Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-06
BRAVE FEAT WRISTS
BAGDAD FROM TURK
Boat After Boat Floats Down
River With Dead Brit
ish Soldiers.
DUST OF ARTILLERY COUNTS
Gallant Attempts to Cross Diala
River Are Finally
Successful.

LONDON. May 5.-Onc of the most
heroic incidents Of the war was the
crossing Of the Diala River by the
British, which scaled the fate OF Bag
dad, according to adviccs from Mcso-
potamia which have just reached here.
After the action of l.ajj. the Turkish
rcarsuard fell back on Diala, destroy
ing the bridge which crosses tho stream
at its junction with the Tgris. The
British pushed on in pursuit on the left
bank. sending cavalry and two columns
or infantry to work around on the
right bank. and TO enter Bagdad from
the west. Speed in following up was
essential. and the column attacking
Diala was faced with another crossing
in which the element of surprise was
eliminated
Immediately tho first pontoon was
lowered over the ramp, the whole
launching party Was shot down in
few seconds. II was bright moonlight.
and tho Turks had concentrated their
machine guns and rifles in tho houses
on the opposite bank. The second pom
toon had got into the middle OF tho
stream. when terrific fusilladc was
opened on it. The crew OF FIVE ruwcrs
boat hoatcd down the stream. \ third
got nearly across. but was bombed. and
sank. All tho crew were killed
On the next night the s;tcmp; was
pursued with equal Eallantry. This
time tho attack was preceded by "A
bomhardmcnt Registering by artil-
Tory had been Impossible on tho first
day in the speed OF the pursuit 1t
WAS the barra.c that secured tho foot
ing-not the shells. bu, the dust raised
by them. This was SO thick that ono
Gould not sec his hand in front OF his
face. II formed curtain behind which
tn boats were able TO cross.
Afterwards. in clear moonlight. when
tho curtain Of dust had lifted. the con-
di,ions az TN" night before were re-
established. Succeeding crossing parties
were cAtcrminatcd. and pontoonS
drif,od away. but u footing was
secured. The dust served tn. British
well
ROWERs SHOT DOWN
IN DRIFTING rONTOoN
The crew 81 one boat. which lost its
way during the barracc were un-
touched but they did not make the
hani: in time. Directly the air cleared
"A machine gun was opcucd on thcnl.
aho The rowcrs were shot down. ami
the pontocn driftcd hack TO shore. \
sergeant called for volunteers 4. get
the wounded out OF the boat and a
Itart% of twelve mon vent over tn.
river bank. livery miN of them. "a
Vel - The crew OF the oontoon vas
killed
some sixty men had got over. and
these Joined up. and started bombing
along the bank. They were soon
heavily pressed by the Turks on both
Hanks. and found themselves between
TWO woods Hero they discovered a
providrntial natural position
\ break in tho river hund had been
repaired by new bund built in a
half-moon on tho laudward side. This
formed perfect luncttc The l.anca-
shire men, surrounded on all sides but
the river. held ii through the night.
all the next day, and the next night
against repeated and determined at
tacks
Twenty yards west OF the lunctte
there Was a thin grove of mulberrics
and palms. The pontoon was most
vulnerable on this side. and il was
here that the Turkish countcrattacks
were most frequent. Intense inter
mittcnt artillery fire day and night on
the wood afforded the British some
protection.
The whole affair was visible TO the
British troops on the south side. who
were able to make themselves heard
by shouting. Attempts TO get "a cable
across with rocket for the passage
Of ammunition failed. At n,iunigh, OF
the 9Th and 10th the Turks were on tho
top OF the parapct. but were driven
back. One more determined rush
would have carried the lunette but the
little garrison. now reduced to forty
kept their heads and maintained cool
control of their fire
\ corporal was seen searching for
loose rounds and emptyinG the hando-
Tiers OF the dead In the end they
were reduced almost to their last clip
and one bomb. but over 100 Turkish
dead were found outside the rcIouh:s
when the handful OF British was re-