30176. 6937

SECOND SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of TUESDAY, the Wth of JULY, 1917.

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TUESDAY, 10 JULY, 1917.

Way Office, Briefly put, the enemy's plan appeared to be 10th July, 1917. to contain our main forces on the Tigris, whilst a vigorous canfpaign, which would directly The Secretary of State for War has received threaten India, was being developed in Persia. the following despatch addressed to the Chief There were indications, too, of an impending of the General Staff, India, by Lieut.-General move down the Euphrates towards Nasariyeh. Sir Stanley Maude, K.C.B., C'ommander-in- To disseminate our trpops in order to safeguard Chief, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force: — the various conflicting interests involved GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, would have relegated us to a passive defensive everywhere, and it seemed clear from the out- MESOPOTAMIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. set that the true solution of the problem was a 10th April, 1917. resolute offensive, with concentrated forces, on SIR,— the Tigris, thus effectively threatening 1. I have the honour to submit herewith a Baghdad, the centre from which the enemy's report on the operations carried out by the columns were operating. Such a stroke pur- Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force for the sued with energy and success would, it was period extending from August 28th, 1916, the felt, automatically relieve the pressure in date upon which I assumed command of the Persia and on the Euphrates, and preserve Army, until March 31st, 1917, three weeks quiet in all districts with the security of which after the fall of Baghdad. we were charged. 2. The area over which the responsibilities This then was the principle which guided the of the Army extended was a wide one, em- subsequent operations, which may be con- bracing Falahiyeh, on the Tigris; Ispahan (ex- veniently grouped into phases as follows: — clusive), in Persia; 'Bushire, on the Persian First: Preliminary preparations, from Gulf; and Nasariyeh, on the Euphrates. August 28th to December 12th. 6938 SUPPLEMENT TO THE L O N D O N GAZETTE, 10 JULY, 1917.

Second: The consolidation of our position on poses were provided. Establishments for all the Hai, from December 13th to units, whether on the various fronts or on the January 4th. L. of C., were fixed, whilst the provision of Third: The operations in the Khadairi Bend, mechanical transport and an increase in animals from January 5th to 19th. and vehicles enabled the land transport with the Force to be reconstituted. Fourth: The operations against the Hai salient, from January 20th to February 5. During the latter part of October the 5th. Army was fortunate in receiving a visit from the incoming Commander-in-Chief in India, Fifth: The operations in the Dahra Bend, General Sir Charles Monro, G.C.M.G., from February 6th to 16th. K.C.B. His Excellency made an extended tour Sixth: The capture of Sannaiyat and pas- of the theatre of operations, and his advice and sage of the Tigris, from February 17th comments on various matters were of the to 24th. greatest value to myself personally, whilst the- Seventh: The advance on Baghdad, from Army hailed his visit with the liveliest satis- February 25th to March llth. faction, feeling that he would assume his office Eighth: The operations subsequent to the with first-hand and sympathetic knowledge of fall of Baghdad, from March 12th to our needs and difficulties. 31st. 6. Matters had by this time developed so satisfactorily that during His Excellency's PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS : AUGUST 28TH TO visit General Headquarters were moved to the DECEMBER 12TH. front at Arab Village. Before joining there 3. It was of paramount importance, in view myself I carried out short tours of inspection of the approach of the rainy season, that no on the Karun front at Ahwaz, proceeding' as undue delay should take place in regard to the far as the Oilfields, so as to make further pro- resumption of active operations, but before vision for their local security, and on the these could be undertaken witlj .reasonable Euphrates front at Nasariyeh. At both places prospect of success it was necessary: — satisfactory conditions, prevailed. By the end of November preliminary pre- (a) To improve the health and training of parations were well advanced. A steady stream the troops, who had suffered severely from of reinforcements had been moving up the the intense heat during the summer months. Tigris for some weeks, and drafts were joining (b) To perfect our somewhat precarious their units, making good the wastage of the lines of communications. summer. The troops had shaken off the ill- (c) To develop our resources. effects of the hot weather, and their war train- (d) To amass reserves of supplies, ammu- ing had improved. Stores, ammunition, and nition and stores at the front. supplies were accumulating rapidly at the It was therefore considered desirable to re- front, our communications were assured, and tain General Headquarters at Basrah till the it seemed clear that it was only a matter of end of October, in order to systematise, co- days before offensive operations could be justi- ordinate and expand (b) and (c), whilst (a) fiably undertaken. Training camps which had and (d) continued concurrently and subse- been formed at Amarah were broken up, and quently. the general concentration upstream of Sheikh 4. Steady progress was made on the lines so Sa'ad was completed. carefully designed and developed by my 7. At the beginning of December the enemy predecessor, Lieut.-General Sir Percy still occupied the same positions on the Tigris Lake, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., to whom my front which he had occupied during the warm thanks are due for the firm foun- summer. On the left bank of the Tigris he dations which had been laid for the held the Sannaiyat position, flanked on one ensuing winter campaign. Th growth of side by the Suwaikieh Marsh and on the other Basrah as a military port and base continued, by the river. In this position he had with- and the laying of railways was«completed. The stood our attacks on three occasions during the subsidence of the floods and the organisation previous April. Since then he had of local and imported labour removed obstacles strengthened and elaborated this trench which had hitherto hindered development, system, and a series of successive positions ex- although conversely the lack of water in the tended back as far as Kut, fifteen miles in the rivers and consequent groundings of rivercraft rear. The river bank from Sannaiyat to Kut gave rise to anxiety from time to time. The was also entrenched. Directorate of Inland Water Transport was On the right bank of the Tigris the enemy created, and accessions of men and material held the line to which he had withdrawn in arrived from overseas, as well as additional May when he evacuated the Sinn position. rivercraft; whilst the influx of adequate and This line extended from a point on the Tigris experienced personnel for the Directorates of three miles north-east of Kut in a south- Port Administration and Conservancy, Works, westerly direction across the Khadairi Bend to Eailways, Supply and Transport and Ord- the River Hai, ,two miles below its exit from nance enabled these services to cope more the Tigris, and thence across the Hai to the adequately with their responsibilities in main- north-west. There was a pontoon bridge across taining the field Army. Hospital accomnao- the Hai near its junction with the Tigris which dstion was reviewed and still further expanded, was protected by the trench system in that whilst the B>emount and Veterinary Services vicinity. These defences also covered the ap- were overhauled and reconstituted. Changes proaches from the east and south to another were also made in the organisation of the pontoon bridge which the Turks had con- Army, the grouping of formations and units structed across the Tigris on the eastern side was readjusted, and alterations were made in of the Shumran peninsula. The enemy occu- the system of command. The line of communi- pied the line of the Hai for several miles below cation defences were recast and additional lines the bridgehead position with posts and m o u n t e d of communication u n i t s for administrative pur- Arab auxiliaries. SUPPLEMENT TO THE L O N D O N GAZETTE, 10 JUL?, 1917. 6939 On the left bank of the Tigris our trenches right (or western) bank, driving the enemy's were within 120 yards of the Turkish front line advanced troops back on to the Hai bridge- at Sannaiyat. On the right bank our troops head position, which was strongly held. Two were established some eleven miles upstream pontoon bridges were thrown across the Hai of Sannaiyat, with advanced posts about two at Atab, the right .flank of the force" under miles from those of the Turks opposite the Kha- Lieut.-General Marshall was secured by linking dairi Bend, and some five miles from his posi- up its old front line defences with its ne_w posi- tion on the Hai. tion on the Hai, and Lieut.