Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-11
ENGLAND MAKES
new MAN Chief
IN MESnDn'TAMIk
xoA s
os'.N aarNT
s pointed to Com.
zoos British Forces in
Place of John Eccles
Newton.
STORIES FROM THERE DIFFER
Turks Say Enemy Surrounded and
London Announces Foe in
Flight
LOSSES OF BRIToNs ARE HEAVY

LON NDON, Jan, lu.-SlT Percy
Lake has been appointed to COM
mand the British forces in Mesopo-
tamia in succession to General Sir
John Eccles Nixon, who has been
compelled by i'll health 10 return
home, il was announced in the House
of Commons today by J. Austen
Chamberlain, secretary for India.
Lieutenant General Sir Percy
Henry Noel Lake, who is SO years
old and has had a long and brilliant
army career, has been chief OF the
general staff in India since 1912.
He served in the Afghan war of
1S7S-79 and was awarded a medal
and was similarly honored for his
services with the Soudan expedition
in 1885.
Much of his subsequent service was I'm
connection with the Canadian militia for
which he served some time as quarter
master general, afterwards as chief of
the general staff of the militia and then
as inspector general, leaving the last
named post to become division COM
mander in India in 1911.
LONDON, Jan. 10.-The Turks i'm Meso-
potamia were in full retreat on January
with the British pursuing them, 1t
was announced in the House OF Com
mons today by ]. Austen Chamberlain,
secretary for India.
There had been heavy fighting on both
banks Of the Tigris on January Z, Mr.
Chamberlain's announcement stated, and
the British had taken two Turkish guns
and 700 prisoners.
In telling the Commons the news OF
the British success on the Tigris, Mr.
Chamberlain said
General Alymer left Miam Alligarbi,
January 8, with troops marching to the
reiiet of Kut-El-Amar. On the same day
General Townsend at Kut, reported
that the previous night the enemy had
opened heavy fire on the northwest
front and on the village opposite Kut,
but had made no attack. On the night
OF January General Alymer reported
heavy firing on the south front bank of
the Tigris
''On the right bank General Campbells 8
column carried the enemy's position,
taking two guns and ZOO prisoners and
then entrepched Meanwhile the main
attack on the left bank was retarded
by an enemy outflanking movement and
General Alymer reported that he ap-
parently was opposed by three Turkish
divisions.
"On the evening of January s, he re-
ported that owing to fatigue, the troops
had been unable to make any progress
that day. On the ninth he reported the
enemy in retreat and that he was pursu
ing, but that heavy rains hindered the
pursuit.
From later kilograms 1t appears the
enemy has reached Khors."
British Lose Three Thousand.
AMSTERDAM. Jan. 1O.-(via London.)
"A British force which apparently was
on the way to reinforce the British at
Kut-Bl-Amar on the Tigris river, lost
5000 men in an attack on Turkish posi-
tions at Sheik Said, according to a
semi-official statement received today
from Constantinople. The attack is de-
clared to have been repulsed.
The statement follows:
"On the Irak front the enemy. whose
strength is estimated at one division,
which was stationed at MAN Alligarbi,
in order to come to the rescue at hut-
El-Amar on January 6 and Z, under the
protection of four gunboats. attacked our
positions at Sheik Said, but was repulsed
by our counter attack.
I'VE made some prisoners. The enemy
losses are estimated at 5000. The enemy
cavalry suffered especially severe losses"
Although the Berlin report Of the Brit
ish retreat in Mesopotamia appears to be
at variance with the British announce
ment that the Turks are falling back
after heavy fighting. Mr. Chamberlain's
statement to the House OF Commons does
not disclose the point at which the en-
gagement referred to occurred. 1t is pos
sible that this action took place some
where south Of kut-El-Amara between
the Turks and the main body of the
British,
BERLIN, Jan. 1O-(By Wireless TO Say
ville)-The British army at Kut-el-Amara
in Mesopotamia has now been surrounded
completely by the Turks, according 70
Constantinople advices given out today
by the Overseas agency. It is said the
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