"دراسة نقدية عن الحملة في ميسوبوتاميا حتى أبريل ١٩١٧: الجزء I - تقرير" [و‎‎١‎٢‎٢] (٤٢٤/٢٤٨)

203
The 13th Division was to carry out the attack at dawn on the 9tb
on a frontage of 600 yards, their left being 600 yards from the river
9th April an( ^ 1,200 yards. The 7th Division on
their right were to co-operate by fire, as were the-
artillery and machine guns on both banks. One remarkable point
in the orders is that no covering fire whatever was arranged on the
immediate objective of the division, but only on trenches to the flank
and rear. This was probably necessitated by lack of observation which
made the direction of fire insufficiently accurate to be possible in front
of our own troops.
At 0423 the first shots were heard, many flares were sent up, and the
enemy's rifle and machine gun fire swelled to great volume, an ominous
sign, which in modern war usually spells failure. It was believed at
first that the 13th Division had got through, but by 0730 it was
known that the assault had failed and the Brigades were back in the lines
from which they started. Part of the first wave of the 13th Division
actually penetrated into the enemy's first line trench. It lost heavily in
doing so, was strongly counter attacked, and forced to withdraw. The
front was therefore consolidated 300 to 500 yards from the enemy and
the 7th Division again took over from the 13th and started sapping for
ward. The stormy weather and the advance of the marsh destroyed
most of this work, made reliefs difficult, and facilitated the inundation
scheme of the Turks. On the left bank the trenches were so full of water
that men had sometimes to swim. On the right bank by opening bunds
at Bait Isa and Abu Kumman the Turks had made inundations and
marshes of considerable extent.
Nevertheless it was decided to operate on the right bank and to force
the enemy's Sinn position (south of Sinn banks) whilst containing him in
the Sannaiyat position and in front of Bait Isa on the right bank.
As a preliminary, it was realized that it was essential to control the floods,
and to control the floods it was found to be necessary to be in possession
of Bait Isa.
The plan now evolved therefore was that the 3rd Division with ths
37th Brigade should take Bait Isa on the 13th April. The ;3th
Division should be concentrated behind them on the right bank ready
to move, and the cavalry and the 36th Brigade should operate on thci
left flank. By the morning of the 14th the troops of the 3rd Division
were to have seized those trenches just east of Sinn Abtar and Duiaila
which had been constructed by us on the 9th March. This plain failed
largely on account of the enormous physical difficulties which had to bo
overcome.
At this time the Turkish dispositions were estimated at :—
In Sannaiyat some 13,000 rifles and 24 guns comprising the 51st and
52nd Divisions and pait of another : about Kut the 45th Division—about