PALESTINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1917, Page 5

PALESTINE.

CAPTURE OF BEERSHEB/ • HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES. OPERATIONS DESCRIBED v ; THE TURKS SURPRISED. TOWN TAKEN WJTH A .RUSH.'. ', Aus: and N.Z; Cable Assoc, and Renter. Received Oct. 4, 11.40 p.ni. ~ London, Nov. '4. >■ Egypt: official: After a -heavy bombardment we attacked on Thursday night " the western and south-western defences ' of Gaza, We captured the Turkish first line on a front of 6000 yards. We re- •• pulsed three counter-attacks with heavy * enemy losses. ~ Reuter's headquarters" correspondent *t Cairo, writing on November 1, says the veil which has obscured the happening! on the Palestine front for. some time (has been partially lifted by the welcome and imprtant news of the captun of Boersheba. Tbe preparations were made with great secrecy, and the quieseence was broken flvt days ago when the guns began a vigorous shelling of the Turkish lines. The Are was most intense about Gaza and Alimuntar, and there was nothing to show that the first blow was going to fall at the other extremity of the line nearly, thirty miles away. * The country at Beerslieba is. undulating, traversed north apd south by deep wadies, the town itself lying in a depression along the banks of the Wadv Sndah, the Turkish defences extending north, west, and south at distances averaging from three to five miles. The position was one of great natural strength, well provided with guns and machine-guns, and held two complete '*. regiments, besides detachments of other regiments of infantry and a brigade of cavalry. The attack came a 3 a complete and absolute surprise to the Turks, who were practically wiped out before the news could reach headquarters.

NIGHT MAPCH OF CAVALRY. The success was not merely due to tto carefully laid plans, but also to the perfect working efnll the movements of the troops. All arms participated, but the lion's share fell to the cavalry, which marched nearly fifty miles, chiefly at night time, with the object of taking the enemy in the rear.

The Anzac mounted* took over' a circuit with the Yeomen, forming a junction with the infantry. General Chauvel commanded the cavalry. The movement began after dark, the Turkish position being completely outflanked before it realised t'hat the movement was anything more serious than u. reconnaisanca,

DETAILS OF FIGHTING. The first real resistance was met with at the strong redoubt of Tel-el-Saba, defending the eastern approaches of the town, and held up the immediate advance on the town. While the figbt was progressing, Ryrie's Light Horse Brigade captured positions across the wady further east and established themselves across the Hebron road, cutting ofl escape or reinforcements in that direction. Tel-el-Saba fell a couple of houre later, but a strong force of the enemy still held the wady, preventing approach to the town.

General Grant's brigade of light horse was ordered to support the Anzacs, and, attacking after sunset, using fixed bayonets as lances, they swept over all opposition and carried the town with a rush. •

Meanwhile the infantry, after a pre< liminary bombardment, * attacked: ,the strong defences westward of Bcersheba and ciiptured the Turkish first line. After consolidating our winnings wo attacked the main position, which was captured after a fight lasting twenty-five minutes. Among the hills to the northwest the enemy continued to fight, but our combined .movements drove them out. *

CONDITION OF THE TOWN. One of the most satisfactory feature*' 1 r was that our casualties were comparatively small. The new ; part of Beersheba was found in good condition, but hardly anything remains of the old town, some . of the buildings being found to have been mined. The water* supply and' pumping plant is practicajlly intact. Considerable quantities of barley were .found in the storehouses. Prisoners aro still coming in, and already oyer WOO have been counted, nine guns and a number of machine-guns being also captured.'

CAPTOR ES AT BEERSHEBA. ~ " London, Nov. 2. Egypt, official.—Eighteen • hundred prisoners and nine guns wore captured < at Bcersheba. Tho British losses were ■ slight fltfmparal with the results. We hold ft position northward of Boerslieba, and., successfully raided another '}, portion of the front, killing a large num-. j ber. ."'" ■ ' '■ • ..■•