LAND AND W A T E R 
January, 13, 1916. 
THE BATTLE OF CTESIPHON. 
Bv Sir Thomas Holdich. 
0\ the I2th November General Townshends 
force was encamped at Lajj, about seven 
miles from the Turkish position which covered 
the village and ruins of Ctesiphon and the road 
to Bagdad. On the night of the 21st to 22nd. under a 
clear, bright moon the force marched out in three 
columns for attack at early dawn. 
Column A consisted of six battalions and two batteries 
and moved out about seven miles to the north. Column 
B had ID miles of marching "to reach their position, and 
the cavalry about twelve, extending northward be- 
yond A, Column C remained between A and the base 
camp. All of them reached the fronts determined without 
cUfticulty and " dug in " till daylight. At sunrise many 
of the enemy were obserx-ed retiring northward. It 
appeared as if Nasr-i-din Pasha had decided to retire on 
Dialah (nearer Bagdad) and await reinforcements. Column 
B and the cavalry at once attacked the retreating 'lurks 
and found themselves faced with a force of abo\it twice 
their number. 
This time, however, the Turks who had learned their 
lesson at Kiit, did not break but put up a strong resistance. 
Meanwhil:^ Column .\ advanced to the attack of th- 
Turkish position at V which they carried ;.ftcr a fierce 
fight involving considerable loss. Four battalions were 
then sent northward to help Column B which was having 
a hot time of it, as the Turks not only refused to run 
but were gaining ground. They succeeded in stopping 
the advance of the lurks and took eight guns. The 
other two battalions of Column A (Delamain's Brigade) 
were sent to the assistance of Column C whicli liad ad- 
vanced later against the Turkish position at X, the two 
batteries remaining with Pelamain and his staff at V. 
Then followed some hours of lighting. 
The first advance was made at 8.45. V was taken 
at II, and X was linally captured about 1.30, the whole 
of the first Turkish p(isition thus falling into our hands. 
Meanwhile a strong column of Turks was observed ad- 
vancing against V, where there was practically no in- 
fantry defence. It was a case of collecting all the details 
possible for defence (numbering about 100 men in all), 
and holding on at all costs. It was an anxious time, but 
t'lc Turks were repulsed, and when their position was 
occupied at X matters improved. 
The fight north of V was still raging so Delamain 
recovered his battalions from X (the hard tried Dorsets, 
Mahrattas, and ^4th Punjab Infantry) and started to the 
assistance of B about 3 p.m. Column C followed and co- 
operated, so that the whole force was together to meet what 
was evidently the main body of the Turkish army. The 
Turks counter-attacked with great determination, and in 
tlie evening succeeded in forcing back our troops into 
tlic first line of trenches. They recovered their guns. 
Column A, however, occupied the village of Sulman Pak ; 
whilst the rest were sheltered in the first Turkish position. 
The Turks had had enough for the time being and the 
opposing forces passed a quiet night. 
On the 22nd the Turks attacked again in great force, 
and about 3 p.m. made a desperate attempt to recapture 
the trenches. The attack failed, and by 6 p.m. all was 
quiet. The Turks dug themselves in about a mile from 
the British position. During the night they made three 
more attacks which were easily repulsed with but few 
casualties. Then the Turks withdrew their guns before 
following themselves. There is no doubt that they put 
up a very gallant fight. They lost 1,500 prisoners and 
(according to the latest estimate) 10,000 in killed and 
wounded. They stood up to the bayonet charge and 
counter-attacked no less than five times. Their losses 
(if the estimate is correct) nearly equalled the whole 
strengtli of Townshend's force. 
On the other hand our losses were very heavy, 
particularly in officers, including the staff, and tlie divi- 
sion at the end of the battle was minus one-third of its 
strength. Eventually it was withdrawn to Kut as we 
know. The wounded reached Kut on the 27th. On the 
28th a band of Arabs held the river between Kut and 
.■\mara and were dislodged with some difficulty with the 
help of a gunboat, bcforccommunicationwith Amara was 
icstored. This may account for the Turkish report that 
conmiunications had been destroyed between Kut and 
Amara — a rumour which has never been either confirmed 
or denied othcially, and which would have been most 
serious news if it had been true. 
A word or two about the Turk from a very competent 
authority may be of interest. The Turk is noi effete, or 
half-trained, or mutinous, or neglected. On the contrary, 
he is as well equipped as the British soldier, and better 
than the Indian. The Turks possess tons of ammunition 
and do not hesitate to abandon it if there is any difficulty 
in carrj'uig it away. The nearer they are to Bagdad the 
better arc they supported and supplied. In short the 
Turk is a formidable nut to crack in Mesopotamia, and it 
is simple folly to tackle him with insufficient force. 
[Since fill's article icas written ur. hare learnt definitely 
that tlic position at Kut has been isolated .—Emiou.] 
THE CULT OF KIPLING. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Sir,— Every lover of Kipling will thank you for vour 
article in L.\.\t) and Water, and especially for your verdict 
that no writer is more free from the deadly sin of literary 
vanity. I met Mr. Kipling on board a home-bound African 
steamer, and after telling him a story of adventure that I ha<i 
gathered " half told " from a South African, I expressed a 
wish that he would tell some of these tales, " because," I 
said, " they are such dumb dogs ; they can't tell a story." 
" Of course they can't," he retorted, " if they could talk 
about the thing, they wouldn't do it. You want a fellow like 
me to tell the story." 
If I ever had doubted his greatness I should have, known 
it tlien ; it is the third-rate scribbler who thinks that " the 
sun has risen to hear him crow." To Mr. Kipling deeds are 
far above words ; his one aim and object is to shew us the 
deeds and sufferings Of the men on whose bones " the English 
Hag is stayed," and it is this utter singleness of pur^iosejthat 
gives his stories their dramatic force and their marvellous 
vitality. His worship of " that great idol Pax Britannica that 
dwells between the Himalayas and Cape Comorin " links him 
to all who die m her service, and if he sometimes shews a seamy 
side of their lives, he does them splendid justice in " The White 
Man's Burden," and " The Galley Slaves." 
And our Laureate is a Mr. Robert Bridges, whose poems 
arc about as inspiring as a rice-pudding !— Yours gratefullv, 
KiRBY Stephen-. I C S 
