Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-12
CAP PTURE MEANS
TERRIBLE BLOW
TO GERMAN HOPES
Ends Dream of Dominion
Based on Berlin-Bag-
dad Railway.
PRESSED ON THREE SIDES.
I TURKS IN GRAVE PLIGHT
Meager Details Received of How
General Maude Took Former
Capital of Caliphs.
EVIDENTLY LITTLE RESISTANCE
junction OF British aud Russian
Arms May Compel Evacuation of
All Persian Territory.
PRESSED ON THREE SIDES.
TURKS IN GRAVE PLIGHT
EVIDENTLY LITTLE RESISTANCE
Junction OF British aud Russian
Arms May Compel Evacuation of
All Persian Territory.
iBv Associated Pres.I

LONDON. March 1l-General Fred.
erick Stanley Maudc. in command Of
the entente forces in Mesopotamia
tcleSraphed to-day the welcome news
Tor the British Of tho occupation early
this morning of the city of Baedad
the chief Turkish city in Mcsopotamia,
and formerly the capital OF the empire
of the Calphs. .#
No details Of the capture have vet
been received. General Maudc's story
of the operations carrying events only
up TO Saturday morning when the
British. after cffecting surprise cross
ing of the Diala and bridging the
Tisris. had driven the Turks back to
within three miles of Bagdad 1t is
evident, however. that the Turks have
been unable to offer any serious re-
sistance since the fall OF Kut-el-
.Amara. @
They were said to be hurriedly sum-
moning re-cnforcements from other
theaters Of the war, hut the distances
to be covered were 50 great that saddi-..
| tional forces were unable to arrive in
time TO snvc the ancient city, which.
after Mecca. occupies first place In the
Mohammedan NJ mind
ENDS GERMAN HOPES
OF NEAR-EASTERN DOMINION
The fall OF Bagdad. besides ending
German hopes Of Near Eastern domin-
ion, based on Il Berlin agdad railway,
VIII revcrbcrate throughout the Mo-
hammedan empires. and. it is be-
lievcd. Will more than rehabilitate
British prestige in the Near East, dam
! aged by the earlier loss Of Kut-el-
Amara.
Perhaps no more welcome news
| could come ut time when the British
public for the first time. owing to the
submarine war. is beginning to feel
the effects OF the war in "A greatly
reduced food supply. besides being
thrown into depression by the revela-
ions OF the Dardanellcs report
FURTHER news must bc awaited before
IS known whether General Maude
made important captures OF Turkish
troops or guns. either before or at
BaEdad
Apparently the occupation was ef-
fcctcd without resistance and with
only slight losses Even il the Turks
succeeded in cXtricatins all their
forces. the loss OF Bagdad is a grave
blow to them.
3aSdad has bccn the base Of all
Turkish operations in Persia Up to
few days ago tho Turks occupied
fo,oo0 square miles of Persian terri
tory. hut. with the Russians pressing
them closely from kcrmanshah, as we'll
as from the direction Of I?rzerum ,indi-
cations point to speedy junction OF
the British aud Russian forces, which
would soon compel the Turkish eyacua-y
tion of Persian territory.
During the day the Foreign oHice
report was received concerning the
operations against Bagdad CARRYING
them un to Saturday morning, when
the Turks had been forced back to
within three miles west and south.
west OF the city.
EFFECT SURPRISE
CROSSING; OF DItI.A
Our forces, engaged with rhc Tu-ka
on the Diala line the night or the sth
succeeded, despite the brish. moon.
liSht, in cTecting n surprise crossing
.! the Diala and establishing n strong
pest on the right bank thereof" saws
lhe report. Meanwhile, on the morn-
ing OF the Sth. the Tigris. having been
nridRcd at some distance downstream
a british detachment marched up the
right bark and found the enemy hold
west Of Basdad.
ne enemy was driven from, this
position 70 another position two miles
III the rear. During the night of thu
9TH a passage of the Diala WAS forced.
and our troops advanced some four
miles toward Bagdad
During tho 9th our forces on the
right bank (Tigris) drove the enemy
from his second position, bivoLackin1
on the ground gained. This advantage.
Notwithstanding a binding dust storm
a"d Fiolent gale. was pressed on
the morning Of the 10th. the Turks
being forced back to within three
miles west and southwest OF Basdad."