'Military Lessons of the Arab Rebellion in Palestine 1936' [‎138r] (282/294)

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PICQUETTING
9. A cursory examination of the available infantry forces in Palestine
proves conclusively that a continuous system of picquetting such as is a
adopted on the North-West frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. of India is quite impossible. The
Northern Brigade has found it necessary already by day to picquet
certain portions of the following main roads in order to keep them
open:-
(a) Road JENIN - DEIR SHARAF - NABLUS - KHAN LUEBAN.
(b) Road DEIR SHARAF - TULKARM.
10. Commander, Southern Brigade, has picquetted certain portions of the
RAMALLAH - KHAN LUBBAN road between kilos 22 and 42, picquets being
supplied by a company encamped on the spur just West of Kilo 28.
The JERUSALEM - LYDDA railway between AL WALAGA and ARTUF has also
been picquetted.
In addition to the above, the A.O.C. wishes Commander, Southern
Brigade, to consider picquetting of the main JERUSALEM - JAFFA road (plus
the JERUSALEM water pipe line) between DISKAN Orphanage and BAB EL WAD.
11. Picquets should be self-contained and entrenched or ’'sangared”.
12. It remains to be proved whether the best system is to establish
picquets by day only, withdrawing them by M.T. before nightfall, or to
live on the ground relieving picquetting troops frequently. Both
systems have the merit of providing a M bait M for the enemy as the picquets
move into position, whereas the latter has the added advantage of keep
ing an area quiet and of preventing night sabotage as well.
PATROLLING IN MOTOR VEHICLES AT NIG HT
13. Where night patrols on roads are necessary it has been found by
experience that the best results are achieved by employing A.F./'s
either with the Naval pom-pom or 3-pdr., and a searchlight. The use
of infantry patrols in unarmoured M.T. is to be discontinued. It is
unsound to run the risk of casualties when we can employ vehicles
impervious to S.A. fire.
14. If road blocks are met by A.F.V’s. and Naval artillery detachments
the fire of the latter has been found quite sufficient to ’’bolt" the
enemy, who can then be dealt with by the machine guns of the A.F.V s.
assisted by the searchlight.
The following formation appears to be the most suitable:-
Armoured Car.
Pom-pom or 3-pdr lorry.
Searchlight lorry.
Armoured Car, ^ o
All vehicles carrying a small extra complement of infantry whose
duty is to look for enemy casualties, their arms and ammunition, and
examine enemy positions after firing has ceased.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST ARMED BANDS
15 So far, experience shows the action of armed bands to be confined
almost entirely to ambushes and attacks by fire action on motor vehicles
moving on the main roads. There has been one attack on a picquet
moving into position. Such attacks may be divided into.-
(a) Night Attacks.
(b) Day Attacks.