New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-28
INDIAN ARMY
LEAVES FRANCE
Continued from page 1

is taken for granted here that the
Indian troops in France were shifted
either to reinforce the army Of the
Tigris or 10 strengthen the Egyptian
garrison. 1t is assumed that the places
of the Indians in France have been
filled by drafts from the new armies
raised on the soil Of the United King
dom.
In connection with to-night's an
nouncement it is worth noting the
larger and more important share the
youthful Prince of Wales is taking in
the business of the empire The Brit
ish public, both home and colonial, will
read with a peculiar sense Of national
pride the Kings words TO the Indian
veterans:
Before you leave France I send my
dear and gallant son, the Prince OF
Wales, who has shared with my armies
the dangers and hardships of the cam
paign, TO thank you in nv name"
At the parade of the corps before II
left the following message from their
King and Emperor was delivered by
the Prince of Wales:
"More than a year ago ! summoned
you from India to fight for the safety
of my empire and the honor of my
pledged word on the battlehelds of Bel
GUM and France. The confidence
which | then expressed in your sense
of duty, yOur courage and your chiv-
airy you since have noblv justified.
81 now require your services in an
other field of action, but before you
leave France send my dear, gallant
son, the Prince of Wales, who has
shared with my armies the danger and
hardships Of the campaign, TO thank
you In my name for your services and
to express to you my satisfaction.
British Indian comrades in arms,
yours has been fellowingship in tolls,
hardships, courage and endurance, Of
ten against great odds, in deeds nobly
done in days of ever-memorable con-
lict. In the warfare waged under new
conditions and in peculiarly trying cir
cumstances you have worthily upheld
the honor Of the empire and the great
traditions Of my army in India.
81 have followed your fortunes with
the deepest interest and watched your
gallant actions with pride and satisfac-
ton, and | mourn with you the loss Of
many gallant officers and men. Let II
be your consolation. as their pride, that
they freely gave their lives in a just
cause for the honor Of their sovereign
and the safety of my empire. They
died gallant soldiers, and ! shall ever
hold their sacrifice in grateful remem-
brance.
"You leave France with just pride in
honorable deeds already achieved and
with my assured confidence that your
proved yalor and experience will con
tribute 10 further victories in the new
fields Of action to which you 60.
81 pray God to bless and guard you
and bring you back safely when final
victory is won, each TO his own home,
there to be welcomed with honor among
his own people"
Reporting on the Arab campaign in
Egypt, the Turkish official statement
says:
Several detachments OF Senussi
continued successfully attacks against
the British in Egypt. They have
cleared the Siwah district completely
Of British. THE Siwah district ia an
oasis in the Libyan desert, about TWEEN
ty miles wide and mile long, some
300 miles southwest of Alexandria,
zone detachment advancing along the
coast attacked the town of Materuh
east Of Sollum. In the engagement
the British commander and 800 sol
diers were killed. and the rest fed
eastward.
"The Mahometans took, near Sollum
and Materuh, from the British two
field cannon and large quantities OF
artillery ammunition and ten automo-
biles, Of which three were armored."
On the operations in Mesopotamia
the British War Office made the fol-
loving announcement tonight:
"On the oath General Townshend re-
ported that the enemy had fired heav-
lis throughout the PREVIOUS night, but
had not attacked. Later he sent a
further report, az follows:
Turks Win Entrance.
"From 10 a. m. until past midday
the position was heavily shelled. The
enemy, having preached the fort. ef-
fected an entrance, but were driven
out. Two hundred dead were left IN
side the fort
"The fort IL work on the right flank
OF his landward position on the north
side OF the Kut peninsula.
"0n the 2Jth General Townshend sent
q further report, in which he says that
~ midnight on the oath and on the 18th
fierce fighting for the possession Of the
fort TOOK place. The enemy effected .
Judgement in the northern bastion and
we're elected, but came on again and
occupied the bastion. The garrison Of
oxford Light Infantry and the l03d
held on % the intrcnchment and were
reinforced By the Norfolk regiment and
the iOlth Pioneers. The enemy vacated
the bAstion early Christmas morning
and retired into trenches 400 10 900
wards In the rear, although the nttgck