"دراسة نقدية عن الحملة في ميسوبوتاميا حتى أبريل ١٩١٧: الجزء I - تقرير" [و‎‎٨‎٠] (٤٢٤/١٦٤)

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Brigade. In the dusk it seems that the troopers were mistaken for*
Turks ? and coming under strong fire from our infantry they withdraw
again to their horses. Later on the whole Brigade rode over to the
Wadi and bivouacked near the headquarters of the 7th Division.
At nightfall General Younghusband sent a message, which was^
received at 1910 by General Aylmer, as follows : My troops ring
round the Turks except for a small portion by river which I hope to
fill shortly. Troops from the direction of Shaikh Saad are advancing
and heavy fire still going on. Troops taking up positions they now
hold for night, our cavalry have operated on my right flank/' Later
on the further report in regard to the dispositions of the 7th Division,
was made in greater detail, and this was received at about 2300 at
the headquarters of the Tigris Corps. But, as will appear. General
Aylmer had, through the Flying Corps, already gained a more just
appreciation of the position of the division then was actually possessed
by its commander.
Early in the morning General Kemball had been informed that
the batteries of the Corps Artillery were earmarked for the support of
the 7th Division. They might, however, as a temporary measure,
be used to assist the 28th Brigade in the advance against Chittab's fort
and the trenches on either side of it, which were believed to be held
by the enemy. KembalTs reconnoitring patrols had at first stated
that Chittab's fort was strongly garrisoned, and soon after 0900 the
guns, therefore, commenced firing on it; but later reports were to the
effect that only a few scouts could be seen to the east of the "Wadi.
It seems that the first reconnaissance by aeroplane was made at
about 0900 and, an hour later, the airman, after having circled over
the 28th Brigade as a signal that the Turks were not holding the trenches
near Chittab's fort, made his report. This was to the effect that no
Turks had been seen in the area between the 28th Brigade and the
enemy's main position on the Wadi, which was apparently held by
2,000 Infantry and 500 Cavalry. Six of the enemy's guns also were
being moved along a route leading to the Turkish left.
Three gun boats, the Gadfly, Cranefly and Dragonfly, the Butterfly
had been left at Shaikh Saad to assist the troops in safeguarding the
bridge, had meanwhile drawn level with Kemball's Infantry. At about
1100 these gun-boats, which had then steamed to a point some 7,000
yards from Ora, the right bank column being on their left flank at
Umm-al Tamman, opened on the right of the Turkish position.
Kemball now began to advance, the Leicestershires moving forward
on the left and the 56th Eifles on the right, followed by the 53rd and
51st Sikhs. No resistance was encountered, and, after the fort had
been occupied at about noon, the troops threw up a line of trenches