PALESTINE CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 146, 9 March 1918, Page 7

PALESTINE CAMPAIGN

TURKS STEADILY DRIVEN BACK

STRONG LINES HELD BY THE

BRITISH /

GERMAN AIRMEN OUTCLASSED

Cairo, March 7. Mr. W. T. Massey, "The Times" correspondent at the Palestine Headquarters, writing on March 6, says. "During the past week the Turks have had much to think about in the various sections of their, lines. Hardly.-.a day passed without the"-enemy being compelled to yield positions of value. The most important of our advances were at tho north end of cui line, west of Bireh, three days, ago, when the Welsh and Home Counties .troops made a strong attack on both sides of the Nablus road, on a twelve-mile front, end pushed baok the enemy a mile and a naif. This operation in the hill country, taken in conjunction with the capture of Jericho and the high ground west of that place gives us immensely strong lines round Jorusalem.

"11l continuation of the lino westward, the Irish troops forced the Turks from broken country, while the enterprise of the South-Western County soldiers in the foothills wis fully rewarded by the ground gained. One 'light the Indians rushed a 400-feet hill, completely surprising the Turkish garrison. "The British aerial supremacy is maintained. Though the German aviators show signs of more activity, they pay dearly for it. In the last two days we made long flights over the Dead Sea to harass the enemy communications ■with the Hejaz. We dropped many bombs on the Katrani. station and camps, and, on an aerodrome :west of Kerak. Excellent results were observed. Yesterday wo bombed a station south of Katrani."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable 'Assn.