Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-20

miraculously came to tho aid OF on,
gunners.
Subr Bey retreated on Basra He hastily
sunk German steamer, the Ecbatana and
two other vessels across tho fairway in the
river below the town. but he had no hope
Of being able to hold the big. spreading
place with his small force, and evacuated
1t. General Barrett. hearing OF the evacua.
ton, sent forward the Norfolk Regiment
and the One Hundred and Tenth Mara,tas
on the 2lst by steamer following himself
by steamer following himself by forced
marches with his main body Basra was
occupied without opposition.
Subr Bey. having lost Basra, retreated
10 kurna. where the Tigrs joins the Eu.
pirates. There he entrcnchcd himself His
main body was in Kurna, large village
enclrcled by palm groves. in the marshy
angle formed by the two rivers, with a
strong detachment in the Struggling vii.
legc OF Mazera on the left bank Of the
Tigris. South Of MaZera was an advanced
work with TWO guns. He was Obliged thus
10 divide his force to guard both banks
since we possessed steamers. His strength
was estimated by officers engaged at
1000 regulars, besides Arabs. He had thir.
teen guns
At this point felt certain that we had
ut last entered the region made immortal
by the Bible and sanctifed by the Lords
first dealings with mankind. All about me
were the beautiful trees which He planted
and there. perhaps, was that fateful tree Of
which II is written: But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not
eat"
reconnaissance was first made to.
ward Kurna by Lieutenant olonel Frazer
with the One Hundred and Tenth Marat-
tas, supported by several gunboats and
armed launches
Colonel Frazer's report being received
at Basra. the rest Of the Belgium brigade
was sent up in steamers and barges. A
faint Turkish attack upon the camp was
beaten off and General Fry advanced
upon the Kurna position. The defenders
OF MaZera made a hard fight. assisted by
the thick palm woods; but In the after
noon the village was carried. It had been
almost destroyed by the fire Of the gun
boats, but the latter again suffered Sc
vere!y from the Turkish batteries Four
guns were captured. Some Of the de-
tenders escaped across the Tigris. here
along the river bank
kurna was now isolated. but it's cap.
ture presented great difficulties, owing to
the width of the rivers and their marshy
banks The place was heavily entrenched
and screened by palm groves. All
through the day General FRY bombarded
1t from Mazara, while his infantry were
Slowly ferried over higher up. This was
prepared by some daring sappers. who
swan the broad river and fixed a wire
rope, by which the boats were worked
backward and forward In the afternoon
two battalions and three mountain guns
were across and an advance was made
against kurnah from the rear. Subr Bey
had lost very heavily at Mazera: his If.
regulars had mostly run away. So he
accepted the inevitable and surrendered
with forty-two officers, 1,02l soldiers and
seven guns. lie had lost about 1000
killed and wounded. Our own casualties
were about $50.
Thus we had captured the Garden OF
Eden. Under the rule Of the horrible Turk
II mas become a most miserable place.
Once mighty cities and hourishinr vii.
lagos have fallen into ruin. The formerly
prosperous agricultural population has
6een almost ground out Of existence by
turkish tyranny. But Christian mission.
aries will restore it to happiness and civ.
liizatlon until perhaps it will fulfil the
nrst promise Of our Creator to mankind