"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. المجلد IV". [و‎‎٥‎٤] (٥٤٠/١١٢)

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PREPARATIONS TO ATTACK TIKRIT 79
But this would necessarily take time and if the cavalry were to
move that night to a position say about seven miles north-
estward of Tiknt and General Cobbe were to attack Tikrit
neX }, d t y ’ afte 1 r movm g his infantry and artillery forward at
night, he might achieve substantial results. General Cobbe
was to telegraph his views.
General Cobbe replied in the evening. He said that on the
previous day the Turks had manned their eight miles of trenches
at liknt continuously, being in considerable numbers in the
southern part of them. It was presumed that both their
51st and 52nd Divisions were there and aeroplane reconnais
sance on the 4th had shown no movement to the north. This
meant that they had adequate force to provide a strong defence
to cover the removal of their stores and consequently a de
termined assault on our part would be necessary. He proposed
to assemble the 7th Division at a point about a mile west of
t e right of the enemy s late second line opposite Daur to
move due north from there and attack the enemy’s trenches
at Iiknt, a little north of the point where they bent to the
north-west, at daylight. As digging would be difficult, this
attack must endeavour to get through and for it he would
require all three brigades with the 7 th Division. He had
consequently ordered up from Samarra and Istabulat, in
anticipation of his plan being approved, the 9th Infantry
Brigade and two batteries. It would not be feasible, he said,
to attack via Auja, as the ground was too broken for a successful
night approach. The Cavalry Division would move round to
the enemy’s right flank and its presence might detain some
enemy in the trenches there, but, as any shelling compelled
the cavalry to keep wide, it must use mounted action and be
prepared to suffer losses if it was to effect any good. General
Cobbe was taking all preliminary action despite short notice
and was prepared to carry on. He asked for an early reply.
About two hours later General Cobbe telegraphed to General
Maude that his preparations were complete and the operation
would be proceeded with. To this General Maude replied
saying that he did not wish operations to be hurried unduly
and they should be postponed for twenty-four hours if more
deliberate plans were necessary. General Cobbe, however,
decided, as it was left to his discretion, to carry out the operation
at once.
The walled town of Tikrit stands on the Tigris right bank
on a bluff, which rises in a sheer cliff from the river to a height
of over 80 feet; and from the highest houses of the town.