"دراسة نقدية عن الحملة في ميسوبوتاميا حتى أبريل ١٩١٧: الجزء I - تقرير" [ظ‎‎١‎٣‎٢] (٤٢٤/٢٦٩)

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45. On the 18tli April, orders were received that the VII Division,,
supported by the 35th and 36th Brigades, was to assault the Sannaiyat
Position on the morning of the 20th April, the date of the attack being-
postponed later to the morning of the 22nd April.
46. Reconnaissances sent out on the night of the 18th-19th April
found that the ground for 300 yards on each side of No. 2 sap was fife
to advance over, as it was generally dry with some patches of water at
few inches deep, which would not form a serious obstacle. North and!
south of this belt there was more water, and the surface of the ground
under the water was muddy and slippery, and formed a considerable
obstacle to troops. It was therefore decided to attack the above portion
of the enemy's trenches on a two Brigade front. This decision was,
approved by the Corps Commander.
47. It blew hard during the 19th April, and at 1500 the wind veeredl
round to the north and the marsh commenced to rise rapidly. The-
bunds i.ept the water out for some time, but by 1700, the bunds were-
submeiged in places and subsided, the water entering again into the*
trench »ystem, flooding all the trenches north of No. 3 communication
trench, and covering the ground between Nos. 1 and 2 communication
trenches with some two feet of water.
At 2200 the wind died down, but the water remained high, and
tfie level of the marsh did not decrease more than one foot.
48. Prior to the rising of the marsh water had further interfered
with sapping operations and work on the first parallel had to be discon
tinued between No. 3 and No. 4 saps. When the marsh rose, the water-
entered into all the saps except No. 4, and the first parallel, where com
pleted, was flooded except between No. 4 and No. 5 saps, and all work
on the saps had to be abandoned.
49. The Sannaiyat Position was bombarded by the artillery on both
oanKs on the afternoon of the 20th and the bombardment appeared to-
be eftective.
50 During the night of the 20th-21st April the 19th Brigade specially
reconnoitred the ground west of our front line along the river with a
view to ascertaining whether an advance on that frontage was.
feasible.
51. The Corps Commander came to my H. Q. at 0700 on the 21st
April and held a conference which was attended by the Brigade Com
manders.
The attack on the Sannaiyat Position as originally decided on
was to have been carried out by the 21st and 19th Brigades, the
21st Brigade being north of No. 2 Sap and the 19th Brigade south of
No. 2,Sap, each Brigade being on a frontage of 300 yards.
The reconnaissances carried out during the night 20th-21st April
showed ttiat a line of advance along the river bank was feasible, but they-