PALESTINE.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 November 1917, Page 5

PALESTINE.

THE BEERSHEBA FRONT. A NINE MILE ADVANCE. LONDON, Nov 7. An official message says:—General Allenby captured Khuweilfy, 11 miles northward of Beersheba at midnight on Monday and repulsed repeated counter-attacks all day long. On Tuesday our troops further south advancing north-west from the neighbourhood of Beersheba, caried the whole Turkish defences southward of the line Tel-el-Sheriah and Abu Hareira, capturing the last-named place and thus advancing nine miles. The troops displayed magnificent dash and endurance. Estimates of captures are not yet available. Six guns were captured on one portion of the front. A later telegram confirms the capture of Gaza this morning, but gives no details.

GAZA SUCCESS. ENEMY IN FULL RETREAT WARSHIPS SHELLING THE LINES LONDON, Nov 7. Reuters' headquarters correspondent in Palestine cables under Tuesday's date: Gaza is ours. The er.emy is in full retreat all along the line. Large quantities of war material have been captured. It is believed that the bag of prisoners is big. The Turks began to weaken last night, after successful operations at various points by combined forces. They destroyed some ammunition dumps before retiring, but the booty is great. The victory is largely due to the strategy of General Sir Edmund Allenby who outflanked' the enemy's right, thus annulling all the advantages of their positions. We are now busily pursuing the enemy, and the lines of retreat are being heavily shelled by the Navy. A later Reuter message states that General Allenby made a further important advance, attacking from the Beersheba positions towards the sea. He captured the next line of defence, 'and advanced' nine' miles. - ■

; 'A GREAT DAY'S WORK. '.•■;'•>" riai ;• LONDON, November 7. correspondent at Headquarters, in Palestine telegraphs: Today .we attacked at dawn enemy positions "north, and south-west of Beersheba, .We captured all our objectives To-day's offensive was on a twenty miles front. Thanks to the capture of Beersheba we were able to outflank the main Turkish line, extending originally from Gaza to Beersheba, 'and consisting ;of four elaborately-organ-ised systems, with connecting trenches and scattered redoubts. General Allenby's plans entailed tremendous physical strain' on all ranks, but their exceptional fitness has been y proof against every call. - • * The-British troops opened the fighting on the right flank. After march ing the greater part of the night, they rushed Kuweifeh ridge, ten miles north-east of Beersheba, practically annihilating a Turkish battalion and capturing numerous prisoners and two guns. The Turks vigorously counterattacked, but were beaten back. While many reserves were thus being swung to the left, dismounted yeomanry attacked trenches covering the station and bridge at Sheria. By 1 o'clock we were masters of the whole line in this sector, and before evening had advanced over the intervening three, miles and occupied Sheria, capturing four guns. On the left flank other British troops attacked Kawukah system, one of the main features of the line and a veritable labyrinth of trenches, which speedily succumbed to the dashing assault. Both cavalry and camel corps played a part in the attack. Yeomanry and Anzacs in some cases covered over fifty miles and had been forty hours without water. The weather since the start of the operations has been most unfavourable, an exceptional ' heat wave greatly increasing the strain on both men and animals. The water supply has been below requirements. Yesterday afternoon New Zealand Mounted Rifles had a sharp brush with the enemy, who attempted to attack with fixed bayonets, but the attack was nipped in the bud by machinegun" fire, the enemy sustained 300 '. casualties.