Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-06
BRITISH MOVE ON
BAGDAD TURNS TO
FLIGHT FOR LIFE
General Townshend's Troops, Which
Had City Almost Within Grasp,
Compelled to Recede to
Former Positions.
TURKS OUTNUMBER OPPONENTS
English Must Receive Reinforce
ments Before Continuing Cam
paign in Mesopotamia.
AUSTR1ANs AND ITALIANS FIGHT

| LONDON. Dec. 5.--The British,
German and Turkish accounts of the
recent fighting in Mesopotamia,
while containing minor disparities re-
specting the casualties and character
of the British retreat on the Tigris,
clearly establish the fact that with
out further reinforcements, to equal
the overpowering odds against which
they have been struggling, the Brit
ish troops under General Towns
hend have little prospect of contin-
uing the march to Bagdad, which city
appeared a few weeks ago to be al
most within their grasp.
Having advanced during October
and November through the desert OF
Irak to the very environments of
Bagdad, the British force is now re-
firing upon Kut-El-Amara, eighty
miles southeast OF CteGphon. the
scene of the battle fought in the lat
ter part OF November. in which the
British troops met their first serious
check.
The position therefore Of General
Townshend's force is much the same as
in September after the battle OF Kut-El-
Amara. According to recent account
large Turkish reinforcements. supple
menting the forces which already OUT
numbered the British forces four to one,
were flung against the British troops re-
firing down the Tigris and made a Brit
ish stand out OF the question.
RoumanIa May Join Allies.
There have been no military events OF
any Importance In the Balkans since the
fail or Monastir which was discounted.
Recent reports from Roumanla loom un-
, usually large on the Balkan horizon, and
that country Is generally accredited with
the intention either of Joining the allies
or at least stretching It's neutrality to
the point of allowing the passage of
Russian troops. There has been, however,
no confirmation of the report that Rus
sian troops have already entered Rou-
manian territory.
! Aside from the continuances OF desper-
ate fighting between AustriAns and Ital-
ians in the Gorizia district, there is Com
paratively little activity on the various
fronts.
italian Government Upheld.
ROME (Via London). Dec. b.--The
Chamber OF Deputies today voted conf
dence in the government by an over
.whelming majority. The vote was taken
after a debate on the recent statement
OF policy by Baron Sonnlno, italian minis
ter OF foreign affairs. and speech by
Premier Salandra, who said that the gov
ernment was fully aware of the gravity
OF the international situation, but that
its confidence In final victory was In
nowise shaken
The premier during his speech said
that the turn OF events only further con-
vinoed the government of the necessity
and justice OF the war. without which the
interests, the dignity and the honor OF
Italy would have been irremediably i'm
paired.
British Are Pursued.
BERLIN, Dec. b.--(By Wireless to Say
ville.) Jan. official Turkish report, as
given out here today by the Overseas
News agency. states that pursuit of the
defeated British army in Mesopotamia is
still being carried on energetically and
that four British river vessels have been
captured.