CAPTURE OF NAZARETH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 1, 23 September 1918, Page 5

CAPTURE OF NAZARETH

' (Ren. September 2.1, 0.20 a.m.) London, September 22, Mr. W. Y. Massey, writing from Palestine on Saturday, states: "General Allenby's viotory grows greater every day. Nazareth, Nablus, Samaria, seisan, and Jonin have bocn occupier). The oavalry have captured an enormous number of prisoners. The total counted so far is eighteen thousand, and thousands moro have been taken. The Australian Mounted Division captured Jonin and' over four thousand prisoners. Ono brigade charged the trenches brilliantly, using their swords for the first time. The Turkish army In Palestine is smashed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

(Rec. September 22, 5.S p.m.) London, September 20. General Allonbv's attack began on the .morning of _ September 19. Tho infantry broke right through and had reached Tul Keram, twelve miles from the original front position by three o'clock in the afternoon. The cavalry, after passing through, were advancing eastward in tho direction of Nablus, while another portion qf the cavalry advanced north-west towards the Hai-fa-Beisan line in order to completely intercept the Turkish retreat northward. Allenby's right wing on September 18 attacked west of the Jordan, advanced four miles, and occupied El Mugheir, which is an important junc- , tion of several roads running from east to weet of the Jordan, with the object of cutting off tho enemy's cscapo eastward. There aro eighteen thousand Turks on tho weet side and six thousand on the east side. Allenby is now in rear of the main Turkish foroe west of the Jordan, and the enemy will have great difficulty in extricating himself. Moreover, the King of Hejaz reports that he has severely defeated tho Turks at Tefile, southeast of the Dead Sea.—Reuter.

GENERAL ALLENBY'S REPORT (Rec. September 22, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 20. An official report -from Palestino Btates:—"During the night of September 18 we commenced a general attack between tho Jordan and the sea, Tho British and Indian troops oast of the Jerusalem-Nablus Road advanced successfully and intercepted the Turkish road Communications leading south-east from Nablus. The main \ attack, in which tho French participated, was launched on tho morning of September 18, after a short bombardment, between Itefat and tho coast. The infantry made rapid progress, overrunning the entire defensive system on this frontage by eight_ o'clock in the morning, and penetrating to a maximum depth oT fivo miles before swinging eastwards. . The latest reports indicate that Tulkeram railway junction ivna occupiod in the after'iioon, whilst a brigade of Australian Light Horse had reached tho main Tul Keram-Messudich railway and road in the vicinity of Anebta, outting off largo bodies of the retreating enemy, with guns and transports. In the meantime a strong British, Indian, and' Australian cavalry forco, moving northwards on the coastal plain, seized at midday, the road junction at Hudeira, 19 miles from the point of departure. Eastward of tho Jordan strong detachments of Hojaz Arabs severed tho railway communication leading northward, southward, and westward from Derat. Naval units cooperated in our advance, clearing the coastal roads with gunfire. The operations continue. Over three thousand prisoners had been counted by eight o'clock at night. Many have not yet been counted. Large' quantities of material wero taken. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.

8000 PRISONERS AND IMMENSE HAUL OF BOOTY (Rec. September 22, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 21. Renter's correspondent ivt ■Palestine Headquarters says: "Tho immense importance of General Allonby's victor} , cannot be exaggerated. Under the pressure exorted everywhere by our troops, who are full of enthusiasm and undoterred by their long marches and lighting, the Turkish Army is in full retreat. We have driven tho onemy from a wide tract of country in two days. Our cavalry are in tho plain of Ezdralon, astride the' Haifa-Beisan railway, a fow miloß south of Nazareth. Tho infantry' aro north of Wadi el Shair, a mountain pass to Nablue. Other infantry, facing east, are harassing tile enemy's retirement) towards Nablus. The roads through tho country favour tho soldiers, who throw their kits away in tho endeavour to get free. By this afternoon eight thousand prisoners had passed through the cages, but a largo number of captures have still to como in. AVe liavo taken fully ii hundred guns of all calibres. It is impossible to estimate tho vast quantities of machine-guns, motors, ammunition stores, and rolling stock, which the Turks will find it difficult to replace. On the low ground and in the passes n great quantity of tho transport was immovablo becauno the men had taken the horses to try to escape from our advancing troops _ or from being smashed by aircraft aotion, The railway communications have been damaged everywhere, and the Arab regulars and Bedouin levies huve dono invaluable service in cutting the lleja:', railway north and south of Dcrat and the line running westward of 'that place. Although some of tho enemy nre putting m> a vigorous rearguard fiqht in the hills, they cannot stop our progress. AVe are on three sides of them, and our net is drawing tighter every hour. The battle is far 'from bpinq; finished yet. It is too soon to predict the results of the enemy's defeat. It is already sovore. "The Londoners and Indians rnnde a swift march, from tho AVndi Fulik anross wsrsliv prnun'l to Till Koran whore, with thn aid of n luniintd brigiulo, they rounded m> much trnsiwvt on tilt; move; from Till Ivrnim. Tho infgiitrv move lo Uie north of tbr railway," which the Australians destroyed yestrrdav, denied this pass to Samarai to tlir 'IHirks. Other infantry, which rnrriorl the coastal defences in one marvellous rush, faced the past. Our prop'fKß in the rough hill country is rapid. Sumo of the troops aro approaching Samariii and Messudieh. Though at first they stubbornly reBisted, Turkish rearguards are now re-

treating rapidly towards the El Af'ulehBeisan line, where our cavalry is waiting for them. The attack near the Nablus Road, which began the operations, was brilliantly conducted by Welsh, Indian, and Cape battalions, all of. whom shared in the success."— Reuter.