-General Cobbe con- In the positions outlined above desultory tinued to demonstrate against Sannaiyat. warfare, with intermittent artillery and aerial During the night of the 14th-15th our aero- activity, had continued for some months. planes, flying by moonlight, bombed the Strategically we were better, situated than Turkish bridge over the Tigris east of the the enemy. The withdrawal of the bulk of his Shumran peninsula, which the enemy was en- troops from the right bank of the Tigris left deavouring to move further upstream, and the him with bis communications in prolongation pontoons, breaking adrift, were scattered. By •of his battle front. If we established ourselves the 18th the enemy succeeded in re-establish- on the Hai it would mean that we should be ing this bridge'to the west of Shumran. able to strike at those communications, or at Between tine 15th and 18th Lieut.-General least at the point of junction between his field Marshall extended his hold northwards and units and his communications. On the other westwards, and pressure against the enemy's .hand, we were exposed to no such danger. The Hai bridgehead position was continued, whilst Suwaikieh Marsh, although it protected the bombardments destroyed his bridge and sunk northern flank of the Sannaiyat position, also several of his pontoon ferries. Except for some formed an obstacle which necessitated a wide patrolling and sniping, the enemy showed no detour through a district at times marshy, at offensive enterprise; but he worked hard at his others waterless; to reach the river line behind defences every night. us. Again, our troops were suitably disposed On the 18th we interposed between the two to meet any attempt from the Hai to turn our Turkish trench systems on the right bank of the left flank, and thus strike our communications Tigris opposite Kut, thus severing the enemy's —a movement w h i c h would have involved long lateral communications on this bank, and giving marches, with difficulties as regards water and us command of the river upstream of the Kha- •supplies. dairi Bend. The extent of river line to be It was decided therefore to operate as watched by Lieut.-General Cobbe was now ex- follows:—First, to-secure possession of the tended up to this point. Hai; secondly, to clear the Turkish trench 9. The remainder of the month and the first systems still remaining on the right bank of part of January were devoted to consolidating the Tigris; thirdly, to sap the enemy's strength our position on the Hai. Communications were l)y constant attacks, and give him no rest; improved by making additional bridges and by fourthly, to compel him to give up the San- the construction of roads, and the light railway naiyat position, or in default of that, to extend was pushed forward to the Hai. Operations liis attenuated forces more and more to counter were hampered^by heavy rain which fell during our strokes against Jus communications; and the last week in December and the first week in lastly, to cross the Tigris at the weakest part o f January, flooding large tracts of country, and his line as far west as possible, and so sever his by a sudden rise in the river which occurred communications. In carrying out this pro- early in the new year. The single-line light gramme our extended line offered good oppor- railway and the land transport were materially tunities for making successful feints to cover affected, and only sheer determination on the our real intention. part of those concerned enabled them to carry on their functions under these trying condi- 'THE CONSOLIDATION OF OUR POSITION ON THE tions. HAI : FROM DECEMBER 13ra TO JANUARY 4TH. Where the ground was not too sodden by rain 8. By the 12th the concentration of our and floods our cavalry was constantly engaged troops upstream of Sheikh Sa'ad was complete. during this period in reconnaissance®, in haras- To the force under Lieut.-General A. S. Cobbe, sing the enemy's communications west of the V.C., K.C.B., D.S.O., was assigned the task Hai, and in raids, capturing stock and grain. •of holding the enemy to his positions on the For example, on the 18th the cavalry, with a left bank of the Tigris and of piqueting the detachment of infantry, operating west of xight bank as far as Sinn Banks, while the Shumran, drove the enemy from his trenches cavalry and the force under Lieut.-General 'and shelled his bridge and shipping, and on the W. R. Marshall, K.C.B., were, by a surprise 20th, while a similar raid was being made march, to secure and entrench a position on against the Shumran bridge area and b o m b a r d - the Hai. ments were being carried out around Kut and During the night of the 12th-13th Lieut. - at Sannaiyat, a column of all arms essayed to 'General Marshall's force completed its concen- bridge the Tigris four miles west of Shumran. tration in the forward area on the right bank. But as our arrival there had been anticipated On the 13th General Headquarters moved by the enemy, and the further bank was found forward to Sinn, whilst Lieut.-General Cobbe to be strongly entrenched, the troops were "bombarded the Turkish trenches on the left ordered to withdraw after some gallant at- "bank, so as to give the impression that an tempts to launch pontoons had been made, and attack on Sannaiyat was i n t e n d e d . after some Turks found on the right bank had On the night of the 13th-14th the cavalry been taken prisoners and Lieut.-General Marshall's force marched As the result of our occupation o f the Hai, we westward to the Hai, and at 6 a.m. crossed had: — that river at Basrugiyeh and Atab respectively. (a) Secured a position whence we could The enemy was surprised, and the force, pivot- control that waterway and directly threaten ing on its right, moved up the left (or eastern) the enemy's communications west of Slium- Tjank of the Hai, whilst the cavalry cleared the ran; 6940 SUPPLEMENT TO THE L O N D O N GAZETTE, 10 JULY, 1917.

(b) Rendered Nasariyeh safe against a hos- Lieut.-General Marshall against the Hai tile movement from the Tigris down the Hai; bridge-head, whilst other intended operations, (c) Increased the possibility of obtaining west of the Hai by the cavalry and a detach- supplies from the prosperous districts on the ment of Lieut.-General Marshall's force were middle Hai, and rendered it correspondingly necessarily abandoned on account of the mist. difficult for the enemy to supply himself from 12. On the 10th the a€fcack was resumed in there; foggy weath'er, and the enemy was pressed back (d) Interposed between the Turks and their trench by trench till, by nightfall, he had fallen adherents at Shattra. back to his last position. Ori the llth an unsuccessful attack was THE OPERATIONS IN THE KHADAIRI BEND : made on this position. Our troops reached JANUARY 5ra TO 19TH. their objective, but were driven back by a 10. It was evident that the enemy intended strong counter-attack. & further counter- to maintain his hold on the right bank of the attack, which attempted to recover trenches Tigris, and preparations were accordingly made which we. h a d taken on the previous day, suffered to reduce these trench systems. His position in heavily from our artillery and machine -guns the Khadairi Bend was a menace to our com- during its retirement. On this occasion a bat- munications with the Hai, for in the event of a talion of Sikhs specially distinguished them- high flood he could inundate portions of our selves. line by opening the river bunds. It was On the same day the cavalry occupied Hai therefore decided to clear the Khadairi Bend in Town and remained there several days. A the first instance, and this operation was as- considerable quantity of arms, ammunition and signed to the force under Ldeut.-General Cobbe. supplies was captured, and on our withdrawal The enemy held a well-prepared line some 2 , 6 0 0 an attack made on our troops as they retired yards long, 'facing east. The ground in front received well-merited punishment, a Jat Lancer was flat and Bare, except for a belt of low Regiment executing a brilliant charge. brushwood along the river bank on the northern 13. Owing to the open nature of the ground flank, At the southern end, 200 yards from now confronting our troops, and in view of the river and parallel to it, was a double row the fact that it was commanded at close range of sandhills, on wEich the enemy had con- from both flanks from across the river, it was. structed a strong point with covered-in machine decided to construct covered approaches and gun emplacements. The front of the position trenches in which to assemble the troops under was swept by fire from both flanks from the left cover prior to the assault. bank of the river. There was a second line in By the 17th the forward trench system was the rear, at distances varying from 500 to completed, and one by one the enemy's ad- 1,000 yards from the front line, whilst between vanced posts had been captured. A strong the two were trenches and nalas prepared for point, which would enfilade the attack, only- defence. The southern portion of the second remained. On the night of the 17th/18th our line, and some sandhills 400 yards behind it, troops captured and lost this redoubt twice. formed a last position, and the garrison had They retook it again on the 18th and held it. communication with the left bank by means of The final assault was fixed for the 19th, but ferries, which, owing to the conformation of during the nigKt of the 18th/19th the enemy, the river bend, were protected from direct rifle under cover of rifle and machine-gun fire/re- and machine-gun fire so long as this retired tired across t"ne river. position was held. During these operations the fighting had been Our troops drove in the Turkish advanced severe, and mainly hand-to-hand, but the posts, but progress was slow, as many of the enemy, in spite of his tenacity, had more than trenches had to be made by sapping. On the met his match in the dash and resolution of 7th our trenches were within 200 to 350 yards our troops, and had learnt a lesson which was- of the enemy, the rain had ceased, and as the to become more deeply ingrained on subsequent ground was beginning to dry, preparations for occasions. The enemy's losses, judging from the assault were made. This preliminary stage the number of dead found by us, were very had involved digging some 25,000 yards of heavy, and we captured many prisoners and a trench under trying conditions—constant rain considerable quantity of war stores. and exposure to enfilade, as well as direct fire. On the 7th and 8th bombardments were car- THE OPERATIONS AGAINST THE HAI SALIENT : ried out. On the 9th a successful assault was FROM JANUARY 20ra TO FEBRUARY STH. delivered with small loss on a front of 600 14. On the llth, while Lieut.