PALESTINE.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 April 1918, Page 5

PALESTINE.

A TURKISH VICTORY. " WAR OFFICE COMMENTS. Received 9.15 a.m. fc j * '"\ ™\ r ll [ "LONDON, April : 7.' : ' (Turkish communiques The English advance, east of ~ the .Jordan became, a complete defeat. Our troops advanced victoriously, inflicting, heavy casualties on the enemy, ,who ; tried to retire along an impassable road. The enemy's resistance was everywhere broken. We reconquered Esalt after a battle, and advanced on the Esalt and Jericho Road. Here our artillery and cavalry charged, forcing the enemy reinforcements to fly in order. We are ; persistently pursuing the, enemy, reaching the Jordan. The English still occupy a position among the hills east of the river. They left mjp.hy dead and wounded on the road. iThe -War Office comments: The Turkish -Version ; is exaggerated and distorted. Our operations east of the Jordan were'in the nature of a successful raid, after which we withdrew. We inflicted considerable losses and took seven hundred prisoners. Allenby's only indication of energetic Turkish pursuit was on the first of April, when a small body attacking the rearguard was beaten off.