"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. المجلد IV". [ظ‎‎٨‎٦] (٥٤٠/١٧٧)

136 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
seventy-three miles beyond Ana in an unsuccessful search for
the gold liras ; and all General Brooking's troops not actually
required in the forward areas were moved back to Hit in
order to lessen the demands for supplies.
The stores at Ana were blown up on the 30th March and
General Cassels’ troops withdrew to Fuhaima, from which
a gradual withdrawal continued for the next few days. By
the 6 th April,* the British advanced dispositions on the
Euphrates consisted of a brigade group at Haditha, a small
post at Alus and the headquarters of the 15th Division with
another brigade group at Khan Baghdadi.
The striking success achieved by General Brooking was all
the more notable in that their recent experience at Ramadi
must have imbued the Turks with the necessity for special
vigilance. Success was due, in the first place, to General
Brooking’s complete preparatory arrangements, to his skilful
dispositions and to his immediate and resolute pursuit; while
in the execution of his plans, the gallantry, dash and endurance
of his officers and men, the fine leadership of General Cassels,
the excellent co-operation by aeroplanes and the work of the
armoured cars and mechanical transport all contributed to
the decisive results. Although the early mornings had been
cool and pleasant, it had been very hot daily from about
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ; and this and the dust had proved very
trying, though mitigated to some extent by the excellent
arrangements for the supply of drinking water by the motor
vans.
During the operations, in which practically the whole of
the Turkish 50th Division was accounted for, the total British
casualties only amounted to 159, including 36 killed or
missing. We buried 40 Turkish dead, others being buried
by the Turks, and we captured 5,254 prisoners, including
18 Germans. In addition we took 12 guns, 47 machine guns
and large quantities of arms, ammunition and other war
material.
These operations revealed how much the road down the
Euphrates above Khan Baghdadi had been improved recently.
With only one exception, all the crossings over the numerous
ravines had either been bridged! or made passable for motor
traffic ; and in many places the road had been regraded. On
, . ■ between the 31 st March and 3rd April there was much rain, which caused
g floods in all the ravines and interfered considerably with movement,
y ror instance at the Wadi Haqlan two new masonry bridges, one of
eleven arches and the other of three, had been made.