MacNamara diary, 19 August 1916-29 May 1919 / John Patrick MacNamara - Page 160
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[Page 160]
the town. They speak fair English & said they were very glad indeed to be freed from the Turkish oppression.
Up to the 26th the official number of prisoners was 50,000 & the guns 360. At the time of our offensive starting the Turkish forces here were about 100,000 strong & consisted of the 4th, 7th & 8th Armies. The 7th & 8th armies were absolutely annihalted while the remnants of the 4th army escaped across the Jordan into the barren regions beyond where they got a bad mauling from Arab regulars & natives who rose against them & tis doubtful if any of them will get clear evetually.
We have possession now of a large portion of the Hedjaz [Hejaz] running from Damacus south which effectively cut off any Turkish forces in the Hedjaz [Hejaz].
We are all wondering now what will happen to the troops here in the event of Turkey giving in. The general concensus of opinion is that the greater part of the forces here will go to Italy or to the Balkans.