BRILLIANT CHARGES IN PALESTINE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 54, 27 November 1917, Page 5

BRILLIANT CHARGES IN PALESTINE

ANZAC CAVALRY IN ACTION

LIVELY FIGHTING AT CLOSE

QUARTERS

(Rec. November 26, 7.25 p.m.)

London, November 25,

Mr. W. T. Massey reports:—"Our mounted troops have given a brilliant account of themselves during the past

three weoks. Thero have been oldtimo cavalry charges'across open coun-

try, cach etiargo resulting in a glorious success. The Australians and New Zealanders, when advancing on Ramleh and Lydda from the south-west, met considerable opposition, but they pressed on, routing tho Turks, until they reached El Themat. "Here tho Turks were reinforced by two divisions, and made the most determined counterattack against the New Zealanders. The Turks, running very quickly behind their somewhat strong gunfire, got within fifteen yards of our line, attacking with bombs and rifles. Then tho whole line of tho Auckland men and somo of the Wellington Mounted Rifles rushed forward with the bayonet. The Auckland and Wellington men met the enemy with tremendous force, and smashed up the counter-attack completely. Tho Turks broke and fled, leaving over four hundred dead as tho result of the cavalry's work, which went on ceaselessly, despite two periods of dry, scorching winds. One of tho most notable incidents was that which occurred prior to the capturo of Ramlch, the Australian Light Horse galloping over tho trenches at Beersheba. On threo other occasions tho Yeomanry Brigado charged in the open, against guns, machine-guns, and rifle-fire." Mr. Massey pays a tribute to the fine work of tho British Yeomanry generally.— Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.