'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎152r] (308/454)

THE AKAIKA CHANNEL
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and were covered with date plantations and much intersected
by irrigation channels and mud walls. From Ati's House a
good view was obtainable to the north, but little could be seen
from it of the Akaika channel and the view to the westward
was greatly restricted by the date palms and by willow trees
which grew in some numbers along the banks of the channel.
From Ati’s House, a path led along a causeway across the
marshes to some Arab villages to the north and north-west,
about two thousand five hundred yards distant, lying on the
Mishashiya creek. This creek joined the Euphrates about two
miles above the Akaika junction. About two thousand yards
south-west of Ati’s House, the Shatra creek—very deep, with
a strong current and in places over one hundred yards wide—
flowed out of the Akaika. The junction of the Shatra and
the Akaika was commanded by two Turkish guns, entrenched
and concealed by willow trees on the right bank of the Euphrates
opposite the Akaika entrance ; and in the intervening stretch
of the Akaika the Turks were reported to have laid a mine-field.
By the evening of the 3rd, all the river craft had passed the
obstruction in the channel and orders were issued for a forward
movement next day. Starting at 4 a.m. on the 4th, the gun
boats with the 76th Punjabis, two mountain guns and a company
of the 48th Pioneers occupied a position at Ati’s House and on
the channel bank to the south of it. The pioneers then cut a
passage for the heliums from the Akaika to the inundation
northwards of Ati’s House, and a reconnoitring party were
sent along the path to the Mishashiya creek. It was found
that by utilising this route the Turkish position opposite the
Akaika channel could be turned, but the idea of using it was
discarded, as the opposition encountered from the Arabs showed
that the operation would require a force of at least two
battalions.
In the meantime the remainder of the force had moved up to
the vicinity of Ati’s House and about 4 p.m. the 2 /7th Gurkhas
landed on the south bank opposite, with orders to move up to
the Shatra creek. They were to secure a position at the junction
of the Shatra and the Akaika which afforded a good point of
observation of the Turkish guns, and to make good the crossings
over the Shatra. It was hoped to effect these crossings by
means of heliums which were to be towed by hand after dark
along the Akaika.
The advance of the Gurkhas was opposed by Arabs and was
much impeded by the thick and intersected date plantations,
which made it difficult to maintain touch and direction. By