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Desert War in
Mesopotamia Desert
Warfare 1916-1918 (Paperback - 16 Jan 2011) ‘The Desert War in Mesopotamia’, presents
a concise overview of Desert Warfare in the First 'World War'. The book
follows each campaign chronologically. The strengths and weaknesses of army divisions
on both sides of the fence are examined and, their deficiences in heavy
artillery, technical units, transport and supply services, medical personnel
and equipment. Battle manouveres are descriptive with examples of strengths
and weaknesses. The Germans for all their efficiency, never seem
to have appreciated the idiosyncrasies of the fighting methods of their
allies. who frequently ordered
counterattacks or movements requiring a promptness of action and a precision
of Manœuvre unknown to the Turks, with consequent failure and mutual recrimination.
Desertions were common in the Turkish army
with the result that from a total compliment of 2,700,000 men, battle
losses and wholesale desertions resulted in a standing army that never
exceeded more than 650,000 troops. Both the British
and Turkish Campaigns, are observed, together with their successes and
failures. Highlights include, attempts to keep control of the Suez Canal, the
battles in Gaza, Damascus and the final onslaught against Jerusalem. The clandestine observation of the
development and progress of the Turkish railway. by both T.E. Lawrence and Leonard Woolley, (Whilst conducting archaeological
excavations at Carchemish in Syria is noted, as they monitored on behalf of
British intelligence the German progress on the Berlin to Baghdad railway, which
would later circumvent the Suez canal and secure means of shipping oil and
other vital supplies during the war. The book traces line
of battles from the first Turkish attack on Suez Canal in February 1915.,
local ‘actions’ and the formation of
the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in 1916.
and the following year the battles when General Allenby took command of the expeditionary force . In
that same year, Lawrence captured Akaba and continued ongoing raids along the
Hejaz Railway between Annan and Medina. The capture of Beersheba and the fall
of Gaza (Nov.7), which was followed by the Turkish, counter-attack on
Jerusalem (Dec.27.1917). The capture
of Jericho, the first and second raids east of Jordan and the
Turkish-German attack on Abu Tellul are observed, and were followed by the decisive attack, the break through of Turkish troops and lines, and
subsequently the occupation of Beirut followed by the occupation of Aleppo
followed by the armistice with Turkey (October 31.1918) Although
not a modern battle by contemporary standards the book offers the reader an
interesting insight into the reality of war and tactics used by both sides in
battle. |
