ملف ١٩١٧/٧٥٦ الجزءان ٢-٣ "النشرات العربية أرقام ٦٦-١١٤" [و‎‎١‎٤‎٦] (٨٣٤/٣٠٠)

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shortage of meat, milk and butter in Hebron itself, as the feliahin
are demanding exhorbitant prices, and it is expected that some
kind of food control will have to be established.
Customs dues are now being collected at Khan Yunis on
goods entering occupied enemy territory from Egypt. In spite
of the fact that the Customs staff has not yet been appointed, and
that the dues are collected by the Egyptian officer stationed there
with no Staff to assist him, over L.E.1,000 has been collected up
to date.
ARABIA.
North-West.
Intelligence.
Northern Operations.
After several weeks of methodical preparation, Sheiif leisal s
army, on about April 10, began to advance against Mann and
the railway to north and south. ,, u ,
The northern column, under Shenf Zeid and daatar rastia,
after destroying 200 rails south of Kalaat el-Ane.zah, attacked
the line on April 13 a mile north of Wadi Abu dersam about
half-way between Maan and Aneizah. It occupied Jerdun station,
took 200 prisoners and three machine guns, and destroyed m all
^^Thlfcentral column attacked the Maan defences on the 13th
and stormed the Semnah position, 5,000 yards sout 0 16
town after three hours' fighting- Twenty prisoners and a
machine gun were captured, and the remainder ot the enemy
retired of Maan. sLrif Feisal telegraphs that -me of t e
fortifications south of the station, with a machine gun and hit)
prisoners, v 7 ere taken on April 16. _ i Sherif
1 The southern column, under Nun Bey baid and a biiei
Fahad attacked and occupied Ghadir el-Ha] station on the night
of the 11th capturing two officers and twenty-five other ranks.
On the following day 1,000 rails and three culverts were
destroyed and the garrison of a small 1 urkish post captmed.
At the same time minor attacks were made north ot
Mudawara by Beni Atiyah and north of Kalaat el-Hasa by Beni
^ The losses of the Arabs amounted to 250 on April 17, and
Mnwlnd Effendi has been severely wounded.
Deserters and prisoners state that there is growing discon
tent in the Maan garrison, and that Arab troops there are anxious
to ofn the Sherilan arm’y. Transport animals are dying from
want of fodder, and disea.se is increasing. railway
After carrying out the ^^“^thtew i the west
bafk fi the Jordan, leaving a strong bridgehead protecting the