Against the Turks

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 9 December 1914, Page 5

Against the Turks

i CHRISTIAN MASSACRE FEARED. | SITUATION IN PALESTINE. | LITTLE PROGRESS TOWARDS | EGYPT. Received 9, 12.20 a.m. Copenhagen, December S. Tho situation in Palestine is causing grave concern in Berlin. Commanders have asked for 10,000 picked Germans to defend the Christian Church and the Jewish population against the Turks and Arabs, who are already plundering. It is feared that, in the event of defeat, the Turks 'will get out of hand, and massacre tho Christians, also that the population will rise against tho army. Tlie Turks are makinf no progress on the Egyptian frontier, owing to the difficulty of assembling stores. Strong Turkish reinforcements are being brought from Ezeroum.

AN IMPORTANT CAPTURE. RUSSIANS HOLD STRATEGICAL POSITION. Received 9, 12.20 a.m. Petrograd, December 8. Tlie capture of Sarai Basehkala, where there arc large military stores, opens the direct road to Van, and gives the Russians the- most flourishing part of Armenia. This success was largely due to the Armenian priest guides showing paths which enabled a flank movement to be carried out.

"HOLY WAP." PALLS FLAT. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, December 7. British refugees from Constantinople have arrived at Cairo. They report that the Sultan's proclamation of a holy waV has fallen decidedly flat. The outburst in the streets of Pera was artificial, and was arranged by secret police, who were provided with long poles to break the windows of cho shops of the Allies.