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[Page 63]
In addition, the following seem necessary to the Army up to the time when it is in itself ready for attack.
(1) A mixed group of all arms for blocking the roads leading to Es Salt with its necessary Mountain Artillery.
(2) Grouping of the 3rd Cavalry Division on the East bank of the Jordan as "action" troops against enemy Cavalry thrusting through towards the North.
(3) Formation of a reinforced Cavalry Brigade (out of the Caucases Cavalry Brigade and 7th Cavalry Regiment) on the left flank of the VIII Army Corps.
(4) Reinforcement of VIII Army Corps in Mountain Artillery.
(5) Better equipment of the Army in Motor Lorry Columns, and mule transport columns, in order to regulate securely the provisioning and munition supply.
(6) Improvement of the Battle leadership and assignment of necessary materials hereto.
All these preparations are considered at the same time as preparations for an offensive against the English Jordan flank.
We are proceeding with the further restorations of those barriers which were already established on the heights of Salt on the occasion of the last attack. Similar barriers are necessary on the heights East of Salt against an enveloping movement from the South.
The Army would be grateful, if Major Effnert could direct this work for some time as the Army Pioneer Inspector has been sick for 8 days.
I beg your Excellency, as far as it seems expedient to you, to give an exposition of my statements as set forth in the foregoing to His Excellency.
(This document was found in the Yilderin Headquarters Nazareth.)
APPENDIX "H"
MEMORANDUM BY BRIGADE VETERINARY OFFICER.
The following is the animal wastage of 3rd A.L.H. Brigade covering period from November 1st, 1917 to 31st November 1918.
November and December 1917.
Deaths 163. Evacuations 244.
This covers period of Beersheba-Jerusalem operations and was an exceedingly strenuous time for all animals engaged. The deaths include 145 horses that were either killed in action, killed by bombs or destroyed as a result of wounds. 7 were destroyed suffering from exhaustion and 6 from laminitis, 8 died of bowel complaints.
Of those evacuated 100 were evacuated from wounds. The rest were mainly cases of lameness, exhaustion, laminitis and sore backs.
At times during the first fortnight of November, there was a great shortage of water with the resulting loss of vigour amongst the horses. At one stage the whole Brigade, (horses), were without water for from 43 to 58 hours, during which time the work was very strenuous, a lot of it being done at the trot, (after leaving Karm). The longest stretch without water was done by two troops of the 9th Regiment, who went without a drink for 76 hours. At the end of it they looked pretty weary and miserable, and had lost a fair amount of condition, but soon picked up again, after a few days rest.
The average ration for November was 9 lbs of grain, (mostly grain), and no hay stuffs. December the grain was the same with the addition of 3 lbs of tibbin and 5 lbs of hay. The lowest issue was 5½ lbs of grain for one day, and 6 lbs for two days, and this when the climatic conditions were very bad.
The most noticeable change took place in the horses after the cold rainy weather came on, and then they lost condition rapidly and a number had to be evacuated for debility.
Considering the conditions sore backs were remarkably few, and it was over a fortnight after leaving Shellal before any had to be evacuated for that reason, and then only 3. Later on, of course, there were more.