"إرسالية من اللواء ج. م. ستيوارت، رفيق وسام الطهر، حول عمليات قوات عدن الميدانية في الفترة من ١ أبريل إلى ٣١ أغسطس ١٩١٨" [و‎‎٢] (٦/٣)

CONFIDENTIAL.
i
{By. No. 76797.)
No. 1124-12-G.S., dated Aden, tlie 31st August 1918.
From—The General Officer Commanding, Aden Field Force,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Army Headquarters, Simla.
I enclose herewith a summary of the operations of the Aden Field Force up to
31st August 1918.
I recognise that this is not really a despatch, but a report of operations. But
in accordance with the instructions conveyed in War Office telegram No. 84253-
M. S.-3 of 7th August 1918,1 submit a list of officers and men whose services during
the period under consideration are deserving, in my opinion, of recognition by
mention in despatches, as well as a list of those I recommend for specific reward.
I would request that such recommendations as may receive the approval of
His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief may be telegraphed to the India Office as
otherwise it seems improbable that they can reach the War Office by 1st November
as directed in the above mentioned War Office telegram.
Copy to the Chief of the Imperial General Staff.
No. 1124-11-G.S., dated Aden, the 31st August 1918.
From—The General Officer Commanding, Aden Field Force,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Army Headquarters, Simla.
In my No. 1124-9-G. and No. 1124-10-G. of 18th February and 15th Mav res
pectively, I submitted an account of4;he operations of the Aden Field Force up to
31st March. I now have the honour to forward an account of the operations from
1st April 1918 to 31st August 1918.
2 ; During this period the hot weather has rendered any considerable operations
inadvisable, and the withdrawal of the British battalion to barracks in Aden has
also largely reduced the number available at Styeikh Othman for offensive opera
tions. ^
The. troops have, however, continued by means of constant reconnaissance and
patrol work, to keep touch with the enemy’s dispositions and prevent him from
weakening his piquet line.
These duties and other enterprises of a minor character against the enemy’s
piquets have led to frequent skirmishes in which the enemy have invariably been
compelled to retire.
3. The more important of these encounters occurred on 16th May when the
Hatum defences were successfully engaged ; 7th June when reconnaissance to the
east of Hatum resulted in a number of casualties ; enterprises against piquets east
of Darb tomb on 2nd July and 10th August, while on 30th July the cavalry under
took a very successful enterprise against an enemy detachment, which had been
placed at Bir Salah, 7 miles north-west of Little Aden, as a base for enemy smuggl
ing enterprises. 65
4. The artillery have also continued, usually with aeroplane co-operation, the
systematic bombardment of enemy camps. Though, since the arrival of the
aeroplanes the enemy has to a great extent “gone to ground ” as a result of these
bombardments, and his camps are now very hard to locate, there is no doubt that
considerable loss is occasioned as evidenced by the reports we get of frequent
changes of camp sites. 1
5. The Royal Air Force has continued to render invaluable service in spite
of the great heat and normally heavy winds which render flying both difficult and
dangerous. In addition to normal reconnaissance work they have carried out
continual bomb raids on enemy camps and headquarters. The planes have been
repeatedly hit, the enemy having improvised some quite effective anti-aircraft
defences, probably from their Q. F. mountain guns.