divisions are incapable
of operating on account of this shortage of animals. The ammunition
supply too is gradually coming into question on account of the
deficiency in animals. The menacing danger can only be met by a
regular supply of sufficient fodder. The stock of straw in the area of
operations is exhausted. With gold some barley can still be bought in
the country.

Every year during the rainy season the railway is interrupted again
and again for periods of from eight to fourteen days. There are also
days and weeks in which the motor-lorry traffic has to be suspended.
Finally we must calculate on the possibility of an interruption of our
rear communications by the enemy. I therefore consider it absolutely
necessary that at least a fourteen days' reserve of rations be
deposited in the depots at the front as early as possible.

The increase of troops on the Sinai Front necessitates a very
considerable increase on the supply of meat from the Line of
Communication area, Damascus district.

V

The troops of General Allenby's Army before the attack on Beersheba
were distributed as follows:

XXTH CORPS.

10th Division.

_29th Brigade. 30th Brigade. 31st Brigade_.

6th R. Irish Rifles. 1st R. Irish Regt. 5th R. Inniskillings.
5th Con. Rangers. 6th R. Munst. Fus. 6th R. Inniskillings.
6th Leinsters. 6th R. Dublin Fus. 2nd R. Irish Fus.
1st Leinsters 7th R. Dublin Fus. 5th R. Irish Rifles.

53rd Division.

_158th Brigade. 159th Brigade. 160th Brigade._

1/5th R. Welsh Fus. 1/4th Cheshires. 1/4th R. Sussex.
1/6th " 1/7th " 2/4th R. West Surrey.
1/7th " 1/4th Welsh 2/4th R. West Kent.
1/1st Hereford. 1/5th " 2/10th Middlesex.

60th Division.

_179th Brigade. 180th Brigade. 181st Brigade_.

2/13th London. 2/17th London. 2/21st London.
2/14th " 2/18th " 2/22nd "
2/15th " 2/19th " 2/23rd "
2/16th " 2/20th " 2/24th "

74th Division.

_229th Brigade. 230th Brigade. 231st Brigade_.

16th Devons (1st 10th E. Kent (R.E. 10th Shrop. (Shrop.
Devon & R.N. Kent & W. Kent & Cheshire Yeo.).
Devon Yeo.).