§ Colonel YATEI desire to ask the Secretary of State for India if he can give the House any information with regard to the operations in Mesopotamia?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Chamberlain)I have received two telegrams, both dated 29th September, from Sir John Nixon, which I will read to the House.
§ The first telegram says:—
§ "Complete success attended the operations of the 6th Division on the Tigris on the 28th September. The position of the enemy is a long one on both banks astride the river, seven miles to the east of Kut and extending from the left bank for six miles. The plan of attack was well conceived. General Delamain's detached force consisting of two brigades, after a demonstration which they made on 27th September, crossed over from the right bank. By a night march they gained the enemy's left, and by a gallant attack carried its northern extremity at 10 a.m. By 2 p.m. the remainder of this portion of the enemy's position was carried after much opposition. By nightfall the force had advanced west of the enemy's position, which was wired in and strongly entrenched and in which the enemy had been pinned all day by another brigade. The troops bivouacked in their position with the fall of darkness, our outer flank was covered by armoured motor cars and Cavalry, which were engaged all day against Turkish cavalry. The Turks had to be dislodged trench by trench, and fought with the greatest tenacity. Some guns and several hundred prisoners, with many rifles and quantities of ammunition, were captured, and the enemy's losses in dead were very severe, the trenches being 834 full of corpses. It is believed that our casualties are under 500."
§ The other telegram says:—
§ "Enemy position in advance of Kut al Amara captured with many prisoners and guns. Enemy in full flight towards Baghdad. Our force pushing in pursuit. Details follow."