THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16156, 9 March 1918, Page 9

THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN.

TURiCS PUSHED BACK. BRITISH FORCES STEADILY ADVANCING. (By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) CAIRO, March 7. Mr W. T. Massey, correspondent with the Headquarters Staff in Palestine, r»-1 ports from the Palestine Headquarters under date March 6th: — 3>uring the past week the Turks have had much to think about in various sections of the line. Hardly a day hafc passed without the enemy being compelled to yield positions of value. The most important of our advancer were north and west of Bireh, three days ago, when the Welsh home counties troops made a strong attack on both sides of the Nablus road and on a 19 miles front pushed hack tho enemy one mile and a half. This operation in hill country, taken in conjunction with tho capture of Jericho and the high ground west of it, gives us immensely strong lines round JerusnJem. In continuation of the line westwards, the Irish troops forced the Turks from tho broken country, while the enterprise ?f the South-Western County soldiers in the foothills < was fully rewarded by the ground gained. One night the Indians rushed a 400foot hill and oompletelv surprised the Turkish garrison. Our aerial supremacy is maintained. Though the German aviators show signs of more activity, they pay dearly for it. In the last two days we have made long flights over the Dead Sea to harass the enemy communications with the Hedjaz. "We have dropped many bombs on "the Katrani station camps and the aerodrome west of Kernk. Excellent results were observed. Yesterday we bombed a station south of Katrani.