-General Cobbe yards against the southern end of the Turkish was still engaged in clearing the Khadairi line, but a thick mist hindered further artillery Bend, Lieut.-General Marshall commenced support and facilitated counter-attack by the preparations for the reduction of the Hai enemy. Severe hand-to-hand fighting ensued, salient—the extensive trench system which the but the Gurkhas and Mahrattas on the left Turks held astride the Hai river near its junc- reached the river bend, having inflicted severe tion with the Tigris, and for a fortnight we casualties on the enemy. On the right our gained ground steadily in face of strong opposi- troops continued to gain ground along the tion, until on the 24th our trenches were with- trenches and nalas, until a heavy counter- in 400 yards of the enemy's front line. attack, made under cover of the mist, tem- 15. On -the 25th the enemy's front line porarily checked its progress. This counter- astride the Hai was captured on a frontage of attack was defeated with heavy loss by the about 1,800 y a r d s . On the eastern (or left) resolute resistance of the Manchesters, a fron- bank our troops extended their success to the tier Rifle Regiment, and a detachment of Sikh Turkish second line, and consolidated and held Pioneers. The ground gained was c o n s o l i d a t e d all ground won in spite of counter-attacks during the night. during the day and following night. The- Prior to the attack on the 9th, raids had been enemy lost heavily, both from our bombard- made into the enemy's front line at Sannaiyat. ment and in violent hancl-to-hand encounters. Simultaneously a diversion was carried out by On the western (or right) bank, the task was & SUPPLEMENT TO THE L O N D O J S GAZETTE, 10 JULY, 1917. 6941 severe one. The trench system attacked was of our infantry met the enemy's charge in bril- elaborate and offered facilities for counter- liant styje by a counter charge.in the open, and attack. The enemy was in considerable casualties on both sides were severe. The pre- strength on this bank, and guns and machine ponderance of weight was, however, with the guns in skilfully concealed positions enfiladed enemy, and our troops, in spite of great gal- our advance. Our objective was secured, but lantry, were forced back by sheer weight of the Turks made four counter-attacks. The numbers to their original front line. first was repulsed; the second reached the cap- Owing to foggy weather on the 2nd, which tured line, and was about to recapture it when hampered artillery registration, a renewal of a gallant charge across the open by the Royal the attack was d e f e r r e d until the 3rd, but mean- Warwicks restored the situation; the third was while Lieut.-General Marshall extended his broken up by our artillery fire; the fourth, left north-westwards towards the Tigris at supported by artillery and trench mortars, Yusufiyah, with a view to enclosing the Dahra forced our infantry .back to .their own Bend ultimately. trenches. As it was now late, further attack 18. On the 3rd the Devons and a Gurkha was postponed till the following morning. Battalion carried the enemy's first and second On the 26th the assault was renewed by two lines, and a series of counter-attacks by the Punjabi battalions with complete success, and Turks, which continued up till dark, withered the captured trenches were at once consolidated. away under our shrapnel and machine gun fire. Subsequently our gains were increased by Our troops east of the Hai co-operated with bombing attacks and with the bayonet in face machine gun and rifle fire, and two counter- of stubborn opposition, and a counter-attack in attacks by the enemy on the left bank of the the afternoon was repulsed by our artillery. Hai during the day were satisfactorily dis- Meanwhile our troops had considerably in- posed of. In"the evening there were indica- creased their hold on the enemy's position east tions that he was contemplating withdrawal to of the Hai by bombing attacks, though their the right bank, and by daybreak on the 4th, progress was hampered by the battered con* the whole of the left bank had passed into our dition of the trenches and by the numbers of possession. That night there was heavy rifle Turkish dead lying in them. On this bank the fire on our front ug to midnight, when it gradu- first and second lines, on a frontage of 2,000 ally died away. Patrols before dawn yards, were captured by the 27th, and on the encountered little opposition, and the enemy following day the whole of the front line had was found to have fallen back to the Liquorice been secured on a frontage of two miles and to Factory and a line east and west across the a depth varying from 300 to 700 yards, the Dahra Bend. enemy withdrawing to an inner line. During this period the splendid fighting On the 27th and 28th" our troops penetrated qualities of the infantry were well seconded further into the Turkish defences west of the by the bold support rendered by the artillery, Hai by bombing, attacks supported by and by the ceaseless1 work carried out by the artillery barrage, and consolidated their posi- Royal Flying Corps. These operations had tion in the first four lines of trenches on a again resulted in heavy losses to the enemy, as frontage of 600 yards. On the 29th they testified to by the dead found, -and many pris- secured more trenches by means of infantry oners—besides arms, ammunition, equipment raids supported by artillery. and stores—had been taken, whilst the Turks 16. The movements of the cavalry had now only retained a fast vanishing hold on meanwhile been restricted by the waterlogged the right bank of the Tigris. state of the ground. It had been intended to move the Division via Bedrah and Jessan THE OPEBATIONS IN THE^ DAHRA BEND : against the enemy's rear, so as to synchronize FEBRUARY 6in TO 1 6 T H . with Lieut.-General Marshall's attack, and re- 19. The 6th to the 8th were days of prepara- connaissance showed that the proposal was tion, but continuous pressure on the enemy w a s feasible, but soon after the movement had com- maintained day and night by vigorous patrol- menced a heavy thunderstorm burst over the ling and intermittent bombardment, and many district, and the flooding of the Marsh of minor enterprises were undertaken whereby Jessan and its neighbourhood rendered pro- losses were inflicted and advanced posts wrested gress impracticable, and the attempt was from him. An assault on the Liquorice Factory abandoned. The work done by the cavalry would have been costly; therefore it was decided in man-handling guns and vehicles on this to deal with it by howitzer and machine gun occasion was especially commendable. fire, so as to render it untenable—or at least 17. After a short pause to readjust our dis- prevent the garrison from enfilading our troops positions, the centre of the enemy's third line as they moved north. ' •on the eastern (or IP f t ) bank of the Hai was On the 9th the Liquorice Factory was b o m - successfully assaulted by the Cheshires on barded and simultaneously the King's Own February 1st. Bombers pushed rapidly east effected a lodgment in the centre of the enemy's and west until the whole trench had been line, thereafter gaming ground rapidly forward secured from the Tigris to the Hai on a front and to both flanks. Repeated attacks by the of about 2,100 yards, and an attempted enemy's bombers met with no success, and two counter-attack was broken by our artillery. attempted counter-attacks were quickly sup- The enemy's casualties were heavy, and many pressed by our artillery. Further west the prisoners were taken. On the western (or right) Woroesters, working towards Yusufiyah and bank the two Sikh Battalions captured the west of that place, captured some advanced enemy's position on a front of 500 yards1, but posts, trenches and prisoners, and established a our troops—especially the left of the attack— line within 2,500 yards of the Tigris at the were subjected to artillery and machine gun southern end of the Shumran Bend. fire in enfilade. The trench system was com- On the 10£h our infantry in the trenches plicated and difficult to consolidate, and it was west of the Liquorice Factory, who had been not long before the Turks delivered a counter- subjected all night to repeated bombing attacks, attack in strength. The most advanced parties began early to extend our hold on the enemy's 6942 SUPPLEMENT TO T H E LONDON GAZETTE, 10 JULY, 1917.

