PALESTINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1918, Page 3

PALESTINE.

j [PER PRESS ASSOCIATIONCOPYRIGHT, j I POSITION IN PALESTINE. LONDON, Sept. 23. ! The Turkish roads of escape are blocked nt -Nazareth, Reisan, and Megnze, while the Nablus road is outflanked The Turkish forces westward of the Jordan, arc therefore boxed in, and though some, have not- yet been made prisoners, the armies have ceased to exist as a fighting force. All transport, guns and rolling stock have been. captured. Tho original estimate that there were 18.000 Turks westward of the Jordan, referred to the bayonet strength and excluded the artillery and machinogun and other units. The total ration strength actually was 00.000 and the combatant strength 35,000. The force westward of the Jordan, consisting of a rifle strength of between 6000 and 8000 and a ration strength of 12,000, and situated in the lino of Hedjaz railway, has not yet been dealt with.

HAIFA AND ACRE OCCUPIED. ESSAULT REACHED. Received, this dav at 8.45 a.m. NEW YORK, Sep. 24. British and Australian cavalry have occupied Haifa and Acre. Australians and New. Zealanders have reached Essault and are pursuing tho enemy.

OFFICIAL NEWS. WELLINGTON, This Day. The High Commissioner reports from London on Sept. 24th at 1.50 p.m : Palestine official.—Westward of the Jordan river the enemy are retreating towards Ammon. The Australians and New Zealanders, and others, are pursuing, and have reached Essault, capturing prisoners and guns. Our cavalry havo occupied Haifa and Acre.

A STIRRING TALE. OF AT,HENRY’S VICTORY. '!’<■(> nml I iii~- niv at 11.25. a.m.. LONDON, Sept. 24. Air. Afassev writing from Nablus on .Monday says’: In conversation with me to-day, a General with experience in many wars, said there was no more complete a victory in history than General Allenby’s annihilatiion of two Turk ish armies, west of the Jordan. This one sentence describes in epitome, with absolute truth, the operations of the last five days of this magnificent Imperial army in Palestine. The Turkish 7th and Bth Armies have been practically wiped out. A very small number who succeeded in getting across the Jordon in isolated batches are a mere fragment of tho force opposed to us on the morning of the, 19th. They are almost entirely without war material. It is extremely doubtful whether one gun lorry or unvtlrng on wheels got away. A few baton’s in the hills are holding out in inaccessible spots and it- may be a day o’r two before all are rounded up, but the victoty is final, and complete aud is pr > >vny unparalleled To crown these efforts of General Allenby’s Army to-day the cavalry captured the important port of Haifa, historical Acre and Essalt. Tie result util have far reaching effect. Gur Arab Allies have captured Amnan. there fin indications that the enemy is leaving strong positions east ol : -he Jordan, particularly about Essalt and Vnasn. It is clear that the Turks are willing to sacrifice troops .in Iledjag, and leave the Turkish Army in Yemen, to their on devices. What effect this swift staggering knockout blow will have on them, may he imagined. At present it is known that the prisoners greatly exceed 25,000. It is certain that this number will be exceeded, for in my movements over this wide battlefield since our forward rush started, I have always heard larger estimates than the official claims, and the .fact that there arc groups of men sitting under white flags, awaiting the acceptance of their surrender. There are ( 261) guns located within our linos, end possibly more will ho found. Artillery and ammunition is in vast quantities

everywhere. Some depots are teres in extent. As the Turks only manufacture small arm ammunition, if they try to raise new armies to take the place of those destroyed, they must call on Germany for every gun and transport instrument of war required. Assuredly our victory has put the Turks in a des-

perate position. To-day I saw one of the most remarkable sights which a soldier ever gazed upon. No veteran with long experience in many fields, that I have spoken to has seen the like. From Balata where the road from Nablus falls through craggy bills and narrow passes to Wadi Faraii; there is a stretch • of more than six miles long, covered with debris left by the retreating army. In no section <f Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow could there have been a more terrible picture of hopeless irretrievable defeat. In this area alone eigthy-seven guns of various calibre and fully a thousand horse and oxen drawn veineles nearly a liuiitlrod motor lonics, cars’, field kitchens, water carts and a mass of other implements block the road with carcases of thousands of animals, bodies of dead Turks and Germans. , ~ , , 1T , , This was the work of the Irish, Welsh and Indian infantry .the artillery pressure behind and the convoy of indomitable British and Australian airmen in front. They had forced the enemy over the hills into the road, and just ns their -runs began to shell the retiring transport, the airmen swooped down to within two hundred feet and bombed tTic head of the column.-

further particulars (Received Tim Dnvnt n,mm A LONDON. Sept. 24 Mr. Massey added.—The airmen’s work was done with surprising thoroughness. One flight. a<tter a.n« other, took up the work, until the whole column was one vast broken mass ol enemy troops. Seeking to escape w.ta vehicles was impossible, and the enemy fled to the hills. Some endeavouring to find as outlet up Bcisan Road, tell into the hands of cavalry waiting _ tor them Others accepted the inevitable and sought refuge in oiirjines. for effectiveness and systematic bombing it will be difficult to find a parallel. 1 bus was destroyed the column operating and working up to this debacle. The magnificently conn noted Jnei. and Indian troops played a groat part In thirty six hours they marched I •miles as the crow flies, over a contm linns succession of mountains and deep rookv valleys, fighting incessantly nrrniiißt an enemy striving until much conspicuous gallantry, to delay the ad- | vanco. The whole nature of the country ! was in the enemy’s favour, but the Irish nnd Indians brooked no opposition | and fought with superb courage. Just S before. Batata road was in sight the Turks tried hard to compel the Irish to holt where the Nablus road passed Hornwarnho. About five miles south of jVlnbalns there is a wide flat surrounded bv bills. The Turks held the summit with numerous machine-guns. It was obvious it would take all day to drive them out by a frontal attack. i The Irish mul Minns therefore extend-

ed widely,and advanced across the east plain. When the Turks saw the infantry meant to get at their flanks they started to retire. This took them into the Plain and the yeomanry swung out from behind the hill and made a brilliant charge, sabring many Turks. Then wheeling to the left, they got the village and move prisoners and materials. To-day tho airmen have boon busy in . Essalt-Amaan area bombing the enemy on tho move. They also attacked the station at Alafraks, and station and aerodrome at Dorra obtaining direct hits, including one on a hangar. .

PROGRESSING EASTWARD. [AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] (Received This Dav at 10.15. a.m ) LONDON, September 24. Palestine official—Eastward of the Jordan the enemy are withdrawing in Amaan-Hediaz railway. Australians, New Zealanders, West Indian, and British troops aro pursuing them and have reached Essalt, capturing guns and prisoners. Our cavalry in the north, occupied Haifa after .slight opposition. Tho prisoners are increasing and the total largely exceeds twenty-five thousand.

King Hussein’s Arabs have occupied Amnan and are harrnssing bodies of the enemy retreating along the railway to Amaan.

THE TURKISH VIEW. ON THE JORDAN ROUT. Received this day at 2.36 p.m.,) LONDON, September 24. A Turkish communique states that very skilful rearguard fights are facilitating the accomplishment; of our plans on both sides of the Jordan.