"دراسة نقدية عن الحملة في ميسوبوتاميا حتى أبريل ١٩١٧: الجزء I - تقرير" [و‎‎٨‎٩] (٤٢٤/١٨٢)

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was now from 600 to 900 yards from the enemy's lines, and the 21st
Infantry Brigade, General Norie, had occupied the trenches that had
been held by the others. The 20th, 28th and 1-1 st Sussex Field
Batteries, the 72nd and 77th Howitzer Batteries, the 61st Field
Howitzer Battery (less one section) and the two guns of the 104th
Heavy Battery, were in position from which to p .uppor t the attack ;
and together with the gun boats they had carried out ranging
on the enemy's lines. In addition the 9th Infantry Brigade of the 3rd
Division, now comprising the l-4th Hampshires, the 1st Connaught
Eangers, the 62nd Punjabis and the 107th Pioneers, under Major-
General K. Gr. Egerton, had been placed under the orders of the com
mander of the 7th Division for the coming battle.
Meanwhile the troops that were on the right bank under General
Keary had been joined, during the night of the 18-19th, by a second
squadron of the 33rd Cavalry, the remaining section of the 23rd Moun
tain Battery and two companies of the Manchester Regiment; and
later on were also reinforced by one section of S. Battery Horse Artillery.
In pursuance of General Aylmer's plan of attack, and in order to gain
positions from which the enemy's lines could be taken in enfilade, General
Keary made a movement westwards on the 19th. Early in the day the
two squadrons of the 33rd advanced, with one section of the 23rd Moun
tain Battery, in a south-westerly direction to feel for the enemy. At
1000 the bulk of the 9th Infantry Brigade, which had been formed
after the battle of Wadi, namely, the 1-1 st and l-9th Gurkhas and one
company of the Manchester Eegiment, together with the second sec
tion of the 23rd Mountain Battery, the whole being under the command
of Lieutenant-Colonel L. W. Y. Campbell, marched towards an Arab
village lying about three miles away and on the other side of a loop of
the Tigris not far from the Sanna canal, and almost in rear of the Turkish
position. At the same time the 93rd were despatched to the top of the
loop for the purpose of gaining a position in prolongation of the enemy's
front line.
The advance of Campbell's force was made with due caution, as
it was not known whether the village was or was not held, by the enemy ;
and at noon the advanced guard, consisting of two companies of the
l-9th Gurkhas and the two guns of the 23rd Mountain Battery, halted
about two miles from the place, which could now be dimly distinguished
ihrough the haze and mirage away to the north-northwest. No news
had been received from our cavalry, although gun and rilie fire had
been heard for a short time to the southward, and it now appeared as
if Turkish cavalry and infantry were moving near the village. Not
the least perplexing consequence of a mirage in Iraq is the fact that it
is quite impossible even for the natives of the country to distinguish
eithei between men and animals, when seen through i^ disloiting agency