ملف ٧٠٥/١٩١٦ الجزء ١ "انتفاضة عربية - تقارير" [و‎‎٤‎٦‎٣] (٤٩٤/٤٧٣)

At Beeraheba again, on January I 9 th, an agent reports that
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town-criers were sent about to inform the Arabs that they and all
their possessions must be cleared away from the vicinity of all
roads now being prepared for the advance of the forces on Bgypt.
They were told that three armies were coming, a Turkish, a German,
and another of unknown nationality. The soldiers of the last
would eat all their animals, dogs, horses and camels, and would
rape all their women; therefore they should be given a wide berth.
An announcement of this kind may be mere terrorization (as
the last clause suggests) made with a view to influencing the
Arabs at a time when they are leaning towards the Allies’ side.
But it is worth mentioning as a link in the chain of evidence.