File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎26r] (60/834)

447 —
ARABIA.
North-West.
Intelligence.
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Musa Operations.
Lt.-Col. Joyce has sent us at last Malild Effendi’s account
o£ the battle at Elji on October 21 (^see p. 427). It conflicts,
needless to say, with the enemy account, which stated Arab
casualties at a figure nearly equal to the whole Arab force really
engaged, and multiplied its strength sixfold. The Arab defenders
numbered about 450 u regulars,” - made up of two companies
Camel Corps and two Mule M.I., with two quick-firing
mountain guns and four machine guns. As auxiliaries they
had sixty Hudheil under Sherif Abd el-Mu’in and 120 local
Naimat Arabs. The whole Arab force, therefore, w^as a little
over 500 strong. The enemy, estimated at four battalions
infantry (probably under strength), one regiment cavalry, and
one company M.I. with six quick-firing mountain guns, two
quick-firing field guns and two old ditto, attacked in three
columns from Hish, Maan and Ain Busta, assisted by an
aeroplane which flew out twice from Maan and bombed the
position. After heavy bombardment, the Turks captured the
outer works, the Bedouin auxiliaries retiring to hills south of
Elji, while the Mule M.I. held on to the hills on the north, and
subjected the Turks, attacking from east, to a cross fire. Only
one small party of the latter got down into the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. and was
soon expelled. What the Arab Camel Corps did is not stated,
but may be guessed from Jaafar’s strictures {see below).
To wards evening the Bedouins worked round from the south to
the Turkish left flank and forced a retirement, capturing twenty
men ; and after dark, by harrying the retreat, they took also four
teen men of the Medical Corps with twenty camels and ten mules.
The Turks, who had to abandon some of their wounded, lost
sixty killed, while Arab casualties are reported to have been
forty all told : they had a mountain gun and a machine gun put
out of action, the latter by a direct hit from the aeroplane. The
defenders afterwards reoccupied all positions. Jaafar, in his
comments, speaks w T ell of the Mule M.I. but not of the Camel
Corps, with certain of whose officers he is dealing summarily.
Since this battle the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Musa garrison has been increased to
800 infantry with two mountain guns and four machine guns,
while the mounted troops are to be withdrawn! to Akaba to be
reorganized. The news of a subsequent Turkish attack on
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Musa, mentioned on p. 443, proves to have been a belated
reference to the battle of October 21.
Rumour, at present unconfirmed, reports that Audah abu
Tayyi and his Hiuveitat are attacking the Shobak-Hish district
and the railway about Aneiza.