PALESTINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1918, Page 3

PALESTINE.

MB MASSEY’S REPORT.

APPROACHING DAMASCUS

fAUSTRALIAN A N. 7.. CABLE ASSOCIATION'] ~,>(! Tl> : « IV'V nt. 11.25. a.m.) LONDON, September 20.

Mr Massey writing from Palestine Headquarters on Sunday says north of Lake Tiberias on September 28th., the cavalry of General Allenby’s army swam and forded the Jordan. Last night and to-day they captured the high ground east thereof. The situation developes most favourably by stupendous efforts equal to any sustained cavalry operations in history. The mounted troops hold a far Hung line, horsemen converging in two great columns on the main Damascus roach From the south Yeomanry, and Indian cavalry are moving eastwards from Beisoni, having taken Irbid, where portion of the Turks Fourth Army n o t destroyed at Amman, intended to make a stand. This important' railway junction was secured aim touch made with friendly Arabs on the east. Ignoring bodies of enemy between Derarra and Anraan they marched north of Sheikh Miskin, which is within one cavalry bound of Damascus. Going forward, several times the cavalry left enemy parties in their rear for a time, and passed on in order to reap the. full results of the hold strategy. Mounted* troops left the advancing infantry to clear the enemy out of isolated valleys. Germans and Turks were holding positions on the railway, but after Deroa was taken the infantry subsequently dealt with them and prevented the | destruction of some useful railway | works. The Turks fear the designs on Damascus and have sent down t 0 Jordan from Damascus a force composed of Germans and Turks. -Some Circassians on our left, have also to be watched. When our cavalry were opposite a bridge south of Lake Hule, motor lorries from Damascus had deposited a thousand men on the steep eastern bank covering the bridge with machine guns. They blew up the centre arch of the 400 years old bridge, making the crossing there impossible. A Brigade . of Australia light horse swam the river with their horses, south of the bridge. Another Australian brigade made the river to the north banks, which were hard for mounted men to negotiate. The ground approaching the river was marshy but so swiftly were the difficulties Surmounted that before the enemy could scramble bfiaok to their lorries 250 Turks and Germans were

cut off and captured. Our cavalry astride of the Damascus road have since advanced to Elkuneitrn arnica re within forty miles of the ancient city. FURTHER PALESTINE. CAPTURES. , i i ■ • n LONDON, Sept. 30. Hon. A. Ronar Law states in Palestine. the British lmve captured ten thousand additional prisoners.