. British campaigns in the nearer East, 1914-1918. overing troops, the Norfolks andtwo battalions of Gurkhas, were silently ferried overbefore daybreak (February 23). The Norfolks caughtthe Turks literally napping, rounded up 200 prisoners,and took five machine-guns. But the Gurkhas, lowerdownstream, were less fortunate. While still afloat, theirpontoon rafts were swept by a machine-gun would have been legitimate in the circumstances togive up the attempt. Notwithstanding their seriouslosses, however, the Gurkhas declined to go back,landed, and joined up on the right of the Norfol
. British campaigns in the nearer East, 1914-1918. overing troops, the Norfolks andtwo battalions of Gurkhas, were silently ferried overbefore daybreak (February 23). The Norfolks caughtthe Turks literally napping, rounded up 200 prisoners,and took five machine-guns. But the Gurkhas, lowerdownstream, were less fortunate. While still afloat, theirpontoon rafts were swept by a machine-gun would have been legitimate in the circumstances togive up the attempt. Notwithstanding their seriouslosses, however, the Gurkhas declined to go back,landed, and joined up on the right of the by a fourth battalion ferried over where theNorfolks had landed, the covering troops then advancedon a west and east line, and by the afternoon had clearedthe southern end of the peninsula to the depth of a , the rest of the bend had been laid under aBritish cross fire over the river from the West, and mean-while too the bridging had gone on. By half-past fourin the afternoon the bridge was ready for traffic, and by 270. [To face page 270- THE RECAPTURE OF KUT nightfall the infantry of one division had passed the covering troops, defeating enemy counter-attacks, had taken 700 prisoners. It may be added thaton this day (February 23) General Cobbe had eatenfurther into the Sanna position by seizing the third andfourth lines. The defence of Kut was breaking up. By dawn on the 24th the whole of Marshalls columnwere on the north side of the river, and the Shumranbend in their possession. The stiff fighting was at itsoutlet. Here the chief Turkish defences lay. To thenorth-east various nullahs, traces of ancient ditches orlines of wall covered with earth had been taken advan-tage of ; to the north-west an expanse of mounds andruins. The enemy fought stubbornl}^ but aeroplanereconnaissances while the battle was in progress showedthat his main columns were already in retreat andthat the opposing force was a rearguard. The latterwere driven back w
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidbritishcampa, bookyear1917
