The sun., 1919-08-03

achievement. Nearly the whole OF
Arabia was cleared OF Turks and the
deserts were dominated by Feisui.
Thenceforward the whole charac-
ter OF the Arab operations changed.
Belsurs force now became the right
flank Of Gen. Allenby's armies, ana
had to act in cooperation with the Brit
ish troops in Palestine. No longer
could the sheikhs. vivid In colored
robes, lead their men In wild camel
charges. No longer could Feisul throw
himself into the thick Of the fight.
Much against his win, he was induced
to remain at headquarters and act as a
General commanding an organized
army.
Gen. Allenby's help in the provision
of arms and expert officers trans
formed what had been an unwieldy
mass of Bedouins into a small but COM
pact and well trained army. Hence
forth, although the Turkish lines in
the Jordan Valley separated them
from the British, the Arabs efforts,
instead of being joyous ventures of
their own, were subordinate to the
Palestine campaign. AS such their
larger operations received mention in
official dispatches. In dealing with
what followed, therefore. 1 shall con-
fine myself TO matters which, though
not recounted in the communicates,
echoed across Palestine to US Of the
regular forces.
From Akaba Feism sent out bands
OF Bedouins who operated against the
Turks all over the land OF Moab. One
of these, again led by Shereef Nazir
and Col Lawrence, created a diversion
which helped the British in their
descent to the Dead Sea and the Jor-
dan Valley. They captured the rail-
way station of Jurf, and thence
marched to Tafileh. village of some
e.000 Inhabitants, and summoned 1t to
surrender. The Turkish garrison
laughed. Thereupon old Auda gal
Hoped under their bullets to an open
space at the east end of the town,
where he halted, and shouting in his
thunderous voice called on the dogs
of villagers to hand over the Turkish
soldiers. The dogs Of villagers recog
nized Auda, and being more afraid of
bin than they were OF the Turks,
cbeyed. They delivered up the Turk
ish garrison and Nazir's force occu-
pied Tafileh.
Cavalry Wins Naval Victory.
Setting out from Tafileh, the Bedouin
horsemen rode one night along the
east bank of the Dead Sea At dawn
they halted by some bushes overlook
ing little harbor. where part of the
Turkish Dead Sea fleet was moored.
While the crews were breakfasting on
shore the Bedouins dashed toward the
shore. captured the feet with its
crews, sunk the ships, and rode of
with their prisoners before the nearby
Turkish garrison had begun to realize
what was happening. The fleet" con-
sisted only of motor launches and fish
ing vessels; but nevertheless It's de-
struction by irregular cavalry was
unique. None appreciated this more
than two smartly dressed Turkish
naval officers, whom the Bedouins sent
to Akaba as trophies.
After each of his successes Feisul
would send a telegram to King George,
his fathers ally. always ending 1t with
the announcement the truth follows
by post"
Things did not always go so we'll for
the Arabs during the winter of 1917-1S.
The Bedouins were quite unused to the
cold and the snow which they met in
the hills of Moab. Wearing only a
cotton shirt and a woollen cloak, they
suffered in the bitter weather and
many died of cold
Airplanes Piayed Great Fart.
Airplanes played a great part in
the linking of Feisul's army with the
British forces in Palestine. Several
British machines were stationed at
Akaba- Each of their pilots and OBJ
servers whenever he went into the air
took with him an Arab bernous (head
dress) and small book containing
phrases in Arabic. If he were forced
to land in a wild country distant from
his base he would substitute the head
dress for his flying cap, for the bernous
would be useful in placating any fana-
tic nomads who might approach. Then.
f, reading from the book of phrases, he
would ask the nearest Arab to guide
him back to Akabs, promising him by
way of inducement a bride in golden
sovereigns.
The Arab campaign of liberation was
crowned by a magnificent dash to
Deraa and Damascus, as part of the
last great victory whereby Gen. AL
lenby overwhelmed the Turks.
With Col Lawrence and few otner
| British officers a force of a thousand
Arabs, including camel corps. Vickers
detachments, four quick firing guns,
J two British airplanes and three ar
mored cars, set out from Akaba early
| in September. They trekked over 29O
miles of desert, with only three wells
on the way, to Azarak. and from thence
set out for Deraa- The armored cars
meanwhile, made a lone attack on the
Pilgrim Railway, north of Amman
Hating before a four arched bridge
the crews left their cars and destroyed
it with $50 pounds of guncotton. After
ward they drove back to the man
body and helped in the destruction OF
some 600 pairs Of rails further up the
! line.
The Arabs reached a point Iour
miles from Deraa, but there they were
badly harried by nine German air.
planes. Their Bristol Fighter was toe
badly shot about to be Of use. and the
only machine that remained TO them
was a BE-12, a type which is Of
little value for air fighting. Neverthe-
less the BE-12 went into the air, and
the maneuvres of its pilot soon en-
ticed the whole circus Of enemy air
| fo,,r txx-o Gao faro and fottt. ero,.fa