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Coll 6/88 'Intelligence: Military Report on Arabia (C.B. 1892).' [34v] (73/133)
The record is made up of 1 file (63 folios). It was created in Feb 1932-7 Feb 1942. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
42
There are also numerous well-defined camel tracks linking up MUKALLA with other
ports of the HADHRAMAUT. They are generally broad and possess a good hard surface.
It should be noted that there are no metalled roads in the HADHRAMAUT at all, and it is
presumed that those already referred to would become impassable in wet weather.
About 150 pack camels may be obtained for hire purposes for local work and about
200 to 600 camels for caravan purposes in the HADHRAMAUT. About 100 donkeys can
be obtained for pack or water carrying.
About 300
coolies
A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory.
could be hired at 10 hours’ notice and up to 1,000 with longer notice.
In April, 1935, there were about thirty touring cars and fifty l|-ton trucks available at
MUKALLA.
(11) Signal Communications
It has been reported that a W/T station was being constructed but no details are known.
(12) Defences
There are no modern fixed defences.
The existing defences of MUKALLA are constructed to resist attack from the land rather
than from the sea. On the cliffs above the town stand six stone watch-towers, chiefly for
defence against Bedouin raids. These towers are kept in good repair, but are not manned
or armed.
The so-called regular garrison of MUKALLA does not- exceed 250 men, fifty of whom
are employed on police duties in the streets. Some 400 irregular soldiers could be mustered
in the town. The troops are armed mostly with old French Le Gras and German rifles.
(13) Reconnaissance
The approach to MUKALLA is open and clear of dangers. Landing could be effected
anywhere along the sandy beach, which extends for some 12 miles to the westward of the
town. Outside the gateway there stands a level plain which forms the entrance of a
wadi
A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
running to the northwards inland, and which is used as the main road to and from the town.
Immediately westward of this plain, the beach for about one mile is narrow and backed by
steep cliffs, but further westward the foreshore opens out and gently slopes up to a low range
of hills some 2| miles inland.
The level plain would make an excellent camp site and it is used normally as a camping
ground for camel caravans. The water pipe from AL BAKHRAIN runs along its eastern
side to the tanks situated on the hill northward of the gateway. The plain has two narrow
and easily defended exits to the north and northwest (see plan) and in all but the worst weathers,
stores could be landed on the beach.
In calm weather, landing could also be effected on the rocky shore between RAS MARBAT
and RAS KODAR, but the beaches here are narrow and there is good cover for defending
forces.
MUSCAT
(Lat. 23° 37' N„ Long. 58° 36' E.)
(See Plan No. 21 and Admiralty Charts 2869 and 10C.)
(1) General Remarks
MUSCAT, with its sister port MATRAH, is the capital of the independent Sultanate of
Muscat and Oman, situated at the south-eastern corner of ARABIA.
At MUSCAT there are three harbours or bays :—
Muscat Cove, at the head of which lies the town of MUSCAT. This anchorage
is classed as “ E,” with 9 to 13 fathoms at entrance, shoaling gradually to 6 fathoms
abreast Sira A1 Gharbi and to 2 fathoms at about a cable from the head of the cove.
The cove is capable of defence but open to observation from seaward. It is
5i cables in length (to 3 fathom line) and 2| to 3£ cables in breadth ; open to north-
north-west. Winds of any force between north-west and north-east send in considerable
sea and swell, but the holding ground is good and vessels rarely drag.
There is space for two sloops at single anchor, but three could be accommodated if
sterns were secured to rocks on shore, which can be done in two places (see Plan 21).
The prevailing winds throughout the year are north-west and south-east. South
westerly and westerly winds also occur in winter and easterly in summer. Throughout
the year about one-third of the days are calm. In January and February winds are
boisterous and chilly and some rain falls. March to May fine, getting hotter. June to
September very hot. October to December getting cooler, fine weather. Strong
“ Shamals ” occur at all times of the year.
About this item
- Content
This file consists of two parts. The first part (folios 1-9) begins with a 'state of report' document for an Admiralty Naval Intelligence Division report entitled 'Arabia, Intelligence Report'; the 'state report' concerns the updating of the report in October 1941, and it includes a list of maps, plans and photographs that are contained in the report. There then follows a small amount of correspondence between India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , War Office, and General Staff (India) officials regarding the supply of an earlier issue of the report, dated 1939.
The second part of the file consists of the actual report, entitled 'C.B. 1892 (X) (10/41) Arabia Intelligence Report', dated October 1941, with appended maps, plans and photographs relating to Arabian Peninsula ports. The report is divided into four sections (six sections are listed in the table of contents, which lists sections one and three, most of section two, and one part of section five, as 'not issued', i.e. not printed in this edition of the report).
The first section to appear in the report is entitled 'Section II: Strategy and Tactics'; parts 1 and 3-6 of this section have been omitted, leaving part 2, which has the heading 'Possible Lines on which War Plans would be Framed'.
The next section, 'Section IV: Geography and Topography', provides an overview of the geography and topography of the Arabian Peninsula, including information about climate, transport facilities (including a table of landing grounds and seaplane anchorages), and communications.
The third section, 'Section V: Base Facilities and Maintenance of the Fleet' (from which part one has been omitted), provides a summary of principal commercial dockyards and repair bases, locations for fuel storage, supplies and storage of ammunition, fixed coastal defences, and aircraft.
The final section of the report, 'Section VI: Ports, Anchorages and Their Defences', proceeds through a number of Gulf ports in alphabetical order (i.e. Akaba, Bahrain, Doha, Hodeida and Ras Kethib, Jedda, Kamaran, Kuwait, Mukalla, and Muscat), describing each place's port facilities, anchorages and defences, as well as providing other information relating to matters such as government, commerce, water supply, transport and communications.
Enclosed with the maps and plans is a symbols chart, which lists some of the symbols used in the maps and plans.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (63 folios)
- Arrangement
The Arabia Intelligence Report contains a table of contents. The maps, plans and photographs, which are listed below the table of contents, appear after the main text of the report.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The file is formed of two parts. The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover of the first part at 1 and terminates at the inside back cover of the second part at 65; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2160B
- Title
- Coll 6/88 'Intelligence: Military Report on Arabia (C.B. 1892).'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:9v, front-a, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-a-i, 11r:39v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence