only six days' supplies, and Gorringe's troops were nearly worn out. The same troopa advanced time and again to the assault 'on 18 consecutive days, upon a scale of inadequate rations; which the shortage of river transport necessitated. The failure of General Aylmer to reach Kut finally obliged General Townehend to surrender.