PALESTINE.

Taihape Daily Times, 10 December 1917, Page 5

PALESTINE.

* NEARING JERUSALEM. Dec S. Palestine Headquarters reports: ,We have forced back the Turks to the last line they can occupy west of Jerusalem, The hills around the city are of high military value because they command the approaches to Jerusalem. They are some thousands of feet high on either side of the road*, bold and'well supplied, and could have been held for weeks, yet General Allenby has forced the Turks to abandon them without a bow by continual outflanking. We are now up to the passes. The struggle centres in a few places commanding the whole country. Some of these places are ours v The fighting is strong and bitter, but our progress is quite satisfactory- -;*UJ}p:!fss Another wonderful feat is turning goat tracks into motor roads essential for supply. Everything is being done with the energy which has characterised the advance from the GazaBe ersheba line.

The British capture of the ridge between Shilta and Elubri was a sterling piece of work. The ridge covered the Jaffa road. Six hundred picked Turks held the position, but Lowlanders overwhelmed them, killing large numbers. Practically a whole Turkish battalion was wiped out. The Prophet Samuel's tomb is now a mass of ruins. „

Palestine official. —General Allenby has occupied Hebron.