"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [و‎‎٩‎٠] (٧٣٨/١٨٤)

MOHAMMED ‘ALI AND IBRAHIM PASHA 173
Meiruba (October 4). Out of 1,500-2,000 men 300 prisoners
were taken. On October 8 Sir Charles Napier again advanced
to Beit Shehab, his intention being to attack Suleiman Pasha.
There he encountered and defeated 3-4,000 men commanded
by Ibrahim himself (October 10). The troops from Aleppo,
although near, were delayed by the mountaineers. Suleiman
Pasha sent four battalions, which may or may not have been
engaged. After this defeat a concentration at Zahleh was
ordered. Most of those in the camp near Beirut (2,000 men)
now deserted (October 11). At Zahleh about 6,000 men
assembled. About 2,000 deserters had already joined the
invaders and 3,000 prisoners had been taken (Wood, in
Levant Papers III.) Napier’s estimate of 5,000 deserters and
5,000 prisoners shows how even his figures are sometimes
above the mark.
In the latter part of October further movements were in
progress. The garrison of Tripoli was withdrawn to the Biqa‘
(October 18) and the army of the north was concentrated at
Aleppo. Presumably it was still Ibrahim’s intention to hold
Palestine and Damascus. But by the end of October he
foresaw the possibility of a temporary evacuation of the whole
comfijy. The Syrians everywhere were hostile. It was
difficult, therefore, to obtain supplies. The Turkish regulars
had increased to 12,000, exclusive of Syrian auxiliaries. The
Egyptian force at Zahleh did not exceed 10—12,000 men. On
November 3, a great and unexpected calamity occurred. The
fortress of ‘Akka, so often long defended in recent years
against powerful attacks, yielded after a three hours’ bom
bardment by the British fleet. Part of the garrison fled and
part surrendered. Perhaps it was this occurrence which
finally decided Ibrahim to retire to Damascus. The army of
the north left Aleppo on November 13 and Ibrahim retired
from Zahleh on the 27th. By this latter date he knew that
Syria was to be evacuated. On November 9, Mohammed Ali
learned of the fall of ‘Akka and before the middle of the month
he had sent couriers to Ibrahim with orders that he should re
turn to Egypt. In the beginning of December the preparations