The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-20
BRITISH CAPTURE
TURKS TRENCHES
Ottoman Troops Receiving Hard
Usage in Mes0pOtamia and
Egyptian Theaters.
MORE CONFLICTING REPORTS
Germans and Russians Both Claim
Advantage in. Recent Movements
ia Region of Riga.

London, Jan. 1.-THE Turks appar-
emily are receiving hard usage at the
hands of the British in the Mesopo-
tamia and Egyptian theaters. Follow
ing up their advance northeast of Kut-
El-Amara, on the Tigris river in Meso-
potamia early in the week, the British
have again attacked and captured
Turkish trenches on the right bank
of the river and inflicted heavy cas-
ualties on the Ottomans In one
trench 300 yards long 200 dead Turks
were found.
Further fighting is still in progress
in the region of Riga, in northwest
Russia, but the exact situation is still
not clear. owing to the divergent re-
ports of the Russian and German war
offices.
Petrograd asserts that the Russians
south of Lake Babit captured a vii
lage near the town of Kalnzem, and
with it a large number OF machine
guns, and repulsed German counter
attacks further east.
On the other hand, the Berlin war
office says that all Russian attacks
UOAO NOAARAOICAy AOPAASCAs n ACpOAL
by the military observer of the semi
official Overseas News Agency says
the Russian offensive in this region
has been broken, except at one place.
Admission is made by Petrograd
that the Russian and Rumanian forces
in Moldavia have made further retire
ments in the Oituz Kassina and Su-
chitZa regions, but it is asserted that
the Teutonic Allies who crossed the
Putna river north of Fokshani have
been driven back across the stream,
suffering heavy casualties and leaving
prisoners in the hands of the Russians.
Dealing with the fighting in this re-
gion, Berlin merely says there have
been no important events there.
On the other fronts nothing but
minor operations and artillery duels
have taken place The British on the
front in France have at several points
penetrated the German trenches.
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Russians Claim Gain Near Riga.
London, Jan. 1.-THE battle in
northwest Russia in the region of Riga
apparently is growing in intensity, but
owing to divergent reports by the Ber-
lin and Petrograd war offices the re-
suits thus far attained are somewhat
beclouded. While Berlin asserts that
southwest of Riga all attacks by the
Russians have been without success,
Petrograd reports that near Lake
Babit the Russians captured German
positions between the Tirul marsh and
the River Aa and advanced their line
about one and one-third miles south
ward. The Germans in the region Of
Kalnzem delivered a counter attack on
the Russians, who had occupied po-
sition east of the village, but it was
put down by the Russians.
In the past six days in this region
the Russians report the capture Of
large quantities of arms and equip
ment.
Field Marshal Won Mackensen's
army, operating in southern Moldavia,
has crossed the Putna river north of
Fokshani and between Fokshani and
Fundeni has forced the Russians and
Rumanians across the Sereth river,
taking in the latter operation $50
prisoners.
There also has been severe fighting
near the mouth of Rimnik Sarat river
and along the Kassina river, in which
both Berlin and Petrograd claim the
advantage. Berlin reports that the
Russians attacked the heights along
the Suchitza valley, but met with a
sanguinary reverse
Aside from the Russian and Ru-
manian theaters and an attack by Brit
ish II dian troops against the Turkish
line at the bend of the Tigris river,
northeast of Kut-el-Amara, the fight
ing in all the other sectors has con-
sisted of commandments and minor in
fantry attacks. On the Tigris the In
dams captured Turkish trenches over
front of 1000 yards. In one of the
minor engagements on the front in
France the British east OF Beaumont
Hamel captured and held a German
trench and made three officers and
140 men prisoners.