The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-16
r o BRITISH.
Troops ~ kWt Checked.
SD,ciai Cable Dsspnfci TO TIE SuS.


LoNpoS, Feb. i5.-.A Turkish Wal Of
Of a serious setback suffered by the
British In Mesopotamia and adds greatly
TO the anxiety felt for many weeks con-
corning the actual status OF the cam
paign.
The latest defeat. according to Con-
stantinoplc. was suffered by the second
British relief force despatched to the
aid OF the main British 0rNy bottled up
in kutel-Amara tt, British losses are
said tn include 500 killed.
The Turks attacked the relief force at
Suk-el-Schuchuch. whore the Euphratcs
v.sches its southerntno,t point flows
slightly to the northeast TO meet the
Tigris at Norma. The cty lies a little
more than twelve miles south"ast or
Nasrijo. which w,s captured by the Brit
ish early IN the campaign.
The Turkish official statement. indi-
Gates that Nasrije is agaiu in Ottoman
hands and that the southern relief force
has been blocked In its advance Ia the
point where the s;hatt-el-A mara flows
into tho f:uphrates. The Turkish state
ment follows;
On the Irak front. owing to success
full attacks on January :. against the
British At Bothia. near krua. the
enemy fled, leaving camp necessities as
well AS 500 lead behind. \ small
enemy detachment surrounded in the
same lighting wa totally destroyed.
The enemy suffered heavy losses In
an attack which We delivered against
Suk-el-Schuchuch. between korna and
Nasrije. The English political agent
was wounded. An enemy force coming
To their assistance WAS forced 70 re-
tire and leave behind a number Of
dead.
II il feared tina tho Brit.sh relief
force ON the Euphrates IL in much tn"
same position as ,icn. Aylnn"r'r forc"
| on tho Tigr!s. This latter fore" has been
trying ursuccessfully since the beginning
of the year to break through tine Turk
ish lines at Shrik said, about twenty-five
| miles south of kut-el-.\mara and has
| suffered a number of serious defeats.
The point between Nasrije and Suk.
| el -Schuchuch, the region where a violent
battle apparently has been raging for
weeks, ais, bears the name Of kut
Nasrijc Is about seventy-Nve miles west
of korna. The Turks on the Euphratcs
are aided by Arab tribes which .ose
against the British early in the war
The failure OF the British TO max" head
way alone brought a considerable NAM
her of Arabs to the side Of the Turks
II Is feared that IN. latest Ottoman
victory, coupled with the repeated Brit
ish reverses on the Tigris. will have :
tremendous moral effect in the Arat
world and still further Increase the mum
Der OF forces opposing the British. More
over, military critics here do not "oncea
their growing fear for the British base
nj Korna and Besra II the Turks follow
up their success south Of Sasrije.
In the House OF Commons to-da,
Premier AsQuith. speaking OF the situa
ton in Mesopotamia. said that condition!
had improved very materially. Zen
Townshend's army. surrounded AT kut
81. Amara by the Turks. was holding IL
own satisfactorily, the Premier averred
and ne EXPRESSED the belief that ther'
was every reason for the hope that thu
relief expedition under the command q
Gen. Aylmer might reach kut. thu
aver,ing anything like a serious check.
The Official British correspondent a
Rasrah. t~elegraphing under date of Feb
ruary II. says:
"Afte: ten days Of nne frosty weathe
another downpour came Yesterday. an
the camp Is again "A quagmire. The Arabs
renort that a number OF enemy soldier
died from cold. exposure and exhaustion
during January. A large number hav
deserted and are wandering in the Push
tikus Hills.
"The transport ny land is slow AM
lahorious in the dep mud, The com
NJ, sariat difficulties for the Turks ar
accentuated by the interruption Of rive
communication at kut. This neccssi
tates the conveyan," OF supplies b
donkeys and camels to the enemy fror
their depot at Shumran. five miles abor
Gen. Townshend's position Cat kut-el
Amara).
.Save some successful reconnaissance
and raids. Gen. Aylner's relief fore
has not engaged In fighting since jar
uary 81.
"ticn. Brooking's column was cngag
by hostile Arabs at Ru'aniyah, ne'i
Nasriic, on February : and =. IN
enemy lost 636 in killed"
Gen, Harry Triscott Rrookins, VIII
according to the above despatch, is
command OF the British relief force n
the Euphrates, has been promoted TO h
!, present rank during the past year. =
, the outbreak Of the wal he WAS 4 Col,
ne, and served as u membe of Il
General stan OF the British army
India. lie IL 52 years old and Is
| veteran Of the Burma campaign, Il
chin Hills expedition, the china cxped
ton and many other notable campaign
I