Tigris
at Beit Eissa, which formed the southern prolongation of the
Sanna-i-Yat position. On the north bank the latter was still held
strongly by the Sultan's forces.

Immediately following this move the English troops, who under General
Sir Gorringe had attempted the relief of Kut-el-Amara, attacked.
Advancing about three miles south of the Tigris and south of the
Umm-el-Brahm marshes, they threw themselves against the southern end
of the Turkish position at Es-Sinn. The latter is about seven miles
west of the former and about the same distance east of Kut-el-Amara.
It began on the north bank of the Tigris, a few miles north of the
Suwatcha marshes, continued between these and the Tigris and for
almost five miles in a southeasterly direction. On its southern end
the Turks had erected a strong redoubt, known under the name Dujailar
Redoubt, from which a strong line of six lesser redoubts run in a
southwesterly direction to the Shatt-al-hai. This body of water is the
ancient bed of the Tigris. In the first half of the year it is a
navigable stream, carrying the waters of the Tigris across the desert
to the Euphrates near Nasiriyeh, a town which British forces have held
since the spring of 1915. It was against the key of this very strong
line of defense, the Dujailar Redoubt, which General Gorringe's
battalions attacked. At various other times before English troops had
attempted to carry this point, but had never succeeded. This time,
however, they did meet with success. In spite of strong resistance
they stormed and carried the position.

On the same day, May 19, 1916, it was officially announced that a
force of Russian cavalry had joined General Gorringe's troops. This
cavalry detachment, of course, was part of the Russian forces
operating in the region of Kermanshah in Persia. Inasmuch as these
troops were then all of 200 miles from Kut-el-Amara and had to pass
through a rough and mountainous country, entirely lacking in roads and
inhabited by hostile and extremely ferocious Kurdish hillmen, the
successful dash of this cavalry detachment was little short of
marvelous. The difficulties which had to be faced and the valor which
was exhibited is interestingly described by the official British press
representative with the Mesopotamian forces:

"The Cossacks' ride across country was a fine and daring achievement,
an extreme test of our Allies' hardness, mobility, and resource. Their
route took them across a mountainou