Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-01
KUT- -EL-AMARA is
TAKEN WITH ALL OF
TOWNSHEND'S MEN
British Campaign in Mesopotamia
Comes to Disastrous End with
Fall Of Beleaguered Post
on the Tigris.
STOOD OFF TURKS l4s DAYS
Repeated Efforts Of English TO
Sucoor Garrison Meet with
Failure.
SUPPLY VESSEL is STRANDED

LONDON, April 30.- Another
phase Of the Inflated campaign In
Mesopolamia has closed with the snf-
render OF General Townshend AMI
the garrison NJ kut t-ElsAmara on the
7fgris river about 1870 miles below
Bagdad Some 10000 men In all,
laid down their arms to the Turks
after having destroyed all their guns
and munitions
The British Mesopotamlan cam
paen waged along the rigrls from
the Persian gulf northward almost
10 the gates Of Bagdad, had AZ lts
chief aim, the capture Of that ancient
city 10 divert Turkish forces from
Gallipoll was another object
When almost Al the point of
achieving its main object laat year,
the effort broke down at Cteslphon,
eighteen miles from Bagdad when
The Turks, alarmed for the safety of
the town Of tabled memory. rushed
up endorsements, inflicted q defeat
upon the British and compelled their
retreat itO miles down the 1'igris,
10 kul.El- Amara. whore the Turks
soon had them securely bottled up.
IIoids oaf Long Time.
General ToHnshend held 0li for "a
days, his supplies steadily growing lower
NJ hc awaited Ito relief army which frt
under General Aylner, and then under
General G0rrpge, battled ita way up tha
Tlgria toward him Thia army auffersd
severely from the Turks blow, on both
sides Of The river, and although several
nf those Were carried, Il haH not totn
6bl6 10 work much closer 70 the be
iedguered garrison Than score of mlas
because of tbc stubborn Turkish 70
tislance and flood conditions on Tho
Tigrls.
The eventual surrender Of General I
Toanallend had been expected since the
fall Of forces under Lieutenant General {
Gorringo and General Keary 10 break 1
through the Turkish position at San
nhyyal. Just below kut=i1leAmnra on The 4
TiRris river and the nnauocemfu nj
tempt TO acnd tho boekaded army provts I
sions by stenniers II had been lu touch 1
With tlie fna British force for many
days.
TIE position of knt. ri Amara. which Ia
on peninsula extending III The Tieria /
river, made II Impossible TO send supplies
py air as there was no landing place for
While supply ship lie loss Of which
WAS reported IN an official British dis
patch seYernl days ago, got beyond the
main defensive lines at Easnn, II was
forlorn hope ~ The Turks investing the
city. advised of ~ coming, could easily
sink her from shore even should she es-
cape the artificial barriers IN the river.
AZ for tho forces which attempted 10
relieve General Townsend they met with
almost continual misfortunee. ON sew
orn occasions lust when Il was believed
they were on the point of sneeess. rising
waters made further progress impossible.
After penetrating Turkish positions they
Wero compelled 10 retire o. remain ata-
iionafy owing to the impossbility Of At
lacking the position At sannayyat which
was surrounded by water.
The British trops did actually attack
Iho prepared position there after wndiug
through mud aud water waist deep. but
1nly 10 find when they did meet with
some Huceess that failure at some other
point made HEIR sacrifice futile
ta,3n0 Men Taken.
LONDON, Aprl "a Constantinnne
dispatch received hy way OF Berlln aaya
hat the vice chief commander Of the
Turkish army announces that The Brit.
nh garrison At kut ElsAmara under
ieuefal Townrond. which surrendered
numbered 1880 men,