Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 1918.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 1918.

THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN. llistouy records that the most striking event of 1917 was the capture of Jerusalem on December 9th. The oily fell as a result of a short but brilliant campaign that- really began at the end oi October with the attack on Beerslieba. The campaign in Palestine acted as a flank guard to General Maude’s operations in Mesopotamia. At the beginning of the year, General Murray (who was Chief of General French’s staff at Mons) was in command, and tho British troops were on the Egyptian frontier. There were great difficulties in tho way of advance, the chief of which was the lack of water, and before tlio campaign could bo developed a pipe-lino had to be laid down and a light railway constructed to assist in the work of supply. In the spring the advance began, but- the first attempt to capture Gaza failed. The Turks had taken up their positions skilfully, and | under the direction of German engineers the lino had been strongly fortified. But tho attack did not satisfy the British War Office and General Allenby was sent out to take charge of tlio campaign. General Allenby opened hostilities with a brilliant success at Bceer.sheba at tho end of October, and after that lie used the leverage secured by the- captmt of thp town to bring pressure upon Gaza. At the end of. the first week of November Gaza had fallen, and the mounted troops began to push along tne‘ coastal plain with great speed. In ton days Jaffa had fallow and the British columns changed tho lino of their auvnnop and began to enter the highlands of Judea. With this development tinattack was pressed up the Hebron roan and towards Jerusalem. A fierce seven day’s struggle had been fought where the Turks held a strong position on high ground. The British troops were short of water—so short indeed that •men’s lips cracked and - it was difficultto speak, but the-attack was pressed with the greatest vigour. In the first week in December the British troops were facing towards Jerusalem and pressing on. An envoloping movement threatened the Turks, who retired anu Jerusalem was entered on December 9th. Not a shot had been fired into it by the attacking troops and every respect was paid to the inhabitants. The picture of General Allenby walking unharmed into Jerusalem at tho head of a small military staff is now familiar to all . The victory rounded off the year’s successes, and with the British Cabinet’s declaration of sympathy with the idea of the re-establishment of the Jews in Palestine, the Allies showed themselves as far-sighted in statesmanship as they had been in strategy. The victory did not end the campaign. Tt was resumed this year by the British progress along the Jordan, and then came the fall of Jericho. Then followed a respito, during which General Allenby prepared for the successful stroke the world is now reading about. His advance began along the sea const north of Jaffa, and has reached to Nablus, where a decisive gain was made. Nablus is about a quarter of the way towards Nazareth. Tho victory musthave its effect on the eastern mind. Some of the critics at Home do not believe these Eastern campaigns essential to winning the war, but in a gencr al view of the situation they are highly valuable in maintaining the prestige of the British who must continue to exejcise great influence in the East. Thr' influence will be possible only by an established mana; and General Allenby’s successive victories conduces to that end. The present victory should assist to impress the Turkish mind more and more with the outlook ahead and if the spirit, of surrender was abroad lately as reported, the feeling will be very much encouraged now by the course of events in Palestine.