"الملف E9 بعثة فيلبي إلى ابن سعود" [و‎‎٥‎٤] (٢٤٢/١٠٧)

4. as regards personnel,the effectives upon which Ibn
oaud can count,are sufficient numerically,but weapons with
which to arm tii® effectives are not available. From
details given,it may probably be accepted that Ibn Rasnid
has been fairly plentifully provided with rifles. The
number given here,viz 80,000/-,are without doubt exaggerated
•fc46ft,but it would be hardly safe for Ibn Saud to take the
field with less than 15,000 armed men. To equip them he
has received somewhat over 4000 rifles from the British
Government, but these are of many patterns,not comparable
in many respects with the Mauser weapons in the hands of
ti'e adversary. Apart from those received from the
British Government, some thousands of various patternsmay
be reckoned upon in addition,but a deficit of from 5,000
to 0,000 remains which would have to be made good,together
with a proportionate supply of ammunition. For choice,the
pattern preferred is carbine or shofct rifle (magazine).
Possibly captured iusers are most convenient for this
purpose.
5. Maxims The four maxims,already given,are in
store at Hofuf,but are now being brought forward. They havj
never been fired or practised with and only one man remains
who knows anything about t eir use. Mountain guns . Four
serviceable (7.5 CM O.F. Krupp) left by the Turks,two given
by the British Goverfament and one or two more of olde-r patte:
pattern are distributed between Riyadh and ofuf. These
guns hare likewise never been fired or practised with and
their stores and ammunition have never been assembled to
see what may be deficient or lacking. So one is acquainted
with their proper working. Oonsequently,it is essential
that,in the event of operations,a small party of trained
men should be sent to get any effective use out of them.
From all accounts,there are certain defences at Hail,
which might require for their attack,artillery of somewhat
larger calibre than the 0.P.mountain guns. The provision
of such artiilery should hot necessarily delay the prose
cution of operations and in this statement,Ibn Baud is in
agreement