PALESTINE.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 April 1918, Page 5

PALESTINE.

TURKS GET TERRIBLE SET-BACK. Received 10.40 a.m. LONDON, April 14. Mr. Massey, writing from Palestine headquarters on April 13th, says: After the cavalry raid on Hedjaz railway and the destruction of sections of the line north and south of Amman, our forces returned west of Jordan, bringing several thousand Armenians and captured refugees from villages we passed through to save them from further bitter oppression by the Turks. The only troops we had east of the Jordan were the Australian Light Horse, who were lefrto defend the bridgehead at Ghoranniyeh. Considerable bodies of Turks were known to have moved south through from Essalt and assembled about Shunet, Nimrin, and the road north of, ■ Hill Elhand. The enemy planned a scheme to drive us over the Jordan and destroy the bridge, but the manoeuvre wholly failed, and the Turks suffered overwhelming casualties, the percentage of killed to the total of the force engaged was exceedingly high. , The battle began at four on Thursday morning by the enemy shelling Musallabeh in the foothills, overlooking B’esan road, about nine miles north of Jericho. The place was held by the Imperial Camel Corps, who are also holding the line at Wadi Ansa and strong points north thereof. Gunfire on Camel Corps was heavy for two hours, an average of forty shells per minute - was fired at them before the attack developed. This was quickly checked by our artillery, and machineguns, with considerable losses to the enemy, who were two thousand strong. Meanwhile another Turkish force moved over the broken ground from the hills east of Jordan, Along two two routes towards Gloranmiyek; The Australian Light Horse dug in oh low mounds and mud cliffs, which made a peculiar formation. The east bank of the Jordan lends itself well to defence. They were behind wire entanglements and had posts ana strong artillery supports West of the river the Turks were in greatly superior numbers, but got no nearer than three hundred yards of wire, where they were stoppelLby withering fire, and held up the whole day. The enemy could neither advance nor retire. Another brigade of Light Horse crossed further south and tried to envelope the attackers, who, however, threw out machine-gun detachments to protect the flanks, the nature of country assisting them greatly. Late in the day enemy artillery opposite Ghoranniyeh waisHluenced by our heavies. As soon as darkness came the Turks began to retire, leaving large burying parties working till dawn in front of our wire. Many graves were visible, and probably more are in the nullahs yet. At daylight yesterday 367 Turkish and German dead were counted in front of the Light Horse defending the bridgehead, who took more prisoners than they had casualties themselves. The enemy also suffered heavily at Musulwa and Allabeh. Their attempt to destroy the Jordan crossing spelled *3Tsaster for them.