True to the policy of avoiding all unnecessary harm to the natives, these British aviators never dropped bombs on the town, but--what was more dangerous from the Turkish point of view--they would unload packages of pamphlets, printed in Arabic, informing the natives that they were being deceived; that the Allies were their only true friends; that the Germans were merely making use of them to further their own schemes, etc.

These cleverly worded little tracts came showering down out of the sky, and at first they were eagerly picked up.
The Turkish commanders, however, soon announced that any one found carrying them would pay the death penalty.

After that, when the little bundles dropped near them, the natives would, run as if from high explosive bombs.
All things considered, it is wonderful that the Turkish demonstration against the Canal came as near to fulfillment as it did.

Twenty thousand soldiers actually crossed the desert in six days on scant rations, and with them they took two big guns, which they dragged by hand when the mules dropped from thirst and exhaustion.

They also carried pontoons to be used in crossing the Canal.