'Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report' [‎119v] (243/424)

CHAPTER XV.
Final efforts to relieve Kut.
After the Battle of Dujaila, the Tigris Corps spent the remainder ol
the month in consolidating and improving its position in various ways.
General Gorring^ who had taken over command from General Aylmer,
was at once faced with the two problems of—
(а) Defence against floods.
(б) Action to relieve Kut.
The floods had been expected about the 15th March, and on that
very d^y the river rose 3 feet and the Ora Creek flooded. The Umm-al-
Floods. Baram greatly increased in size, and the bunds
along the river banks were continually breaking,
necessitating very heavy work to keep the trench-areas dry and the
communications to Sheikh Saad open. The weather was now less cold
^-nd generally fine, with occasional heavy thunderstorms and a strong
wind.
Kut was reported as having sufficient rations to hold out till April
pj an l^h only. Actually, by further reductions in
issues and with the help of some 5,000 lbs. of sup
plies dropped by the Eoyal Flying Corps after the 16th, it held out
till the 29th.
General Aylmer had already stated that the failure on the right bank
would necessitate as the only alternative, breaking through on the left
bank. This was the plan now adopted. The first phase, i .e., the capture
of the Hanna, Fallahiya and Sannaiyat positions in succession, was
staged for accomplishment by the 8th April. Behind Sannaiyat again,
was another position in continuation of the Sinn Banks North of the
river.
At the end of March the Turks were calculated to have in the vicinity
Strengths some ^0,000 men with 96 guns. It seems
from information available later that this cabula-
tion may have been an over-estimate, but Turkish records vary : and
reinforcements were constantly moving down the Tigris.
Of these, about one Division was investing Kut, another held the Sinn-
Dujaila position, and there was a Division in the Hanna position. The
remainder, i .e., one Division and details, were in reserve, mostly about
Dahra. A cavalry brigade, estimated at about 1,500 sabres, but more
probably only about 400 strong, was operating on the south bank.
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