"أوراق متعلقة بلجنة بلاد الرافدين من غرفة السير إ. بارو" [و‎‎٢‎٦‎٤] (١٣٨٦/٥٣٣)

3
miles long halted with head midway between Daur Gherbi and Abdulla Abu
Muatif. Majority of cavalry halted on right bank at mouth of Aziziyah loop.
I hree paddle steamers and a tug between Khannasahand Jubail. Our river
column reached point three miles up stream of Baghaila at dusk on 2nd
October, having been beset by navigation difficulties throughout the day.
Officer lately arrived from campaign in France states that trenches captured
by Dorset Regiment and 117th Mahrattas in battle of Kut on 28th September
were superior to any German trenches (? that he) saw in France.
Officer Commanding, Bushire, reports that reliable information received
that enemy at Chaghadak have been reinforced, and states that he expects
attack any night now.
From (General Nixon, 3rd October 1915.
{Addressed to Chief of General Staff; repeated to Secretary of State,
Foreign, Inspector-General of Communications, 12th and loth Divisions.)
1-9/200/1. Tigris line. Aircraft reconnaissance by Major Reilly,
morning 3rd October, observed both right and left bank infantry columns
of the enemy to be within 20 miles of Sulman Pak. The enemy’s three
paddlers had reached Sulman Pak, and the reconnaissance observed partly
piepaied position there astride of I igns. In vicinity of position was
considerable camp which is judged to contain 3 labours and 4 guns lately
ino\( d iiom the Euphrates line plus a reinforcement of 4 labours and
4 guns from Mosul. It is therefore most probable that Nur-ed-din will
stand and fight at Sulman Pak. Our river column is now onlv at Shidhaif
From General Nixon, Kut-el-Amara, 4th October 1915.
(Addressed to Chief of General Staff, repeated to Secretary of State for
India, Inspector-General of Communications, and \2th Division.)
129/291/1. Tigris line. Reported that evening, 4th, our river column
halted for night at S. in Sharhan. Our cavalry reached Aziziyah.
From General Nixon, 5th October 1915.
(Addressed to Chief of General Staff ; repeated to Secretary of State,
Inspector-General of Communications, and 12th Division.)
Tigris line. Our river column reached Aziziyah 5th October, and
cavalry, supported by one battalion, pushed on to reconnoitre Zeur, where
enemy’s steamer observed by aircraft reconnaissance evening 5th. Same
reconnaissance observed numbers of troops in the Ctesiphon position. *
s.s.
* See Appendix.
A 2