The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-04-30
Blow of Double Strength
To the British Campaign

The capture Of the British army at
Kut-el-Amara Is blow OF two-fold
strength to the British campaign in
Mesopotami whi:f mad Bagdnd rs It's
objective.
&C insisted originally. according to state
ments made In the House of Commons.
of something more than division
25,0e mems a serious setback, put
is Tar more important from military
The town may now be so fortified and
become wellnigh impossible obstacle
on the Tigris to the advance OF the
British on Bagdad.
The capture of Bagdad. thought SO
important by the British that they at
tempted to advance 900 miles up the
swdmpy banks of the Tigris In one OF
the hottest countries on earth. would
be important not only from military
but from political standpoint
End of Ten Months Campaign.
The surrender of General Townshend's
army to the Turks is one of the few i'm
stances of the war in which an entire
fighting unit of important numbers has
laid down its arms. 1t is one of the
largest bodies of troops of the entente
allies which has surrendered at one
time and larger than any other captured
French or British force.
signs have not been wanting for
north that the Anglo-Indian force at
Kur-el-Amara was in sore straits. Com
rlunication had been kept up by aero
planes. but the official British statement
of Friday that vessel loaded with food
had grounded four miles below the city
was a strong indication that the force
had lacked supplies to dangerous
degree.
A recent Turkish official bulletin said
the position OF the British at Kut-el-
fAmnra was critical and that they were
expecting to receive small supplies OF
Up to n late dav General TOwnshend
had kept alive the hope that he would
be relieved. King George sent mes
sage OF announcement to him several
weeks ago. and In a message sent out
as late as April the general said he
expected to be relieved soon.
Less than a score OF miles away down
the Tigris is a relief army which for
months had been attempting to reach
the tes!eped forces. A few weeks ago
several successes over the Turks were
announced. and hope then ran high In
ENGLAND that the mission would succeed.
The Kut-el-Amara disaster 10 an un-
fortunate ending of n campaign which
for shor, time promised to be crowned
with rem arkable success by the capture
OF Bagdad
II was early In June. 1915. that Cen
eral Townshend. moving northward on
Amara with the Turkish force OF T30
men anc the governor.
Led 10000 Men Northward.
Townshend had with him two divisions
of AnSlo-Indian troops. or n few over
1000 men. There are no towns deserv-
ing the name between Kut-el-Amara
and Ragdad. and, receiving fresh sup
plies the following week, Townshend
rushed OF northward, part of his force
following the old caravan trail. and part
the river where his troops were trans
ported by boats, most OF which had
been brought from India and were as
primitive as those which the Turks and
Arabs brought to oppose them.
The British van on November "
reached Ctesphon, eighteen miles from
Bagdad. There 1t was attacked by an
overwhelming force. and. although on
ground lost. Townsend saw nothing
but g. siege before him and no prospect
of being relieved FOR several weeks
His water SUPPLY also gave out and
ward. This retirement accomplished
ender extraordinary disadvantages. was
achievement Not only did General
Turks With comparatiyels small losses losses
but he succeeded in taxing with him all
his wounded.
The main body pushed ahead. hut on
December 3 Tow"alond 1ete' mined to
mako stand with the rear guards. at
the scene o. his previous victory. Kut-
eI-AInara This punrd, consisting OF
something ever 10 Ocn mon 'r"'e M in-
trenched camp around the nlaco. while
the remainder of his force passed on
down the Tigris
Eut mira IS rothinG hut a mud
collection OF ramshacklc houses on
river front are a mosque ard n cnllec-
tlon Of ono or two storieol Arab hotIses.
Three days after he began TO iE-
bends communications With the main
body 90 troops were cut mn, and ever
since thsl hc has been besieecd. al
though few actual assaults nave BEEN
mafc against his defenses since the
e>A6die OF January.