PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 48, 20 November 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The capfcuro of Jaffa by Australian and New Zealand mounted troops marks a definite stago in the Palestine offensive. Tho advance has now extended at remarkable speed more than forty miles north of Gaza, and thore is no reason to suppose that it has reached its limits. Jerusalem is not yet ocoupied, but for practical purposes it is now behind the Britisn lines. At Jaffa, and for a distance, inland, General AmjßNßY's troops are established well to the north-west of tho Holy City, and they are astride its railway communications with the country to tho north. As a port and the sea terminus of a railway. Jaffa will no doubt prove .useful, but tho harbour is not good. Indeed, it has been described as one of the worst existing. According to a standard authority, it is enclosed by a, "natural breakwater formed by a ledgo of reefs, safe enough for small Oriental craft, but very -?angorouß for largo vessels, which can only make use seaport in warm weather; these never come nearer than about a mile from the shore." Apart from tho railway, Jaffa is connected with Jerusalem by a carriage road, described as bad. * * * *

Interest now centres in tho prospects of a continued advance. Much, of course, depends upon what the enemy is ablo to accomplish in tho way of reinforcement, but the fact that tho Turks have been so heavily defeated and driven back so far and so rapidly, in Palestine makes tho

outlook dcciticdly encouraging and lends colour to the theory that Falkbnhayn's 'plans have been seriously embarrassed and possibly de-1 feate'd. It is stated that tho German commander is sending reserves from Aleppo to relieve the situation, but it is_ evident that the, reinforcement will need to bo on a very considerable scale if this result is to be achieved. It is qjuitc safe to assume that it was no part of Falkeniiayn's plan to use the bulk, or even a very largo part, of the forces at his disposal in lalestine. His natural course would have been to light a holding campaign in southern Palestine and to iaiunch an offensive in Mesopotamia. UespHe the discouraging defeats tho lurks have suffered of late in the utter theatre it offers them a decidedly better field of action tuan Palestine There is a long gap m the Bagdad railway south ol Nisibm; but at this time of the year both the iigns and tho Euphrates offer fairly good facilities for transport, and, much as they have accomplished in recent days Sir Stanley Maude's forces would be somewhat precariously placed if the Turks organised a really powerful attack. 'By limiting tho possibilities of such an attack, as well as in its immediate aspect, tho Palestine offensive is producing splendid results. Allowance must be made for the possibility that increasing chaos in Russia may hborate further Turkish forces. It is possible also that the enemy may be introducing troops from Europe. But the Turks aro certainly suffering a most disheartening experience, and their prospects of successfully rallying, with or without German aid, are not growing brighter.

Unless the enemy is enabled in tho near future to heavily increasq his strength, the British offensive will no doubt be rapidly exwnde'd. North of Jaffa there is a fainy wide coastal plain—the Plain of Sharon —over tne greater part of the distance of somewhat less than 60 miles which separates Jaffa from tho Bay of Acre. Some distance south of the Bay of Acre, however, tho range of Carmel extends from the high country inland to tho coast. The range terminates in-a promontory which practically closes the plain. It is suggested that FalkenH\YN may establish defensive line in this locality with a view to stemming the British advance. Apart from tho natural advantages of the ground he would bo favoured in this area by having a lateral railway (the lino from Haifa, to Damascus) conveniently located behind his front. It was at Acre that Napoleon was brought to a halt when ho set out to emulate Alexander the Great. The present invaders, however, are assisted by naval force, and command of the sea should make it possible to turn even such a formidable defensive line as it is open to the Turks to occupy south of Acre. There is an-incentive to push on to the conquest of tho Bay 'of Acre in the fact that Haifa has the best natural harbour in Palestine.