'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎415r] (840/1386)

No. 242 A. Viceroy to Secretary of State for India, dated ?trd December 1915 .
(Trlrirnipl.ie.)
Following telegram dated 30th November lias been received from Xi.xon :—
•• Townshend reports that on 29th November east of Elkntunie 14ili Hussars charged and
got into enemy's mounted troops with sword, accounting for 110 Arabs while Turkish
cavalry tied. 7rh Lancers also charged. This clearly jnstilies my urgent request for British
Cavalry and I would like another regiment of Brit ish Cavalry sent if it can possibly he
spared.”
It is regretted that no more British Cavalry can be spared from India.
No. 242 B. (leneral S iron to Secretary of Stab' for India, dated 1th December 1915 .
(Telegraphic.)
4th December. General Townshend wires, dated 3rd, as follows:—
“ I am grateful for your praise of the conduct of the retirement of the 6th Division.
From Ctesiphon to Kut-el-Amara is a distance of some 85 miles as the crow hies, in contact
with a greatly superior force of the enemy, who managed to take me by the collar on
1st December, but we shook ourselves free. Itegarding the action of 1st December details are
as follows: Estimated 12,000 Turks advanced in long lines on us and we opened Artillery tire
at 2.500 yards with crushing effect. He fried then to envelop my left, f.e., my line of retreat,
which I repulsed by again turning his envelop with the Cavalry and Horse Artillery guns,
with result that his enveloping attack tied. 1 took this opportunity to break off the battle
and commenced mv retirement by echelons of brigades. We were heavily shelled by high
explosive big guns. By midday we had shaken off the enemy, having lost 250 killed and
wounded. Marched 30 miles on 1st December, one brigade, the 30th, have marched 80 miles in
three days including battle, and at the end of it their valour and discipline is in no way
diminished and without loss of a gun or a single prisoner even. Never have 1 seen a retire
ment like that of 1st December even on held manoeuvres better done as regards suppleness
and steadiness, manoeuvres under very heavy shell fire. I mean to defend Knt like I did
Chitral. ’
1 entirely concur in his high commendation of the valour and discipline displayed by Lis
troops.
No. 242 C. General Xi.con to Secretary of State for India, dated bib December 191 o.
(Telegraphic.)
General Townshend reports 4th December:—
“ ( am making Knt into as strong an entrenched eamjr-as possible tn the given time. Tire
enemy’s advanced guard is now some 10 miles off. and the main body 5 miles beyond that.
As it is reported that Von Goltz is at Baghdad now. commanding the enemy's army of six
divisions, I shall expect him to turn this place, putting off a force of observation at Knt.
The relieving force will probably have to tight another battle at Sinn. 1 have shut myself
up here, reckoning with certainty on being relieved by large forces arriving at Basra. The
state of extreme exhaustion of men demanded instant rest. I was very anxious, and it looked
at one time on 2nd December as if the whole division would lie down and not he able to move.
Our being hero will also delay Von Goltz's advance down the Tigris, and give more time for
von to concentrate relieving force on the Amara, AH Gharbi line.'
I have approved bis proposal, and shall now make my Concentration at Amara. Tn view
of these altered conditions and the possibility of Townshend being invested in Knt. I require
urgently more heavy guns and howitzers, and ask that these may be sent to me immediately.
Further, in view of this large Turkish concentration against me, I shall want another
complete division to secure success in this theatre of war.
N}. 242 D. G eneral Xi.wn to Secretary of State for India, dated 6th 1)'cumber 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
5fh December. Tigris lino. General Townshend reports, 5th December, no movement on
oremvT part. All sick, wounded, and prisoners have been evacuated from Kut. Cavairy
Brio-ado L:i byino- sent back to Ali Gharbi to join hands with General Younghusbands
Bt made, three battalions of which. 51st. 53rd Sikhs, and 56th Rifles, together with General
5' rum-husband and Brigade headquarters, are now en route to Alialgharbi. Arrangements
f, y j r . , v ing up reinforcements are in baud. General headquarters reach Basra, 6th December.
Nj. 242 S, General Nixon to Secretary of State for India, dated 6th December 1915.
( 1'elegraphic.)
G moral Headquarters arrived Basra, evening of 6th December. No change reported by
(i mural Towashend at Kut.