The Long Road To Baghdad Volume 1

Originally published in 1919, this 2 volume work chronicles the British missions in Mesopotamia which the author states the purpose as being 'the safeguarding of India and the destruction of the Turk.' Looking back, Candler dislikes the morbid tone of the early chapters, and looks to change them, yet fortunately for future readers looking for a first hand glimpse into this time period, he has 'left the mournful passages uncorrected.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII THE ATTACK ON THE DUJAILA REDOUBT The attack on March 8th on the Sinn position on the right bank was perhaps the most criticised action in the advance. The scheme was to carry the Dujaila Redoubt, the key of the whole position, and thence to pivot round in the enemy's rear and cut off his communications, thus making the right bank untenable. It was hoped that this manoeuvre would compel the Turks to evacuate the north bank, leaving us the command of the river and an open door to Kut. We put into the field for these operations the 3rd Division and three Brigades, the 28th, 35th, and 36th, in all some 20,000 men, including cavalry, sappers, and pioneers. The Turkish force on the right bank between the Shatt-el-Hai and our position was estimated at 10,000, not including the reserves that could be brought up from Shumran or ferried across the Tigris at Magasis. The total force at their command between Baghdad and the firing line was estimated at 35,000. A bolder, though ultimately less ambitious, scheme would have been, instead of attacking the Sinn position, to march straight on Kut and extricate Townshend and his garrison so that they could have joined camps with Aylmer at a point in advance of Orah, leaving the Turk the empty prize of Kut, and the command for the time being of this stretch of the river. Experience had taught us that the cost of these frontal attacks, even when successful, is prohibitive. We had not recovered from the wastage of January 7th, 12th, and 21st; and to waste ourselves again with reinforcements in sight seemed like the act of a man with a broken limb who takes his splints off a day or two before the bone has united. The essential thing was to concentrate our forces for one blow, not to fritter them...

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Originally published in 1919, this 2 volume work chronicles the British missions in Mesopotamia which the author, Edmund Candler states the purpose as being 'the safeguarding of India and the destruction of the Turk.' Looking back, Candler dislikes the morbid tone of the early chapters, and looks to change them, yet fortunately for future readers looking for a first hand glimpse into this time period, he has 'left the mournful passages uncorrected. There is more truth in them as they stand.' Including these 'uncorrected' passages means that Candler writes in detail and with honesty when covering the many battles and obstacles faced by an army in a foreign land.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.