'IRAQ AND THE PERSIAN GULF' [‎195v] (395/862)

HISTORY
280
this occasion. They had nearly double as far to move as the infantry,
and, because of the low water, they frequently ran aground. Thus
Shaitan, Comet, the new gun-boat Firefly, 3 launches, 6 barges,
and almost the whole bridging-train (a heterogeneous collection of
craft, mainly native danaks) were lost.
Kut was invested by the Turks on 11 December, and fresh troops
had to be brought to Mesopotamia for its relief. One Indian division
from France was already on its way and the headquarters of the
leading brigade had already reached Basra; but the last units of a
second division only left France at the end of the month, and did not
reach Iraq until the operations for relief had begun. Medical and
supply units had to give priority to fighting units, many of which
arrived without their full equipment, with the result that the force
was hopelessly ill equipped from the outset. The river was now
rising and the Turks could supply strong forces by river both for
the investment of Kut and for holding their forward positions below
the town. Appeals from General Townshend that he could only
hold out until the first week of February also prevented methodical
concentration. As troops reached Basra they were hurried up-river
and thrown into battle. The Turkish covering forces were met and
defeated at Shaikh Saad (6-8 Jan.) and at Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. (13 Jan.), but they
fell back to a strong position at Umm al Hanna, with their right
resting on the Tigris and their left on the Suwaiqiya marsh. Heavy
mud from the winter rains and bitter cold impeded operations. A
desperate effort to break through to Kut was defeated with heavy loss
at Umm al Hanna (20 Jan.), and it was then learnt, too late, that the
Kut garrison could maintain themselves until April.
The British then reorganized, but only in March could they resume
the offensive. A successful night march and wide turning-movement
round the Turkish right flank at the Sinn position (battle of Dujaila,
8 Mar.) brought the troops within sight of Kut and victory, but
tactical errors lost the battle, and though further desperate and costly
efforts were made on both banks, the town surrendered to the Turks
on 29 April after a siege of 143 days. Towards the end efforts were
made to drop supplies to the beleaguered garrison, but there were
too few aircraft. A last forlorn attempt to revictual the town was
made by the Royal Navy. The river steamer Julnar was fitted with
protective plating, cleared of woodwork, filled with 270 tons of
stores, and manned by volunteers. The night was overcast and moon
less, butthe could only make 6 knots against the current, and was
discovered. Riddled with machine-gun fire she passed through the