Coll 6/88 'Intelligence: Military Report on Arabia (C.B. 1892).' [‎18r] (40/133)

9
(C 43043)
b* 2.
At the moment it would appear that it is the policy not to export any oil from this area,
and unofficial information has been received that the A.I.O.C. wish to keep this oil as a reserve
in case things go wrong in Iran.
Kuwait Neutral Zone
Things are at a standstill, but it seems likely that the KUWAIT Oil Company and the
Standard Oil Company of California will seek a joint concession.
(2) Climatic Conditions, as affecting Naval Operations
With regard to climate—in the PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. during the cold season fevers are
most prevalent and the so-called gulf fever of the remittent type is very dangerous and
convalescence can only be obtained by leaving the gulf. Cholera, plague and smallpox are
frequent ashore in the native towns and villages. The hot season, from about May to October,
is not apparently absolutely unhealthy. Men suffer from aggravated prickly heat, boils, etc.,
but if they are kept out of the sun and ventilation attended to there will probably be but
little serious sickness. Work should not be done between 13'00 and 17 •00 if possible. Double
awnings should be spread and the men may sleep on deck, where the dew does not appear
to have an injurious effect. Absolute necessity alone can justify the exposure of men to the
sun, and the wearing of sun-helmets must be insisted on, even under single awnings. Heat
stroke and heat exhaustion are fairly common.
Generally speaking practically no rain falls from May to September inclusive. Otherwise
January, February, November and December experience considerable rainfall, but varying
according to the locality. During winter the climate is very pleasant, resembling (in the
south) a good English summer.
Air temperatures of from 113° to 122° F. are recorded at places in the Gulf and in the
lower reaches of the SHATT-AL-ARAB River during June and July. A sun temperature of
187° F. (shade 138° F.) was recorded at ABADAN in August, 1935.
In the RED SEA the summer is perhaps, with the exception of the PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
the hottest of any sea in the world. In vessels proceeding southward during the hot season
the great heat is often intensified by a light following wind of insufficient force to pass through
the vessels and the almost complete saturation of the air deprives the wind of any invigorating
effect. Near the coast the air is not so damp and the heat is somewhat more bearable, even
though the temperature should be higher.
In winter the climate is not unpleasantly hot. The climate of the GULF OF ADEN,
though warm, is cooler than the RED SEA and generally healthy, there being no disease
peculiar to it. The same remarks regarding precautions against exposure to the sun (during
the summer) as given for the PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. apply.
The rainfall in the RED SEA and GULF OF ADEN is comparatively small. It is greatest
in the vicinity of SOKOTRA and gradually lessens through the GULF OF ADEN and.
southern part of the RED SEA. The northern part of the RED SEA is practically rainless.
For further details, including prevailing winds in the RED SEA, GULF OF ADEN
and PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. see the official Pilots for these areas.
(3) Transport Facilities
Rivers
There are no rivers in ARABIA which flow perennially from source to mouth ; but
there are incipient perennial streams in ASIR, YEMEN, the Aden district, HASA, OMAN
and NEJD and countless river-valleys (WADIS) which carry floods (Seils) after rainstorms.
Those which originate east of the western watershed are mostly long and shallow, their bottoms
being little depressed below the general level. The longest of these, the Rummah, whose
course from the neighbourhood of MEDINA, through GAISUM to the SHAFT AL ARAB,
falls 6,000 ft. in about 1,000 miles, is one good example. These rivers, though useless for
transport, are not without importance, since at all times they carry water beneath their beds
which can be reached by wells at varying depths, hence providing lines of possible commuaica-
tion. Where, too, the moisture rises near or on to the surface are found chains of oases. The
Wadis, which fall into the Red Sea, have as a whole deeply eroded beds, steeply inclined, and
form an obstacle to'passage from north or south.
Railways
There is only one railway in ARABIA which is a continuation of the main Palestine line
from DAMASCUS. It crosses the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan frontier between RAMLEH and KALAAT
(south of MAAN) and then continues in a south-south-east direction through TEBUK and
AL ALA to MEDINA. The line is single track with gauge of 1 -05 metres and is not provided
with sufficient sidings.
The whole line up as far as MAAN has been out of action for several years.