THE FIGHTING IN PALESTINE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 79, 27 December 1917, Page 5

THE FIGHTING IN PALESTINE

JAFFA SAFEGUARDED ENEMY'S MORALE LOWERED BY LOSSES London,"December 25. : Reutor's correspondent at the Palestine Headquarters, writing on Monday, says that in the past week British troops have been engaged in local skirmishes at various parts of ilia line, with the result that the front was slightly advanced an'd _ The most important action was .to the north of Jaffa. The Scottish' infantry forced thn passage of the river A«ia in face of heavy ahd established a strong line ten miles north of Jaffa, which was thus safeguarded from the menace of enemy long-distance shelling, especially along the roads of approach from the east.

The river Auja, after the Jordan,_ is the stream in Palestine best supplied with water; however, it has a very, short course through the coastal plain. Under the protection of a heavy bombardment the engineers threw bridges across it during the night. On December 13 the, Turks fought to oppose the passage' of artillery and ma-chine-guns, but their <m°ort».-failed_ to even delay the progress of the British. The Turkish positions north of tlio river were captured by a gallant rush, which yielded over three hundred prisoners. On the north-oast General Alienors troops also pushed beyond the Jewish colony of Mulebdieh, the centre of a rich agricultural district, while east of Jerusalem the Wolsh, Cheshire, snd the Home County. troops made a, further slight advance'. Apart from -tho material advantages gained in this series of minor, operations, they inflicted considerable losses, which tended to lower the enemy's morale. The weather during the last ten days has been cold, with heavy rains. The Turkish commissariat seems to have failed, and prisoners complain of shortage of foodstuffs.—Reuter. DRIVING TOWARdTtHE JORDAN \ • Washington, December 25. Official advices state that General Allenby's troops have advanced to a lino nine miles north-east of Jaffa, And are driving towards the Jordan. Eainby has surrendered. _ • •_ The Mesopotamia campaign is continuing successfully, and the, Russian Cossacks are co-opoTating "with the British.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.