The Bennington Evening Banner

TURKS ON TIGRIS LOSE IN CLASH WITH BRITISH

Victory Helps to Clear Way to Relief of Gen. Townsend

HIGH WATER HELPS EXPEDITION

As Turks Are Driven Back Toward Kut-El-Amara They Must Defend Wider Front.

London, April 15,-Defeat of the Turkish forces in Mesopotamia by the British was reported officially yesterday. In an engagement on the Tigris the Turks were driven back from 1 1-2 to 3 miles. The announcement of the British victory came at a time when the public was beginning to fear efforts to relieve the force of Gen. Townshend at Kut-el-Amara were doomed to failure, owing to the check suffered by the relieving army a few days ago and the difficult conditions brought about by floods.

Many military writers in England believed the floods had made the relief of Gen. Townshend almost an impossibility, but yesterday's official report shows that, instead of hindering the British, the high water has helped the forces of Lieut-Gen. Gorringe in a task which is one of the most difficult that has been undertaken by the British army. Each mile the Turks are forced back makes the British operations easier, for as they approach Kut-el-Amara the Turks are compelled to defend a wider front.

From the bend of the Tigris at Umm-el-Henna, which Gen. Gorringe captured last week, to Sannayyat, which the Turks are in danger of losing, if they have not already been compelled to abandon it, both flanks of the Turkish forces are protected by marshes on either side of the river. Further up the river the area of dry ground widens until the Essinn position is reached. Although this position is strongly fortified, it is believed that if the relieving forces reach it Gen. Townshend's army will be able to assist them. In view of yesterday's news, therefore, the prospect of rescuing the army at Kut-el-Amara is regarded as better than it has been for some time.