"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. مجلد I" [و‎‎١‎٦‎٠] (٤٥٤/٣٢٤)

SITUATION AT MIDDAY
295
enemy were retreating they still offered considerable opposition,
and for some time the ships continued to be engaged heavily.
The close nature of the country, the great heat,* and the
lack of land transport all combined to hamper an effective
pursuit.
At 10 a.m., two sections of the 63rd Field Battery began
to embark in the Mejidieh and in a gun barge. They were all
on board by noon, when the Norfolks from the general reserve
were also embarked in the Mejidieh, which then received orders
to proceed upstream. General Gorringe intended to concen
trate the 18th Infantry Brigade on the left bank of the river,
preparatory to an attack on the enemy's rearward position
on the Sadanawiya creek. At 1 p.m.,f he himself proceeded
upstream to interview brigade commanders personally and to
complete arrangements for the further advance.
At this hour, the general situation was as follows :—
On the right bank, the leading lines of the 30th Brigade
were about two thousand yards north of the Majinina creek.
To their left, but well out of reach, were some five hundred
of the enemy who had garrisoned the sandhills and were now
retiring on Nasiriya. To their front appeared an enemy
entrenched position, whose river approach was commanded
by two guns at the mouth of the Sadanawiya creek.
On the left bank, the 12th Brigade were some nineteen
hundred yards north of the Maiyadiya creek—slightly in
advance of the 30th Brigade on the opposite bank—and were
engaging the enemy in the Sadanawiya trenches.
The Shushan and Sumana were almost abreast of the 30th
Brigade; and the Mahsoudi, with the 4-7-inch guns, and the
Mejidieh were near Thornycroft Point on their way upstream.
Here the Norfolks received orders to disembark on the right
bank of the river.
For the next two hours or so, the battle became stationary
while the 12th Brigade were carrying out reconnaissances of
the Turkish left, and General Gorringe proceeded upstream
and reviewed the situation after personal discussion with his
subordinate commanders. Between 3 and 4 p.m. he received
information from the 12th Brigade that the enemy along the
Sadanawiya creek showed signs of retiring, evidently owing
to the effect of the fire of the Shushan and the naval 4-7-inch
guns.
* The temperature was well over 110° Fahrenheit in the shade.
f By this time telephonic communication between General Gorringe's
headquarters and the brigades had been completely interrupted.