PALESTINE.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 December 1917, Page 5

PALESTINE.

BRITAIN'S PALESTINE POLICY APPLAUDED BY GER2SSN ZIONISTS. Received 9.5. THE HAGUE, Dec 30. Zionists in Germany have adopted a resolution applauding Great Britain's Palestine policy. AN ATTACK THAT FAILED.;;; HARRYING THE TURK. Received 8.40, LONDON, Dec 30. Palestine headquarters "report that the Turks attacked our line east, north and north-east of Jerusalem in considerable strength and with great determination on Wednesday night. Whether they thought] the rChristmas festivities had;catTseuus' to: relax our' vigilance or the- inclement, weather has reduced our fighting strength, the reception., they got .must have speedily undeceived: them. : The Welsh and' London- troops were guarding the sectors , attacked, and, in the absence of the Boxing Day pantomime, took their entertainment out of tne" Turks, who soon had cause to ru£""?heir temerity. They were driven back everywhere with the severest losses, while" the Irish: troops and dismounted '"Teomanry, attacking in turn upon the enemy's flank, advanced ourline 2j| miles on a nine-mile front. The ; attack was conducted with g?eat gallantry, and greatly improves our -position on the left, and must make tfie Turks south of Bires and Rasmallah positions feel exceedingly uncomfortable. . The flying corps did good, and participhted in the fighting, bombing "and machinegunning the enemy's rear. The avia- h tors also made things un"p?easant for Turkish craft on the'Dead Sea, where navigation is practically at a standstill. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, Dec 30. Palestine official. —We drove back the enemy yesterday and advanced our line to a depth of two miles on a thirteen mile front. This has given us the high ground at Rasar Kubershuffa four miles from Jerusalem, a mile north of the Jerichoi road and Ahata, Erran and Kulandia; the two latter eastward and westward of Mabbua road, and five miles north of Jerusalem. TURKS REINFORCED. BY AUSTRO-GEKMAN DIVISIONS. ALL ATTACKS FAIL. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, December 30. Official reports have been received that four Turkish divisions have been reinforcad by Austro-Germans from the Russian front, are desperately endeaouring to retake Jerusalem. The Turkish attacks all failed.