File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎243v] (495/834)

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a hot fire on the Turks, who, according to a deserter, had six
men killed and seventeen wounded, but, as little infantry support
was forthcoming, the post was not re-taken. The Arabs, who
lost three men killed and ten wounded, maintained a most
accurate and effective bombardment.
Arab activities have, so far, prevented the repair of the line
north of Aneza, despite the fact that the Turks have worked on
it night and day. Two demonstrations against Semna, during
July, were easily repulsed.
The Turkish concentration north and south of Kutrani has
curtailed the activities of the Beni Sakhr from the west of the
line. The Turks there detached a strong mobile force^ with
artillery and machine guns, to destroy the Arabs under Sheikh
Marzuk in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Hasa, and on July 18, after a night march,
they took up a position on the hills overlooking the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. and
opened fire on the sleeping Arabs. The latter made good their
escape, losing about ten men killed and wounded : Sheikh
Marzuk was wounded. The force successfully extricated itself
through its mobility and the smart handling of two small
mountain guns by a few Arab regulars. A comparatively small
quantity of explosives and food was abandoned, but on the other
hand eleven Turks were captured, and the Turk’s casualties are
known to have been considerable. I hey made no attempt to
hold the position, and retired to Kutrani the same night.
The British and Australian Air forces attacked the usual
objectives at Amman and the station at el-Kastal, direct hits
being obtained on all targets. Over two tons of bombs were
dropped, and several thousand rounds of small-arms ammunition
were fired with good results.
Southern Area.
Sherif Ali reports his return to Bir Darwish after a four
days engagement at Jeleijila in which he claims to have inflicted
heavy losses on the enemy. He says that twelve Turks deserted
to him, including one officer, and that he lost two men killed and
five wounded. The engagement was broken off through lack of
ammunition, and damage to live guns, the damage not being due
to enemy action. A later, and less prejudiced account, asserts
that the Arab losses were seven killed and twenty-seven wounded,
and that, of four guns damaged, two were put out of action by
hostile shell-fire.
A later telegram from Wejh assigns Tetid, the scene of the
skirmish recorded on page 280, to a position nine miles south
west of the line between Bueir and Istabl Antar.
[Late News .—Deserters from Aneza station report .that the
new wells there are now supplying Jurf and Aneza stations with
water.