front line. This movement was followed by a hearted counter-attacks ensued, which were bombardment directed against machine guns crushed by our artillery and machine guns, and located at Kut and along the left bank of the it became evident that the enemy had Tigris, which were bringing a galling fire to strengthened his left and could not transfer bear against our right. During this, The Buffs troops back to his centre on account of our and a Gurkha Battalion dashed forward and, barrage. A little later the enemy's joining hands with the King's Own on their left centre was captured by The Buffs left, the whole line advanced northwards. As and Dogras, and pushing on in a north-easterly communication trenches did not exist, any direction to the bank of the Tigris they movement was necessarily across the open, and isolated the enemy's extreme left, where about was subject to a hot fire from concealed 1,000 Turks surrendered. By nightfall the- machine guns on the left bank, but in spite of only resistance was from some trenches in the this, progress was made all along th© front to right rear of the position, covering about a depths varying from 300 to 2,000 yards, our mile of the Tigris bank, from which the enemy success compelling the enemy to evacuate the were trying to escape across the river, and it Liquorice Factory. Artillery observation was had been intended to clear these remaining, much hindered by a high wind and dust storm. trenches by a combined operation during the 20. The operations of the 10th and the in- night, but two companies of a Gurkha bat- formation obtained by'patrols during the night talion, acting on their own initiative, obtained of the 10th/ llth made it clear that the enemy a footing in them and took 98 prisoners. By had withdrawn to an inner line, approximately the morning of the 16th they had completed two and a half miles- long, across the Dahra their task, having* taken 264 more prisoners. Bend, with advanced posts strongly -held. The total number of prisoners taken on* the Weather conditions rendered aerial reconnais- 15th and 16th w a s 2,005, and the Dahra Bend sance impracticable, and some re-adjustment o f was cleared of the enemy.. our front was necessary before further attack Thus terminated a phase of severe fighting, upon his trenches could be justified, but on the brilliantly carried out. To eject the enemy llth our infantry established a post on the from this horsehoe bend, bristling with Tigris south-east of the Shumran peninsula, trenches and commanded from across the river and on the Following day extended our hold on on three sides by hostile batteries and machine the right bank. The enemy was finally en- guns, called for offensive- qualities, of a high- closed in the Dahra Bend by the 13th. standard on the part of the troops. That such An attack against the enemy's right centre good results were achieved was due to the offered the best prospects of success, and this heroism and determination of the infantry, and involved the construction of trenches and to the close and ever-present support rendered approaches for the accommodation of troops by the artillery, whose accurate fire was destined for the assault. The foreground was assisted by efficient aeroplane observation. however occupied by the enemy's piquets, and Very heavy rain fell on the,night of the 15th/" the dispersal of these necessitated a series of 16th, and torrential rain during the afternoon minor combats between our patrols and the and night of the 16th, bivouacs and trenches-- enemy's covering troops, as well as some being f l o o d e d o u t . severe fighting on the 12th. Opposite our 22. The enemy had now, after two months o f right an importantjjoint was brilliantly cap- strenuous fighting, been driven entirely from tured iby assault across the open on the 12th the right bank of the Tigris in the neighbour- by an Indian Grenadier Battalion, and re- hood of Kut. He still held, however, a very- tained, in spite ofjieavy fire during the advance strong position defensively, in that it was pro- and two counter-attacks launched subsequently. tected from Sannaiyat to Shumran by the- This success not only deprived the enemy of a Tigris, which also afforded security to his com- point from which he could enfilade most of his munications running along the left bank of that own front, but enabled us to force the with- river. The successive lines al Sannaiyat, whicb drawal of his advanced gosts in the eastern had been consistently strengthened for nearly section of his position.' a year, barred the way on a narrow front to an -During the four days of preparation, advance on our part along the left bank, whilst although there were indications that the enemy north of Sannaiyat the Suwaikieh Marsh and intended to stand and fight, the most likely the Marsh of Jessan rendered the Turks im- ferry points were bombarded every night lest mune from attack from t'he north. On the- transfers of men and stores across the Tigris other hand we had, by the application of con- might be in progress. stant pressure to the vicinity of Shumran, 21. E'arly on the 15th the Loyal North where the enemy's battle line and communica- Lancashires captured a strong point opposite tions met, compelled him so to weaken and our left, which enfiladed the approaches t o the expand his front that his attenuated forces enemy's right and centre, the retiring Turks were found to present vulnerable points if losing heavily from our machine-gun fire. An these could be ascertained. The moment then hour later the enemy's extreme left was sub- seemed ripe to cross the river and commence jected to a short bombardment and feint attack. conclusions wvtii the enemy on the left bank. This caused the enemy to disclose his barrage To effect this il was important that his atten- in front of our right, and indicated that our tion should be engaged about Sannaiyat and constant activity on this part of his front had along the river lino between Sannaiyat and been successful in making him believe that our Kut, whilst the main stroke was being prepared main attack would be made against that part and delivered as far west as possible. of his line. X Shortly after the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and THE CAPTURE OF SANNAIYAT AND PASSAGE OF South Wales Borderers carried the enemy's THE TIGRIS : FROM FEBRUARY I?TH TO 24TH. right centre in dashing style on a front of 700 23. While Lieut.-General Marshall's force* yards, and extended their success by bombing was engaged in ttie Dahra Bend, Lieut.-General to a depth of 500 yards on a frontage of 1,000 Obbbe maintained constant activity along the yards, taking many prisoners. Several half- Sannaiyat front, and as soon as the right bank SUPPLEMENT TO T H E LONDON GAZETTE, 10 JULY, 1917, 6943 had been cleared orders were issued for Sannai- crossing in time to be of any use. The feint at yat to be attacked on the 17th. Magasis consisted of a raid across the river, The sodden condition of the ground, conse- made by a detachment of Punjabis, assisted by quent on heavy rain during the preceding day parties of Sappers and Miners and of the Sikli and night, hampered final preparations, but Pioneers. This bold raid was successfully the first and second lines, on a frontage of carried out with trifling loss, and the detach- about 400 yards, were captured by a surprise ment returned with a captured trench mortar. assault with little loss. Before the captured The site selected for the passage of the Tigris trenches, However, could be consolidated, they was at the south end of the Shumran Bend, were subjected to heavy fire from artillery and where the bridge was to be thrown, and three trench morlars, and were strongly counter- ferrying places were located immediately down- attacked by the enemy. The first counter- stream of this point. Just before daybreak on' attack was dispersed, but the second regained the 23rd the three ferries began to work. The for the enemy his lost ground, except on the first trip at the ferry immediately below the river bank, where a party of Gurkhas main- bridge site, where the Norfolks crossed, was a tained themselves until dusk, and were then complete surprise, and five machine guns and withdrawn. Although we had failed to hold some 300 prisoners were captured. Two the trenches won, considerable loss had been in- battalions of Gurkhas, who were using the two flicted on the enemy, especially during the lower ferries, were met by a staggering fire counter-attacks, and the operations had served before they reached the left bank, but in spite their purpose in attracting the enemy to the of losses in men and pontoons, they pressed on Sannaiyat front. gallantly and effected a landing. The two The waterlogged state of the country and a down-stream ferries were soon under such heavy high flood on the Tigris now necessitated a machine-gun fire that they had to be closed, pause, but the time was usefully employed in and all ferrying was subsequently carried on methodical preparation for the passage of the by means of the up-stream ferry. By 7.30 Tigris about Shumran. Positions for guns a.m. about three companies of the Norfolks and machine guns to support the crossing were and some 150 of the Gurkhas were on the left selected, approaches and ramps were made, and bank. The enemy's artillery became in- crews were trained to man the pontoons. In creasingly active, but was vigorously engaged order to keep our intentions concealed it was by ours, and the construction of the bridge necessary that most of the details, including commenced. The Norfolks pushed rapidly up- the movement of guns, should be carried out stream on the left bank, taking many prisoners, under cover of night. Opposite Sannaiyat, whilst our machine guns on the right bank, where it was intended to renew the assault, west of the Shumran Bend, inflicted casualties artillery barrages were carried out daily, in on those Turks who tried to escape. The order to induce the enemy to expect such bar- Gurkha