§ 89. Major NEWMANasked the Under-Secretary for War whether he has any information with regard to fighting in the vicinity of Aden and the Turkish claim to have annihilated a reconnoitring detachment near Sheikh Osman?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Chamberlain)The Turkish claim would seem to be founded on an engagement which took place on 12th January between a reconnoitring column of the Aden Garrison and a Turkish force in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Othman. The losses on our side were one British officer and four Indian ranks killed, and four British and thirty-five Indian ranks wounded. The enemy's losses were severe, amounting to about 200 killed and wounded. The column was neither annihilated nor defeated, but withdrew when the purpose of the movement was completed: I find difficulty sometimes in ascertaining to what these Turkish communiqués do refer.
§ 90. Major NEWMANasked the Under-Secretary for War whether he has any official information to the effect that the British Forces west of Kurna suffered a defeat, and that their losses amounted to 2,000 men and 300 animals?
§ Mr. TENNANTI would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the official communiqué issued to the Press on the 11th instant. This is too long to repeat in the House now, but I may state that the total British casualties in the fighting in question, which had then been notified, amounted to 373. I have not the figures of the casualties amongst the animals, but those of the enemy amounted in killed alone to considerably over 300.