"دراسة نقدية عن الحملة في ميسوبوتاميا حتى أبريل ١٩١٧: الجزء I - تقرير" [ظ‎‎١‎٨‎٩] (٤٢٤/٣٨٣)

324
<of the enemy to Arab bu Abin trenches wit& about 1,000 casualties.
Our own casualties were about 250 : there were also 50 cases of heat
stroke. We made an unsuccessful attack on the Arab bu Abin position
on the 13th. On the 15th the enemy withdrew to the foothills beyond
Delli Abbas. We followed up and on finding the enemy strongly en
trenched Keary's Column, consisting of—
the Cavalry Division (less two Eegiments and one Battery, E.H.A.)
and the 13th Division (less Yeomanry, one artillery brigade, one
company, E.E., and 38th Infantry Brigade)
were left to hold the entrenched line about Arab bu Abin and remain
in observation.
Gen. Marshall with 35th Infantry Brigade and Cassels' cavalry
returned to the Adhaim and concentrated with the 38th Brigade at
Dugama on the 17th. The enemy, in strength about 2,000, were hold
ing the right bank of the Adhaim. This river, at this season only about
three feet deep and ten to fifteen yards wide, has a treacherous bottom
and can only be crossed at the fords. The stream meanders about in
a bed some 2,000 yards wide, sunk 40 or 50 feet below the general level
of the plain. The walls of the bed are in most places sheer.
The crossing of the Adhaim on the night of the 17-18th is an inter
esting example of an operation of this nature (see sketch). Cassels'
cavalry was sent upstream and a demonstration was made at the old
ford (a). The enemy's attention having been drawn in this direction,
the actual crossing took place without being discovered at (6), and the
opposite cliffs were seized. The enemy's full attention was thus con
centrated on his left flank. Meanwhile during the night two batta
lions had been passed in pontoons across the river at (c) near its mouth.
Their presence was entirely unsuspected and at 0450 just before dawn
they rushed the Turks on the cliffs with hardly a casualty. As soon
as they were established north of Kubbej Village, a bridge was thrown
at {d) and reinforcements passed over, the plan being to drive in be
tween the enemy's right and the Tigris. At 1230 after bombardment,
3 battalions achieved this with complete success, and Cassels' Brigade
which had been brought back after the early morning demonstration
was at once put through the gap, cutting the enemy off from the river.
The action was a complete success ; over 1,200 prisoners were taken,
700 surrendering to the cavalry alone, who continued the pursuit
till 0200. Our losses in this action were 73.
On the right bank Fane's Column moved forward on the 16th and
captured the Median Wall, an ancient earthwork some 30 feet in height,
6,500 yards south-east of Istabulat Station. On the 18th Gen. Cobbe
arrived and took over command of the right bank. He was joined on
the 20th by Cassels' cavalry and on the 21st by the 8th Brigade.
A bridge had now been established at Barura.