File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎179v] (367/834)

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of the enemy Higher Command, which was forced not only to
leave the garrison of Maan to fend for itself, but also to suffer
the wholesale destruction of the line to the south. L he situation
of Maan at the present moment is not unlike that of Medina in
the early stages of the Arab revolt, temporarily cut off from its
base, surrounded by a superior force, but well armed and
provisioned and daily expecting relief. The inhabitants of Maan
(the town itself is about a mile distance from the station^ are in
communication with Feisal, and were the defenders to give any
clear proof of weakness or fail to supply the local people with
provisions, the potential enemy within the gate might prove
dangerous.
It is to the south of Maan that the chief success has been
scored, and one of the primary aims of the Hejaz operations
attained. The whole of the line between Maan and Mudowara—
a distance of sixty miles—has been in our hands since the middle
of April, so that systematic destruction of bridges, culverts,
station-buildings, reservoirs, rolling-stock and telegraphs has been
carried out. To make good this havoc in itself would be a task
calling for a large number of men, and probably more material
than the Turks could well supply ; while even were the siege of
Maan raised and the Arabs forced to withdraw, the enemy would
have to repair the line in a waterless region subjected the whole
time to the hornet-like tactics of the Arabs. It is more than
probable that the Turks themselves are still in ignorance of the
extent of the damage wrought in this sector. Arab operations
offer little encouragement to the would-be prophet ; but it does
seem at last as if Medina were permanently severed from Maan
and the North, and the garrisons of the intermediate posts and
stations were faced with the alternative of either running the
gauntlet of the besieging Arabs or starving.
So far as the southern Sheridan forces are concerned, one of
the most satisfactory signs of the times is the change in the
attitude of many hitherto neutral or covertly hostile tribes. More
than a thousand of the Billi have come in to Sherif Abdullah,
while over 8,000 Sherarat and 500 or 600 Fuqara have promised
allegiance. This cannot but have a salutary effect on the local
tribes who have been rather too sure of their position ; they now
realise that unless they bestir themselves, the subsidy, thev
had come to look upon as an assured income, will be diverted to
the newcomers’ pockets.
Abdullah s forces have done a great deal of useful work on
the line. They have disposed of several small Turkish parties,
and damaged over 5,000 rails and numerous culverts over a
distance of 400 kilometres. The weather has been a most useful
all) in this respect, whole lengths of line and embankment having
been swept away by sells. Early in May, Abdullah marched
south with a mixed force of Bedouins and u regulars ” and joined
hands with Ali at Bowat. I he combined force now numbers
ovei 12,000 men. Ft is satisfactory to be able to record the