ملف ١٩١٧/٧٥٦ الجزءان ٢-٣ "النشرات العربية أرقام ٦٦-١١٤" [و‎‎١‎١‎٩] (٨٣٤/٢٤٦)

— H7 —
ARABIA.
North-West.
Intelligence.
Northern Area.
A report has been received from Sherif Zeid of an engage
ment near Kalaat-el-Hasa on February 25, between a small force
of Arabs and a German cavalry patrol, in which the enemy was
eventually forced to withdraw with a loss, according to the report,
of thirty men killed.
At the beginning of March considerable enemy forces, which
had been concentrating at Kerak, Hasa and Jurf ed-Derwish, left
those places and marched in the direction of Fafila, which they
occupied about a week later. I heir advance was delayed by the
energetic action of Zeid’s Huweitat and Beni Sakhr, who
harassed their lines of communication. I he Sherifians, however,
were unable to withstand the attacking columns, which were
estimated at three Turkish infantry battalions, two squadrons of
Mule Mounted Infantry and a few German infantry and cavalry,
with eight guns and two machine-gun companies. On the 10 th,
Sherif Zeid telegraphed that after heavy fighting, his army had
been obliged to evacuate Tafila and had taken up a defensive line
at Shobek.
On March 3 and 5, Kalaat el-Aneizeh was bombed by
British aeroplanes, and several successful raids have been made
on enemy encampments and concentrations along the railway.
On the 7 th Maan was bombed by four aeroplanes, and direct hits
were made on the engine sheds and telegraph station.
herif Abdullah's Operations.
Further details have been received of the engagement near
.bu Naam reported on page 68 . The Arabs, commanded
Jxlullah Mudaifi, camped during the preceding nig * neai A
i Bella intend!no' to move at dawn against the railway and t
estix y com leteh the train which had been wrecked on
an nary 31 (U page 36). When they began to saddle up,
ov ever they found that they were practically surrounded In a
Tirkish’ force which, as afterwards ascertained, had been
urriedly bromdit up from Hediyah by Fakhreddm. It consisted
£ about 400 Turks, "200 Arabs under Ibn Kashy four gunsand six
aachine guns. Considerable confusion
nemv’s fire but the fighting quality of Abdullah s bedouins
S thal o£ their IcaArs-has considerabl^nnpro^ dun.ig
he last few months, anc no jiamc see ^ Erwa Juheinah,
ituation was saved by the am 1 v . Turks and
nhabitants of the district, w 10 came up ma de
ired into them. This timely diversion caused to be n
n the enemy cordon and enabled most o£ Mudaih s men