THE DEFEAT OF THE TURK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 177, 16 April 1918, Page 5

THE DEFEAT OF THE TURK

STORY OF THE BATTLE AN ATTEMPT THAT FAILED COMPLETELY ENEMY LOSSES HEAVY London, April 14. Mr. \v. T. Massey, writing from Headquarters in Palestine on April 13. save:— "After tlio cavalry raid on the Hejaz railway, and the destruction of sections of the lino north ami south of Amman, our forces returned to the west of the Jordan, bringing several thousand Armenians ami Copt refugees from the villages wo had passed through to 6avo thorn from further bitler oppression by the Turks. Tho only troops we had east of tho Jordan were the Australian Light Horso, left to defend tho bridgehead of Ghor Anniyeh. Considerable iw'dies of Turks wero known to bo have moved south through tho pass from Es. Salt, and assembled about Shunet Nimrin and tho road north of tho kill Ml Hod. The enemy had planned a scheme to drive us over the Jordan and destroy tho bridge, but the manoeuvre wholly failed. The Turks suffered overwhelming casualties, and the perensjago of killed to the total force engaged was exceedingly high. "Tho battle began at four on Thursday morning by tho enemy shelling Mnsallnbeh, in foothills overlooking 'he liesau Hoad, about nino miles north of Jt-richo. Thu place was neld by tho Imperial Camel Corps, who wero also holdinp the line of the Wadi Ansa and strong points to tho north of it. The gunfire on the Camel Corps wa? heavy for two hours. An nverago of forty shells a minute wns fired at them before the attack developed. This was quickly checked by our artillery and machine-guns, which inflicted considerable losses on tho enemy, two thousand strong. Meanwhile another Turkish force moved over tho broken ground from tho hills east, of the Jord-in, along two routes, towards the Ghor Anniyeh. Tho Australian Light Horso had dug in on the low mounds and mud cliffs, which make a peculiar 'formation on the east bank of tho Jordan and lend themselves well to defence. The troops were behind wire entanglements, and had machine-gun posts and strong artillery support west of the nyer. The Turks, 'though greatly superior in numbers, got no nearer than three hundred yards from the wire, when they were stopped by a with?ring fire, and held up. During tho whole day they could neither advance nor retire. Another brigade of the Light Horse crossed further south, and tried to envelop the attackers, who, however, threw out machine-gun detachments to protect their flanks. The nature of the country assisted this manoeuvre g '"Late in tho day the enemy artillery opposite the Ghor Anniyoh was silenced by our heavy guns. As soon ns it was dark the .Turks began to retire; leaving largo burying parties, which worked till dawn in front of our wire. Many graves arn visible, and there are probably more in the nullahs yet. At daylight yesterday 367 Turkish and Gorman dead were counted on tho front. The Light Horso defending the bridgehead took more prisoners than they had casualties; end as the enemy also suffered heavily at

Mnsallabeh, the attempt to destroy the Jordan crossing was a disaster for them. —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ANOTHER ARMENIAN MASSACRE WHAT THE BREST LITOVSK TREATY DID London, April 14. The Russian Government has sent a Note to Berlin declaring thnt tl.o offensive of Turkish troops on the Caucasian front was followed by the murder of tho wholo Armenian population. Women nnil children wore killed without mercy, and propej-ty plundered and burnt. Tho peace treaty which the Russians were forced to sign at Brest Litovsk left the determination of the future destinyoorf r the people of the provinces of Ardahnn, Kare. and Batoum to the people themselves. The recent events testify to the renewal of the old policy of annihilation of tho Armenian people. Tho responsibility for all the horrors the Armenian population are now suffering in regions already occupied by Turkish troops lies with the Gorman Government, which directly holped Turkey to secure these regions. Vhe Russian Government ineists on tho immediate and energetic intervention of Germany in the Caucasus in order to stop further murders and annihilation.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.