"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. مجلد I" [و‎‎١‎٠‎٧] (٤٥٤/٢١٨)

EUPHRATES BLOCKADE FORCE
191
Ruta obstruction. The Turkish action was so suspicious that
the Odin advanced with caution, until a large observation
mine exploding just ahead of her showed clearly that the
Marmariss was only trying to draw the Odin over a minefield.*
A few days later it appeared that the Turks had still further
reduced the force opposite Qurna.
It thus became evidentf that the Turkish right wing, i.e.,
their main force, meant to advance against Shaiba. This
would probably coincide with a demonstration against Quma
and with an attack by the Turkish left wing on Ahwaz.
The operation of the detachment from Kurmat Ali against
the Turkish supply mahailas about Nukhaila on the 3rd March
and subsequent reconnaissances had shown the vulnerability
of this point on the Turkish line of communication, and steps
were at once taken to exploit the advantage. A naval and
military force was organised and despatched from Kurmat Ali
on the 11th March. This became known as the Euphrates
Blockade force. The vessels employed were the two old stern
wheeler river steamers Shushan and Muzaffari, the tug Sumana,
a motor-boat and a barge. Two 4-inch guns of the 104th
Heavy Battery were mounted in the barge, and there was also
a 3-pounder naval gun in the Shushan. The combatant
personnel consisted of six naval ratings under Lieut.-Com.
A. G. Seymour, R.N., forty men of the 104th Heavy Battery,
and fifty of the 2nd Norfolk with a maxim machine gun, the
whole being under command of Major Farmar, R.G.A. On
the 28th this personnel was relieved and, as a result of the
experience already gained, its composition was slightly altered.
The Salimi, in which was mounted an 18-pounder quick-firing
field gun, was added to the flotilla ; a second 3-pounder naval
gun was mounted in the Shushan; a 5-inch gun mounted in a
200-ton barge replaced the 4-inch guns ; gun detachments from
the 63rd Field and the 86th Heavy Batteries took the place of
the men of the 104th Battery; the British infantry detachment
was relieved by a similar detachment of the l/4th Hampshire
Regiment; an Indian infantry (66th Punjabis) detachment
of twenty-five men with a maxim and a detachment of sappers
were added; and Lieutenant-Colonel Molesworth, R.G.A.,
as commander, and Lieutenant Hallett, R.I.M., as Senior
Naval Officer succeeded Major Farmar and Lieutenant-Com
mander Seymour.
* The log of the Marmariss, subsequently captured, confirmed this.
| See Append ix VI, p. 352.