'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎152v] (309/454)

280 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
7 p.m., however, they had established themselves on the near
bank of the Shatra, to find that the enemy was holding the
further bank. This rendered it impracticable to bring up the
heliums for crossing. The Gurkhas remained in their position
for the night under considerable hostile fire, which, however,
was ill-directed and caused but few casualties. During the
night the 1 /4th Hampshire Regiment was sent to reinforce them
and by 5 a.m. on the 5th had come into line on their right.
General Gorringe’s intentions for the 5th were to advance
his force along both banks of the Akaika and to attack the enemy
on the left bank of the Euphrates, preparatory to crossing that
river and seizing the Turkish gun position opposite the Akaika
entrance. The l/4th Hampshire and the 2/7th Gurkhas were
to cross the Shatra, advance along the south bank of the Akaika,
locating as they went the exact position of enemy mines in
the channel, and then cross the Akaika again to the left bank
of the Euphrates. General Melliss, with the 30th Mountain
Battery and the 24th and 76th Punjabis, was to move along
the north bank of the Akaika and establish himself on the left
bank of the Euphrates well upstream of the Turkish gun position;
He should then be able, it was hoped, to cross the Euphrates
well above the enemy’s position and might possibly succeed in
cutting off the two Turkish launches and a steamer reported to
have arrived at their gun position. The British artillery, naval
and military, excluding the mountain guns, were to be held in
readiness to concentrate their fire on the Turkish gun position;
General Gorringe's central signalling station and his own report
centre were established at Ati’s House ; and he kept the sapper
company and half the battalion 48th Pioneers in hand in reserve.
General Melliss’ column commenced its advance at 4.45 a.m.,
on the 5th. The 76th Punjabis, moving along the narrow strip
of date plantations—about six hundred yards wide—between
the Akaika and the inundation to the north, reached a point
nearly opposite the Shatra entrance without difficulty. Here
they came under such heavy fire from the south bank of the
Akaika and from mud walls to their right front across the
inundation that their advance was checked.
Meanwhile heliums and gun rafts had moved through the
water cut made the previous day into the inundation north
west of Ati’s House ; and in these the 24th Punjabis and a
section of the 30th Mountain Battery pushed forward about
6.15 a.m. towards the right of the 76th Punjabis, being supported
by the fire of two sections of the 30th Battery on rafts near
Ati’s House. Though subjected to some enemy gun fire their