'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎141r] (286/454)

COMPLETION OF DAY’S OPERATIONS
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guns* and mines. The Turkish advanced positions were
difficult to reinforce or withdraw from and their defensive
arrangements had proved inadequate. But the Turkish main
position was still intact and here a vigorous resistance was
expected.
All firing had now ceased and General Townshend decided
to cease operations for the day. The heat was extreme, the
glare of the sun off the water very trying, and the “ Advanced
guard ” and “ Turning attack ” groups had been through a
hard and tiring time in getting their heliums along. The
17th Infantry Brigade groups occupied the positions they had
won and the ships containing Nos. 1 and 2 groups moved up
the Tigris and anchored just below the war vessels, a boom
being placed up-stream of all the vessels to keep off mines.
While these main operations were taking place, demon
strations had been carried out on either flank. The Comet,
with a naval 4-7-inch gun in a horse-boat, and with an infantry
detachment in a river steamer in support, had moved at day
light up the Shwaiyib river and had bombarded the enemy
positions at Ruta and on the sandhills. On the other flank,
the river steamers Shushan and Muzaffari, having on board
two naval 3-pounders and some infantry detachments, had
moved up the A1 Huwair creek, acting in co-operation with
some friendly Arabs. Though they diverted the attention
of some of the marsh Arabs from the main attack, the difficulties
of navigation were too great for them to make much progress
and they rejoined the main force in the course of the afternoon.
At 4 p.m. General Townshend issued operation orders
for the next day’s attack. Abu Aran was to be the first
objective and the 6th Division order ran as follows :—
“ l
2. A frontal attack will be carried out by the Royal Naval flotilla and
artillery ; bombardment and mine-sweeping to commence at 5 a.m.
under detailed instructions issued by the Senior Naval Officer and
C.R.A. respectively.
3. 17th Brigade will make an enveloping attack well to the west of
Abu Aran ridge, starting from its position of assembly near Gun
Hill at 5.45 a.m.
4. 16th Brigade will be landed when ordered at Abu Aran under cover
of the bombardment and the support of the 17th Brigade.
5. 16th Brigade will then undertake a frontal attack along Abu Aran
ridge towards Muzaibila while the 17th Brigade continues its
enveloping movement on the same objective.”
The night passed quietly, many hours of it being spent
by the troops of the 17th Brigade in removing the shields from
their heliums, with a view to speeding up their pace next day.
* Many of the Turkish guns had been so sited that they could only fire at
long ranges.