Group (YAG) Commander Falkenhaym, Mustafa Kemal
(Atatürk) returned to the YAG as commander of the
YAG'S 7th Army on 28 August 1918, under General
Liman von Sanders, whom he later replaced.
In his narrative, Major Vecihi mentioned a couple of
incidents involving Mustafa Kemal that illustrate the
remarkable abilities he had already displayed earlier in
his career, in Libya and at Çanakkale, and which would
be on full display in the years to come.//
Mustafa Kemal's military career click here for details.
battlefront details click here for a good description of
the battle that forced the Ottoman retreat across the
Jordan River.
//Ed. note: this first incident took place around 25
September 1918.//
How Mustafa Kemal Paşa Took Charge of the Situation
As soon as the Yıldırım Armies crossed the Şenia (Jordan) River in
retreat, 7th Army Commander Mustafa Kemal Paşa took complete
charge. Actually, there wasn't a healthy, sound detachment left in the
8th Army - it was comprised only of scattered elements. From Vadi-i
Yabs (Yabs Valley) onward, Mustafa Kemal Paşa, without any official
authorization, put the randomly retreating troops into order.
Mustafa Kemal Paşa had the troops march together, as he reorganized
and put them in formation. The scattered groups were matched up with
commanders and officers who had lost their own detachments and
given form as new units. After Mustafa Kemal Paşa organized the
dispersed troops from the 8th and 4th Armies, the 3rd and 20th Army
Corps were reinforced with them.
Mustafa Kemal Paşa, 7th Army Commander
(seated,1917).
To protect against aircraft gunfire and to avoid the burning heat in
the Havran valley, Mustafa Kemal Paşa had the troops rest during the
day and march at night. The information that the cavalry division
acquired about the enemy from reconassaince was provided to him
each day and passed on to the other cavalry units.
From Semed, the 7th Army split into two columns, with one marching
to Der'a and the other to Mezirib (Muzarib). The cavalry division,
which always followed the 7th Army from between 5-10 kilometers
behind, made contact with the 4th Army's left wing around Semed, as
the wing was retreating toward Der'a (from around Amman).
Subsequently, Mustafa Kemal Paşa ordered the cavalry division to
follow the road to Mezirib. Since this road was besieged by the enemy,
the cavalry division became both a rearguard and a flank guard for the
7th Army.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
//Ed. note: this second incident occurred around 27 September
1918, when British and Arab troops were in hot pursuit of
the remnants of Ottoman troops heading for Damascus.//
Mustafa Kemal Paşa's 'Suggestion'
As the cavalry division was moving out from Izra, the Commander
of the 7th Army, Mustafa Kemal Paşa, was in the vicinity of the Izra
railway station conversing with Ali Fuad Paşa, the commander of the
20th Army Corps, who was holding a map in his hands.
Mustafa Kemal Paşa appeared to be quite concerned about the situation.
In particular, when he learned that the cavalry division that was going
to protect his left flank while en route to Damascus via Neva had
instead been ordered to proceed directly to Damascus, he pondered
the matter with some gravity. Finally, he 'suggested' that the cavalry
should, to the extent possible, proceed along his left flank to provide
protection.
Izra is at top-right, north of Der'a, which
fell on 27 September.
//END of PART XIII//
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