'Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report' [‎190r] (384/424)

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Tlie Turks, strength about 7,000 and 31 guns, with a further 4,000
with 16 guns at Samarra, were holding a strong entrenched position
across the Duiail Canal; their left in broken ground
Battle of Istabulat, xxji . xi. • ^
21-4-1917. protected by the river, their right, which was
in the flat open plain, refused well back. The
Dujail Canal is a narrow water course about 20 feet deep with very
steep banks, a serious obstacle, crossed by three bridges behind the
Turkish line. The key of the Turkish position was two redoubts north
of this Canal standing on hillocks some 40 feet above the level of the
plain.
We had previously constructed four strong points some 400 yards
from the enemy's advanced posts and 2,200 yards from his main
position.
From there the 19th Brigade attacked across the open south of the
Dujail Canal and captured the Station, but were unable to make further
progress. The 21st Brigade attacked at dawn north of the Dujail Canal
and succeeded in seizing both redoubts. There followed some hours
of extremely fierce fighting during which the Dujail redoubt changed
hands several times but was eventually retained by the Black Watch.
A point of interest is the fact that our troops were without effective
artillery support when the first Turkish counter-attack was delivered,
as a number of guns were changing position at the time. The day was
very hot and a duststorm was blowing. In spite of some progress on
our extreme left the enemy was still in position at nightfall.
At 0430 on the 22nd patrols reported that the enemy were evacuat
ing. We moved forward, while the cavalry and L.A.M. cars took up
the pursuit.
The enemy had retired to another entrenched position some four
and a half miles to the north-west, and by noon the 28th Brigade had
gained contact. The heat and dust were intense. The troops were
rested and the position bombarded at 1600 preparatory to renewing the
attack at 1620. The plan was to force the Turkish left off the river,
whilst the cavalry and L.A.M. cars worked round his right. Consider
able assistance was afforded by enfilade fire from the artillery of Thomp
son's Force from across the Tigris. The attack succeeded, and on the
extreme right the Leicestershire Regiment overshot their objectives
and pushing on nearly a mile captured 7 guns. Here the Turks put in
a counter-attack with all available strength on the flank of the 28th
Brigade. The captured guns were lost and the Leicestershires suffered
heavily, in fact the counter-attack was only just checked by the last of
the Brigade reserves.
During the day Gen. Cassels had worked well round to the enemy's
right, his L.A.M. cars having actually reconnoitred Samarra Station,
and his guns having got good targets in the enemy's right rear.