"دراسة نقدية عن الحملة في ميسوبوتاميا حتى أبريل ١٩١٧: الجزء I - تقرير" [و‎‎٢‎٧] (٤٢٤/٥٨)

37
On the 8th August, General Townshend submitted his plan of opera
tions.
At this date his force was concentrated at Amara with a Brigade
group at Ali-Gharbi consisting of—
H. Q. i6th Indian Infantry Brigade.
16th Infantry Brigade.
22nd Punjabis (from 17th Brigade).
82nd Battery R. F. A.
1 Sec. KHth Battery R. G. A.
7th Lancers (less 1 squadron).
Engineer, Signal and ambulance detachments.
General Townshend's plan was to pass the 17th Brigade through the
16th Brigade to Shaikh Saad : and to concentrate his whole force at
Shaikh Saad. He then proposed to advance up the river with his whole
force on the left bank. The enemy's force on the left bank was to be
Tolled up, that on the right bank being ignored.
The force was concentrated at Ali-Gharbi by the 11th September,
with the exception of the 63rd Battery R. F. A.,
September 1915. ^ Hants Battery R F A and half the 30th
Brigade, which were still at Amara. The force had been moved up the
riverby echelons on ships, starting on 1st September.
The Turks had a small detachment at Gunfad about 7 miles above
Ali-Gharbi. There was a cavalry skirmish with this detachment on
September 3rd : on the approach of our main forces, the Turks fell.back
to Shaikh Saad.
The British began the advance from Ali-Gharbi on the 12th Septem
ber, part being carried on ships, but the majority (16th and 17th
Brigades, 2 Batteries R. F. A., Cavalry, Pioneers and Sappers)
marched up the left bank.
On the 13th September, the division halted in the Musandaq reach,
and the Turkish detachment evacuated Shaikh Saad and fell back on the
main position at Es Sinn. The heat was very great—110° to 116°, even
touching 120° in small tents.
In spite of the heat and the hard work performed during the hot
weather, the troops soon regained their vigour at the prospect of action.
On the 12th September, 67 men fell out: on the 13th, 23 : after this
none fell out. The force marched only from dawn to 0830 daily.
By the 15th September, Abu Rumman was reached. Here the Divi
sion bivouacked on the right bank. This was necessary as the ship
flotilla had to mooron the right bank.
Here the Division remained until the 26th September. The delay
was due to the fact that 2 Batteries (63rd R. F. A. and l-5th Hants
Battery) had not yet arrived. These Batteries joined on the 25th Sep
tember.