'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎422v] (855/1386)

Lieutenant-General Aylmer to be Army Corps Commander, Major-General
\ ounghusband to be Divisional Commander, Meerut Division, r/ec Aylmer ; Major-
General Kemball to Ire Brigade Commander, 28th Brigade, vice Young-husband ;
Brigadier-General A. W. Money to be Chief of General Staff, vice Kemball ;
Brigadier-General Austin to be Brigadier-General, General Stall' Army Corps We
request that temporary rank of Major-General may be given to Brigadier-General
A. \Y. Money, and that he may be considered for permanent promotion to that rank.
No. 35.
Telcrjram from Sir John Xixon to Secretary of Slate for India,
dated Basra, 7th January 1910.
129/294 1. 7th. Tigris line. 7th January. Result of operations Otli Januaiy
as follows:—Younghusband’s force advanced 10.30 a.m. from eastern end of
Musandaq Reach. Found enemy in position astride river three and a half miles down
stream of Sheikh Saad. In accordance with his orders Younghusband held them to
their position. Aylmer with remainder of corps reached eastern end of Musandaq
Reach evening of 6 th and marched morning of 7th to join Younghusband. Air-
reconnaissance morning of 6 th reported no change in enemy’s position, Sheikh Saad
and Essinn position unoccupied. No hostile bridge below Kut. Fnemy force of
8,000 reported by Townshend as having moved down stream on 5th has not yet been
located. Aeroplane reconnaissance 7th should be able to locate it. Gorringe with
mixed force moves one march up Shat-el-Hai on 7th, and is spreading reports of
intended movement of strong force up the llai. His actual advance, however, will be
limited to one march from Nasiriyah.
No. 36.
Telegram from Viceroy to Secretary of Slate for India,
dated Ilk January 1916.
H. 154. General Nixon reports that his health has broken down and that medic;.!
authorities wish him to leave Mesopotamia within lU days. We are sending out
Lieutenant-General Sir P. Lake, Chief of the General Staff, to assume command in
Mesopotamia.
No. 37.
Telegram from General Nixon to Secretary of State for India, dated
Slh Janaary 1916.
129/295/1. 7th. Tigris line. 7th Janu ary. Aylmer s force was heavily engr ged
afternoon of 7th in neighbourhood of Sheikh Saad. No details yet received. Ken/bail ’s
brigade and cavalry brigade are on right bank, remainder of corps on left bank.
Intercepted Turkish orders indicate that 35th, 38th, and 5th composite Divisions are
opposing Aylmer. Aeroplane reconnaissance reports that in addition to above enemv
force estimated at 3,000 is echeloned to their left rear about live miles from river left
bank. Kut—nothing to report.
Euphrates line. Gorringe on 7th January with mixed force reached Wutanivah.
12 miles from Nasiriyah, via Shat-el-lfai.
No. 38.
Telegram from General Sir J. Nixon to Secretary of State for India,
dated Basra, Sth January 1916.
129/296/1. Continuation of my 129/295/1. of 7th. Aylmer wiring 9.50 p.m., 7th
reports heavy fighting two and a half miles down-stream of Sheikh Saad. On right
bank of river towards evening Kemball with 28th Brigade, 92nd Punjabis, Cavalrv
Brigade, one Battery 9th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, and 23rd Mountain Battery,
carried enemy’s position that bank, taking 700 prisoners and two guns. Ktmball
ihen entrenched close to Sheikh Saad. Attack left, bank unable to make much
progress, being continually hampered by hostile columns attempting to work roiuuT]
right flank. Aylmer has issued orders for renewal of attack all along line mornHTel