battalions on the right and centre were rages unaccompanied by an assault as part of meeting with more opposition and their progress the daily routine. Minor diversions were also was slower. By 3 p.m. all three battalions planned to deceive the enemy as to the point were established on an east and west line one at which it was i n t e n d e d to cross the river. mile north of the bridge site, and a fourth On the 22nd the Seaforths and a Punjabi battalion was being ferried over. The enemy battalion assaulted Sannaiyat, with the same attempted to counter-attack down the centre oi objective as on the 17th. The enemy were the peninsula, and to reinforce along its western again taken by surprise, and our losses were edge, but both attempts were foiled by the slight. A series of counter-attacksi followed, quickness and accuracy of our artillery. At and the first three were repulsed without diffi- 4.30 p.m. the bridge was ready for traffic. culty. The fourth drove back our left, but By nightfall, as a result of the day's opera- the Punjabis, reinforced by an Indian Rifle tions, our troops had, by their unconquerable battalion and assisted by the fire of the Sea- valour and determination, forced a passage forths, who were still holding the Turkish across a river in flood, 340 yards wide, in face trenches on the right front, re-established their of strong opposition, and had secured a posi- position. Two more counter-attacks which tion 2,000 yards in depth, covering the bridge- followed were defeated. As soon as the cap- head, -while ahead of this line our patrols were tured position had been consolidated two fron- acting vigorously against the enemy's a d v a n c ed tier force regiments assaulted the trenches still detachments, who had suffered heavy losses-, held by the enemy in prolongation of and to including about 700 prisoners taken in all. The the north of those already occupied by us. A infantry of one division were across and counter-attack forced our right back tempor- another division was ready to follow. arily, but the situation was restored by the 25. While the crossing at Shumran was pro- arrival of reinforcements, and by nightfall we ceeding, Lieut.-General Cbbbe had secured the were in secure occupation of the first two lines third and fourth lines at Sannaiyat. Bombing of Sannaiyat. The brilliant tenacity of the parties occupied the fifth line later, and «work Seaforths throughout this day deserves special was carried on all night making roads across mention. the maze of trenches for the passage of artillery Feints in connection'with the passage of the and transport. Tigris were made on the nights' of the 22nd/ 26. Early on the 24th our troops in the 23rd opposite Kut and at Magasis respectively. Shumran Bend resumed the advance supported Opposite Kut preparations for bridging the by machine guns and artillery from the right Tigris opposite the Liquorice Factory, under bank. The enemy held on tenaciously at the cover of a bombardment of Kut, were made north-east corner of the peninsula, where there furtively in daylight, and every detail, down is a series of nalas in which a number of machine to the erection of observation ladders, was pro- guns were concealed, but after a strenuous vided for. The result was, as afterwards ascer- fight lasting for four or five hours, he was tained, that the enemy moved infantry and forced back, and two field and two machine guns into the Kut peninsula, and these could guns and many prisoners fell into our posses- not be re-transferred to the actual point of sion. Further west our troops were engaged 6944 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 10 JULY, 1917, with strong enemy forces in the intricate mass selves of guns and other encumbrances, the of ruins, mounds and nalas which lie to the Turks just evaded our troops, who had made a north-west of Shumran, and rapid progress was •forced march across some eighteen miles of arid impossible, but towards evening the enemy had plain. Our cavalry came up with the enemy's been pushed back to a depth of 1,000 yards, rear parties and shelled his rearguard, although he still resisted stubbornly. While entrenched near -Nahr Kellak. this fighting was in progress, the cavalry, the 29. The gunboat flotilla, proceeding up- artillery, and another division crossed the stream full speed ahead, came under very heavy bridge. The cavalry attempted to break fire at the closest range from guns, machine through at the northern end of the guns and rifles, to which it replied vigorously. Shumran Bend to operate against the In spite of casualties and damage to the vessels enemy's rear along the Baghdad road, the flotilla held on its course past the rear- by which aeroplanes reported hostile guard position, and did considerable execution columns to be retreating, but strong among the enemy's retreating columns. Turkish rearguards entrenched in nalas pre- Further up-stream many of the enemy's craft vented them from issuing from the peninsula. were struggling to get away, and the R-oyal That evening the troops closed up rea'dy to Navy pressed forward in pursuit. The hostile advance early next morning. There was every vessels were soon within easy range, and several indication that the enemy was in full retreat surrendered, including the armed tug and that the force which had opposed us all day " Sumana," which had been captured at Kut was a strong and very resolute rearguard, which when that place fell. The Turkish steamer would probably withdraw by night. During " Basra," full of troops and wounded, sur- this day's fighting at Shumran heavy losses had rendered when brought to by a shell which been inflicted on the enemy, and our captures killed and wounded some German machine had been increased in all to 4 field guns, 8 gunners. H.M.S. "Firefly," captured from machine guns, some 1,650 prisoners, and us during the retreat from Ctesiphon, in 1915. a large quantity of rifles, ammunition, kept up a running fight, but after being hit equipment and war stores. The gunboats were several times she fell into our hands, the now ordered up-stream from Falahiyeh, and enemy making an unsuccessful attempt to set reached Kut the same evening. fire to her magazine. The " Pioneer," badly 27. While these events were happening at hit by our fire, was also taken, as well as some Shumran, Lieut.-General C'obbe cleared the barges laden with munitions. Our gunboats enemy's sixth line at Sannaiyat, the Nakhailat were in touch with and shelled the retreating and Suwada positions, and the left bank as far enemy during most of the 27th, and his retire- as Kut without much opposition. ment was harassed by the cavalry until after The capture of the Sannaiyat position, which dark, when his troops were streaming through the Turks believed to be impregnable, tad only Aziziyeh in great confusion. been accomplished after a fierce struggle, in 30. The pursuit was broken off at Aziziyeh which our infantry, closely supported by our (50 miles from Kut and half-way to Baghdad), artillery, displayed great gallantry and endur- where the gunboats, cavalry and Lieut.-General ance against a brave and determined enemy. Marshall's infantry were concentrated during The latter had again suffered severely. Many the pause necessary to reorganise our extended trenches were choked with corpses, and the line of communication preparatory to a further open ground where counter-attacks had taken advance. Lieut. -General Cbbbe's force closed to place was strewn with them. the front, clearing the battlefields and protect- ing the line of march. Immense quantities of Tks ADVANCE ON BAGHDAD: FROM FEBRUARY equipment, ammunition, rifles, vehicles and 25TH TO MARCH HTH. stores of all kinds lay scattered throughout the 28. Early in the morning on the 25th, the 80 miles over which the enemy had retreated cavalry and Lieut.-General Marshall's force under pressure, and marauders on looting in- moved north-west in pursuit of the enemy, tent did not hesitate to attack small parties whose rearguards had retired in the night. The who stood in their way. gunboats also proceeded up-stream. Our troops Since crossing the Tigris we had captured came in contact with the enemy about eight some 4,000 prisoners, of whom 188 were miles from Shumran, and drove him back, in officers, 39 guns, 22 trench mortars, 11 spite of stubborn resistance, to his main posi- machine guns, H.M.S. "Firefly," "Sumana" tion two miles further west, where the Turks, (recaptured), "Pioneer," "Basra," and strong in artillery, were disposed in trenches several smaller vessels, besides ten barges, pon- and nalas. Our guns, handled with dash, gave toons, and other bridging material, quantities valuable support, but were handicapped in this of rifles, bayonets, equipment, ammunition flat country by being in the open, whilst the and explosives, vehicles and miscellaneous stores Turkish guns were concealed in gun pits. After of all kinds. In addition, the enemy threw a severe fight, our infantry gained a footing in into the river or otherwise destroyed several the enemy's position and took about 400 guns and much war material. prisoners. The cavalry on ihe northern flank 31. On the 5th, the supply situation having had been checked by entrenched infantry, and been rapidly, re-adjusted, Lieut.-General were unable to envelope the Turkish rear- Marshall marched to Zeur (eighteen miles), guard. The Royal Navy on our left flank co- preceded by the cavalry, which moved sever operated with excellent effect in the bombard- miles further to Lajj. Here the Turkish ment of the enemy's position during the day. rearguard was found in an entrenched On the 26th, one column, following the bend position, ^ very difficult to locate by reason of the river, advanced to force any position of a dense dust storm that was blowing which the enemy might be holding on the left and of a network of nalas, with which the bank of the Tigris, whilst another column of country is intersected. The cavalry was hotly all arms marched direct to the Sumar Bend in engaged with the enemy in this loqality order to intercept him. His retreat proved, throughout the day, and took some prisoners. however, to be too rapid. Stripping them- A noticeable feature of the day's work was a SUPPLEMENT TO T H E L O N D O N GAZETTE, 10 JULY, 1917. 6945

