Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-30
TURKS SAY 1890
MEN SURRENDERED
Laying Down of Arms by Brit
ish at Kut-eI-Amara
Expected.
RELIEF FORCES FAILURE
NECESSITATED ACTION
Russians Drive Moslems Westward
From Erzingan After Re-
pulsing Attack.

LONDON, April 2s.-Another phase
of the ill-fated British campaign in
Mesopotamia has closed with the sur
render of Gen. Townshend and the gar
rison Of Gen. Townshend and the gar
river, about 100 miles below Bagdad.
Some 10000 men in all laid down their
arms to the Turks. after having de-
stroyed all their guns and munitions.
A Constantinople dispatch received
by way of Berlin says that the vice
chief commander of the Turkish army
announces that the British garrison at
Kut-el-Amara. under Gen. Townshend.
which surrendered Internationally,
numbered 1890 men.
The surrender of Gen. Townshend is
one of the few instances of the war
in which an entire fighting unit Of i'm
portant numbers has laid down its
armu. 1t is one of the largest bodies
of troops of the entente allies which
have surrendered and larger than
any other captured French or British
force.
Surrender Expected.
The eventual surrender of Gen. Town
shend had been expected since the fall
Gorringe and Gen. Keary to break
through the Turkish position at
Sannayyat just below kut-el-Amara,
on the Tigris river. and the unsuccess-
full attempt to send the blockaded army
provisions by steamers. 1t had been
touch and go with the small British
force for many days.
Up to the last Gen. Townshend kept
alive the hope that he would be reliev-
cd
couragement to him a month ago, and
in message sent April the general
said he expected to be relieved shortly
He declared he would hold out to the
limit of endurance. but the recent re-
verses suffered by the army which was
attempting to rescue him apparently
made the situation hopeless one. One
Of Gen. Townshend's messages few
weeks ago said all was well and that
most wanted were needles for phono-
graphs.
Difficult Undertaking.
The Mesopotamian campaign has
been one of the most dificult the Brit
ish army has undertaken during the
| war The torrid climate and lack of
fresh water, together with the DIM
culties Of transport made great calls on
the endurance Of the troops. More
| over. the positions held by the Turks
| below Kut-el-Amara. intrenched and
| strongly fortified. were very formi-
| dable. The original expedition was COM
posed. in part. of Indian troops. but the
relief force. for the most part, was
| made UP of men from England and the
colonies. The forces which attempted
| to relieve Gen. Townshend met with al
most continual misfortunes. On sew
| eral occasions. just when 1t was be-
| lieved they were on the point of sue
cess. rising waters made further prog
ress impossible. After penetrating
Turkish positions they were compelled
| to retire remain stationary, owing
| position at Sannayyat. which was sur
| rounded by water The British troops
| did actually attack the prepared posi-
| ton there after wading through mud
and water waist deep. but only to find
| when they did meet with some success
| that a failure at some other point made
their sacrifice futile.
Public Men Never Lost Faith.
The British public never lost faith
in Gen. Townsend. and even now that
he has been forced to capitulate after
destroying everything at Kut-el- lama ra
that might be valuable to the Turks
they look back upon his campaign as
a brilliant one.
The British Mesopotamian campaign
waged along the Tigris from the Per-
sian gulf northward almost to the
gates of Bagdad, had as its chief aim
the capture Of that ancient city. To
divert Turkish forces from Gallipoll
was another object. When almost al
the point of achieving its main object
late last year. the effort broke down
at Ctesiphon. eighteen miles from Bag
dad. when the Turks, alarmed for the
safety Of the town of tabled memory
rushed up reinforcements. inflicted a
defeat upon the British and compelled
their retreat 10 miles down the Tirris
to Kut-el-Amara, where the Turks
soon had them securely bottled up.
Gen. Townsend held out for 143 days
his supplies steadily growing low ei
az he waited the relief army
Russians Gain Success.
The Russians have gained consider.
able success in their campaign in Ar.
menia. The latest Russian ohicial re.
port says:
IN the direction Of Erxingan oul
I .1Atr snh