'Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report' [‎31v] (67/424)

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At day-break, aeroplane reconnaissance disclosed the fact that the
urks had retired during the night. An aeroplane landed near Column
, gave -hem this information and also the direction of the river. Column-
A and the Cavalry then proceeded to the river and quenched their
tnirst,
The 18th Brigade marched through the deserted Turkish position
and joined Column A at Madug. The boat bridge was cut, and the
flotdla steamed up to Madug, arriving at 1000. Here the 18th Brigade
and 6Srd Battery E. F. A. embarked on the 4 large ships: Julnar, Mejidieh,
Blosse Lynch and Mosul. Embarkation was not completed till 1400.
After watering, the Cavalry and 16th Brigade marched up-stream past
the Turkish bridge of boats and occupied the town of Kut without
resistance.
The 17th Brigade remained behind to clear up the battle-field.
The pursuing flotilla started at 1400, but such were the difficulties;
of navigation that it was not till 0200 30th September that it passed
the Turkish bridge of boats, 4 miles up-stream. The ships did not reach
Kut itself until 1600, 30th September, another 4 to 5 miles by river.
The Cavalry failed to pursue, want of transport for rations and cooking
pots being alleged as the reason. Thus on the evening of the 30th
September, 2 days after the battle, our force had only advanced 5 to 6
miles (by land) from the battle-field.
In the meantime the Turks had got well clear, unmolested.
It was intended to carry out the pursuit by ships. This had been
very successful during the Qurna operations : but the river was then high •
now the river was almost, at its lowest level. The experienced Captains,
could not prevent the ships from running aground. The channels in
the river change annually after every flood season : it was the best
part of a year since these men had seen the river near Kut.
The Turks lost 17 guns, including 5 or 6 old mortars and muzzle
Joadmg weapons, which were installed on the river bank.
1,289 prisoners were captured, including 3 or 400 Anatolian Turks.
They were estimated to have lost 1,700 in killed and wounded.
Our losses were 1,229 in killed and wounded. The proportion of killed
to wounded was very small.
The battle of Es Sinn was an extremely well planned affair. Surprise-
was the main element in the plan. The measures taken by General
1 ownshend to effect this were entirely successful. But these measures
involved a great strain being placed on the troops, and it is open to ques
tion whether the desired effect might not have been produced by a less
elaborate plan, or at any rate one involving less strain on the Infantry.
Ihe Turks w-.re completely deceived by the demonstration on the right
bank on thf 27th. This was proved by the following fact. A Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard.
and 2 or 3 men of an Indian regiment deserted after dark on the night