' THE TURKISH REPORT (Bee. September 21, 2.30 p.m.) London, September 20. A Turkish communique reports intense fighting activity on the whole of tbo Palestine front.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Heuter. ,

GRAPHIC STORY OF THE BATTLE MR. MASSBY'S DISPATCH London, September 20. Mr. W. T. Masse,y, writing from Headquarters, in Palestine on Thursday, says:— 1 'To-day has added another magnificent triumph to the records of General Allenby's army. The General, »b at Beersheba, concealed his intentions in a masterly way, and launched a tremendous artillery and infantry attack at i dawn. It swept ' over the most elaborate system of defences from the coast north of Arsuf, the ancient Apollonia. He crushed all resistance in the coastal sector within two hours, and then threw in the cavalry, which is passing rapidly over the flat ground near tlie coast and is now many miles to the north. London and Indian troops, after passing over the ontrenchments within fire miles of the sea, swung eastwards to envelop the villages which were being attacked by other troops from the south. This movement vas so completely successful that right across tho Plain of Sharon tho whole intricate chain of the Turkish fortified positions is securely in our hands. Three thousand prisoners passed through the oages by tho afternoon, but to-day's captures will probably prove greater. When I left tne front I saw several groups of uncounted men coming in. However, the victory is much more important than the number of prisoners indicates, for the Turk has had a smashing blow, and is retiring into the hills as fast as his weary _ legs permit. We aro pressing him with splendid energy, delivering overpowering blows whenever ho attempts to resist.

Brilliant Staff Work. "The situation ip most promising, and ifc seems certain that General Allenby will deliver another 'large portion of Palestine from the dominion of .the Turk, as well as infliot on the onemy a aevero defeat. Tho preparations for the battle entailed a good deal of marchiug, and the troops were always moved at night and remained hidden in the orange and olive groves during the day. Through our mastery of the air we prevented tJio enemy observers from seeing, any chango in our dispositions. The movements of large columns of troops of all arms was concealed skilfully m'country'where marohing men raiso huge columns of dust ai.d in which the enemy possessed obsorvation 'posts commanding a wide range. That the Turks remained mystified is the finest tribute that could be given to tho Staff work. When the first shafts nf light appeared over tlio Judean hilis there were signs of enemy anxiety. All was quiet in our lines until half-past four, when, as if every gun was hred by the pressure of an electric button, vivid flashes on the fifteen miles from the sen to the foothills illumined the British front. At the samo moment tho infantry had gone over tho top and wore, making their way towards the enemy entrenchments. They were a long way towards their objectives before the Turks could put down R barrage, and in alnwst every case their shells burst a long way in the roar of the attackors, who at many points were cutting wire when, ten minutes after the artillery bombard- 1 ment started, our barrage was lifted to catch the retreating enemy.

Trenches Carried With Oroat Dash. "Miles in the rear of the enemy's positions deep shell scars on the roads and dead Turks caught ii\ the retreat tell of the harassing effect of the guns. Near iho const the London and Indiin troopfi turned the flank very quickly. Leaving many prisoners k> be brought in, they pressed on to take the next system. On the Londoners' right other Indian troops attacked a. deep series of entrenchnittits, well situated on tho low hills. These were carried with grent dash and practically all the Turks acrounled for. Hundreds of prisoners from the 19th Eegimont, including the commander, were taken. Further east the Western County battalions, with Indians, did equally meritorious work. They not only got their objectives early with slight loss, but overcame all efforts to delay them. They got into the village of Miskeh, n mile and a half south-west of Ettereh, early in the morning. Their rapid advance must have caused the Turks deep concern. When they got to Tireh in the afternoon there were Germans north of the town, but the Londoners were moving towards the enemy rear, and the possibilities are favourable for us. Indian unci British troops, operating more "to tho right, having got through the front line, turned east, and, assisted by East Anglian troops, captured Kalkilieh, which was stubbornly .defended. It had boon submitted to devastating fire. East Anglians had met Strong resistance, but long before noon they had the crests and tho shell-torn foothills, and a remarkable peace seemed to prevail on the stony ground which, earlier, bad been hidden under the mass of shell-bursts. "The French troops did well at Refat and Wadi Ayuny in difficult country. They took about 200 prisoners.

The Cavalry Goes In, "At hnlf-past 7 the infantry liail opened the way for tho cavalry to pass through, and wo had tho wonderful spectacle of long columns of British Yeomanry, Australian Light Horses, and tho picturesque ajid keen Indian cavalry moving over a wide expanse of country in tho coastal sector to get to tho onemy's rear. Tliere. has been no finer spectacle in the Palestine Avar than this rapid, well-ordered advance. The horsemen had to cross deep wadis and movo over roads heavy with Band dust, hut all obstacles wero lightly brushed aside. I bolievo they made u , - markablo progress. While important work has been accomplished on the Plain of Sharon, the force on the Nablua road has been kept busy. Welsh und Indian troopo made an advance east of the road, securing important positions. Coori Work by tho Airmen. "The work of the airmen through out the day materially aided in securing the big victory. From daylight till dark the machines, piloted by the Royal Air Force and Australian Flying Corps, incessantly bombed the troops and trnnsport, machine-gunned men on march, camps and transport, and' heavily bombed Afuleh and Headquarters at iNablus. AH day the patrols were over , the enemy aerodrome at Jenin, and whenever a German machine appeared likely to rise it was bombed. I did not seo one enemy aeroplane during the day."—Aus.-N.Z. Caole Assn,