, 1916-07-22

in tie House Of Commons to day that there
WIS some basis for he adverse criticism OF
the conduct of the British expedition in
Mesopotamia. After the battle of Ctesiphon
last November, he snid, General Sir John
Nixon, who was then in command, tele-
graphed that the medical arrangements were
qnite satisfactory y, later, Mr.. ASqulih con'ln-
ued, unofficial reports were received which
set med to point to u very different state OF
affairs' and o Commission was appointed to
investigate the whole matter. The report OF
the Commission had been received by tho
Government of India, which was holding 1t
uutil the Indian Commander-in-Chief had
an opportunity to submit his obSel vations
thereon. The Commission reported that
everything possible was now beng done.
r garding the transport facilities, Mr..
A quith said that the necessity for attempting
to relieve Kut-el Amara was so urgent
it was thought right to push on the troops
in advance of their transport. The MesOpO-
tamia operations had excited widespread
legitimate interest and anxiety, the Premier
continued, and incidents had occurred which
had aroused doubt whether the best means
had been adopted to bring about the ends
IN view. Every step had been taken on
the advice of the military authorities, and
the defects in The medical and transport
services had been remedied. The Prenller's
remarks were brought out by demands for
publication Of the papers III regard to the
Mesopotamia and Dardanelles expeditions.
Mr.. Asquith said the papers could not be
published without assisting Great Britain's
enemies aud prcjudic;ng the operations IN
nj esopotamia. The Premier promised TO
discuss this subject more at length IN the
House on Tuesday.
TonJOo TulU 1Sth-Rnmanio will throw
in her lot with the Allies in the very near
future. That is the belief III London to-
night. The plight of Austria, the continued
success of the Russian armies, successes
that have renched and passed the Rnma-
niau border and the impending Allied often
sive from Salonica will lead, it is expected,
to the important decision. Further infor-
nation from Bucharest forecasts develop
ment at almost any moment.
Washington, July 18th-The Senate to-
day adopted the enlarged building pro-
grnmme OF the Naval Bill by a Ul00 0oce
vote. 1t provides for the construction with
in three years of 157 war vessels of all
classes, and for four dreadnoughts and four
battle cruisers to be built next year.
New York, July 18th.-A journal des-
pitch f, om Amsterdam says: The renewed
successes of the Russians in Volhynio have
IFSlIiUeI III II oulIlhOAo ~ l. ACIA
Marshal Won Hindenburg by the Kaiser to
attend a conference, according 10 reports
reaching here from Berlin to-day. The con-
ference is to be held somewhere near the
Somme front where General Won Falkenhayn,
Chief of the General Staff, j.. l is for the
purpose of discussing the cli ic | situation
of the Easte' n front and will pro!nhly result
IN Field Mlrshal Won Hindenbarg beng
G ven he upreme command of the German
aud Austr,-Huugarian troops from r ga in
the north TO Bukowina in the south-eas
Vienna, July 18 h-Austrian advance posts
in the region of liable and Tatrow, south of
Ko omea in he Ca pathian region. have been
pressed back by a Russian attack, says the
War Office statement, issued to-day: Near
Tatrow the Russians pressed back our ad-
vance posts. Attacks on our main positions
failed with great enemy losses. North of
Radziveloff, south east of Lutsk (north-east
OF Body, near he Gnlician border) enemy
assaults were also repulsed.
London, July 17th.-The King to day sent
the following message to General Sir Doug
las Huig "The continued successful adj
vance of my troops fills me with admiration
and I send my best wishes to all ranks.
The Emperor of Russia has asked me to
Convav lic uoru, characterization tO fha