'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME II.' [‎273v] (555/660)

A
506 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
4. I should assist your passage of the Hai by action from Liquorice
Village,* which is on west bank of Hai. To do so I should reinforce present
garrison of village at night by ferry up to two brigades, and should, of course,
co-operate with your advance along right bank against Turkish camp.
5. I note your instructions re sick and wounded and supplies to be placed
on right bank when you arrive. I think supplies should be placed on east bank
of Hai, as Liquorice Village is on west bank of Hai—that is, side nearest
enemv and well within range of his guns. Vide my telegram of 22nd
December re time taken to cross troops, sick, wounded, supplies, etc., but
rafts will, of course, accelerate matters.
6. Bridges. I am going into the matter of rafts and landing stages.
1. Already considered project of attacking Turkish camp on left bank
should that'be necessary and have had ramps made for crossing trenches.
8. It all depends whether your success is a pronounced one or not. If you
soundly beat or destroy the force against you on right bank there will be a
general Turkish retreat. You can turn him on right bank, and to deal with
a turning movement he must leave his entrenchments and then I urk is no
use. But 12,000 rifles seems a small maximum force out of 20,000. Surely
one brigade is ample entrenched on left bank to hold Turkish Hanna
force in respect. I only used two battalions to do this last September. Turk
will not leave his trenches and attack.
If you have any doubt as to result, would it not be wiser to wait and unite all
forces before advancing, particularly 13th British Division. If this efiort
failed it would be a grave affair. I remember your remark re state of Indian
troops with you after two indecisive actions and a reverse. Moreover, if you
relieve us with large forces there will be no need to think of leaving Kut.
I do not think Turks can possibly take Kut as long as you are face to face
with them down river, and if Russians are menacing Baghdad and are
successful Erzerum way, I do not see how any more reinforcements can be
sent down the Tigris from Baghdad.
However, you are the best judge, so please do not mind my offering sugges
tions without being asked. Position here is a serious one, and I am anxious
you should not fail again. You can imagine how anxious I am to see ourselves
relieved. I have had a continual strain on me since I left Amara in September
last. The whole of the operations has been on my shoulders—that is, the plans
of operations, etc., and you know how ill I was when I left Simla to conduct
the advance on Kut. I am quite well and cheerful, and no matter how
desirous we are of being relieved, it is better that you should make certain of
doing so.
As long as you keep your force in close contact below me, my force at Kut
fulfils proper conditions of a detachment—that is, we are indirectly contribu
ting to successful issue of the operations by holding superior forces in check
at a point remote from battlefield.
We have material for one heavy and one very light flying bridge for spans
of under 320 yards. Please bring your wire cables and as much 2-inch lashing
rope as you can, and also your two travellers or runners.
We can construct one heavy flying bridge and its two landing stages across
Tigris. We can construct two more double mahaila rafts and their landing
stages, and possibly deck them with doors taken from town. Flying
bridge at Liquorice Factory An East India Company trading post. is impossible as the width is over 550 yards.
Landing stages cannot be erected under present conditions as they would be
under gun and rifle fire.
We can provide mahailas and road bearers for Hai, but no chesses will be
available if the two rafts mentioned above are built, but the two rafts could be
used as part of the bridge.
Material of unserviceable mahailas scarce and useless for planking.
Best site is half way between Kut and Fort for flying bridge.
Addressed Corps, repeated General Headquarters.
F F 6th DIVISION.
* i.e., Woolpress Village.