"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. مجلد I" [و‎‎١‎١‎٧] (٤٥٤/٢٣٨)

GENERAL MELLISS’ DISPOSITIONS
211
difficulty ; and here General Melliss established his headquarters
while his infantry dug a few trenches along the ridge.
It now seemed evident to General Melliss that the Turkish
main body was in position near Barjisiya wood and that
Zubair and Old Basra were not being held in any strength.
He thereupon issued orders for the 16th Brigade to prepare to
advance with their left directed on a point to the north of
the Watch Tower, and for two battalions of the 18th Brigade—
Norfolks and 120th Infantry—to move across to the right
rear of the 16th Brigade ; while the third battalion of the
18th Brigade—110th Mahrattas—were to remain echeloned
on the left rear of the 16th Brigade.
While this redistribution was taking place, General Melliss
rode out to the cavalry position to make a personal recon
naissance. He found, however, that owing to the mirage and
the shape of the ground he could make out little of the enemy’s
dispositions. He convinced himself that the Turkish right
lay to the west of the Watch Tower, but he was unable to fix
the position of their left. That the Turks meant to stay and
fight in their position seemed clear.
Heavy masses of Arabs hung round the Turkish flanks.
Although their dispositions were also somewhat obscured by
the mirage, it was clear that their position secured the Turkish
flanks against surprise and would add to the risks of a turning
movement by the small British force round the wide Turkish
front. This decided General Melliss not to attempt such a
turning movement.
On his return to South mound, General Melliss ordered
the left of the advance of the 16th Brigade to be directed
on the Watch Tower and the 110th Mahrattas to pass over to
the right rear of the 18th Brigade. His plan was to engage
what appeared to be the enemy’s right and centre with the
16th Brigade, and to attack the hostile left with the 18th
Brigade, in co-operation with the cavalry brigade, whose
commander was given a free hand to seize any opportunity for
vigorous action which might offer. He thus hoped to strike at
the enemy’s line of retirement to Nukhaila.
Before the advance began, however, General Melliss dis
covered definitely that the enemy’s line covered over three
miles, extending from west of the Watch Tower to the north
end of Barjisiya wood. As this meant that it was more
extended than he had at first supposed, he ordered the two
leading battalions of the 18th Brigade—2nd Norfolk and
120th—up into line with the 16th Brigade.