'A handbook of Syria (including Palestine). London: Naval Staff Intelligence Department, June 1919' [59r] (122/738)
The record is made up of 1 volume (365 folios). It was created in 1919. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
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MILITARY HISTORY
111
periods). Invaders of Palestine coming from Damascus or
the north have usually fought their battles in the plain of
Esdraelon (Merj ibn ‘Amir). The decisive battle of Hattln,
on the hills above the plain, was an exception; the choice
of site was then part of Saladin’s plan for forcing the Latins
to an engagement. There are three gates of entrance into
Palestine from Damascus, (a) by Baniyas, (6) across the
Jordan, south of Lake Huleh, (c) across the Jordan, south
of Lake Tiberias. These also determine the routes by which
an army from Palestine or Egypt advances against Damascus.
The chosen battle-ground of the army of Damascus against an
enemy approaching by either of the southern routes was
frequently Merj es-Suffar, between Kisweh and Sanamein,
a day’s march south of Damascus. The invaders of Palestine
from Egypt were usually met just on the border at Rafah
(near Khan Yunus) or towards Gaza. When an Egyptian
garrison held Gaza or Ascalon, the country northwards as far
as Ramleh and Jaffa was the scene of frequent battles (cru
sading period). Occasionally armies met farther north where
the spurs of Carmel join the central hills (Thothmes III,
Pharaoh Necho). It seems to have been unusual for invaders
to enter the hill country of Judah from the Philistine plain.
If they did so, a battle might have to be fought in one of the
valleys leading towards Jerusalem (Ajnadein, a. d. 634).
The weapons and military methods and organization of
Syrian wars are necessarily those of the foreign powers who
have ruled and fought in Syria. They are commented on in
each successive period. The development of equipment and
tactics is always affected by collision with new enemies. This
finds striking illustration in the case of the Arabs, who adopted
and adapted the principles and practice of Greek warfare when
they became a world power. As early as the ninth century
they were also influenced by Turkish models and leadership.
It is wrong to describe the tactics of the Moslem armies which
fought with the Byzantines and the Crusaders in terms of
the warfare of the Arabs of the desert. The ‘ oriental ’ method
of fighting in mediaeval times and later was Turkish rather
About this item
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Admiralty handbook regarding Syria (including Palestine) 'to as far north as the River Orontes and a line Antioch-Aleppo-Meskeneh. For details of the part of Syria beyond this line reference must be made to the Handbook of Asia Minor , Vol. iv, Part 2 (C.B. 847 C).'
'Contents. Chapters:
- I. Boundaries and Physical Survey, p 9 (folio 7)
- II. Climate, p 24 (folio 14v)
- III. Minerals, Flora and Fauna, p 93 (folio 50)
- IV. Military History, p 109 (folio 58)
- V. Inhabitants, p 175 (folio 91)
- VI. Turkish Administration, p 236 (folio 121v)
- VII. Agriculture, p 252 (folio 129v)
- VIII. Industry and Trade, p 276 (folio 141v)
- IX. Currency, Weights and Measures, p 318 (folio 162v)
- X. Jebel Ansarīyeh, p 325 (folio 166)
- XI. Country East of Jebel Ansarīyeh, p 344 (folio 175v)
- XII. Lebanon, Anti-Lebanon, and Damascus Plain, p 357 (folio 182)
- XIII. River Systems of Northern Syria, p 395 (folio 201)
- XIV. Judea and the Southern Desert, p 427 (folio 217)
- XV. Samaria (including Carmel), p 472 (folio 239v)
- XVI. Galilee, p 515 (folio 261)
- XVII. Haurān and Jaulān, p 556 (folio 281v)
- XVIII. 'Ajlūn and Northern Belqa, p 580 (folio 293v)
- XIX. Southern Belqa and Ardh el-Kerak, p 612 (folio 309v)
- XX. El-Jibāl and Esh-Shera, p 636 (folio 321v)
- XXI. The Ghōr (Jordan and the Dead Sea); and Wādi 'Arabah, p 645 (folio 326)
- Appendix: Conventional Spellings, p 668 (folio 337v)
- Index, p 669 (folio 338)
- Plates, p 725' [missing]
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (365 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume contains a contents page (folio 6) and an index (folios 338-365).
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 367; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence. The volume originally contained fourteen plates showing maps, bound into the back of the volume. These are now missing; details of the plates can be found at folio 5v.
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/16/15
- Title
- 'A handbook of Syria (including Palestine). London: Naval Staff Intelligence Department, June 1919'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:366v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence