HC Deb 12 March 1917 vol 91 cc721-3
Mr. ASQUITH

Has the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House any information to give to the House as to the operations in Mesopotamia?

Mr. BONAR LAW

As has already been announced, Bagdad was occupied early yesterday morning by the forces under the command of Sir Stanley Maude. This is the sequel to a series of brilliant operations which have been carried through by our British and Indian troops, with a dash and determination for which no praise can be too high. The House will remember that after severe fighting, especially on the right bank of the Tigris, in which very heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy, Lieutenant-General Maude crossed the Tigris above Kut-el-Amara on the night of 23rd-24th February, and by this operation imperilled the safety of the Turkish Army in Mesopotamia. The enemy immediately retired on Bagdad, and was pursued by General Maude with the utmost energy. Not only were large numbers of prisoners and quantities of material of all kinds captured during this pursuit, but we have good reason to believe that nearly two-thirds of the whole of the enemy's artillery either fell into our hands or was thrown by him into the Tigris.

On the 5th of March our Cavalry came up with the Turkish rearguard at Lajj, twenty-seven miles from Bagdad, and, after an action, the Turks retreated during the night, abandoning the position which they had prepared at Ctesiphon.

On the 7th of March the Cavalry found the enemy in position on the Diala River, eight miles from the outskirts of Bagdad. The Diala River, which is an affluent of the Tigris, is a formidable obstacle over thirty yards in width and unfordable. General Maude, therefore, withdrew his Cavalry and brought his Infantry into action. The Turks had, in the meantime, received reinforcements from Bagdad, and both offered a stubborn resistance on the Diala, and occupied positions covering Bagdad from the south-west on toe right bank of the Tigris.

On the night of the 7th-8th General Maude threw a bridge across the Tigris, below the junction of that river with the Diala, and crossed his Cavalry, supported by other troops, to the right bank of the Tigris. In spite of great heat and dust these troops made a brilliant march of eighteen miles towards Bagdad, and found the enemy strongly posted six miles south-west of that town. He was at once attacked and driven back to his second position, two miles in rear. On the night of the 8th the troops fighting on the Diala had established a footing on the northern bank of that river.

During the 9th and 10th our troops on the right bank, in spite of blinding dust storms, pressed their advantage, and drove the enemy on this side back to within three miles of the outskirts of Bagdad, while at the same time our troops on the Diala forced the passage of that river and drove the enemy back on the town, which was, as I stated, entered early on the morning of the 11th. General Maude's troops have in these operations completed the victory of Kut-el-Amara by a pursuit of 110 miles in fifteen days, during which the River Tigris was crossed three times. This pursuit has been conducted in a country destitute of supplies, and in spite of the commencement of the summer heats. Apart from the skill and vigour of the leadership, and the valour and endurance of the troops, both British and Indian, which are self-evident, such operations can only have been carried out in such country if most careful and elaborate arrangements for the supply of the troops had been thoroughly and systematically prepared. The fact that General Maude has not only been able to feed his Army, provide it with ammunition, and to assure proper attendance of the sick and wounded, but is able to report that he is satisfied that he can provide for the necessities of his Army in Bagdad, reflects the greatest credit upon all who have been concerned for the due provision of his needs.

This statement was sent to me by the General Staff. Perhaps I might add, what I know is the opinion of the House, that the whole operation reflects the greatest credit on our General Staff.