"دراسة نقدية عن الحملة في ميسوبوتاميا حتى أبريل ١٩١٧: الجزء I - تقرير" [و‎‎٦‎٢] (٤٢٤/١٢٨)

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tiring line was within 500 yards ot tne Turkish trenches but their left
was quite two miles from the Tigris. General Kemball had only the
92rid and half of the 13th Sappers and Miners in hand, and these he was
holding under cover in a watercourse 1,000 yards to the west of the bend
of tte Tigris at Hibsh.
At about 1545 * Kemball had resolved to make a further attempt
to outflank the enemy, and had directed the 92nd to move to the left of
the line. Soon afterwards a message was received from Younghusband
that the action was to be discontinued, that battle outposts were to be
placed in position, and that the ships, which had been held back all day
by the Turkish shells, but owing to the slackening of the enemy's gun
fire, had at last been able to move forward, were to be closed under the
steep banks of the Tigris.
General Kemball had also received a report from the Cavalry Brigade
that there were still numbers of the enemy's horsemen on their left, but
that it seemed as if the Turkish Infantry were moving westwards. Before
complying with Younghusband's orders Kemball, therefore personally
went forward to take stock of the situation ; but, finding himself under
heavy musketry from both front and flank, he came to the conclusion
that there was no immediate prospect of victory. Orders were then
issued to the troops to entrench where they stood, and aftei darkness
had fallen, arrangements were to be made to send back the wounded, and
also parties of men for the purpose of obtaining water and rations. The
92nd, who had moved forward, were to return to the watercourse at
once, the half of the 13th Sappers and Miners were to build a redoubt
near its southern extremity, and as soon as it was dark all the artillery
were to withdraw to Hibsh and remain there under escort of one com
pany of the 92nd and one company of the 128th Pioneers. In notifying
these arrangements to the headquarters of the first echelon Kemball
however, gave it as his opinion that the enemy would probably fall back
during the night.
Meanwhile General Rice had not pressed his attack, and had kept
the 97th and l-5th Buffs in hand. After nightfall the positions that had
been reached were consolidated, arrangements were made to bring food,
water and ammunition to the infantry ; and the Gunners, after con
structing gun pits, withdrew to a bivouac at the western end of the
Musandaq reach, where the transport had been parked and the bulk of
the 19th Infantry Brigade had remained in reserve.
The enemy had not attempted directly to attack the shipping during
the day, but the Turks sent several floating mines down river some of
which were sunk by fire, and none occasioned loss or damage. One mine
was also seen in the water when the head of General Aylmer's second
* The sun set at about 17] 5.
H