'Blue Book. Paraphrased telegrams' [‎52r] (103/189)

camp /as shelled from 5 a.m. and considerable numbers of
Cavalry appeared from 3 different quarters* I can
comiiiunicate with Kurna and Ahwaz by wireless but telegraph
lines are interrupted.
ULl
April 14th. All quiet at Ahwaz and Kurna on 13th*
In Basra area the enemy attempted to cut wire alongnall
our front and kept up sniping and considerable rifle and
machine ^un fire during the night of the 12th April. This
morning the onemy were found by a Cavalry reconnaissance
to be in considerable strength in some high ground a short
distance to the Horth West of Shaiba Port and I decided to
attack thorn with 3 battalions supported by 4 batteries, the
whole under the command of General Delamain. The North
Mound was successfully taken at 11 a.m* £nd I determined
to prolong our line to the left v/ith 2 battalions under
Colonel Peebles, our right flank being secured by the
Cavalry Brigade, and to drive the enemy westward. This was
accomplished by 2 o’clock and when the pursuit was discontinued
half an hour later we had taken some 300 prisoners, including
18 officers, a quantity of munitions, several standards and
2 guns* Further attacks night and day are reported by
prisoners to be intended* I shall probably have to ask for
large quantities of gun and rifle ammunition the expenditure
having been heavy. A convoy of boats sent to Shaiba on the
afternoon of the 13th was deserted by all the native boatmen
and had to return to Basra being unable to force passage
through the armed boats of the enemy and a similar convoy
from