gris, about five miles
east of Kut-el-Amara, to a point on the Shatt-al-Hai, about equally
distant from Kut.

The withdrawal of the Turkish forces on the south bank of the Tigris
naturally left their positions on the north bank very much exposed to
British attacks. It was, therefore, not at all surprising that English
artillery subjected the Turks on the north bank to heavy bombardments
during the following days, nor that this fire was extremely effective.
However, in spite of this fact, the Turks continued to maintain their
positions on the north bank of the Tigris.

Throughout the balance of May, June, and July, 1916, nothing of
importance occurred in Mesopotamia. The temperature in that part of
Asia during the early summer rises to such an extent that military
operations become practically impossible. It is true that from time to
time unimportant skirmishes between outposts and occasional artillery
duels of very limited extent took place. But they had no influence on
the general situation or on the location of the respective positions.

During the early part of the month the British trenches on the north
bank of the Tigris were pushed forward a short distance, until they
were within 200 yards of the Turkish position, Sanna-i-Yat, where they
remained for the balance of midsummer. To the south of Magasis, on the
south bank of the river, British troops occupied an advanced position
about three and one-half miles south of the main position. Then they
stopped there too. About the same time, June 10, 1916, Turkish guns
sunk three barges on the Tigris, the only actual success which the
Sultan's forces won since the fall of Kut-el-Amara.

Along the Euphrates, where British troops had held certain positions
ever since 1915, there was also an almost entire lack of activity,
except that occasional small and entirely local punitive expeditions
became necessary in order to hold in hand the Arab tribes of the
neighborhood.

Climatic conditions continued extremely trying, and enforced further
desistance from military activity until, toward the end of July,
relief in the form of the _shamal_ (northwest wind) would come and
once more make it possible to resume operations.

CHAPTER XLII

RUSSIAN ADVANCE TOWARD BAGDAD

Coincident with the Russian advance in Armenia and the English attempt
at capturing the city of Bagdad by advancing up the Tigris, the
Russian General Staff also directed a strong attack against this
a