The Battle of Ctesiphon and the Siege of Kut: A Strategic Dilemma
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The Battle of Ctesiphon and the Siege of Kut was a strategic dilemma for the British forces in World War I.
The decision to advance despite warnings proved to be a Pyrrhic victory for the British.
The survival of the garrison in Kut became dependent on its dwindling food supply.
英文翻訳をお願いします。
In London, the India Office was staunchly opposed to a further advance. Secretary of State for India, Austen Chamberlain was concerned that even if Baghdad could be captured, it would only be lost again because no other troops were available to reinforce Force "D". Eventually, the question of a further advance was taken up by Asquith's War Cabinet. Despite warnings from the Imperial General Staff, the decision to advance was given.
During the second half of 1915, Force "D" had only one division, the 6th (Poona) Division under Major-General Charles V.F. Townshend, available for offensive operations. Eventually, the question of a further advance was taken up by Asquith's War Cabinet. Despite warnings from the Imperial General Staff, the decision to advance was given. Although tactically successful at the Battle of Ctesiphon, it proved to be a Pyrrhic victory. The Poona Division retreated to Kut.
The Ottoman Sixth Army, reinforced, pursued and laid siege to the town after attempts to storm the Anglo-Indian positions failed. Failing to take the town by storm, the Ottoman Sixth Army had adopted a passive siege, preferring to starve the Kut defenders into submission. The survival of the garrison became dependent on its food supply. Originally, forecast to be exhausted by the middle of February 1916, additional food stocks had been discovered in the town at the end of January 1916, which would extend the defender's rations until the middle of April 1916.
以下のとおりお答えします。バグダッドでの、英国遠征隊とオスマントルコ軍の攻防について述べています。（第１段落と第２段落にまったく同一の文があってやや違和感があるかも知れませんが、間違いでもなさそうですので、そのまま訳しておきます。）
＞In London, the India Office was staunchly opposed to a further advance. Secretary of State for India, Austen Chamberlain was concerned that even if Baghdad could be captured, it would only be lost again because no other troops were available to reinforce Force "D". Eventually, the question of a further advance was taken up by Asquith's War Cabinet. Despite warnings from the Imperial General Staff, the decision to advance was given.
⇒ロンドンでは、政府インド局では一層の進軍さらに進めることは頑強に反対された。インド担当の国務長官、オースティン・チェンバレンは、たとえバグダッドの攻略ができるとしても、他のいかなる軍もＤ遠征隊の補強に当たる役を担う可能性がないことを心配していたのである。結局、さらなる進軍の問題は、アスキスの戦争内閣によって取り上げられた。帝国参謀からの警告にもかかわらず、進軍の決定がなされた。
＞During the second half of 1915, Force "D" had only one division, the 6th (Poona) Division under Major-General Charles V.F. Townshend, available for offensive operations. Eventually, the question of a further advance was taken up by Asquith's War Cabinet. Despite warnings from the Imperial General Staff, the decision to advance was given. Although tactically successful at the Battle of Ctesiphon, it proved to be a Pyrrhic victory. The Poona Division retreated to Kut.
⇒1915年後半の間にＤ遠征隊はチャールズ・V.F.タウンゼンド少将麾下の第6（プーナ）師団という、攻撃作戦のために兵役可能な１個師団のみの構成となった。結局、さらなる進軍の問題は、アスキスの戦争内閣によって取り上げられた。帝国参謀からの警告にもかかわらず、進軍の決定がなされた。「クテシフォンの戦い」は戦術的に成功したけれども、それは「ピュロスの勝利」（犠牲を払って得た勝利）であると判明した。プーナ師団はクツに退却した。
＞The Ottoman Sixth Army, reinforced, pursued and laid siege to the town after attempts to storm the Anglo-Indian positions failed. Failing to take the town by storm, the Ottoman Sixth Army had adopted a passive siege, preferring to starve the Kut defenders into submission. The survival of the garrison became dependent on its food supply. Originally, forecast to be exhausted by the middle of February 1916, additional food stocks had been discovered in the town at the end of January 1916, which would extend the defender's rations until the middle of April 1916.
⇒第６オスマントルコ方面軍は、英印軍の陣地を急襲する試みに失敗した後補強を受け、攻撃を続けて、町を包囲した。急襲で町の攻略に失敗した第６オスマントルコ方面軍は、受動的な包囲攻撃を採用し、クツの守備隊が飢えて降伏を願い出ることを期待していた。守備隊の生き残りは、食物の供給に依存していた。当初、1916年2月半ばには（食料が）尽きると予測されたので、追加の食料が1916年1月の終りに町で物色された。それで、1916年4月の半ばまで守備隊の糧食を引き伸ばせる見込みとなった。
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