THE TURKISH RETREAT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 47, 19 November 1917, Page 5

THE TURKISH RETREAT

RETIREMENT BECOMING MORE RAPID THE JERUSALEM-DAMASCUS RAILWAY CUT (Rec. November 18, 11.5 p.m.) London, November 17. Mr. Massoy, telegraphing on Wednesday, states that the Turkish retreat is growing more rapid. Gonoral Allonby's strategy and his indomitable soldiers are inflicting the heaviest losses on the stubborn toe. Yesterday we secured a position running north rod south of Wadi Rubin, from which /to strike at an important junction of the Beerslicba-Jcrusa-fem and tho Jaffa-Jerusalem railways. Determined opposition was shown at the villages of Mughav and Katrah, but broke down before tho Scottish and the Territorials to tho north of Mughar. The Midland Yoomany, with great gallantry, charged woll, and held tho positions, taking 1100 prisoners and two guns, '10-day at dawn the infantry moved to seize the junction and cut tho railway to prevent its use by the enemy for the carriage of material. Our aircraft had previously bombed tho station, which wo captured during tho morning. Jerusalem is now cut off from railway communication with Damascus.

A mound near lluglmr and Katrah to covered with Turkish dead, a fact that speaks eloquently of tho 'valour oMho Scotsmen. Tho Turks dug trenches aud jjunjiits commanding tho flat ground, but tho Soots took tho mound, despite tho troraendous machine-gun and , artillery fire. A counter-attnek drove the Scots out. Thev retired two hundred yards, but ro-fornied, and re-charged under a terrific fire, and getting to grips bayoneted and smashed tho Turks.—Aus.-K.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH THREEffIES FROM JAFFA BAYONET CHARGE IST NEW ZEALANDERS. (Rco. November 18, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 17. An official report from Egypt states! "Wo yesterday reached the Itamleh-Ludd lino to thrco milea southward of Jaffa. New Zealand mounted iroops drove back ,the Turkish attack by a bayonet charge, inflicting heavy losses. The total prison; ers taken since October 31 exceeds 9000. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. continuing!! adyance AUSTRALIANS CAPTURE MANY PRISONERS AND MUCH BOOTY. (Bee. November 18, 11.5 p.m.) • London, November 17. A Palestine official -eport states: "We made minor advances yesterday on certain sectors of our front. The' i'eomonry on Thursday took the Adi> Husbeh Ridge, five miles south-cast of Rainleh, taking 360 prisoners. Tho Yeomaniy carried the position at the gallop. A total of 131 Turks was counted on the ground. lne Australians, in taking El Tinch, captured a large number of prisoners, threo aeroplanes and considerable ammunition and stores The Turks are reported to be ! endeavouring to prepare an entrenched position northward of Jaffa, parallel with j the Auja Rivor.-Aus.-N.Z:-G?.blo Assn.Reuter. GENERAL. AMY DECORATED BY THE SULTAN OP EGYPT. CBoc. November 18, 11.5 p.m.) London, November 17. Tho Sultan of Egypt has conferred on General Allenby the decoration of tho Grand Gordon of tho Nile,-A™.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.