"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. مجلد I" [ظ‎‎٩‎٩] (٤٥٤/٢٠٣)

176 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
to keep up a proper supply at Shaiba at the very time that
its importance was becoming more pronounced ; for Ajaimi’s
force was slowly materialising at Qurainat, eighteen miles
north-west of Shaiba. On the 9th February our cavalry were
engaged with Ajaimi’s men near Nukhaila ; and by the 17th
he was reported to have fifteen hundred Turkish troops with
six guns, in addition to about three thousand Arab tribesmen.
Two days later this force was reported within fifteen miles
of Shaiba, and General Delamain was despatched with the
Basra movable column (five squadrons of cavalry,* four
field and four mountain guns, three and a quarter battalions
of infantry and half a battalion of pioneers) to attack them.
General Delamain had intended to march from Basra to
Shwaibda the first day, but the floods prevented this. The
first five miles after leaving Basra was through thick mud
over the men’s ankles or water up to their knees, and although
the last three or four miles to Shaiba was over sand or gravel,
the force had to face a strong gale of wind ; this carried much
sand and grit with it, and by the end of the march the men
were considerably distressed. The field artillery teams had
all been increased to eight horses, but even then the draught
work was exceedingly heavy. To add further to their diffi
culties the flood rose higher in the afternoon and the water
then spread the whole way to Shaiba. Here the force
bivouacked in great discomfort owing to the heavy rain, and
marched the next morning to Shwaibda.
The going in the desert country to the west of Shaiba was
not affected by the rain, but its sand proved heavy going for
the guns, wheeled vehicles and transport animals. No fodder
or fuel was procurable locally, and all that the force required
had to be carried on pack mules. In consequence, the number
of these was abnormal and their protection was difficult to
arrange for.
At Shwaibda, General Delamain received information
from Force headquarters that the hostile force near Nukhaila
had been reinforced. They were now said to comprise
2,500 regular troops with twelve field and two mountain
guns, including quick-firers, in addition to a force of some
thousands of Arabs; and General Barrett could send no
reinforcements to General Delamain. The enemy were said
to be holding an entrenched position to the south-east of
Nukhaila, extending from the river to the At Tuba mounds, and
* The 16th Cavalry (three squadrons strong) had disembarked at Basra
irom India on the 14th.