File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎227v] (463/834)

The railway line in the Jerdun-Jnrf sector is held by a
series of strong posts, each within range of the other. This
system necessarily curtails raids on reinforcements and convoys ;
the advantage of encirclement or a flank attack on the post is
lost, and it is much more difficult to obtain possession of a
section of the line for demolition purposes. Thus on July 11,
armoured cars, sent out from Abu Lissal, returned with their
mission unaccomplished, owing to the presence of these posts
and to the inaction of the Arabs, both regulars and Bedouins.
The Turkish cavalrymen, captured by an armoured car
patrolling south of Maan (see p. 253), state that among a party
of five or six men who reached Maan from the south was one of
Fakhri’s staff officers, bearing important dispatches from his
chief. He came from Medina to Dhat el-Haj by train and thence
by march route. One or two Beni Atiyah were bribed to escort
the party.
ROUTE REPORT: MALBATHA TO KHEIF
HUSEIN.
The following notes are taken from a report by Captain
Clayton, who was instructed to inspect the Darb ei-Hashaim
from Malbatha to Yambo. Malbatha is about twelve miles south
west of the railway between Abu Naam and Istabl Antar. (The
section from Kheif Husein to Yambo has been dealt with in a
previous report, see No. 60, p. 353.)
“The route from Ain Turaa to Kheif Husein is practicable
for motor cars. I doubt if a pick and shovel would be needed
the whole way. 1 met a dozen or more hamlas totalling some
hundreds of camels, all heavily loaded with grain. My escort
said they were Aneza or Huteim, who were going to cross the
railway near Seil Matara, though 1 should have thought this
was rather far north for the latter. 1 his route is clearly a sort
of main road from Yambo to the interior, as there are several
well-trodden tracks all the way. It has a weak point as a camel
route, and that is lack of water. (Major Davenport believes
that water could be obtained by borino.)
from Malbatha, to Kheif Husein is more than twenty-five
hours at Tmmla pace : add three or four more for Ain Turaa.
1 found no water, though I saw several dry pools. Brief details
: one hour west, veering nearly to south through confused
hills -the loute is difficult hut possible for cars. Three and
a half hours almost due south to the top of Magrah Turaa,
the surface is generally smooth, and in places, is as good as
a motor track. The macjrah, a word preferred locally to the
more general wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. , is a broad depression running due south,
rising as it goes ; the eastern side is higher than the western.’