BEERSHEBA CAPTURED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 34, 3 November 1917, Page 7

BEERSHEBA CAPTURED

AFTER NIGHT MARCH THROUGH THES • DESERT New York, November 1. Beersheba has been captured.—Aus.. N.Z. Cable Assu. London, November 1. An official report from Egypt 6tates:~ "After a night inarch we attacked Beersheba yesterday morning. While the infantry attacked the western and southwestern- defences, the mounted troops made a'wide turning movement through the desert, and approached the town from the cast. Beersheba. was occupied in the evening in spite of determined resistance by the enemy."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Beersheba, 2S miles south-east of Gaza and ft miles south-west of Jerusalem, is at tho southern border of Palestine. "Dan to Beersheba," in the Biblical phrase, represents, roughly, tho full length of the country. Beersheba. is on or near tho site of the Biblical town of tho same name! and is of archaeological interest on that account; and many remarkable remains itfll exist there. But in the_ war the chief importance of ,the place is': .the fact that the Turks have used it as a base for their operations in Southern Palestine. An important strategic route,. more or less completely railroaded, passes through it from Jerusalem towards the Egyptian frontier.' The railway has on various occasions been damaged by .British raids.l