THE CAPTURE OF BEERSHEBA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 35, 5 November 1917, Page 5

THE CAPTURE OF BEERSHEBA

ENEMY COMPLETELY SURPRISED. (Eec. November i, 11.20 p.m.) London, November 3. Router's Headquarters correspondent, writing from Cairo on November 1, says: —"The veil which obscured the happenings on the Palestine front for some tirno hoi been partially lifted by the wolcomo and important capture of Beersheba. Tito preparations were mado in great secrecy. The quiescenco was broken five days ago. ilhen the guns bega.n a vigorous shelling of tho Turkish lines. Tho firo was most intense about Gaza and Alimuntar, and there was nothing to show that the first blow was goins to fall at the other extremity of the lino, nearly 30 miles away. The enemy about Beersheba is undulating, traversed north and south by deep wadios, the town itself lying in a depression along the banks of Wady Sadah. The Turkish defences extended north, west, and south, at distances averaging from throe to five miles. The position was one of great strength, was well provided with guns and ma-chine-guns, and hold l>y two complete regiments and dotachments of other regiments of infantry and a brigade of cavattack came as a complete and absolute surprise. The Turks were practically wiped out before the news could reach Headquarters. The success was not merely due to oarefully-laid plans, but to tho perfect working of all movemonts, in which troops of all arms participated. The lion'B share fell to the cavalry, ' which marched nearly fifty miles, chiefly in the night-time, with the object of taking tho enemy in tho rear. The Anzao Mounteds took over the circuit, with the Yeomenry forming the junction with the' infantry. General Clmuvel commanded the cavalry. "Tlib movement began after dart, and the Turkish position was completely outflanked before the enemy realised that it was anything more serious than a reconI naissanco. Tho first real resistance mot with was at a strong redoubt at Telelsaba, defending the eastern approaches of the town, which held up tfie immediate advance on the town. While the fight was progressing General Eyrie's light horse brigade captured a position across the wady further east, and established themselves across the Hebron road, cutting off tho escape, and preventing reinforcements from that direction. Telelsaba fell a couplo of hours later, but a strong force of the enemy still held the wady, preventing approach to the town. Goneral Grant's brigade of light horse was ordered to support the Anznes, and attacking after sunset, and using fixed banoyets as lances, they swept over ail opposition, and carried tho town with a rush. Meanwhile tho infantry, after a preliminary bombardment, attacked Die strong defences westward of Beersheba, and captured tho Turkish first line. "After consolidating tho ground won the main position was attacked, and captured after a fight lasting twenty-five minutes. Among tho hills to the northwest the enemy continued to fight, but our combined movements drove them out. Ono of the most satisfactory features is timt our casuallies wcro comparatively small. "Tho new part of Beersheba was found to bo in good condition, but hardly any-