brilliant charge made, mounted, by the Hussars was much impeded by numerous nalas and straight into the Turkish trenches. The water-cuts, which had to be ramped to render enemy retreated during the night. them passable. During the forenoon of the The dust storm continued on the 6th, when 9th Shawa Khan was occupied without much the cavalry, carrying out some useful recon- opposition, and aeroplanes reported another naissances, got within three miles of the Dialah position one and a half miles to the north-west, .river, and picked up some prisoners. The and some six miles south of Baghdad, as Ctesiphon position, strongly entrenched, was strongly held. Our attack against this found unoccupied. There was evidence that developed later from the south and south- the enemy had intended to hold it, but the west in an endeavour to turn the xapidity of our advance had evidently pre- enemy's right flank. The cavalry, which vented him from doing so. Lieut.-General at first had been operating on our left Marshall followed the cavalry to Bustan flank, withdrew later, as the horses needed ••(seventeen miles), and the head of Lieut. - water, but our infantry were still engaged be- General Cobbe's column reached Zeur. fore this position when darkness fell, touch On the 7th our advanced guard came in con- with the enemy being kept up by means of tact with the enemy on the line of the Dialah patrols, and the advance was resumed as soon -river, which joins the Tigris on its left bank, as indications of his withdrawal were noticed. about eight miles below Baghdad. As the On the morning of the 10th our troops were ground was absolutely flat and devoid of cover- again engaged with the Turkish rearguard with- it was decided to make no further advance in three miles of Baghdad, and our cavalry till after sunset. Our gunboats and artillery, patrols reached a point two miles west of however, "came into action against the hostile Baghdad Railway Station, where they were guns. checked by the enemy's fire. A gale and blind- 32. Measures for driving the enemy's infan- ing dust storm limited vision to a few yards, try from the Dialah were initiated on the night and under these conditions reconnaissance and of the 7th/8th. It appeared as though the co-ordination of movements became difficult. enemy had retired, but when the first pontoon The dry wind and dust and the absence of was launched it was riddled by rifle' and water away from the river added greatly to the machine-gun fire. A second attempt was made discomfort of the troops and animals. About with artillery and machine-gun co-operation. midnight patrols reported the enemy to be re- Five pontoons were launched, but they were tiring. The dust storm was still raging, but all stopped by withering fire from concealed following the Decauville railway as a guide our machine guns.. They floated down-stream, and troops occupied Baghdad Railway Station at were afterwards recovered in the Tigris river 5.55 a.m., and it was ascertained that the with a few wounded survivors on board, and enemy on the right bank had retired up-stream •further ferrying enterprises were for the time of Baghdad. Troops detailed in advance o c c u - being deemed impracticable. It now became pied the city, and the cavalry moved on Kadhi- evident that, although the line of the Dialah main, some four miles north-west of Baghdad, was not held strongly, it was well defended by where they secured some prisoners- numerous guns and machine guns skilfully 34. On the left bank of the Tigris Lieut. - sited, and the bright moonlight favoured the General Marshall had, during the 9th, elabor- defence. To assist in forcing the passage a ated preparations for forcing the passage of the small column from the force under Lieut. - Dialah. At £ a.m., on the 10th, the crossing General Marshall was ferried across the Tigris began at two points a mile apart and met with in order to enfilade the enemy's position with considerable opposition, but by 7 a.m. the its guns from the right bank of that river. East Lancashires and Wiltshires were across During the night of the 8th/9th, after an in- and had linked up with the detachment of tense bombardment of the opposite bank, an Loyal North Lancashires which had so hero- attempt was made to ferry troops across the ically held its ground there. Motor lighters Dialah river from four separate points. The carrying infantry to attack the enemy's right main enterprise achieved a qualified success, flank above the mouth of the Dialah grounded tihe most northern ferry being able to work for lower down the river, and took no part in the nearly an hour before it was stopped by very operation. The bridge across the Dialah was deadly rifle and machine-gun fire, and we completed by noon, and our troops pushing established a small post on the right bank. steadily on drove the enemy from the riverside When day broke this party of seventy villages of Saidah, Dibaiyi and Qararah—the of the Loyal North Lancashires had latter strongly defended with machine guns— driven off two determined counter-attacks, and finally faced the enemy's last position and were still maintaining themselves in covering Baghdad along the Tel Muhammad a small loop of the river bund. For Rddge. These operations had resulted in the the next twenty-two hours, until the passage capture of 300 prisoners and a large quantity of the river had been completely forced, the of arms, ammunition and equipment, whilst detachment held on gallantly in its isolated severe loss had been inflicted on the enemy in position, under constant close fire from the sur- killed and wounded, over 300 of his dead being rounding buildings, trenches and gardens, be- found by our troops., ing subjected to reverse as well as enfilade fire During the night of the 10th/llth close from distant points along the right bank. touch with the enemy was maintained by 33. On the 8th a bridge was constructed patrols, and at 1.30 a.m. on the llth it was across the Tigris, half a mile below Bawi, and reported that the Turks were retiring. The the cavalry, followed by a portion ef Lieut. - Tel Muhammad position was at once occupied, General Cbbbe's force, crossed to the right bank and patrols pushed beyond it, but contact with in order to drive the enemy from positions the enemy was lost in the dust storm. Early which our aeroplanes reported that he had on the llth Lieut.-General Marshall advanced occupied about Shawa Khan, and north-west of rapidly on Baghdad and entered the city amid that place, covering Baghdad from the south ' manifestations of satisfaction on the part of and south-west. The advance of our troops the inhabitants. A state of anarchy had ex- 6946 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 10 JULY, 1917.

1 isted for some hours, Kurds and Arabs looting t and at Mushaidie Station the enemy made his the bazaars and setting fire indiscriminately at last stand, but the Black Watch and Gurkhas various points. Infantry guards provided for rushed the station at midnight and pursued in advance were, however, soon on the spot, the enemy for half a mile beyond. order was restored without difficulty, and the The enemy's flight was now so rapid that British flag hoisted over the city. In the touch was not obtained again, and on the 16th afternoon the gunboat flotilla proceeding up- our aeroplanes reported stragglers over a depth stream in line ahead formation anchored off of 20 miles, the nearest being 25 miles north of the British Residency, and the two forces Mushaidie. These operations had involved under Lieut.-Generals Marshall and Cobbe pro- continuous marching1 and stiff fighting, almost vided for the security of the approaches to the without a break, for two nights and a day, in city, being disposed one on either bank of the which our troops displayed fine endurance and. river. For over a fortnight before we entered determination. Baghdad the enemy had been removing stores 36. On the 14th a post was established on and articles of military value, and destroying the right bank of the Dialah, opposite property which he could not remove, but an Baqubah, 30 miles north-east of Baghdad, immense quantity' of -booty, part damaged, which was held by the enemy. On the night part undamaged, remained. This included of the 17th/18th a column effected a surprise guns, machine guns, rifles, ammunition, crossing over the Dialah five miles below machinery, railway workshops, railway mate- Baqubah, and our troops entered the town the rial, rolling stock, ice and soda water plant, following morning, inflicting some casualties on pipes, pumps, cranes, winches, signal and tele- the Turkish detachment, and capturing some graph equipment, and hospital accessories. In prisoners and stores. Baqubah is the-centre o f the Arsenal were found among some cannon a district rich in supplies, and its occupation of considerable antiquity all the gains' (ren- was essential as a preliminary to further opera- dered useless by General Townshend) which tions to assist our Russian Allies, who were fell into the enemy's hands at the capitulation advancing through Persia by way of of Kut in April, 1916. Kermansnah and Kasr-i-Shirin, with the 13th Turkish Corps falling back on Kifri before THE OPERATIONS, SUBSEQUENT TO THE FALL or them. BAGHDAD: FROM MARCH 12ra TO SlST. 37. On the 19th our troops occupied Feluja, 35. With the near approach of the flood 35 miles west of Baghdad, on the Euphrates, season it was now necessary to obtain control driving out the Turkish garrison, which retired of the river bunds upstream of the city, and up the right bank of the Euphrates. The Yahudie and Kasirin on the left bank of the occupation of Feluja, with Nasariyeh already Tigris, 20 and 28 miles respectively above in our possession, gave us control over the Baghdad, were consequently occupied on the middle Euphrates from both ends. 13th and 14th. On the right bank of the 38. T!he arrival of our Allies at Khanikin Tigris the retreating enemy had entrenched a was now momentarily expected, and a column strong position south of Mushaidie Railway was concentrated at Baqubah with the object Station some 20 miles north of Baghdad. of holding the enemy's retreating columns to Lieut.