'A handbook of Syria (including Palestine). London: Naval Staff Intelligence Department, June 1919' [‎77r] (158/738)

THE PERIOD OF THE CRUSADES
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foot soldiers, with 1,000-1,200 knights and a considerable
number of Turkopoles (light horsemen). A decisive battle was
fought on the road from Seffuriyeh to Tiberias (July 3-4,1187).
On the first day, on ground he had chosen, Saladin fought his
enemy to a stand, and cut them off from all but meagre
supplies of water. The Latins were exhausted by the summer
heat and by the lack of water.* On the second day the Latin
knights were separated from the foot soldiers, and surrounded
by mounted bowmen whom they could not resist. The foot
were driven on to a waterless hill and compelled to surrender.
This battle of Hattin was a crushing blow for the vanquished.
Every castle and town had been depleted of its troops for
the sake of the defeated army. Thus Saladin’s further task
was made easy. By the end of 1189 practically all Palestine,
as far as Tyre, and northern Syria except the towns of
Tripoli and Antioch, were conquered. To secure speedy
surrenders Saladin allowed the Latin garrisons to take refuge in
Tyre, and in some cases released prisoners taken at Hattin.
His policy is open to obvious criticism. Still its success was
great, and the ultimate fate of the country depended upon
the issue of the struggle with the so-called ‘ Third Crusade ’.
The Latin colonies in Syria were saved from extinction by
a great European intervention. Reinforcements from France,
England, Germany, and Italy poured into Syria for more than
two years, and joined in the siege of ‘Akka (August 28, 1189—
July 12, 1191). Saladin lay a short distance from the town
during all the siege, and reinforced and reprovisioned it from
the sea. His emirs were always against his risking a battle,
and in time the superior numbers of the crusaders imposed
restraint. The city was induced to surrender upon equitable
terms. When the French king Philip returned home,
Richard of England became the principal leader of the crusade.
On August 25, 1191, his army set out for the siege of Ascalon.
Saladin’s policy was to destroy the fortifications of the towns
on the coast south of ‘Akka, and harass the Latins on their
march. He twice attacked them in some strength, as they
crossed the rivers by Caesarea and Arsuf. Their trying