FORCES IN PALESTINE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 261, 23 July 1918, Page 6

FORCES IN PALESTINE

The Defence Minister has received the 1 following message from the Commandant, 1 !New Zealand Expeditionary I'orce, 1 Ugypt, ior publication-.—ileport on opera- 1 tions, April, May, and June, 1918, i\ow 1 Zealand Mounted liiUu Brigade, j*aturn- : ed from Amman ltaid to Jordan Valley 1 April 2. Occupying trendies, constructing defences neur bridges and l'ord6, jm- ] trolling across the Jordan till April 28. • Tliey took part in reconnaissance in ' t'orco east of the Jordan on July 19. This ' ' .was carried out under considerable iiostilo artillery tiro. On April !I0 and May ' 1 the brigade was engaged iu a raid on Salt, being detailed to operate from the. south. During May 1 and 3 pressure was maintained on the position at ijliunet Kimrin by the force attacking from the south, while other forces entered Es Salt from tho west. On the return from Es Salt on ilav 1 the brigade withdrew to west of the Jordan. They wore occupied in guarding bridges and patrolling until May 17, when they moved into reserve. On May 28 they moved into a rest camp and remained tnere until Juno 13. On June 15 they took up the defence of a sector in tho Jordan Valley, patrolling and occupying trenches until the end of the month. The enemy shelled tho bivouac areas on several days, und snipers were nioro active than usual. Tho Rarotongnns wore employed on 6)>i'cial duties north of Jaffa. Tho 15th Company, 1.C.C., was training and patrolling the canal area till June 11. It then moved up the lino to join another company and commence training as mounted rifles. j The 16th Company, 1.C.C., was with the Imperial Camel Corps in operations east of the Jordan Valley in April and May. It moved back and commenced reorganisation as mounted rifles. One other unit moved from camp to a new camp in the canal zono on May 30.. mid the New Zealand.section camel depot joined them on June 26.