-General Cobbe was entrusted with the their ground till such time as the Russians mission of securing the bunds on this bank, could come up, or alternatively of inflicting loss and on the night of the 13th/14th a column on them should they weaken their front and marched from Baghdad and reached Tadjiye endeavour to cross the Dialah. This column Station by daybreak on the 14th. The Turk- moved out on the 20th and occupied Shah- ish position was some seven miles in extent, ex- raban on the 23rd, the enemy having retired on tending from the river in a north-easterly the previous night. A few prisoners and large direction towards the railway which runs due supplies of grain were captured. Five miles to north and south. The western flank rested on •the north-east of Shahraban lies a commanding successive lines of sandhills, which lie on both ridge of Jebel Hamrin, where the enemy held sides of the railway line, whilst east of the a strong position covering Kizil Robat and the railway the defensive system centred in two road to Khanikin, and here our troops were dominant heights, linked to each other and to actively engaged with him from the 24th until the river by a series of trenches, nalas and the end of the month. irrigation cuts. In front lay a bare flat plain, On the right bank of the Dialah the enemy whilst undulating ground behind gave the also held a position along the Jebel Hamrin enemy concealment for manoeuvre and cover about Deli Abbas and Lambaral covering the for reserves. It was decided to attack the approaches to the Kifri road. The cavalry Turkish right flank with the whole force, as was instructed to work up the right bank of the such a movement aimed directly at the enemy's Dialah, so as to co-operate with our troops on railhead and general reserve would turn the the left bank in obstructing the retirement of main position east of the railway. the Turkish forces. Our troops advanced on both sides of the On the left bank of the Dialah our progress railway supported by artillery barrage, whilst was slow, owing to the difficult nature of the the Cavalry operating on the western flank took country, which is intersected by canals and the enemy's position in enfilade and in reverse deep nalas, some of them full of water, but on with rifle and machine gun fire. Communica- the night of the 24th/25th part of the force tion was maintained with our gunboats, which moved 'forward .to (test the strength of the co-operated by shelling points in the Turkish enemy in our front. By daybreak our infantry line. Ridge after ridge was captured in spite had established itself in the foothills, and the of infantry and artillery fire, which was some- advance to the main ridge began. Hostile times intense, until the Black Watch and piquets were driven in, and the lower crest of Gurkhas by a brilliant charge carried the main the hills was gained, but beyond this another position, inflicting severe casualties on the crest rose 2,500 yards away, and the in- enemy. Fighting continued after nightfall, tervening country was much broken with SUPPLEMENT TO THE L O N D O N GAZETTE, 10 JULY, 1917. 6947

hillocks and ravines. The advance continued and on September llth a column moved out towards the line held by the enemy about from Nasariyeh which destroyed the towers 1,000 yards north of the captured crest, but as and fortifications of As Sahilan. Our com- he now began to show considerable strength, it paratively small column was opposed by some was deemed inadvisable to press the advance 5,000 enemy irregulars, who fought boldly, further. The subsequent withdrawal of .the but the steady behaviour of our troops gave column was followed up closely by the enemy, them no opening, and before mid-day the but several strong attacks were beaten off, and enemy withdrew, having lost, as it was after- an attempted cha-rge against our right flank by wards ascertained, 436 killed and some 800 his cavalry was dispersed by rifle and gun fire. wounded. This prompt lesson had an excel- During the withdrawal the enemy, who neces- lent effect round Nasariyeh, and no further sarily came out into tihe open, suffered heavily, hostilities of any importance occurred during and the offensive enterprise of his infantry the period under review. The only Turkish slackened visibly as the day wore on. The Regular detachment on the Euphrates was a Manchesters specially distinguished themselves small one at Samawa, and when Baghdad fell by their gallantry and steadirress on this this detachment retreated to Feluja, whence occasion. it was subsequently ejected by our troops from The advance of our Allies had been delayed Baghdad. in a difficult pass east of Khanikin, mainly 41. On the lines of communications during owing to weather conditions, and in conse- the same period the daily routine of our quence up to (the close of the period under defence troops was only occasionally broken by review we had not gained touch with them, but raids, which were suitably dealt with by our our column still maintained its position, posts and mobile columns. harassing the Turkish retreat and securing a 42. Owing to the attention drawn to the number of prisoners. Tigris front by the severe fighting in progress 39. About the 26th there were indications there, the situation had remained compara: that a converging movement was being made tively quiet. Considerable progress, however, by part of the 13th Corps down the right bank was made in many ways. This was especially of the iDialah from Deli Abbas,'and by the the case at Nasariyeh, where much was done to 18th Corps along the left bank of the Tigris develop the administration of the town and from Shatt El Adhaim against our troops in the surrounding country, whilst at Ahwaz the vicinity of Deltawa, apparently with the various projects were carried into effect which intention of assisting the withdrawal of the placed our position in that neighbourhood on a 13th Corps from before the Russians. A more satisfactory basis. Considerable credit column was accordingly concentrated at Khan is .due to the commanders on the Euphrates, Nahrwan to deal with the* Shatt El Adhaim Karun and Bushire fronts and on the lines of force, whilst the cavalry contained the Deli communication defences for the manner in Abbas force. On the 27th the enemy made a which they maintained peaceful conditions in determined attempt to move down the right their neighbourhood and the efficiency of their bank of the Dialah towards Deltawa, but our troops. cavalry, skilfully handled in some difficult SUMMARY. ground, resisted the enemy's advance from suc- 43. The above is a brief record of the opera- cessive positions, inflicting severe losses, and tions carried out during seven months by the finally checked the forward movement that army in Mesopotamia—the first three and a evening. Next day the enemy fell back to- half months a period of preparation, the last wards Deli Abbas followed up by our cavalry. three and a half months one of action. During The Turkish force from Shatt El Adhaim the latter the fighting has been strenuous and held an entrenched position between Dogameh continuous, and the strain imposed upon all and Himma, and during the night- of the ranks, both at the front and on the lines of 28th/29th our troops deployed for attack in communication, severe. But they have suitable positions. The attack was well pressed responded whole-heartedly to every call that from the east and north till about midday, has been made upon them, and their reward when the mirage became so bad that artillery has been the measure of their success. The support was impracticable. Later in the nature of the operations has been as varied as evening it was renewed, and in spite of fierce it has been complex, and the training of the counter-attacks we secured the greater part of troops has been tested,^ first in the fierce hand- the enemy's position, although he still held a to-hand fighting in trench warfare round Kut few trenches when darkness fell. His losses and Sannaiyat, and later in the more open had evidently been severe, as we buried over battles which characterised the operations in 190 bodies, and we took many prisoners, whilst the D'ahra Bend, the passage of the Tigris, the the enemy retired during the night behind the advance on Baghdad, and the subsequent Shatt El Adhaim. actions. From this ordeal they have emerged The total number of prisoners taken during with a proud record, and have dealt the enemy the period December 13th to March 31st was a series of stinging blows, the full significance 7,921. of which will not be easily effaced. British and Indian troops working side by side have OPERATIONS ON OTHER FRONTS : AUGUST 28TH vied with each other in their efforts to close TO MARCH 31 ST. with the enemy, and all ranks have been 40. The period with which this despatch imbued throughout with that offensive spirit deals was devoid of important incidents on which is the soldier's finest jewel. the Karun and Bushire fronts. On the The operations have involved long hours and Euphrates front in the early part of Septem- strenuous work, as well as great responsi- ber guerilla warfare was commenced against bilities, for commanders and their staffs, but our camps and patrols round As Sahilan. by sheer hard work and a determination to Immediate steps were taken to crush this hos- succeed they have risen superior to every tile concentration before it became formidable, obstacle and compelled success. 6948 SUPPLEMENT TO T H E LONDON GAZETTE, 10 JULY, 1917.

