"دراسة نقدية عن الحملة في ميسوبوتاميا حتى أبريل ١٩١٧: الجزء I - تقرير" [ظ‎‎٥‎٠] (٤٢٤/١٠٥)

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CHAPTER VIIL
Administration, Spring 1916.
In this chapter the working of the administrative services at the
Ifront is dealt with, and their general effect on operations and on the
troops in the efforts to relieve Kut.
T i ran ' I)0rt ' Distances by river from Basra were :—
(1) River. J
Amara 3|- days, Shaikh Saad 5 days and Wadi 5-6 days.
The round trip from Basra to Wadi took 9-10 days as an average,
not including the period necessary for loading and unloading which would
double the time.
At any given time there were five ships going up river, three ships
coming down, four loading and twelve unloading. There was not time
for systematic overhaul. Ships remained at work till they broke down
and were then temporarily patched up.
The shipping had been just sufficient to maintain the 6th Division
and attached troops at Ctesiphon. In the retirement a number of barges
;and steamers had been lost. Thus on January 6th, just before the battle
of Shaikh Saad Force C£ D " Headquarters telegraphed to the C. Gr. S.
India as follows :—
i£ On account of the partial concentration of the reinforcements
for the relief of Kut at Ali Gharbi and the insufficiency of river trans
port, which is only just enough to permit Aylmer proceeding with his
operations and to allow an absolute minimum for the transport from
Basra of the required reserve of supplies for this force and the garrison
of Kut when relieved, all further reinforcements will have to proceed
by route march instead of being conveyed by river. Very severe delay
will be entailed by this and the further concentration of the requisite
troops for the support of Aylmer's force will in consequence be post
poned."
At the time of the battle of Shaikh Saad, when every available man
was necessary at the front, seven battalions were waiting for transport
at Basra. At the battle of Wadi General Aylmer was urged to send
his ships back immediately. But he required them for his advance on
Kut if the break-through succeeded. The shipping was, in fact, doing
the duty of lines of communication supply units, ambulance convoys
-and train.