XPost: soc.history.war.misc   
   From: keithwillshaw@gmail.com   
      
   On 21/02/2023 18:27, a425couple wrote:   
   > Alexander   
   > Normal guy with limited brain power Feb 6   
   >   
   > What are the most mind-blowing tricks used during any war?   
   > During the Palestine campaign of World War 1, the British and Ottomans   
   > were deadlocked in a trench-warfare stalemate. The progression was   
   > extremely slow.   
   >   
   > One day, the British learned that the Ottomans had run out of   
   > cigarettes. To try and demoralize the enemy, they sent cigarettes   
   > wrapped in propaganda to the Ottomans. As a response to this, the   
   > Ottomans threw away the propaganda and smoked the cigarettes anyway.   
   >   
   >   
      
   The reality is that Turkey was a major producer of Opium right into the   
   1970's and amongst their major customers until the beginning of WW1 was   
   the British pharmaceuticals industry   
      
   The war against Turkey was remarkable for how successful it was. An   
   Ottoman force launched an attack on the Sinai Peninsula attempting to   
   seize or destroy the Suez Canal - it failed   
      
   In Jan 1917 a newly formed British Expeditionat Force returned the   
   compliment, invading Egypt and advancing to Gaza and pushed on to   
   Jerusalem. This was an era when communications and road were primitive   
   and the BEF was small. Fittingly the climactic battle in Palestine was   
   fought and won at Meggido considered the site of Armageddon.   
      
   In the process 3 Ottoman armies were destroyed and their equipment lost.   
   Jerusalem, Damascus and Aleppo were seized. The Ottomans fought hard but   
   were pooely equipped and asked for an Armistice in October 1918 as the   
   old empire disintegrated into chaos due to famine induced by a British   
   Blockade. A shortage of cigarettes was the least of their problems.   
      
   Total British and Imperial losses were 12,873 killed/missing, 37,193   
   wounded, and 1,385 captured.   
      
   Total Ottoman losses were as best as can be tallied   
      
   Battle losses 15,364 KIA, 34,199 WIA, 10,069 MIA, 78,735 POW   
   Losses from illness were higher with 50,000 dying from illness   
      
   In total the best estimate of total Ottoman losses were 230,500   
   15,364 KIA, 10,069 MIA, 40,900 died of disease, 85,497 WIA/DOW, 78,735   
   Prisoners of War.   
      
   The POW's were mostly Ottoman but 3,000 Austro-German men and 206   
   Austro-German officers were also captured   
      
   In WW1 terms this was considered a side show.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)