PALESTINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1918, Page 3

PALESTINE.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT. |

FALL OF ACRE. LONDON, September 24

Reuter’s correspondent at Palestine Headquarters writing on Tuesday states: A few hundred Turks \\ m* were left behind at Haifa (Aero), resisted our advance, 'flic configuration of the ground, with a. marsh on one side of the ground, and the slopes of Mount Carmel on the other, prevented our troops from deploying in an extensive line and sweeping up tho Turks. They thus were aide to concentrate their lire on our narorw front. Our men gradually worked their way forward to drove out the Turks. The enemy positions, however, held out till , tho last.

The population gave our men a most enthusiastic reception. Even German colonists participated in tlm welcome. These Germans are mostly quiet emigrants, from Wnrtemburg, who come to Palestine on conscientious grounds. They complain bitterly of Turkish exactions. There was some looting by natives before the entry of the British, tho Turkish commander having told Dio inhabitants to help themselves to Government stores as there was no time to destroy them. However, everything was orderly. The administration was taken over without the slightest hitch.

VALUE OF NEW CAPTURE. LONDON, September 24. Tho British capture of Haifa is regarded as an important one, providing n useful'harbour, with a railway, in the direction* of tho Lake of Tiberias. EAST OF THE JORDAN. LONDON, September 24. The Turks eastward of the lordan are falling back towards Amaan, along tho Hedjnz railway. Their situation is critical owing to their communications being broken at Derna and Fnck. Arabs occupy Maan. AN EXPERT’S VIEW. LONDON, Sept. 24. General Maurice opines that General von Liman, the enemy commander, is seeking to cover Damascus, by making a stand on the north side of the Ynrmuk valley, between the mountain of Druses and the Lake of Tiiberias As an interim measure, he will try to block the Ivarmuck gorge, south-west of tho Lake of Tiberias, long enough to ensure the escape of part of the Fourth Turkish Army. THE KING’S CONGRATULATIONS 'LONDON, September 24. The Press Bureau states: The King has telegraphed to General Allenby as follows: “With pride and admiration, we have received the news of the, ably-conceived and brilliantly carriedout operations in which the British, Indian and Allied forces, under your command, with the support of the Royal Navy, gained a complete victory. T am confident this will rank as one of the great exploits in the history of the British Empire, and will ever stand as a memorable testimony to Britisn leadership, and to the fighting qualities of the British and Indian troops.

THE PRISONERS

LONDON, September 24

Reuter’s correspondent fjays: The disposal of tho thousands of prisoners is the real problem. It is a pathetic sight to see the unending succession of convoys more than two thousand strong in the charge of a few guards wearily footing it along the dry dusty roads towards the railhead. The men look weak and exhausted and many fall out and are picked up by the lorries.

THE, PALESTINE CAPTURES

NOW OVER. 40,000

AND 265 GUNS

dlvcc’’-- 1 ' 1 TI’L T>„v nt. 11.25. a.m.) NEW YORK, September 25. Over forty thousand Turks have already been captured in Palestine, with 265 gnns.