'Report from Lieut-General Sir P. H. N. Lake K.C.B., K.C.M.G. Commanding I.E.F. "D" on the Defence of Kut-Al-Amarah under Major-General C. V. F. Townshend, C.B., D.S.O., 3 December 1915-29 April 1916' [‎19v] (38/44)

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36
reconnaissance report of the approach of reserves from Shumran ;
many mistakes are made in this way by young ofiicers observing
from air craft up at a great height. In this country it is diffcult to
judge numbers and difference from cattle, in the field by
experienced officers, as it is, let alone extra height of 4,000 feet
up. Such a mistake delayed me one day during my advance
on Ctesiphon, as Kemball can tell you. More follows. "
APPENDIX BB.
Copy of a telegram from 6th Division, to Corps and G. H. Q., No. 69-247-G., dated 9th
March 1916.
" In continuation of my 69-246- G.
Up to 11 -30 A.M., on March (8th ?) then practically no reserves from
Shumran passed Hai on right bank or our fort on left bank going
east. At that hour thick haze shrouded whole country. If they
left Shumran after 11 -30 A.M., they could not possibly have
reached your field of battle in time to take part in it.
1 am now going to kill off animals to enable us to continue our task of
holding up Turkish advance at Kut which we have done now for
three months. By killing off nearly 1 ico animals at once and
reducing British troops loaf from 12 to 10 oz. and Indian tioops to
10 oz. flour meal and 4 oz. barley for paichirg per day 1 can
make my present stock of barley last till roughly April 7th, As
I have told you however I am entirely dependent on my mills the
stones and engine of which keep giving trouble and anxiety and
require careful nursing by that able officer Winfield Smith R. F.
C. who manages all this for me. British troops will have to exist
entirely on bread and meat and Indian troops on meal, parched
barley and ghee, and other articles of rations will be finished
even on a reduced scale by the 15th March. More follows. "
AVPENDIX CC.
Copy of a te'egram from 6 h Division to Corps and G H. Q. No, 69-248^ , dated 5th
March 1916.
Continuation of 69-247 -G.
Of tl o->e 1 100 animals I am killing I mav say that if put up down in India
now they would require six months rest before being able to do
a hard day's work. I propose keeping about 13CO animals of
which about 900 will be required for meat up to April 7th but
those remaining alive on that date will be utterly incapable of
work. My troops are then ready to live on short rations, it is
their plain duty to do so but they will become weak I expect and
desertions among Indian troops will increase. But I hope next
effort will be with such a maximum force as will make an absolute
certainty of success. This suspense is very hard to bear. It breaks
down health and depresses. To all men uncertainty is intolerable.
Tuice now I have promised the men that relief was at hand. I
ought to be relieved before April 7th unless there is truth in
the Turkish peace proposals mentioned in Reuters in which cafe
our relief may possibly settle itself in this way or unless Baratoff
can be induced to press his advance on Khanikin and seriously
menace Baghdad which might relieve me automatically. But want
of ransport I take it is great difficulty. Still he should be asked
to help, 1 think.
Addressed Corps repeated G. H. Q."
The officers and troops of the 6th Division and those attached, including
the detachment of the Royal Navy under Sub-Lieutenant L. Tudway, R. N.'