CAPTURE OF TEKRIT.

FROM EDMUND CANDLER. TEKRIT (VIÂ BAGHDAD), NOV. 6. Since the capture of Samarrah last March, Tekrit has been the Turks’ riverhead on the Tigris, and they had built a trench system seven miles in circumference, with both ends on the river. Continuing to press the Turkish retirement up the Tigris from Mashshadaddaur we attacked them in these trenches yesterday, and have now driven them from the Tekrit position. The infantry opened the attack on the position at 12.30 yesterday, after a night march from Mashshadaddaur, which we captured on Nov. 2. The first assault was delivered on the enemy’s centre. Our troops, advancing with great dash over a distance of 1,200 yards, under considerable enemy shellfire, assaulted and captured the enemy trench system on the front of attack. At 4.30 Scottish troops and Indians attacked on the left. They rose in one line and advanced slowly across 700 yards of flat at a walk, while our artillery put in a most effective bombardment. At seventy yards from the Turkish trench they halted for the barrage to lift, but the Turks, seeing the familiar tartan, did not wait for the bayonet. The glimpse of them through the dust and smoke as they scrambled over the parados was too tempting for our infantry, who risked the last few seconds of the barrage. Just as they reached the enemy’s line the barrage lifted, and the Turks in the trench threw up their hands. Those who had bolted were thinned by our shrapnel and machine-gun fire. The second line fell to us immediately after. Then the cavalry came in on the extreme left. Throughout the day dismounted patrols had contained the Turks in their trenches on the left of our infantry, and during the morning attack they had kept down the enemy fire on this flank. At this point the infantry, who had made a successful attack on their right, came under enfilade fire from the trenches opposite the dismounted patrols. Orders were given for the Hussars and a squadron of Indian Lancers to charge the trenches and complete the demoralisation of the enemy. The cavalry went in with the point, jumped the trenches and scattered the Turks, who were fleeing in confusion after being driven from their trenches in the assault by the infantry. This charge was carried through a thousand yards beyond the trench held by our infantry, when machine-gun and field-gun fire was encountered at close range. The cavalry wheeled about and covered their withdrawal by dismounted action. The Turks’ right was now broken and they were in danger of being rolled back on the river over an area covered by the fire of our troops. Mingled with the smoke of our bursting shells, columns of denser smoke were now seen rising from ammunition and ordnance dumps around Tekrit, which the Turks had fired. This, with the relative cessation of gunfire, was sufficient indication that the enemy were preparing to retire. At five, when we delivered another attack on our right, the infantry got in with slight loss and little opposition. A few snipers and a single machine gun alone remained to hold this portion of the line. After dark our patrols pushed forward, and at 4am we were in possession of the town. The place was very quiet. Townspeople still waiting about the streets received our officers and sepoys of the regiment which entered with an assurance of goodwill. Daylight revealed white flags fluttering on every roof. Our prisoners exceeded 250. The enemy’s casualties must have been heavy. Before leaving, they burnt their aerodrome containing two machines.