Mesopotamia, 1914-1915. By Captain H. Birch Reynardsoii. (Melrose. 9s. net.)—The
author served in the 17th (Ahmednagar) Brigade of the Sixth (Poona) Division, which opened the Tigris camfaign in November, 1914. He recounts the operations up to the battle of Ctesiphon, partly from personal experience and partly from the accounts of fellow-officers. The details are interesting, and some of the rough sketch-maps of actions and the photographs are useful. In describing the important action at Birjisiyeh, April 12th-14th, 1915, in which a large Turkish force advancing to recapture Basra was beaten and dispersed, the author repeats the rumour that, after the British attack had been checked for hours, the order for retreat was given. "Whether or not the order was given, it never reached the Dorsets, for, just as things were looking at their worst, the regi- ment, led by Major Iitterson, jumped up and assaulted the Turkish position." The other troops did the same, and the Turks fled in great disorder. It was a good instance of the old maxim, dear to Marshal Foch, that a battle is never lost till it is won.
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