'Military Lessons of the Arab Rebellion in Palestine 1936' [‎100r] (204/294)

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existed in Palestine at that time, and of the pressing need for Martial
Law to assist in removing this fatal handicap to military operations
which depended upon surprise for their success.
The plan of action was based upon information that two bands, each
some 150 to 200 strong, were living in the area and making use of known
tracks to descend from their hill fastnesses upon the railway to the
West and the main North-South road to the East. Their bases and areas
of operation are shown in yellow on Map No. 3. The nor them-most band
was said to be commanded by an ex-Officer from Syria and to be based on
caves near Kafr Thulth, whence it operated westward towards the rail
way below Qalqilya. The southern band was believed.-to be centred on
Farkha and to operate against both the railway and the road: its
commander was thought to be an ex-Officer from Trans-Jordan. The
area of their activities was contained in a rectangle bounded by motor-
able roads measuring some 17 miles on the north, east and south sides
and narrowing to 10 miles on the west. It was bisected by a fifth motor-
able track which ran East and Y/est from Huwwara to Has el Ein, and which
was used as the inter-brigade boundary (marked in black on Map No. 3).
It was known that the enemy used tracks running along the beds of
certain wadis, and in fact so difficult was the country that movement
away from these w adis was well-nigh impossible to friend and foe alike.
The troops detailed to take part in the operation were distributed
as under
Northern Brigade Southern Brigade
(Brig. A.3. Beauman, DSO.) (Brig. F. Keith Simmons, MVO.MC.)
1 Loyals.
1 Seaforth.
C.Coy, 6 R. Tanks.
Three and half sections
of R.A.F. Armoured Cars.
8 Hussars.
2 Camerons.
2 Bedfs Herts.
Two sections of R.A.F.
Armoured Cars.
The 2nd Field Coy. R.E. was held in HQ. Reserve at Nablus,
the aircraft, one flight of No. 6 (b) Squadron was detailed to answer
XX calls v/hile a second flight was held under the orders of tne A.G.o.:
No. 33 (b) Squadron remained in reserve at Ramleh, v/hile two aircraft of
No. 14 (B) Squadron were at Jisr A1 Majami in readiness to answer calls
from Brigade commanders for dusk or night reconnaissance. -he wnole
operation was controlled by the A.O.C. from an operational headquarters
which opened at Khan al Lubban at 1800 hrs. on Zero Day. At the^same
time Northern and Southern Brigade Headquarters opened respec ..xv r ej.,> at
Al Funduq and Jamma'in. Zero v/as the 5th. July, the daj following the
full moon which was an important factor in the cnoice. Each Brigade
was accompanied throughout by a civil administrative oificer, a^police
officer and an R.A.F. Special Service Officer, while police guides and
interpreters v/ere distributed among units.
The plan of operations was divided into two pnases: -ne night
phase which was to be concluded by midnight on Zero Day and which con
sisted of the cordoning of the area and the seizure of certain tactical
points, and the day phase which comprised a drive inwards from East and
West starting at dawn on Z plus 1 Day. The positions to be reached in
the night phase and the lines of advance during tne o o ,>arL e> „
shown in red and green respectively on Map No. 3. No —0"v e ° o „
normal stations, except those of headquarters, were «.o ^ e ore
dark, on Z day, and the cordoning of the area was to begin a, ziOO hrs.
The Northern Brigade road cordon of tanks and armoured cars was o
extend from Ras el Ein through Qalquilya to Al Funduq, a distance ox
some 18 miles, while two infantry cordons were to be establisned on the
lines Al Funduq-Deir Istya and An Nabi Elyas - Mas-ha with a view o