PALESTINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1917, Page 5

PALESTINE.

THE BEERSHEBA OPERATIONS FURTHER DETAILS. IMPORTANCE OF CAPTURED WATER SUPPLY. TURKS SUFFER HEAVILY. Received Nov. 5, 7.25 p.m. London, Nov. 4. Headquarters in Palestine reports: Our advance yesterday morning amounted to a depth of 800 yards on Umbrella Hill on the right, to 2001) yards at Sheik's Hasan on the seashore, west of Gaza. The Scottish and East Anglian troops shared tho honors in the fighting. | Four counter-attacks -\vero repulsed with heavy enemy losses. All our gains have been maintained and tho positions j consolidated. j

On the right .flank our infantry dislodged the enemy from the Abu-Ir-Goig station, eight miles north-west of Beersheba, where there is an abundant water supply. The enemy's retreat was so precipitate that there was no time to destroy the new pumping plant. The operations arc importantly dependent on water supply, hence tho value of these successes. Cavalry brushes occurred in the, hilly country some miles north of Becrsheba, the Turks being driven in the direction of Dhaherives. Their communications iu tho rear suffered heavily from the fire of our artillery, which blew up three ammunition dumps and damaged the railway.

A STIRRING ACCOUNT. ANZAOS WIN FURTHER GLORY. FIGHTING BY MOONLIGHT. BEERSHEBA BELIEVED IMPREGNABLE. Received Nov. 5, 11.55 p.m. •London, Nov. 5.

Mr. Masscy, in a stirring dispatch, describes General Allenby's surprise blow, which smashed the eastern end of the Turkish line and wrested Beersheba from the enemy. There was stern fighting all day, wherein the New Zealand and Australian mounteds, with the British infantry, displayed great endurance and courage, doing everything as planned, so that the staff scheme seemed to go like clockwork. The story of the day will add glory to the lads from the English cities and shires, and the Australian find New Zealand splendid horsemen.

The British infantry, after long night marches, attacked with such determination that they tore down the entanglements with their hands. Then, as tho moon rose over the Judea hills, the Australian horse dashed at the strongly held trenches and captured the 'town at dawn. On the 31*t ult. the Australians and New Zcalanders wero south of Beersheba, the British infantry facing the northern, western, and south-western defences, which were cut in the range hiding Beersheba from view. The Turkish entrenchments were elaborate and skilfully chosen, being heavily protected by wire, while guns covered all the approaches. Prisoners declare they believed Beersheba to be impregnable. General Allenby's astonishing success in concealing his march across tho desert is the outstanding reason for the success achieved. The movement commenced with a cavalry scrap on the 27th, when 3000 Turks with twelve guns attacked the British.cavalry screen occupying tho high ground near the Jerusalem-Beer-sheba. railway. The British squadron held out throughout the day, both flanks being enveloped, but, though surrounded on three sides, they beat two determined cavalry charge*, When the British infantry arrived they were able to occupv the ground without fighting. The British infantry marched during the night, Being hidden during the daytime in wady beds. On the night of the 30/31 the Australians and New Zealanders made a wide and rapid sweep to the south-west, in order to rush at dawn and get astride of the Hebron road, so as to prevent the Turkish retirement. The infantry attacked hill 1070, and succeeded, by an irresistible rush, and within half an'hour they were through the German machinegun section and occupied the hill. The infantry then pressed on to the Wady Sara trenches, making rushes across the open, without heeding the enfilading guns and spasmodic machine-gunning. The bombers dashed wherever our artillery broke the wire. Elsewhere, the Britishers tore the wire from the iron supports with their hands.

I* was grand work, the English country men showing an inspiring courage and resource, and, though lighting for twelve hours, they.captured one defence after another until all the Beeraheba strongholds were captured by f1.30. Many of the Australians and New Zealanders rode thirty miles before getting into action. Their work was as meritorious as the Britishers'. They first captured Sakaty, a high hill six miles north-cast of Beeraheba and dominating a wide district. With their usual elan these big Australians stopped at nothing. They had rounded up every Turk at Sakatz hill by one o'clock in the afternoon, and t!ien they captured the Hebron road. Even more difficult was the taking of Tcl-e!-Saba, a foothill three miles east of Beersheba, which had been converted into a redoubt of great strength and made almost unapproachable by the steep banks of the wady running alongside: but the New Zealanders had carried it by 3.30. They then turned their attenton to a group of houses between the hill and the Hebron road, held by German machine-gunners. This felt the full weight of the colonial arm. It was getting dark, and in their anxiety about water for the horses and the other Australians they settled matters.