TURKS SURRENDER TO ANZACS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 123, 18 February 1919, Page 5

TURKS SURRENDER TO ANZACS

MARKED FEAR OF AIJABS.

Mr. H. S. Gullett, official correspondent in Palestine with the Australian Imperial Forces, relates an incident in the Palestine operations which throws an interesting sidelight on the feeling of tho Turks towards tho Arabs. He says.:—. The ohief and by far the most amusing exploit of the little Ansae campaign fell to a Light Horse Brigade at Zina, about 20 miles to the south. News came through- that a large Turkish force which had been fai to the south on the Hejad Railway at Maan was in an entrenched position at Zina, and a regiment'of Queenslanders rode down to spy out the fend, and if possibo to smash them. The CO. reported that ho was in touch with 5000 Turks who wished to capitulate, but in view of the great hostile force of Arabs by whom they, were grounded they could not- lay down their arms until they wero sure that the Arabs would be kept away from them. So the colonel of the Queenslanders suggested that the whole brigade should burrV down and assure the Turks of The brigadier at once decided to go, and tho 20 miles were covered in less than three hours. The brigade am ed ehortly before dark, and an ertraratonary situation was discovered. ™c lurke were in a strongly defended position around the village. They were made up in the main of Anatolian regular?: ami the cream of the Ottoman army. Mo eover, thev were well armed and capable of a good fight. Our brigade wns not complete, and was outnumbered by about ten to one. , , The Turkish commander rode out aim met the Australian brigadier. 1 wiu surrender," he said, "if you will, protect us against the Arabs." "pertamly, paid the brigadier; "the Arabs are our Allies. If you surrender you. hau nottirn? to fear." But the Turkish leader would not bo convinced. He demanded that the Australian force should be Rieat--Ilv increased before his men gave up their arms. Otherwise he would, be pleased to fight. The Australian general was properly anxious to complete the surrender and save- casualties. , Next morning they Inid down their arms and marched as prisonere to Amman. It wa3 an interesting sidelight on Ihe feeling of the Turk towards the ■\rabs whom he has so long governed. But it is a significant fact that m the Inns campaign the Arn.bs have taken 17,000 Turkish prisoners, and the lurks not a single Arab. To the Arab the Turk has been an enem.v in nrms. lo ths Turk tho Arab has been a rebel, and deserving of a rebel's fflte.

A casket made of specimens of all the New Zealand timbers has been handed to the Belgian Minister for presentation to the Kins? and Que.en of the Belgians. It is the gift of Miss Bessie *ergu6on Hume, of Dunedin, sister of Mr. l'ergns Hume, the novelist.