THE BRITISH DRIVE IN PALESTINE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 44, 15 November 1917, Page 5

THE BRITISH DRIVE IN PALESTINE

GENERAL ALLENBY'S DESPATCH RECENT OPERATIONS REVIEWED (Rec. November 14, 8.5 p.m.) , London, November 13. General Allenby, tho Br'tish Com- : mitndcr iu Palestine, describing the operations up fo Thursday last, says:—"The : Turks on October 27 made a, strong rcconnaissanco with two regiments of cavnlrv and three thousand infantry southwest of Tel-cl-Steria. A London yeo- j manry brigade was holding the outpost j covering the railhead, and fought gallantly until tho arrival of our infantry, when tho enemy was repelled with great loss. The Londoners and dismounted yeomanry made a dashing attack on ■ October 31, and gained the whole of th& ] first line of the enemy's defences at Beerslioba. The fighting lasted all day long, and the Turks at evening held trenches i a mile to tho eastward. Tho Fourth j Australian Light Horso charged these, ; which were eight feet deep and four feet i wide, and galloped over them, ending nil : ! resistance. \ "'IV tanks successfully co-operated ! with the Scottish and East Anglian ! troops, capturing the Gnza first line do- ! fences. Two Turkish divisions attempt- ', ed to cut tho Beorsheba water supply. ■ Oar troops, including tho Welsh and English County Regiments, behaved i splendidly, and beat off tho enemy, inflicting enormous casualties. All the troops havo shown a determined fighting spirit. The staff work was good, whilst thn co-operation of the Naval forces was of the greatest value. The number of I prisoners counted up to Saturday night ! was 5594, of whom 256 are officers." ; —AU6.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. A FURTHER ADVANCE (Rec. Novcmoer 14, 11.45 p.m.) { London, November 13. ; TJouter's report from Egyptian Head' $* ; quarters, dated Tuesday, states:—"Severe fighting has been in progress in the vi- j cinity of AYadi Sukereir since yesterday. The enemy's rearguard is putting up a | desperate resistance, and the.fighting Is along a considerable extent of front. According to the latest reports, onr men havo made, an important advance, bring- • i ing them within.seven miles of Bainlen, 1 which is the centre of the Turkish position. Our left has pushed across tho Wadi Ruhim, occupying tho important ; hamlet of Yanileh, and reaohed Kubeibeth. The Turks are offering a. stub- ~ \ born resistance on our front, our right, ; and the centre, which, nevertheless, j gained considerable ground. Tho num- ; ber of prisoners to date totals over 6000, • \ with 90 guns."—Renter. ;