"بلاد الرافدين. اللجنة" [و‎‎١‎٢‎٦] (٢٥٦/٢٥٤)

iJO
General Ni.mn to Secretary of StateHor Fmh'n. tinted bth Decemher 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
(ieneral Townshend reports 4th December
I am making Kut into as strong an entraKched
enemy’s advanced guard is now some 10 mil
As it is reported that Von Goltz is at Ba
divisions, [ shall expect him to turn this p
The relieving force will probably have to fi
up here, reckoning with certainty on being
state of extreme exhaustion of men demand
at one time on 2nd December as if the who
Our being here will also delay Von Groltz’s
you to concentrate relieving force on the A
amp as possible in the given time. The
off, and the main body 5 miles beyond that,
ad now, commanding the enemy’s army of six
2 e, putting off a force of observation at Kut.
t another battle at Sinn. 1 have shut invself
[elieved by lai-ge forces arriving at Basra. The
instant rest. 1 was very anxious, and it looked
division would lie down and not be able to move,
dvance down the Tigris, and give more time for
„ ara. Ali Gharbi line.”
1 have approved his proposal, and shall now make my concentration at Amara. In view
of these altered conditions and the possibifty of Townshend being invested in Kut, I require
urgently more heavy guns and howitzers,Ind ask that these may be sent to me immediately.
Further, in view of this large Turkish*concentration against me, I shall want another
complete division to ensure success in thifltheatre of war.
General Nixon to Secretary[/' State for India, dated (\th December 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
5th December. Tigris line. Ge^ral Townshend reports, 5th December, no movement on
enemy s part. All sick, wounded, andJlirisonors have been evacuated from Kut. Cavalry Brigade
is being sent back to Ali Gharbi to Join hands with General Younghusband’s Brigade, three
battalions of which, 51st, 53rd SikM, and 56th Rifles, together with General Yonnghusband
and Brigade headquarters, are ndp en route to Alialgharbi. Arrangements for moving up
reinforcement are in hand. Geneifl headquarters reach Basra. 6th December
General Nixon It, Sejetary of State for India, dated 6th December 1915.
(Telegraphic.)
General Headquarters arryld Basra, evening of 6th December. Xo change reported bv
General Townshend at Kut.