'Mesopotamia. Commission' [‎125v] (253/256)

No.^Si^
General Nixon to Secretary of State for India, ilateil 1>/ December
(Telegraphic.)
ITave received this morning two following telegrams from Tovvnshend :—
(1) “ Had to halt at Uinattal Tubul to help ships and whole of enem) s force overtook me
at daylight. Enemy in (?) lines, advancing at -!,500 yards. I managed to break off action
and retire by alternate echelons after fierce tight against overwhelming numbers and am
retiring in perfect order. Gome* and Firefly lost, I fear: will wire later.
(2) “ in continuation. 1 was informed during battle that Firefly had shell through her
boiler and smoke seen issuing from Comet. Troops were beautifully steady and only iu this
way and very excellent (?) could l manage it. Our casualties I suppose 1 f>0. Owing to
great extensions I recalled Melliss during fight. Making for Shadie.
1 have replied that 1 can best assist by taking (Communications Staff and all ships and all
wounded now here not likely to be effective m ton days, with a small infantry escort and two
mountain guns to break through any resistance which may be encountered near Sheikh Sand
by ships to Basra to bring up reinforcements. If ships are blocked from here advance of
reinforcements will be indefinitely delayed. Am therefore starting as soon as all wounded
are on board with H.M.S. Butterfly and nine other ships, and expect to reach Sheikh Saad,
which is friendly, to-night. Cox remains here, as he and 1 both consider his presence here
will give confidence to friendly tribes and if lie goes down may cause great uneasiness among
them. Supplies for six weeks exist here for Townshend's troops, which may bo relied on to
fight with steadiness and gallantry. They are well supplied with ammunition anil have
several sots of wireless. Reference to Secretary of State s telegram of 30th ^November,
position across Kut peninsula with defence post and blockhouses and whole front covered b^
wire is now practically finished. Trenches can be dug as required. It is proposed to retain
troops at Xasiriyah for the present.
Na
General Nixon to Secretary of Stay^tar India, dated •Vrd December 1915
hi* U
■fi ^
In
(Telegraphic.)
2nd December. H.M.S. Butterfly escortii
quarters reached point five miles up str
with only slight opposition. General Tov
10 miles of Kut 1 p.m. 2nd December.
Baghailah. 1 cannot praise too highly the
conducted the withdrawal of his force und
displayed bv all ranks under his command ha
4? ca
Viceroy to Secretary of State for
(Telegraphic.)
Following telegram dated 30th November 1
“ Townshend reports that on 29th Xovemb r
got into enemy’s mounted troops with sw<
cavalry fled. 7th Lancers also charged. Thi
Cavalry and I would like another regiment
spared.”
It is regretted that no more British Cavalr
10 ships with wounded and General Head-
of Shaikh Saad nightfall 2nd December
bend Column was seen by aeroplane within
nemy observed nearer than point opposite
eat skill with which General Townshend has
cry difficult circumstances. Grit and pluck
m magnificent.
mrr~
udia. dated Wed December 1915.
is been received from Nixon:
ast of Elkutuuie 14th Hussars charged and
d, accounting for 140 Arabs while Turkish
clearly justifies my urgent request for British
>f British Cavalry sent if it can possibly be
can be spared from India.
General Nixon to Secretary of Stat
(Telegraphic.)
4th December.
General Townshend wires dated dial, as follows:—
I am grateful for your praise of the c< iduct of the retirement of the 6th Division.
From Ctesiphon to Kut-al-Amara is a distance
with a greatly superior force of the enemy
1st December, but we shook ourselves free. I
as follows: Estimated 12,000 Turks advanced
at 2,500 yards with crushing effect. He tried
with result that his enveloping attack fled.
for India, dated A>th December 1915.
of some 85 miles as the crow flies, in contact
who managed to take me by the collar on
igarding the action of 1st December details are
n long lines on us and we opened Artillery fire
then to envelop my left, i.e., my line of retreat,
which 1 repulsed by again turning his euveh ) with the Cavalry and Horse Artillery guns,
took this opportunity to break off the battle
and commenced my retirement by echelons < : brigades. We were heavily shelled by high
explosive big guns. By midday we had -sha :en off the enemy, having lost 250 killed and
wounded. Marched 30 miles on 1st Decemberlone brigade, the 30th, have marched 80 miles in
three days including battle, and at the end B it their valour and discipline is in no way
diminished and without loss of a gun or a sMgle prisoner even. Never have I seen a retire
ment like that of 1st December even on Field|Manoeuvres better done as regards suppleness
and steadiness, manoeuvres under very heavJJ shell fire. 1 mean to defend Kut like I did
Ohitral.
I entirely concur iu his high commendatioilof the valour
troops. 1
d discipline displayed by his