PEACE MOVEMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 November 1917, Page 5

PEACE MOVEMENT.

PEACE SETTLEMENTS. A SUGGESTED CATASROPHE. Received 8.30. V LONDON, Nov 18. v Lord French, in an introduction to Major . .Mofall’s - book “Germany at Bay,” says nobody should remain ignorant of the fact that if middle Europe comes out of peace as a part of the German Empire this war will have been fought in vain. If such a catastrophe does befall us, we shall have to wipe out the stain on our valour and sanity in another great war. IRISH AFFAIRS. SINN FEIN PRISONERS. RELEASED ON HUNGER STRIKE. Received 8.30. LONDON, Nov IS. Forty Sinn Fein prisoners were released at Dundalk and Mountjoy as a result of hunger striking. The remaining prisoners also are hunger striking

ANOTHER BRj.iI SH SUCCESS. ANOTHER RAIL JUNCTION CAPTURED. LONDON, November 16. Mr. Massey, telegraphing on Wednesday, states: The Turkish retreat is growing more rapid. General Allenby’s strategy and his indomitable soldiers are inflicting very heavy losses on a stubborn foe. Yesterday we secured a position running north and south of the Wady Rubin from which to strike at an important junction of the Beorsheba-Jerusalem and JaffaJerusalem railways. Determined opposition was shown at the villages of Mughar and Katrah, but broke down before the Scottish territorials. Northwards of Mughar, Midland Yeomanry, held positions, taking 1100 prisoners and* two guns. To-day, at dawn, the

infantry moved to seize the junction and cut the railway in order to prevent its use by the enemy for the carriage of material. Our aircraft previously bombed the station, which we captured during the morning.

Jerusalem is now cut off from railway communication, with Damascus.

PRISONERS NOW EXCEED 9000

CONDON, November 17

Egypt official. —We yesterday reached tne line Eamleh-Ludd to three miles southward of Jaffa.

New Zealand Mounted troops drove hack a Turkish attack by a bayonet charge, inflicting heavy losses. The total prisoners taken since October 31st exceeds 9,000.

Palestine ofiicila. —Minor advances were made yesterday in section sectors of our front. The Yoemanry on Thursday captured the Adis’ Husbeh ridge, five miles south-east of Ramleh, taking 360 prisoners. The Yeomanry, carried the position at a gallop. Pour hundred and thirty-one Turks were counted on the ground. The Australians, in taking El Tinch, captured a large number of prisoners, three aeroplanes, and considerable am munition and stores.

The Turks are reported to be endeavouring to prepare an entrenched position northward of Jaffa, parallel with the A'uja River. , J

/l Mk’ Massey writes: A mound near' Miig'haf and ‘ Katrah covered .With Turkish’ '•’dead ■’speaks' eloquently or' the valbur of’the 'Scotsmen. 'The Turks dug trenches and /gun-pits .cdixhnanding the flat ground,' Out the Septs took the mound, despite tremendous mach-ine-gun tire and artillery. 'pounter-ac-tacks drove the Scots "out They retired 200 yards, re-formed, and again charged under terrific''fire, and get ting to grips, bayoneted, and smashed the Turks.

The Sultan of Egypt has conferred on General Allen by the decoration of the Grand Cordon of the Nile. ]

; THE PALESTINE ROUT.. ; ■■■"■ ' r, • \ MISERABLE, BLOODY BUSINESS. BRITISH WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS Received 9 a.m. LONDON, Nov 18. Palestine Headquarters reports cavalry entered Ramleh and Lyddar on Thursday evening. Both places have innumerable historic associations. In Ramleh there are many relics of the Crusaders, especially in the fine churchy which long since was converted into a mosque, but is still in excellent preservation. Both places are veritable oasis of cultivation.

Latest reports are, that cavalry are approaching Jaffa, which is understood to be already evacuated by the Turks. The retreaters have destroyed or abandoned large quantities of ammunition and other material.

At Attine station, where the line from Gaza branches, immense sup plies were found, including 10J million rounds of cartridges

There was a rather bloody business at this place. A thousand Turkish stragglers were busy looting, when an armoured motor car got among them and mowed them all doAvn excepting 300. The survivors were captured.

Bombing aircraft wrought great havoc behind the Turkish lines. At one place they caught a convoy and destroyed nearly fifty waggons. The place was like a shambles, and too unpleasant to describe. The roads leading northward are lined with cases of horses, bullocks and buffaloes, mostly Turkish, but our cattle also suffered from the great heat and dearth of water. It was a pathetic sight to see large bunches of horses waiting their turn at the village wells while water was slowly drawn in a bucket. They frequently went thirty or forty hours without a drink, but. happily, we have reached a regie-' where water is somewhat more plentiful_ •

A captured officer told the British to go on to Jerusalem, “They are all waiting for you with open arms. They are tired of Enver Pasha and :he Germans.