ABSTRACT
When Khalil Pasha realised that soldiers were firmly established across the river at Shumran, while downstream his left wing was in danger of being cut off at Sannaiyat, he ordered a retreat towards Baghdad. And he formed a strong flank guard to hold the northern end of the Shumran peninsula, and to contain their 3rd Corps until his forces had passed upstream of the bend. The crossing of the Tigris at Shumran was so dramatic in its achievement and so vital in its bearings on the whole campaign that the gallant part played by the 14th Division the next morning is in danger of being overshadowed. Soldiers were quick to follow up the crushing blow of February 23rd. During the rearguard action of the 24th and 25th the Turks probably suffered more loss from the fire of their light armoured cars than the whole of the Cavalry Division were able to inflict.
