e
launched two strong counterattacks, both of which, however, were
repulsed by the British.

During the night of April 17 and 18, 1916, the Turks again made a
series of counterattacks in force on the right bank of the Tigris, and
this time they succeeded in pushing back the British lines between 500
and 800 yards. According to English reports, about 10,000 men were
involved on the Turkish side among whom there were claimed to be some
Germans. The same source estimates Turkish losses in dead alone to
have been more than 3,000, and considerably in excess of the total
British losses. On the other hand the official Turkish report places
the latter as above 4,000, and also claims the capture of fourteen
machine guns. Storms set in again on April 18 and 19, 1916, and
prevented further operations.

Beginning with April 20, 1916, the relief force prepared for another
attack of the Sanna-i-Yat position on the left bank of the Tigris, by
a systematic bombardment of it, lasting most of that night, the
following night, April 21, 1916, and the early morning of April 22,
1916. On that day another attack was launched. Again the flooded
condition of the country fatally handicapped the British troops. To
begin with, there was only enough dry ground available for one brigade
to attack, and that on a very much contracted front against superior
forces. To judge from the official British report, the leading
formations of this brigade gallantly overcame the severe obstacles in
their way in the form of logs and trenches full of water. But,
although they succeeded in penetrating the Turkish first and second
lines, and in some instances even in reaching the third lines, their
valor brought no lasting success, because it was impossible for
reenforcements to come up quickly enough in the face of the determined
Turkish resistance strongly supported by machine-gun fire. According
to the Turkish reports, the British lost very heavily without being
able to show any gain at the end of the day. The same condition
obtained on the right bank of the Tigris. In spite of this failure the
bombardment of the Sanna-i-Yat position was kept up by the British
artillery throughout April 23, 1916. On the next day, April 24, 1916,
the British troops again registered a small success by being able to
extend their line at Beit Eissa, on the right Tigris bank--in the
direction of the Umm-el-Brahm swamps. On the left bank, however, the
line facing the Sanna-i-Yat posi