'IRAQ AND THE PERSIAN GULF' [‎196r] (396/862)

THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
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Turkish position at Sinn and traversed a hail of artillery fire at point
blank range, but the vessel kept on undaunted until she struck
a cable across the river opposite Maqasis fort, swung round, and ran
aground. All attempts to refloat her under heavy fire failed, and her
survivors were taken prisoner. 1
With the fall of Kut the second campaign in Mesopotamia ended
in disaster. The troops had fought throughout with the utmost
gallantry, time after time advancing over the bare desert or through
floods in fruitless frontal assaults on carefully prepared and strongly
defended positions, suffering very heavy casualties in consequence.
In England the Mesopotamia Commission took evidence and appor
tioned the blame; but the ultimate responsibility must rest with the
civilian keeper of the purse and those who denied the funds for proper
organization and intelligence in times of peace.
The Campaign of igi6-igiy to the Capture of Baghdad
During the summer of 1916 there were no large-scale operations,
but much preparatory work and reorganization for the next campaign
were undertaken. River-craft of all kinds became available, water
communications were improved by dredging, the capacity of the
port of Basra was greatly increased, and two sections of metre-gauge
railway were laid. Meanwhile, as the level of the Tigris fell, the
Turks encountered some difficulty in supplying their troops; partly
for this reason, and partly because water was scarce in their forward
position, they withdrew their right flank from the Sinn position below
Kut. The summer was abnormally hot and there was much sick
ness ; 2 cholera broke out in both armies in May, though it was quickly
stamped out in the British.
The campaign of 1916-1917 was an unqualified success. On
28 August General Maude assumed command. The troops were at
last equipped adequately for the tasks allotted them. But with the
exception of punitive measures against Arab irregulars in the Nasiriya
region, no forward move was undertaken until December. By this
time the Tigris had begun to rise and the naval gunboats were again
able to manoeuvre and co-operate. On the night of 13 December
1 Lieut. H. O. B. Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). , R.N., in command, and Lieut.-Commander C. H.
Cowley, second in command, were both awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously,
and the rest of the crew were also decorated.
2 Official shade temperatures reached a maximum of 128° F. on three successive
days, while in the single-fly tents of the First Corps headquarters, temperatures of
over 140° were recorded.