'Military Lessons of the Arab Rebellion in Palestine 1936' [‎63v] (131/294)

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these reconnaisances were mostly carried oj^ at walking pace and
were invariably accompanied by frequent breakages of tracks and
pins and the shedding of tracks. Nevertheless the results ob
tained were always of good value, and olten tanks proved to be the
most economical medium for gaining the information. It was
during such a reconnaissance thao an action toon place in tne
Tulkarm area on the night of the 8/9oh October, whicn is
described in full in Appendix XV as a lair sample o.i che tasks
of tanks in these operations.
b) Demonstration of force
The moral effect of tanks for this purpose, either with or without
accompanying motorised infantry made them particularly useful for
"showing the flag" both to overawe truculent Arab areas and to
hearten isolated Jewish colonies.
c) Searches and Drives
Acting in conjunction with infantry and armoured cars, tanks were
used in establishing cordons around villages or suspect areas.
They were well suited for blocking exits, particularly those on
the open flanks, and were also useful as advanced guard to the
force in the approach march.
d) Town and Village fighting
A Force Order published on the 7th June prohibited the employment
of tanks and armoured cars inside towns where serious opposition
might be encountered. This was intended to guard against the
obvious risk of getting trapped in narrow twisty streets, of
which an incident at Gaza had provided a timely example. On the
24th May armoured cars travelling on the main road which passed
through the town had suddenly been taken by surprise and found
themselves blocked in. By the exercise of considerable resource
they succeeded in getting onto the railway and fortunately ex
tricated themselves by driving down the line; but in the mean
while tanks from Sarafand had been despatched to their assistance.
By the time they arrived the town of Gaza had been in the hands of
o:ie mob for some hours, and eighteen road blocks consisting of large
stones, furniture, telephone poles and girders had been constructed
at the approaches: the few Europeans had been concentrated in the
police station, where a small body of police and a weak platoon of
infantry were practically hemmed in. One or two tank "charges"
effecuivexy cleared the main street of inhabitants and obstacles
without firing a shot and quickly restored the situation.
Later tne tanks demolished twenty-two more barricades when
supporting clearing parties of infantry and police.
During many subsequent operations in villages tanks were employed
o c ear ne vvay through road blocks at the entrances, and some-
a u ° e ^ u ^ mea rs of standing guard over arrested
inhabitants.
e) Patrols
ti °^ wer ® sequent both by day and night and were some-
to'oroteo^ipH 1 ^ ^ mo y orised - infantry. They were undertaken
on the ro-d^ jC ° ? nies a £ a inst marauders, to counter ambushes
for^the^oads" and C ^ilways^ t^l^
lines Vn-r ^ ' i e l e Phone lines and electric power
going'was unsuitable 'VoXwheels? Patr ° ls Were in areas where th ®