ملف ١٩١٧/٧٥٦ الجزءان ٢-٣ "النشرات العربية أرقام ٦٦-١١٤" [ظ‎‎٦‎٤] (٨٣٤/١٣٧)

— 514
Turkish battalion, estimated at 500 to 600, with three mountain
guns, four machine guns, and a very few mounted troops. The
Arab levies will be concentrated at (jueira, Helou el-Beida, and
Delagha, which are all within easy striking distance of Abu
Lesal. No very important military results are likely to be
obtained, even if the attack is successful, but the operation will
at least afford an opportunity of testing the Arab troops, who
are as yet practically untried.
The Arab levies have been withdrawn from Elji (see pp. 447
and 475) and their place taken by some of Sherif Zeid’s Ateiba
and Ageyl, supported by two Indian mounted guns and two
machine guns.
The severe cold in this part of Arabia is having a somewhat
depressing effect on the Sherifian army.
[Late News—kz\z Effendi reports that he destroyed 100
rails and three bridges on the 12 th inst. between Seil Matara
and Urn Hashaim, which is presumably north of Hadiyah.
(See p. 500.)
MESOPOTAMIA.
Journey from Bayhdad to Sinjar.
A lepoi t has leached us from Arab Bureau, Baghdad
concerning the journey of Sheikh Mutluq, who was sent by the
O.P.O. on a mission to Jebel Sinjar, and has now returned/ He
took, both going and returning, the nlmost unknown Wadi
lharthar route, striking the valley at the well of Abu Khashab
one day from Istablat. Hence, with camels provided by the A1
hu Saqr, under Ehalaf ibn Suwein, he rode northward a crow-
% distance of 130 miles m sixty hours, the actual distance
covered being increased to near 200 miles by the windings of the
wadi, whose series of salty wells had to be followed. The Sheikh
has given the following scheme of his route, all places mentioned
being wells. 1
Aim Kliasluib, parallel with Samarra.
(> hours, Uweisijah.
(j hours, Fuweitah parallel with Tekrit.
6 hours, El-Mureir.
7 hours, A bill Bad an.
6 hours, Zubeidi, parallel with Kharninah.
o hours, Jaddalah.
3 hours, Najmah, not far from Hatra = Tbll m xr • , , .
Kiepert, but some way to the north of H-itrA 111
however, are very uncertain. ^ "’ a P s here,
3 hours, Khuneizirat.
2 hours, A adi Kasab, marked in Kiepert Mntlvm u, i -x
point about parallel with Ham mam AH. q t,Uck at a
2 hours, El-Jarm.
2 hours, El-Sufrah.
2 hours, El-Arish.
2 hours, Tell ’Afar.