ITALIANS STILL RETREATING

Taihape Daily Times, 10 November 1917, Page 5

ITALIANS STILL RETREATING

Further British Successes in Palestine

IN EAST APKICA. NEW YOEK, November S. Eeuter's special correspondent at Mahunga, telegraphing on the 7th, states that the northern forces dislodged the enemy from strong positions and captured 20 machine-guns and 10,000 rounds The enemy are everywhere suffering severely from our Nuniibars of Askaris porters and deserters are surrendering . ENEMY PROPERTY SEIZED. NEW YORKi, November 9. The Steamship offices have been seized by the Government as enemy property. They will be used by Government boards.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

SELF-PROMOTED GENERAL,

AN AMAZING IMPOSITION. SYDNEY, November 9. A most amazing imposition has been revealed by the arrest of Frederick John Betcke on a charge of unlawfully : wearing military uniform. He appeared in Court in the full uniform of a brigadier-general, wearing many decorations. The police gave evidence that the only war experience Betcke ever had was as a trooper in the New Zealand force in South Africa, when, owing to an injury to his hip, the Imperial Government allotted him a shilling a day pension. Betcke told the police that he was born in New Zealand and was the adopted son of a full-blooded Gorman, Otto Betcke. Hot the past six years he had been posing as a military officer. He first promoted himself to lieutenant-colonel, and gave military evenings to influential citizens, in the western suburbs. Finally he assumed the rank of general, and appointed a returned soldier whom he met in a tram his A.D.C., and pre sented him with official papers promoting him to eaptain. Betcke headed a recruiting procession in Leichhardt in full regalia, and mingled with the best social circles. His downfall came when attending a garden fete at Hurtsville where he was arrested . He pleaded guilty. Betcke, who followed the calling of an electrican, was remanded for medical observation owing to doubts as to his sanity. Beceived 10. 15. SYDNEY, this day. A rain storm, one of the heaviest experienced, has done extensive damage. A family of five were drowned in flood waters, at Bellingen, and a woman -was washed off a Bridge at Wollogong and drowned. The inhabitants of North Lismore were compelled to take refuge on house tops. One man was drowned and there has been an enormous loss of stock. MELBOURNE, this day. Cabinet has altered the referendum polling day to December 20.

PALESTINE. FURTHER BRITISH PROGRESS. LONDON, Nov 9. Egyptian official. —At midnight on Tuesday, Turkish works southward of Gaza were captured and the advance continued on the right as far as Alimunzu Hill dominating the town, and on the left to Sheikh-red-wan fortifications, and Mt. Wadhesi, eight miles north of the original line. Indications point to a general Turkish retirement northwards. FLEEING FROM PALESTINE. TURKS IN WHOLESALE RETREAT Received 9 a.m. NEW YORK, Nov 9. Wholesale retreat of the Turks in Palestine is reported.

THE PALESTINE SUCCESS. FOUR THOUSAND PRISONERS ( LONDON, Nov S. Reuter's correspondent at headquarters in Palestine reports on Thursday that the majority of Turkish forces at Gaza crossed the Wady Hesi, but the remnant is still at Beitlahi, five miles north of Gaza, where contact is maintained by Yeomanry and Indian cavalry. Within ten days we have captured the towns of Gaza and Beersheba, arid demolished defence lines representing months of labour, directed by technical German skill. We have taken nearly four thousand prisoners, and captured 30 guns and great quantities of war material. Our aviators established complete superiority in the air. A squadron of 21 to-day bombarded Askelon.