Unfortunately, the fates decreed
otherwise, for just as the water was "on the boil" a terrific fusillade of
rifle-fire broke out, seemingly from all sides. Previously to this, there
had been intermittent shelling just to the north of the village, and on the
commencement of the rifle-fire this increased in intensity until things
began to look extremely awkward. A quick glance up at the hills surrounding
the wadi gave no indication as to the source from which the firing
emanated, until, a few minutes later, when several men were seen "doubling
back" down the slope of the hill on the western side of the wadi. These
men were afterwards found to be those holding the outposts in that
particular point of the line. They came with the ominous news that the
outposts were driven in and the Turks were upon us! Almost at once this was
seen to be the case, as the enemy reached the top of the ridge and his fire
began to take its toll of men and animals.
To gain a proper appreciation of the serious predicament in which the
Brigade was placed at this moment, it will be necessary to understand the
nature of the ground thereabouts. On both sides of the wadi were high
banks, or hills, 60 to 80 feet high, the surface of these being strewn with
large rocks and boulders.
Pages:
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63