PALESTINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1918, Page 1

PALESTINE.

TAUSTRALIAN i\- N.2. CAIIU ASSOCIATION/ TIIE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN. LONDON, September ]9. A message from Palestine headquarters states: “On Thursday General-Allonby’s army brilliantly carried .a whole series <T Turkish fortified positions from across the Plain of Sharon. It was a surprise attack on the enemy’s strongest entrenchments. yin* infantry attacked, after ten minutes' bombardment, swiftly carried -.the elaborate systems, and enabled the Yeomanry, the Australian Light Horse, and Hie Indian Cavalry to pass through. The horsemen are now in tin' enemy’s rear. EuM 3000 pi isoners were taken to-day. The position is most promising. Australian and British airmen incessantly bombed nipt machine-gunned the enemy troops and transport. THE PALESTINE SUCCESS.

DETAILS OF OPERATIONS. LONDON, September 20. Mr Massey writing from Palestine says the situation is most promising. Tt seems certain that General Alienby will deliver another largo portion of Palestine from the dominion of tne Turk, ns well as inflicting on the enemy a severe defeat.

Preparations for the battle entailed a or,')d den! of marching. The troops always moved at night and remained hidden in orange and olive groves in the day-time. Through our mastery of the air, we prevented the enemy observers from seeing any change in the dispositions. The movomoul was concealed skilfully in a country where marching men raise huge columns of dust, and the enemy possessed observation posts commanding a wide range. That the Turks remained mystified is the finest tribute that could he given of the staff’s work.

When the first shafts of light appeared over Judea (Tills, there were signs of enemy anxiety. All was quiet in our lines until half past four, when, as if every gun was fired by the pressure of an electric button, vivid flashes on a fifteen miles front, from the sea to the foothills illuminated the British front. At the same moment the infantry had gone over the top, and were making their way towards the enemy entrenchments and were a long way towards their objectives before the enmv could nut down a barrage. In almost every ease their shells burst a long way in the rear of their attackers, who at many points were cutting wire, when ten minutes after the artillery bombardment our barrage lifted to catch th c remaining enemy.

A DAY OF VICTORY. ALL ARMS WORK WELL. GREAT AIR WORK. LONDON, September 23. Mr Massey added—Three miles in the rear of the enemy’s positions deep shell scars one tho road and dead I urks caught in the retreat, tell the harnessing effect of our guns. Near the coast, the London and Indian troops turned tho flank very quickly, and leaving the prisoners to be brought in, pressed on to take the next system. On the Londoners right, other Indian troops attacked a deep series of entrenchments well-situated on low hills. These were carried with great dash, practically all the Turks were accounted for, there being hundreds of prisoners taken. The 19th. regiment 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 they overcame all efforts to delay them, and got into the village of Miskoh, a mile and half south-west ol Ettoreh, early in the morning. They rapid advance must have caused the Turks deep concern. When they got- to Tirch in the afternoon, there wore Germans north of the Town, but the Londoners were moving towards the enemy rear, and the possibilities are favourable for us. Indian and British troops opera!ling more to the right having got through the front line turned cast and assisted by East Anglian troops, captured Kalkilieh, which was stubbornly defended. It bad been submitted to a devastating fire and the East Anglians had mot with strong resistance, but long before noon they had the crests of tlm shell-torn foothills and a remarkable peace seemed to prevail on tho stony ground, which earlier had been bidden by a mass of shells burst.

French troops did well at Rofnt and Wadi Ayuon. in difficult country, talcing about, two hundred prisoners. By half past seven the infantry bad opened a way for the cavalry to pass through, and we had the wonderful spectacle of long columns of British yeomanry over a wide expanse of country in the coastal, sector, io get to tlm enemy’s roar. 'I hero has been no fmci spectacle in the Palestine war, Ihaii this rapid, well ordered advance. Tho horsemen had to cross deep wadis and move over roads heavy with sand and dust but all obstacles were lightly b'rushcd aside. I believe they have made remarkable progress.

