The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-12
Ancient Citadel of Mesopota-
mia Falls before Onslaughts
Of British
FLEEING TURKS ARE
PURSUED BY CAVALRY
Victory Regarded Brilliant Stra.
tegic Feat Going Long Way
to Re-establish Prestige Inn
raired in the East
by International News service.)


Amsterdam, March t1--Ba glad
has fallen 10 the British.
From the historic battle-scarred
citadel OF the ancient Mesopota milan
metropolis fiutters tonight the Union
Jack. and far beyond the citys out
skirts British cavalry is hard on the
heels OF the Turks. fleeing northwest
ward along both blnks of the Tigris
News of Bagdad'c capture by Cen
eral Maude's army reached LONDON
late this afternoon. II was promptly
flashed broadcast and came TO AL!
Europe as one of the greatest sur
PRISE Of the war. That the city would
fall sooner or later was generally en-
pected. but that the capture would
come so soon surprised even the most
sangu!ne British military experts.
The Turks had been expected TO
make a stubborn stand on the River
Diala, SIX miles away. Only a few
days ago Major Frederick Il.
Maurice. chief director of military
operations at the British war Office
had predicted a hard battle. The idea
was general that for two years the
Turks had been busy constructing
powerful defenses 20 ward of the final
British onslaught.
aAeeS hA"SSu
The decisive battle for Basia d
lasted for three days. The city was
occupied by the British this morning
No details Of the last phase are as
Yet Officially known, hut a lengthy
statement received from General
Maude. covering the operations up TO
yesterday morning, indicates hard and
bitter fighting and stubborn resistance
on the part or the Turks At that
frrrA .i1F @v&
back TO within three miles of the city.
The Ottomans, it appears. did mike
stand along the Diala river as had
been expected by Major General Maui
rice. But II was futile stand Dur
ing the night from Thursday to Fri
day the British thrust the first wedge
into the Dfala line. General Maude
sent strong force across the river.
In spite of the bright moonlight, the
Ottomans did not notice this crossing
! 1t sealed the doom OF Bagdad.
In the meantime other detachments
were sent across the Tigris further
/ down stream where adequate bridges
! had been constructed during the las,
few weeks. On the following night
i the British crossed the Disla in force
driving the Turks back four miles
simultaneously the Turkish forces
still fighting rearguard actions on the
right bank or the TlRris, were driven
back to within three miles of Bag
dad in a binding storm and with a
violent gale blowing.
All England Jubilant.
All England WIS juhilant tonight,
according to London dispatches and
advfces from the other entente capitals
show that the spirit OF triumph Is
| fully shared there.
| The capture of Bagdad it is felt
goes long way toward re-estabiish-
/ ing the badly impaired British pres
/ tige in the Near ard Far East. I.
wipes out the humiliating blot of kut-
el-Amara and obliterates much OF the
blackness the Dardanelles disaster lief,
! behind.
/ To the Turks the reverse is one o.
the worst they have suffered in the
war, 1t II expected to deal telling
blow to- the morale OF the Ottoman
army and to the sultan's prestige