'Military Lessons of the Arab Rebellion in Palestine 1936' [‎36v] (77/294)

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use, and a plethora of place names made it difficult to read.
employed was also different to that of the Palestine Survey maps which
resulted in complications when it was used in conjunction with the
1:100,000, a particular disadvantage when troops were co-operating with
aircraft. By the end of the year it was possible to replace it by a
Palestine Survey map of the same scale, produced in a single sheet, well
up to date and with the same grid as the 1:100,000.
The local 1:100,000 map was a good one and the only one of real use
when moving cross-country but, being produced in small sheets covering
a width of little more than 20 miles, it had the disadvantage of being
inconvenient for use in aircraft and cars. This was however overcome
by local purchase of an excellent motor map published by the Palestine
Government, of which a new edition was available. The scale of the
motor map was 1:500,000, which was small enough to cover the whole of
Palestine (less part of the southern desert region) and neighbouring
portions of Syria and Trans-Jordan in one folded sheet. It included
street plans of the three main towns, and showed landing grounds and
civil administrative boundaries. The standard of the various roads and
tracks was clearly shown, and the map was contoured and coloured at
intervals of 300 metres. Bor every purpose except minor tactics it
fulfilled a much-felt want, and was in great demand for issue to M.T,
drivers who had little use for the rather scarce 1:100,000 map. The
chief drawback of the motor map was its cost (l/- per copy) but its
value to re~infarcing units amply justified the expenditure. Similar
local motor maps are usually available nowadays in most countries and
their value in an emergency may at times be overlooked, but it will often
be found that they are just what is required by the mass of M.T. drivers
who now form so large a part of the Army.
A third type of map, prepared by Air H.Q. and printed at the
Palestine Survey Office, was mainly diagramatic and contained in most
convenient form a wealth of military information. The scale was
1.150,000 - which may have been on the large side, as it necessitated
three sheets « and it showed no topographical information except towns,
villages and the main communications. On the other hand it included
every Arao village and Jewish settlement correctly named, and showed the
system of grouping Jewish colonies for defence purposes. Civil, police
an military area boundaries were given in colour: landing grounds,
Wa j railways, and roads classified according to
condition were also included in the detail. Finally it gave the locatio:
o ^ every police station and post (showing whether wireless or telephone
was available), of telephone exchanges, switching exchanges and test
o ices, an the peace stations of the normal garrison. A map of this
ype wao oun to be most valuable: it is easy to print locally and
can be prepared and kept up to date at a Command H.Q. without skilled
, I ^ s value to re-inforcing units in 1936 well repaid the
trouble that had been taken in its preparation.
wac , p n A? 63 ?' 1 ^ : , =L . S silown the scale of issue of the various maps wh:
neces-arv tn 1 ^ v 6 ° f ex P er:i -cnce in Palestine. It was found
units on arTdvpn 6 & er ' Lar ^ er issue of the smaller scales to new
that amnTp o n - i * . 1 6 narrow ma rgin for reserves was due to the fact
Office ^ Tn ies . v/ere obtainable at short notice from the local Sur
this sort of campaign?- ° ° f f0Urld t0 be re< l uired “
(a) A scale of not less
(150 per Battalion).
than 1:100,000 for tactical purposes.
(b) A scale between 1:250,000 and
Royal Air Force, and M.T. drivers
motor map will often suffice.
1:500,000 for commanders, staffs
For such purposes a local
already descrih^dhilf° f ^