'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎102v] (209/454)

182 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
were always checked by fire or fell back before counter-charges,
only to come on again as the retirement proceeded. The
heavy sand impeded the movement of the guns in spite of
their eight-horse teams, and in consequence retarded the
pace of the retirement. Near Shwaibda, however, after an
unsuccessful effort to cut in on the line of the British retirement,
the hostile pursuit slackened off and the engagement appeared
to be nearly over.
The ground now necessitated a half-turn to the left, and in
making this movement the cavalry on the wings—in the
cloud of dust caused by the horses and guns—-closed in
rather far, masking the guns, whose horses were at the time
temporarily in difficulties in the heavy sand. At this moment,
a fresh body of hostile cavalry emerged from Barjisiya woods
and charged in to close quarters ; and at once the remainder
of the pursuers turned back from their retirement and also
charged in. There was more dust, the sun was getting low
and was in the faces of the Indian cavalry as they faced round ;
and some of the 16th Cavalry were driven right across the
British front, carrying disorder into the ranks of the 33rd.
Lieutenant-Colonel Stack, of the 33rd, at the head of one of
his squadrons, charged into the enemy who had penetrated
into the force, but he was himself severely wounded, and the
success gained was merely temporary. In the confusion
some dozen Arabs had got into the battery, whose officers
and N.C.O.s were obliged to use their revolvers freely on Arabs
shooting from their saddles and cutting at the horses and
harness. Some of the team horses of a gun and a wagon were
shot and both teams came down.
For a few minutes the situation was distinctly critical,
ut, although unknown to most of the cavalry, they were
now within a hundred yards of the supporting force under
Lieutenant-Colonel Rosher.* This force had been unable to
see clearly what was happening owing to the sun in their eyes,
the dust, and the mirage. All they could discern was a widely
spread mass of mounted men in a cloud of dust bearing straight
own on them. It was impossible to distinguish friend from
foe, and not until the horses came right through them could
theyopen fire with their rifles, guns and machine guns. Their
steadiness in the emergency had an immediate effect. The
enemy, surprised and panic-strick en, turned and fled, making
• . ^though Lieutenant-Colonel Rosher had sent word of the approximate
. of Ji he P° sltl on he was holding to Lieutenant-Colonel Wogan Browne,
nniv ° lcer sent back during the retirement to ascertain it exactly had
y j s rejoined the cavalry when the final charge took place.