"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. المجلد IV". [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٨] (٥٤٠/٣٠١)

242 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
He replied that he thought that the enemy had broken the
line to the north of Wolf’s Gap and had gained the ridge over
looking the town. As this report was not verified, Colonel
Keyworth ordered Captain Bollington (“ A ” Company, North
Staffordshire) to proceed to Wolf’s Gap and report on the
situation. In the meantime, Major Ley, in conference with
Major Dayrell, decided to move his reserve company towards
Wolf’s Gap ; but before he could do so, he received orders
(about 6.35 a.m.) from Colonel Keyworth to move back into
the town. Captain Bollington had found all correct at Wolf’s
Gap and an official report to Colonel Keyworth from the
Russian General Staff said that the line was intact. At the
same time Colonel Keyworth had received information from
Colonel Faviell that an enemy attack was developing against
the Baladjari sector. In point of fact, though the line at Wolf’s
Gap and for half-a mile north of it was intact, the enemy really
had broken through about a mile or so further to the north.
In the Baladjari sector, though the firing from the direction
of Wolf’s Gap had been heard, all had been quiet till about
6 a.m., when the Worcestershire drove back a small Turkish
patrol seen in the vicinity of Warwick Castle. Not long after
this several hundred of the enemy were seen advancing towards
Baladjari and, though by about 7 a.m. they were checked by
the fire of the Worcestershire and Warwicks at a distance of
about 1,200 yards from the line of defence, other enemy move
ments near Binagadi and the heavy firing from Wolf’s Gap
direction showed Colonel Faviell that a serious attack was in
progress. At 7.40 a.m. he heard from British headquarters
that Major Ley’s reserve had been withdrawn to the town,
but he could get no information regarding the situation on the
left flank. He then informed Colonel Keyworth’s staff officer
that from the heavy firing he concluded that the main attack
was directed against Wolf’s Gap and that the attack on
Baladjari was only a feint, which he could easily deal with.
At 7.45 a.m. Colonel Keyworth, receiving definite information
from Major Dayrell that the enemy was in possession of the
ridge north of Wolf’s Gap (from which the Armenian battalions
were retreating), ordered him to get in touch with Major Ley
and use the reserve to restore the situation. This Major
Dayrell was unable to do; but Colonel Keyworth intercepted
Major Ley before he reached the town with orders to move
to the high ground to the south-west of the town, so as to prevent
the enemy from extending his gains to the south and occupying
the ridge immediately above the town.