'Field notes: Mesopotamia. General Staff, India. February, 1917.' [‎104v] (215/350)

Route No. 17.
From NASIRIYAH to KUT-AL-AMARAH.
120 miles. 9 stages.
Authority. —General Staff, Mesopotamia Expedi
tionary Force, from Arab information.
(a) Land Route.
1. General .—The Section from Nasirlyah to Suwaij has
water on it in normal years during May, June and July, but this
is avoidable by small detours.
The rest of the route is dry throughout the year.
2. Distance. —Nasiriyah—Kut about 120 miles, 9 stages.
3. Water .—The only difficulty is from Nasiriyah to Decha
Suwaij about 25 miles, too long a distance for a normal infantry
march unless troops are quite “ fit.
There is no water obtainable except by making a detour
(which adds on 2 or 3 miles) to Albut Nija, and here from August
inclusive till the first rains (December), the water is brackish and
bad, though Arabs say it can be drunk. If practicable it would
be safer to carry water from this stage.
From Suwaij to Kut there is no difficulty, as even when bed is
dry, good water can be had anywhere by digging from 3 to 6 feet.
4. Supplies .—Owing to uncertainty as to attitude of Arab
tribes, no supplies should be relied on. Otherwise, wheat,
barley, straw and meat should be obtainable in considerable quan
tities throughout by arrangement.
Xo. of stage
and total
Details.
distance.
NASIRIYAH
1 ALBUT NIJA . . 15.—Only obstacles, about
6-8 water channels all
15 dry, but none of them
more than about 6 feet broad, mostly less. These can be easily
ramped.
2 SUWAIJ . . . 12.—Only obstacles about
3-4 small water chan-
27 nels as in first stage.
At Suwaij a small village.