"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية: العمليات في بلاد فارس ١٩١٤-١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎٦‎٥] (٥٦٦/١٣٥)

100
OPERATIONS IN PERSIA
Dilbar ; p ar t 0 f the punitive measures he had been ordered to carry out.
About two hours later, at 6.40 a.m., he sent a signal message
to the Senior Naval Officer asking that the guns should open
fire on Old Dilbar, which the enemy had been reinforcing.
Through some mistake the message was understood in the Juno
to refer to New Dilbar, which was supposed to lie immediately
to the east of, and close to, the palm grove occupied by the
landing party The result was that the shells from the salvo
fired by the Juno —three rounds of lyddite from her 6 -inch guns
at 11,500 yards range—fell into the palm grove. Though no
one was hit, the shells caused some confusion and impeded the
dispositions for defence against the continuous enemy fire.
Major Wintle at once decided that, to avoid casualties which
further shelling was likely to cause before he could stop it, he
would withdraw to his base camp. This movement was imme
diately perceived by the enemy, who started to advance boldly
in spite of losses, causing the British a number of casualties.
The retirement proceeded in good order, however, and the
battle casualties grew less, though before the base camp was
reached the intense heat caused further losses. The remainder
of the day was occupied in reconnaissance work and in directing
the fire of the naval guns against the two villages with very
good effect. Major Wintle decided to attack New Dilbar
village and fort at daybreak next day.
Leaving the base camp at 3.30 a.m. on the 15th August, the
force, marching on a compass bearing, reached the southern
end of Old Dilbar without opposition. Half a company 96th
Infantry* having been left there to cover the approaches from
the south and south-east, the remainder advanced towards
New Dilbar till they could just discern the fort through the
darkness. Major Wintle then issued instructions for the
volunteers from the naval demolition party to move forward
as soon as they could see, to make a breach in the wall. But
just then a revolver discharged by accident dissipated all
chance of surprise and the demolition party, advancing at once,
succeeded in blowing a breach in the wall, when the fort was
rushed and occupied
There had been no opposition, as the enemy, anticipating
another attack on the palm grove to the south, had concen
trated in strength there during the night and did not realise
their mistake till they heard the explosion at the fort. They
then streamed out of the grove and advan ced on New Dilb ar,
* i.e., a company in the then-existing organisation. Indian battalions
were still organised in eight companies.