While important work was accomplished on the plain of Sharon, a force on tho -NoWus rood had boon kept busy. Welsh arid Indian troops made an advance east of the road securing important positions. The air work through the day materially aided in securing .tile big victory. From daylight till dark machines piloted by the Royal Air Force and Australian Flying Corps incessantly bombed tho troops and transport columns, and machine-gunned men on the march, in camps and the transport. They also heavily bombed Anuleb and tho headquarters at Nablus. All day, patrols were over the enemy aerodromes

at Jenin, and whenever a German machine appeared likely to rise, it was bombed. I did not see one enemy aeroplane. during the clay.

ALLKNBY’S SUCCESS. A SMASH THROUGH. LONDON, September 20. General Allenby’s attack began on the morning of the 19th. The infantry broke right through and reached Tulkcrliam, twelve miles from the original front position. By three in the afternoon the cavalry after passing through were advancing eastwards in the direction of Nablus, which another portion of .cavalry advanced northwest tokwards Elafula and Beisan, in order to completely intercept the Turks retreat northward. General Allenby’s right- wing on the 18th attacked west of Jordan, and advanced four miles. They oc.upicd Elnuighier, which is an important junction of several roads from east to west of the Jordan with the object of cutting off the Turks’ escape to the eastward. There are eighteen thousand Turks on the west- side and 6000 on the oast side. General Alienby is now in the rear of main Turkish force west of the Jordan. The enemy will have great difficulty in extricating himself.

King Hedjaz reports he severely defeated the Turks in a defile southeast of the Dead Sea.

TURK ARMY SMASHED. OVER 18,000 PRISONERS. „ LONDON September 22. Mr Massey writing from Palestine on Saturday states: General Alienbys victory grows greater every day. Nazareth, Nablus, Samaria, Tvishon, have been occupied. The cavalry captured an enormous number of prisoners. The total counted is 18,000, and thousands more were taken. The Australian mounted division captured Jenin, and over -1000 prisoners. One Australian brigade charged the trenches, brilliantly using swords for the first time. The Turkish Palestine Army is snmsh-

A TURKISH REPORT. LONDON, September 21. A Turkish communique reports intense fighting activity on the whole Pnlestine front.

THE TURKS CRUSHED. 20,000 PRISONERS COUNTED. THOUSANDS STILL COM TNG IN. I Received Thi- D:,v fit 112-Y. a. 0;,) , LONDON, Sept, 22. Mr. Mnsso.v writing from Palestine headquarters, says General Alienby has crushed the Turkish 7th and bth armies. His cavalry lias closed every exit, except one, which cannot be reached by many oi the enemy, and in a tyide encircling movement the horsemen brilliantly broke down all attempts to put up a delaying rearguard fight. We have taken prisoner, forces which when counted will probably amount to twenty thousand. Our cavalry captured Mftzaretli. Nalilons, Bessan and Amorim They had one charge on the plain of Vrmngedeon and another at Jenin. Thev secured .an enormous quantity of valuable booty, and we have not hcaid the last of their efforts. Once the infantry had broken through the southern defences, the cavalry had great opportunities while the infantry has continued to display superb skill and endurance in driving the enemy from tho hills between the Plain of Sharon and iln* Judean Plateau. The navalrv movements wore perfectly timed and have been a masterly success. their unfailing, regular iulnlling of the plans laid down by the staff suggesting that they were regulated by ilio dock. The British yeomanry. Australian Light Horse and Indian cavalry were all in magnificent condition and in a high state of training. They performed a feat almost without parallel. Critics who declared the day nf cavalry is oyer, must hide their beaus. 'Hie utter defeat of tli 0 Turkish Palestine armies would not have boon possible but for General Allenby’s bold use of cavalry, and in bis call on the mounted corps, who were most adaptable and performed their part in this extremely important battle which will probably take a leading place in military text books.

The prisoners already counted in these operations exceed eighteen thousand, but thousands more wore taken, who have not yet passed in. The whole of the country we passed through is litteroH with abandoned bombed transport, ammunition depots, motor lorries and a large amount of rolling stock. Nablus and Shechem, of the Bible, were taken this afternoon by the Australian Light Horse. French mounted troops later passed into the town.

We had previously occupied Mossudfeh and Samaria.