'Mesopotamia. Commission' [‎89v] (181/256)

will give confidence to friendly tribes and if he goes down may cause great uneasiness among
them. Supplies for six weeks exist here for Townshend’s troops, which may be relied on to
tight with steadiness and gallantry. They are well supplied with ammunition and have
several sets of wireless. Reference to Secretary of State's telegram of 30th November,
position across Kut peninsula with defence post and blockhouses and whole front covered by
wire is now practically finished. Trenches can be dug as required. It is proposed to retain
troops at Nasiriyah for the present.
No. 240.
General Xixon to Secretary of State for Lidia, dated 3rd December 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
2nd December. Tigris line. H.M.S. Butterfly escorting 10 ships with wounded and
General Headquarters reached point five miles up sh-eam of Shaikh Saad nightfall
2nd December with only slight opposition. General Townshend Column was seen by
aeroplane within 10 miles of Kut 1 p.m. 2nd December. No enemy observed nearer than
point opposite Baghailah. 1 cannot praise too highly the great skill with which General
Townshend has conducted the withdrawal of his force under very difficult circumstances.
Grit and pluck displayed by all ranks under his command has been magnificent.
No. 241.
Viceroy to Secretary of State for India, dated 3rd December 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
Following telegram dated 30th November has been received from Nixon:—
“ Townshend reports that on 29th November east of Kutunie 14th Hussars charged and
got into enemy’s mounted troops with sword, accounting for 140 Arabs while Turkish
cavalry fled. 7th Lancers also charged. This clearly justifies my urgent lequest for British
Cavalry and I would like another regiment of British Cavalry sent if it can possibly be
spared.”
It is regretted that no more British Cavalry can be spared from India.
No. 242.
General Nixon to Secretary of State for India, dated 4/7/, December 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
4th December. General Townshend wires, dated 3rd, as follows:—
“ I am grateful for your praise of the conduct of the retirement of the 6 th Division.
From Ctesiphon to Kut-al-Amarah is a distance of some 85 miles as the crow flies, in contact
with a greatly superior force of the enemy, who managed to take me by the collar on
1st December, but we shook ourselves free. Regarding the action of 1st December details are
as follows: Estimated 12,000 Turks advanced in long lines on us and we opened Artillery fire
at 2,500 yards with crushing effect. He tried then to envelop my left, i.e., my line of retreat
which I repulsed by again turning his envelop with the Cavalry and Horse" Artillery guns'
with result that his enveloping attack fled. I took this opportunity to break off the battle
and commenced my retirement by echelons of brigades. We were heavily shelled by hio-fi
explosive big guns. By midday we had shaken off the enemy, having lost 250 killed and
wounded. Marched 30 miles on 1 st December, one brigade, the 30th, have marched 80 miles in
three days including battle, and at the end of it their valour and discipline is in no way
diminished and without loss of a gun or a single prisoner even. Never have I seen a retire
ment like that of 1 st December even on Field Sian oeuvres better done as regards suppleness
and steadiness, manoeuvres under very heavy shell fire. I mean to defend Kut like I did
Chitral.”
I entirely concur in his high commendation of the valour and discipline displayed by his
troops.
No. 243.
General Nixon to Secretary of State for India, dated 5th December 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
Tigris line. General Townshend reports 4th December :—
“ I am making Kut into as strong an entrenched camp as possible in the given time. The
enemy’s advanced guard is now some 10 miles off, ami the main body 5 miles beyond that.
As it is reported that Yon Golfz is at Baghdad now, commanding the enemy’s army of six
divisions, I shall expect him to turn this place, putting off a force of observation at Kut.
The relieving force will probably have to fight another battle at Sinn. I have shut mvself
up here, reckoning with certainty on being relieved by large forces arriving at Basra. "The
state of extreme exhaustion of men demanded instant rest. I was very anxious, and it looked
at one time on 2nd December as if the whole division would lie down and not be able to move.
Our being here will also delay Yon Goltz's advance down the Tigris, and give more time for
you to concentrate relieving force on the Amara, Ali Gharbi line.”