File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎243r] (494/834)

The general attitude of the population towards Mr. Philby
was passively unfriendly. At Dam trouble might have occurred.
The messenger, sent in advance to announce the arrival of the
party, was assaulted, and the villagers sent out a force to obstruct
their advance. However, two days, spent in the exchange of
abusive letters, satisfied the local amour propre. Seven days
were spent in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. , but the oasis of Hauta, where the people
are reported to be more aggressively insular than the other
natives of Nejd, was not visited. News of the war has not
penetrated Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. , though it is reported there that a fight took
place recently between Idrisi and the rmain, each of whom was
accompanied by a British officer.
The climate on the whole was good, very dry, hot by day,
and delightfully cool at night. There were regular winds which
kept down the temperature. The highest temperature recorded
in Aflaj was 114°, while on many (lays in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. and on the
plateau 100° was not reached. The minimum temperature in
Kharj was 59° and in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. 70°.
ARABIA.
North-West.
intelligence.
Northern Area.
Colonel Joyce, writing from Abu Lissal on August 13,
explains the causes of the failure of the attack on Jerdun on
July 21 {see p. 269). Emir Feisal appears to have guaranteed
the co-operation of four or five thousand Bedouins, but the latter
attended only as spectators. It was unfortunate, too, that two
of the Sherifian guns broke down after firing a few rounds, and,
though aeroplanes and an armoured car co-operated, the enemy
cruns were not silenced, and continued to fire all day. The
Sherifian infantry advanced with great dash to within three
hundred yards of the enemy position, where they were held up
by the converging fire of four machine guns. Despite the total
lack of supports or reserves, they held their position for six
hours, and finally withdrew in good order, bringing their
wounded with them. The Arab losses were somewhat heavier
than the Turkish, but against this must be set the considerable
demolitions carried out, under cover of this attack, north and
south of Jerdun.
Tabia el-Hamra, which had been attacked and occupied by
a small section of the Sherifian Camel Corps on July 20 {see
page 269), was evacuated, in defiance of Feisal’s orders, by
Sheikh Hissar and the Amran, who withdrew to Tahuna. Turks
from Maan immediately re-occupied the post. A demonstration
against the place was made on July 26 by two companies of the
Arab army, supported by two armoured cars. The latter opened