THE BEERSHEEBA BATTLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1917, Page 2

THE BEERSHEEBA BATTLE.

GENERAL ALLENBY’S STRATEGY. AIAGNIFICENT*WORK OF THE TROOPS. TAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] . LONDON, Nov. 5. Mr. Massey, in a stirring dispatch, describes General Allenby's surprise blow which smashed the eastern end of the Turkish line, and wrested Beersheba from the enemy. There was stern fighting all day wherein the New Zealand and Australian Mounted and the British infantry displayed great endurance and courage, doing everything as planned, so that the Staff scheme seemed to go like clockwork. The story of the day will add glory to the lads from £he.English cities, shires, and Australia and New Zealand, with splendid horsemen. The British infantry, after a long night march, attacked with such determination that they tore down the entanglements with their hands, and then, as the moofo rose over the Judea hills, the Australian Horse dashed strongly ahead to the trenches, and captured the town. At dawn on the 31st, the Australians and New r Zealanders were south of Beersheba, and the British infantry facing the northern, western, and south-western defences, which were out on a-range, hiding Beersheba . from Anew.

Tho Turkish entrenchments were elaborate, skillfully chosen, and heavily protected. Wire and guns covered all the approaches. The prisoners declare ( hat they believed Beersheba to bo Impregnable. General Allenbury’s astonishing success in ooncealing the march across the desert, is the outstanding reason of the success.

Thte movement commenced with a cavalry scrap on the 27th, when three thousand Turk s and twelve guns attack ed the British cavalry screen occupying the high ground near Jerusaleura-Beer-sheha railway. The British squadron held out through the day, though both flanks were enveloped; but though surrounded on both sides, they were able to occupy the ground without fighting. - The British infantry marched through the night, hidden in the. day- • time in wady beds. In the night of the 30 and 31st, the Australians and New Zealanders made a wid© rapid sweep to the south-west in order to rush at dawn, and get astride of the Hebron road to prevent the Turkish retirement. The infantry attacked Hill 1070, and succeeded by an irresistible rush within half an hour through a German machine-guns section and occupied the hill. The infantry then pressed on to the Wady Sarat trenches, making rushes across the open unheeding the enfilading guns. Bombers dashed wherever our artillery broke the wire. Elsewhere the Britishers tore the wire from iron/ supports with their hands. It was grand work English countrymen showing inspiring courage and resource though fighting for twelve hours. They captured one defence after another, until all the Beersheba stronghold was captured by 9.30. Marty Australians and New Zealanders rode thirty mOqs before getting into action. Their work was as meritorious as the Britishers. They first captured Sakaty, a high bill six miles north-east of Beersheba, dominating a widp -district with their usual elan. These big Australians stopped at nothing. They rounded up very Turk in Dakaty Hill by one in the afternoon, and then captured Hebron road. Even more difficult wa s the taking of Tel El Saba, a foot hill three miles east of great strength, and made almost unapproachable by steep banks of wady mnning alongside; but the New Zealanders crossed it by 3.30. They then turned their attention to a group of houses between the hill and Hebron road, held by German machine gunners. This felt the full weight of the colonial arm. It was getting dark and their anxiety about water for the horses, but with the Australians, they soon settled the matter. FURTHER BRITISH ADVANCES IMPORTANT WATER SUPPLY SECURED. FOUR COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED. LONDON, Nov 4. Headquarters in Palestine reports: Our advance yesterday morning amounted to a depth of eight hundred yards on Umbrella Hill, and on the right to two thousand yards. At Shieks Hassen on the seashore we are off Gaza. The Scottish and East Anglician troops shared the honor s in the fighting. Four counter-attacks were repulsed with heavy enemy losses. All our gains were maintained, and the positions consolidated. On the right flank our infantry dislodged the enemy from Albuir Geig station eight miles northwest of Beersheba, where there is an abundant water supply. The enemy’s retreat was so precipitate that there was no time to destroy the (new pumping plant. Operations are importantly dependent on water supply hence the value of these successes. Cavalry brushes occurred in the hilly country some miles north of Beersheba', the Turks being driven in the direction of Dbanerives. Their communications in the rear suffered heavily from the fire of our artillery, which blew up three ammunition dumps and damaged the railway.

ATTACK ON TURKS. LONDON. Nbv. sth. A Mesopotamia' official message says:— A reconnoitring column engaged Turks on tho right hank of the Tigris opposite Dur. The enemy withdrew towards Tekrit under cover of a strong rearguard. We drove out the latter from successive lines of trenches and occupied the whole position.