"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. مجلد I" [ظ‎‎٧‎٢] (٤٥٤/١٤٩)

124 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
the Turkish camp. Military officers, both artillery and infantry
had been detailed to proceed on board the ships to assist in
inter-communication and fire co-operation, but the intervening
date plantations had prevented full advantage being taken of the
naval fire.
Just before 3 p.m., General Barrett considered it advisable
to issue orders for the pursuit to be broken off. The wet ground
preventing rapid movement had allowed the Turks to organise
an effective retreat ; a camp had to be selected, occupied,
and entrenched ; and a considerable number of wounded
scattered over a large area had to be attended to and brought
in. While these orders were on their way a violent sandstorm
came on, obstructing communication, with the result that some
units did not break off the pursuit till 4 p.m. and that the
warships could not see the enemy’s retirement.
The Turkish force was estimated at 3,500* regular infantry
belonging to the 26th, 112th, 113th and 114th Regiments,
200 gunners with 4 Q.F. field and 8 mountain guns, 350
gendarmerie, and about 1,000 Arabs. Their losses were heavy
and amounted in killed and wounded to between 1,500 and
2,000 and in prisoners to 150, including six officers. Their
guns had been well served and cleverly handled, but their
elevation was generally too great and the fusing of their shells
indifferent. To this and their rather indifferent rifle fire must
be attributed the comparatively low British losses. As it was,
these amounted to a total of 489 killed and wounded.f
The behaviour of the troops engaged—British and Indian—
had been worthy of their traditions. General Barrett singled
out for special commendation the 2nd Dorsetshire Regiment
and the 22nd Company Sappers and Miners.
A camp was selected at Sahil on the river-bank, about two
miles south-east of the old fort. It continued to blow hard
during the evening and in consequence the transports were
unable to anchor opposite the camp. It was bitterly cold and
though the troops were in excellent spirits after their victory,
they spent a comfortless night without greatcoats, blankets or
cooking pots, as these had been brought up by river from
Sanniya and could not be landed. The storm also hindered
* Information from Turkish sources indicates that only 1,200 regular
infantiy with 8 guns were on the position. (Vide Appendix VI, p. 352.)
t Killed : 4 British officers, 21 British and 29 Indian other ranks. Wounded:
^'T^Kish and 4 Indian officers, 186 British and 228 Indian other ranks.
Ihe majority of the British casualties occurred in the 2nd Dorsetshire,
whose losses amounted to 2 officers and 21 rank and file killed, and 1 officer
and 149 rank and file wounded.