THE CAPTURE OF NAZARETH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1893, 22 October 1918, Page 4

THE CAPTURE OF NAZARETH.

(From Mr H. S. Gullett, Commonwealth Official Correspondent').

In the Field/Palestine, Sep. 23. Yesterday I spent a couple of hours at Nazareth with West County Yeomanry, who first entered the town. The capture of the place was highly dramatic. The Yeomann crossed Esdraelon Plain in the dark, covering fully (if) miles from the Jaffa district, inside of 24 hours. Trotting up the sleep, tortuous roadway to Nazareth, just before dawn, they overran a moving convoy of 75 motor lurries. The German drivers were, greatly startled at the apparently miraculous appearance of our horsemen, and in the contusion which followed a number of lorries overturned oft the narrow mountain road. Maintaining the pace the Yeomanry clattered over the crest into the little hilltop basin, where Nazareth lies. The town contained numerous enemy troops. These, like the inhabitants, were still sleeping, believing the line (u lie unbroken and our army miles awav. The seomanry cpiickL made the whole form 1 prisoners. The British, however, were only a small pal'!v, and when, later in the daw German machine-gunners from the ridges round the town to the north opened a vigorous lire they temporarily withdrew. The following morning they oat (la nked the nmehino«un posts, and re-entered Nazareth. That night the Turks coun-(er-atlacked, hut meanwhile our force was strengthened by some Indian Lancers, who, galloping out, killed 50, and took 100 prisoners in a slashing moonlight charge. The inhabitants expressed the greatest delight at the arrival of the British.

Keturning’ from Nazareth, I it'll across an armored motor battery and light car patrol proceeding on a living reconnaisancc of Haifa, and joined the enterprise. The little expedition was marked by splendid dash. Speeding over the hills of Lower Galilee we crossed Lsdraelon Plain, then ran.east under the shadow of Camel. When many miles in advance of unr outposts, and three miles from Haifa, we encountered an enemy strong post, and alter a. brief engagement the party captured 70 prisoners, including two ollicers. Over the next two miles our prisoner.- increased by upwards of lilt). The armoured ears pushed, immediately into the outskirts 0.l tiie town, despite heavy lire from enemv batteries, maebino guns, and ritle lire, at. point blank range. The mission was fully accomplished, and the cars pulled out slowly, marching the prisoners before them while lighting a vigorous rear-guard action.

The remarkable success of General Allenby’s bold strategy was largely due to the complete ascendency of the British airmen. Towards this the Australian stpnulron vorv substantially contributed. Preceding the advance the enemy was kept practically blind. Scarcely a single Hun ’plane crossed our line. An odd one which came was immediately challenged, and destroyed, or chased right home to bis aerodrome. Simultaneously all enemy aerodromes were being bombed, as we now know from personal observation, almost " out of existence. Twelve Distinguished Plying Crosses have been awarded our men inside of six weeks.