"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. مجلد I" [ظ‎‎١‎١‎٩] (٤٥٤/٢٤٣)

216 HISTORY OF THE WAR: MESOPOTAMIA
exhausted them and they had used up nearly all their ammuni
tion ; and the cavalry were not in a position to follow up
the fleeing enemy. General Melliss had issued instructions to
his brigadiers that unless the Turkish position could be carried
by 5.30 p.m. he would have to fall back, for he had no
intention of risking a retirement after dark with the heavy
masses of Arabs, whose movements were still obscured by the
mirage, threatening his flanks. To cover this retirement,
the cavalry brigade were to take up positions on both flanks
of the infantry, and when the flight of Turks and Arabs
commenced from Barjisiya wood about half the cavalry were
already moving across to the British left and the remainder
had just broken off their fire action on the right.
When the Turkish advanced trenches had been taken.
General Melliss did not realise that the battle was really won
and that the Turks were on the point of flight. He anticipated
that they would hold their main entrenched position close
to Barjisiya wood, against which—in view of the exhaustion
of his own troops and the lateness of the hour—it was out of
the question to launch a fresh attack.
Although the opportunity of inflicting heavier casualties
was thus lost by the British, it is questionable whether they
could have done the fleeing Turks more damage than did the
Arabs. For no sooner was the issue no longer in doubt than
these treacherous people turned on their erstwhile allies and
harassed their retreat in the most merciless manner.
General Melliss considered it essential to withdraw his
troops to Shaiba for the night. Their retirement commenced
at 6 p.m. and was entirely unmolested, and by 8.30 p.m.
the troops with all their wounded were back in camp. The
total British casualties* for the day amounted to 1,062, of
whom 161 were killed. On the morning of the 14th, the
strength of the British force engaged that day amounted to
733 sabres and 4,595 rifles. The cavalry casualties had been
comparatively slight, totalling 22; but the infantry had
lost about 20 per cent, of their numbers, the heaviest casualties
being in the 120th, who had lost 29 per cent., in the 24th
who had lost 27 per cent., and in the Dorsets who had lost
23 per cent.
The conduct of British and Indian troops had been ex
cellent ; and, among the many acts of gallantry performed,
* Killed : 11 British officers and 53 British other ranks; 6 Indian officers
and 91 Indian other ranks. Wounded : 42 British officers and 220 British
other ranks ; 17 Indian officers, 620 Indian other ranks and 2 followers.