As regards the regimental Commanders and infantry. The intense but methodical fire of the regimental Officers, Warrant and Non- our guns formed a screen of shells under which commissioned Officers and men, it is not easy ' our infantry advanced boldly, whilst the ac- to-do justice to their sterling performances. curacy of our gun fire was largely assisted by In spite of the youth and consequent lack of the excellent observation work done by the training and experience among some of their Royal Flying Corps. The activity of the latter officers and non-commissioned officers, leader- throughout the operations was unbounded in ship has never faltered, whilst all ranks, by co-operation with artillery, air combats, recon- their heroism, endurance and devotion to duty, naissance, raiding, bombing, and photography. have almost daily affirmed their superiority The R.F.C. at the outset wrested the c o m m a n d over their opponents in the bitterest struggles. of the air from the enemy, and subsequently by Each difficulty encountered seemed but to steel skill and ceaseless energy maintained its supe- the determination to overcome it. It may, riority, in spite of the heavy strain thrown on then, be truly said that not only have the personnel and machines. traditions of these ancient British and Indian Closely allied to the Infantry throughout regiments been in safe keeping in the hands of the fighting 'and especially during the period their present representatives, but that these of trench warfare were the Field companies, have even added fresh lustre to the records on Sapper and Miner companies and Pioneer bat- their time-honoured scrolls. Where fighting talions. Their work was as daring as it was was almost daily in progress it is difficult to tireless and was of inestimable value in plan- particularise, but the fierce encounters west of ning, supplementing and improving by their the Hai, the passages of the Tigris and Dialah,, technical knowledge the work done by the and the final storming of the Sannaiyat posi- Infantry. tion may perhaps be mentioned as typical of Owing to the conditions under which fighting all that is best in the British and Indian has taken place a heavy strain has been placed soldier. upon the Signal Service and Telegraph Depart- For the success achieved the fighting spirit of ment, and especially during the rapid advance the troops has been mainly responsible, but the after the passage of the Tigris. That the com- dash and gallantry of- individuals and units munications. of the Army were so well main- have been welded into a powerful weapon by tained testified to the efficiency and high sense that absolute sympathy which has existed be- of duty among all ranks in both branches. tween both services and all branches?^ Their work, especially in the case of those with To the Royal Navy the thanks of the Army advanced formations, was frequently carried are due for the thorough way in which they out under conditions of considerable danger, in carried out somewhat restricted but none the which conspicuous gallantry was frequently less important duties during the earlier part needed and displayed. of this period. The fact that the enemy barred The zeal and scientific knowledge e v i n c e d by the way at Sannaiyat necessitated their work the Field Survey Department is best exempli- being at first limited to assisting in the pro- fied by the fact that since the commencement tection of our water communications, co- of the campaign accurate surveys of an area of operating with our detachment- on the over 13,000 square miles of country have been Euphrates front and occasionally shelling the produced, which have been of the greatest value enemy's position at Sannaiyat, where the to the Army. Naval Kite Balloon Section rendered good ser- 44. One of the features peculiar to this vice in observation work. Their opportunity campaign is the length of the lines of communi- came later, when after the passage of the Tigris cations which we have necessarily had to adopt. they pressed forward in pursuit and rendered In consequence the difficulties by which the the brilliant and substantial services described Administrative Services and Departments, both above. in the field and on the lines of communications, The work of the Cavalry has been difficult. have been confronted have been exceptional. The flat terrain intersected' with nalas ob- The success or failure of the operations has so structed movement without providing cover, largely depended upon their efficiency that a and the state of the country after heavy rains substantial measure of credit is due to the made progress even for short distances Directors and their Assistants and all ranks of laborious. The absence of water, too, away those Services and Departments who by capable from the river limited its radius of action. methods and unwearied energy have sur- Nevertheless its reconnaissance work and the mounted all obstacles and regularly met the blows delivered against the enemy's communi- needs of the fighting troops with ample supplies, cations helped in no small way to bring about munitions and stores, and have been the means that dissipation of his forces which was so essen- of providing every comfort obtainable for the tial to our success, and the pressure applied sick and wounded. after the passage of the Tigris to the retreating As in the case of the fighting troops, the enemy was instrumental in completing his final interdependence of these Services and Depart- rout. ments has necessitated the closest co-operation, The unison in which Artillery, Infantry, and equally successful has been the result. We Machine-Gun Corps and Air Service worked have relied upon three classes of transport— has been admirable. The combination of irre- river, rail and road, the latter being further sistible gallantry and devotion to duty evinced sub-divided into motor and animal transport. by the Infantry and Machine-Gun Corps was The work in all cases has been peculiarly heavy. equalled by the determination of the Artillery The newly formed Inland Water Transport to render their comrades the closest support. Directorate had first to fill its ranks and then Batteries were pushed forward to points within develop its organisation and provide for its effective range of the enemy's riflemen, and the many indispensable requirements, but the per- forward observing offitoers1 and their detach- sonnel, making light of these very real obstacles ments, in order to obtain the best results for to rapid progress, worked unceasingly, with the their guns in this flat and difficult country, were result that night and day an endless chain of always to be found with the leading lines of rivercraft passed up and down the river, SUPPLEMENT TO T H E LONDON GAZETTE, 10 JULY, 1917. 6949 thereby assuring the maintenance of the troops of climate and surroundings set an example of at the front. which they may well be proud. The rainy season was one of continuous The wastage of horses during continuous anxiety for the railways (especially as regards operations under trying conditions has neces- the light line between Sheikh Sa'ad and Atab) sarily been large, but the Remount Department and the road transport. Every ingenuity pos- has, though assisted by few facilities and faced sible was, however, brought to bear on the prob- by many obstacles, by practical methods, fore- lem, and vigour and determination on the part sight and adaptability, successfully met the of all concerned once more carried the day. demands made upon it. To the Directorate of Port Administration Sickness and battle casualties have placed a and Conservancy much credit is due for the strain upon the resources of the Veterinary development of the Port of Basrah on an effi- Department which has been met by wise antici- cient basis and for the method and smoothness pation and considerable efficiency. with which the vast fleet of steamers which The chaplains—always to the fore where has served this expedition has been handled, danger calls—have been untiring in their atten- as well as for the provision of many facilities tion to the spiritual needs of the troops and in connection therewith. The monthly statis- in their ministrations to the sick and wounded, tics bear eloquent testimony to the efficiency of not only in the field ambulances and hospitals, this Department. but also on the battlefield. The excellent work done by the Director of The Postal Service has been handicapped by Sea Transport and his assistants also deserves the long distances to be covered and by the fact more than passing recognition in view of the that other articles requiring carriage claimed amount of shipping involved. precedence in order of urgency. It has had Our long line of communications has compli- heavy mails to deal with and its duties have cated the delivery of supplies and ordnance been well carried out. stores at the front considerably. Although 45. I should like further to express my large stocks of foodstuffs, munitions and stores thanks to those individuals and organisations were available at the Base early in the autumn, which, though not strictly military, have ren- accurate calculations and ceaseless activity on dered valuable services to the Army. Fore- the part of all ranks were required to ensure most among these I would mention the British their delivery to the troops punctually and in Red Cross Society, which has worthily main- due proportion. Difficult as the problem was tained its splendid record throughout this whilst the Army was sedentary in the vicinity campaign. The sterling work performed by of Sannaiyat and Kut, it became more and its personnel, and its bountiful provision of more complex as the advance proceeded. The motor launches, motor ambulances and gifts, strain on the personnel was increasingly severe, have been the means of alleviating much suf- and the fact that throughout this period the fering. troops at the front were well maintained in all The ceaseless labours of the organisers and respects constitutes a fine record for the Supply committees of the various war-gift societies, Service and Ordnance Department. both in England and India, and the liberality In dealing with the problems at the* Base and of the subscribers to these funds, have contri- on the Lines of Communication, the responsi- buted largely to the comfort and well-being of bilities of the Works Directorate have been the troops, especially in regard to their recrea- very heavy, but the many problems have been tions, and our heartfelt gratitude is due to resolutely handled with that resourcefulness them all. and success which are so characteristic of the The officials and personnel of the Anglo- Royal Engineers. Road-making, water supply, Persian Oil Company have displayed courtesy and building and reclamation work at the Base and willingness to assist, and have given us alone have reached vast dimensions, and have facilities which have beefrof great value . t o our demanded constant attention and thorough troops. organisation. The Young Men's Christian Association has Since the termination of the hot weather the been indefatigable in its exertions to enliven health of the troops has been uniformly good, and improve the surroundings of the troops, and our well-equipped hospitals have been more and has with my approval opened additional than adequate to meet the calls made upon branches throughout the country, which have them by sick patients. Throughout the opera- been immensely appreciated. tions the evacuation of the wounded was 46. The thanks of the Army are due for the carried out on model lines, and the arrange- prompt manner in which our necessarily large ments made for the comfort and rapid transfer demands have been sent overseas from Eng- of patients from the field units to the hospitals land, India and Egypt. This factor has con- on the Lines of Communication reflect much tributed in no small measure to the successes credit on those concerned. Whilst those on achieved. the Lines of Communication have done their 47. During the operations the Commanders share efficiently, the work of the Medical Ser- have had great responsibility, and have jus- vices at the front has maintained its high repu- tified fully their selection for the posts they tation. During the operations the strain hold. thrown upon all has been heavy, and the Lieut.-General W. R. Marshall, K.C.B., courage and devotion to duty displayed by the has commanded his troops with determination personnel on the battlefield has only been and judgment. His quiet, imperturbable equalled by the zeal and energy of those in the manner, his coolness and decision inspire con- field units. In*this connection the valuable fidence among his subordinates, whilst his bold services rendered by the consulting surgeons methods and intelligent appreciation and rapid and physicians demand special mention, whilst execution of orders have been of the greatest the thanks of the Army are due to the Nursing value. Sisters for their indefatigable services in tend- Lieut.-General A. S. Cobbe, V.C., K.C.B., ing the sick and wounded. These ladies have D.S.O., has commanded with marked ability. by their devoted work under difficult conditions Always methodical and thorough in his plans,