FORCES IN PALESTINE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1918, Page 3

FORCES IN PALESTINE

The Defence Minister has received the following message from the, Command-

ant New Zealand Expeditionary Force,

Egypt for publication : —Report on operations, April, May and June, 1918, Now Zealand. Mounted Rifle Brigade Returned from Amman road to Jordan Valley April 2. Occupying trencehs, j construction defences near bridges ana j fords, patrolling across the Jordan j till April 2D. They took part in re- \ connaisanccs in force east of the Jor- j dan on April 29th. This wa s carried j out under considerable hostile artillery j fire. On April 30 and May 1 the brigade was engaged in a raid on E.s Salt, being detailed to operate from the. south. During May 1 and 3 pressure was. maintained on the position at Shunet Nimrin by the force attacking from the south, while other forces entered Ea Salt, from the west of the Jordan. They were occupied in guarding bridge sand patrolling until May 17, when they moved into reserve. On May 28 they moved into a rest camp and remained there until June 13. On I June 15th they took up the defence of a sector in the Jordan Valley, patrolling and occupying trenches until the end of the month. The enemy shelled the bivouac areas on several days and snipers ■were more activo then usual.- The Ra-U-otongans were employed on special duties north of Jaffa. The loth Company 1.C.C., was training and patrolling the canal area till Juno 14. It then moved up the line to join another company and commence training ns mounted rifles. 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 oamp to a new camp in the canal zone on May 30. and the New Zealand section camel depot joined them on Juno 26.