Part 16 (1/2)
_April 8th._--A quiet day! Some few sh.e.l.ls wandered into the town and a steady stream of sniping indicated that the enemy had probably withdrawn many men for reinforcements downstream. Woolpress is a complete island. In fact a part of it had to be abandoned yesterday, and last night the _Sumana_ brought a large part of its garrison back. As a last resort one regiment will remain there to hold the Woolpress buildings only.
From my old observation post to-day, which I climbed with great difficulty, I looked on a very changed scene. The whole country is a series of huge lakes with tiny green patches between. The enemy has had to abandon his lines around Woolpress. In front of our first line tiny waves on this tiny ocean lap against our preserving _bunds_. In fact, Kut is an island!
_3 p.m._--Gorringe has wired to say ”all's well.” ”Advance continues!”
Once more with Micawber it is permitted to us to hope.
_April 9th._--Sh.e.l.ls, expletives, and suspense fell into Kut in unusual quant.i.ties. We are on the edge of a volcano.
Who could keep a diary while sitting on the edge of a volcano?
The G.o.ds, those humorous birds, have just flown over Kut on a tour of inspection. We can almost--as John Bright did not say--hear the _flapping_ of their wings.
_April 10th._--Poor Don Juan has taken his last hedge!
I have hitherto managed to extend his reprieve, but to-day the order came. I gathered him a last feed of gra.s.s myself.
He salaamed most vigorously as I had taught him. The chargers have been kept to the last. His companions stood by him trembling as the quick shot despatched one after another.
Not so he! now and then he stamped, but otherwise stood perfectly still. I asked the N.C.O. to be careful that his first bullet was effective and to tell me when it was over.
I kissed Don on the cheek ”good-bye.” He turned to watch me go. Shortly after they brought me his black tail, as I asked for a souvenir. Strange as it may seem we ate his heart and kidneys for dinner, as they are now reserved for owners. I am sure he would have preferred that I, rather than another, should do so.
He carried me faithfully, and died like a sahib. In the garrison I had no better friend. Being so he shall have this entry to himself.
_April 11th._--Two paramount budgets of especial interest and importance reached us first thing this morning. One was that c.o.c.kie was annoyed with us for eating our own fowl, the other being from Sir Percy Lake to the effect that Gorringe cannot possibly be present here for the 15th, but will have great pleasure in doing so by the 21st instant. With the help of G.o.d and the strength derived from having eaten the hen, we hope to survive the first budget. To this end Square-Peg and Tudway and I immediately slaughtered the second hen and sent a polite message of this information to c.o.c.kie with a promise to reserve for him the head and feet. Tudway has been in shrieks of laughter all day, and mounted guard over the hen himself. To be sure I intended to reserve for him half of my portion, but the others voted this treachery, as they think c.o.c.kie has done very well lately with hospital rations of fish and eggs. c.o.c.kie still consumes slabs of horse, the size of a slab being about that of the ordinary Nelson's 7_d._ edition.
The news from Sir Percy Lake is serious enough. Our men are now dying by the score and their condition is reduced to the last degree, many being scarce able to walk. It is not merely rations that they require, but sick comforts.
General Townshend has issued these communiques to the troops--
Kut-el-Amara, April 10th, 1916.
”The result of the attack of the Relief Force on the Turks entrenched in the Sannaiyat position is that the Relief Force has not as yet won its way through, but is entrenched close up to the Turks in places some 200 to 300 yards distant.
General Gorringe wired me last night that he was consolidating his position, as close to the enemy's trenches as he can get, with the intention of attacking again. He had had some difficulty with the flood which he had remedied. I have no other details. However, you will see that I must not run any risk over the date calculated to which our rations would last, namely April 15th, as you will all understand well that digging means delay, though General Gorringe does not say so. I am compelled, therefore, to make an appeal to you all to make a determined effort to eke out our scanty means, so that I can hold out for certain till our comrades arrive, and I know I shall not appeal to you in vain.
”I have, then, to reduce the rations to five ounces of meal for all ranks, British and Indian. In this way I can hold out till April 21st if it becomes necessary. I do not think it will become necessary, but it is my duty to take all precautions in my power. I am very sorry I can no longer favour the Indian soldiers in the matter of meal, but there is no possibility of doing so now. It must be remembered that there is plenty of horseflesh which they have been authorized by their religious leaders to eat.
”In my communique to you on January 26th I told you that our duty stood out plain and simple: it was to stand here and hold up the Turkish advance on the Tigris, working heart and soul together; and I expressed the hope that we would make this defence to be remembered in history as a glorious one, and I asked you in this connection to remember the defence of Plevna, which was longer than that even of Ladysmith.
”Well, you have n.o.bly carried out your mission, you have n.o.bly answered the trust and appeal I put to you. The whole British Empire, let me tell you, is ringing now with our defence of Kut. You will all be proud to say one day, 'I was one of the garrison of Kut,' and as for Plevna and Ladysmith, we have beaten them also. Whatever happens now, we have done our duty. In my report of the defence of this place, which has now been telegraphed to headquarters, I said that it was not possible in dispatches to mention every one, but I could safely say that every individual in this force had done his duty to his King and Country. I was absolutely calm and confident, as I told you on January 26th, of the ultimate result, and I am confident now, I ask you all, comrades of all ranks, British and Indian, to help me now in this food question.”
(Sd.) CHARLES TOWNSHEND, Major-General, Commanding the Garrison at Kut.
This _communique_ is a breezy one! But we all know our General has a difficult task in communicating these repeated disappointments. The native troops are beginning to recall that the G.O.C. months ago pa.s.sed his word for early relief.
To a British Tommy this was what he calls ”'opeful buck,”
but to the Sepoy it is a promise.
Kut-el-Amara, April 11th, 1916.
”General Sir Percy Lake, the Army Commander, wired me yesterday evening to say: 'There can be no doubt that Gorringe can in time force his way through to Kut. In consequence of yesterday's failure, however, it is certainly doubtful if he can reach you by April 15th.' This is in answer to a telegram from me yesterday morning to say that, as it appeared to me doubtful that General Gorringe would be here by the 15th, I had reluctantly still further reduced the rations so as to hold on till April 21st. I hope the Indian officers will help me now in my great need in using commonsense talk with the Indian soldiers to eat horseflesh, as the Arabs of the town are doing.”