"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. المجلد IV". [ظ‎‎٤‎٧] (٥٤٠/٩٩)

68 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
General MarshaU’s plan, which was approved by General
Maude, was first to drive the Turks out o their advanced
positiok about Dell! Abbas and then to hold them in front
while his main attack developed against their left flank For
this purpose, after leaving portions of his Corps to hold the
fine Mandali-Shahraban-Windiya-Sindiya, General MarshaU
divided his striking force into three groups The Right Group,
under General Egerton, consisting of the 7th Cavalry Brigade
and nart of the 14th Division, was composed of three cavalry
regiments, four armoured cars, seven infantry battalions and
thirtv-eight guns. The Centre Group, under General Thomson,
was composed of four infantry battalions and twenty guns;
and the Left Group, under General Cayley, of two cavalry
squadrons, two armoured cars, eight infantry battalions and
tW part cHhe 30th Squadron, R.F.C., with headquarters at
Shahraban, where General Marshall also established hn
advanced headquarters, co-operated; and nearly 800 Ford
vans were detailed for supply and transport purpose^
The forward concentration commenced on the loth Uctoper.
On the 18th the Left Group, meeting with little opposition,
occupied an east and west line to the northward of Delli Abbas,
with its right flank bent back to connect at the Diyala with
the line held by the Centre Group to the north of Shahraban.
The Right Group was then in three portions : the 36th Infantry
Brigade Group at Shahraban, the 37th Infantry Bngade Group
on the eastern side of the Ruz canal three miles south of Tel
Ibara, and the 7th Cavalry Brigade at Mandali. In the
* The composition of the three groups was as follows . .
Right Group —14th Divisional Headquarters ; Headquarters 14th Divisional
Artillery • 2nd Battery, R.F.A. (less one section), A/69th Battery, R.F A,,
66th Srigade, R.F.A. (from 13th Division), one section 26th Mountain
Battery ; 12th Company Sappers and Miners, 15th Company Sapper 3 and
Miners (less two sections), detachment No. 1 Bridging Train, ^th R onee
(less one company); 36th Infantry Brigade (less 26th Punjabis), 3M
Infantry Brigade ; 7th Cavalry Brigade, with S Battery, R - H £-- *
Light Armoured Motor Battery (less three sections), one section bth Lignt
Armoured Motor Battery ; and administrative units. Q , ,
Centre Grouf-SSth Infantry Brigade ; 13th Bngade ( 8th a “ d 44 “
Batteries only), 2/104th Battery, R.G.A. (eO-pounders), 269th ^ge Dattep,
R.G.A. (6-inch howitzers), No. 80 Anti-aircraft seeUon ; ISth
Sappers and Miners, one company 128th Pioneers, detachment No. 1 Bndgmg
Train; and administrative units. ^
Left Group —13th Divisional Headquarters; 12th Cavalry (less
squadrons) ; 13th Divisional Cyclist Company ; 55th Bngade, • • • .
one section), No. 92 Anti-aircraft Section (less one gun) ; two compan
8th Welch Pioneers, 71st and 88th Companies, R.E., detachment t •
Bridging Train ; 38th Infantry Brigade ; 40th Infantry Bngade,
section 6th Light Armoured Motor Battery ; and administrative units.