The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21. 1917 THE CAPTURE OF JAFFA.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21. 1917 THE CAPTURE OF JAFFA.

The occupation of Jaffa (anciently known as Joppa) by the New Zealaniers and Australians forges a link between the old world and the new, besides putting a crown to a week's wonderful successes of the Imperial forces in Palestine. Jaffa has a history that goes back for more than 1000 years before the Christian era, and has been the scene of historic battles, notably when attacked by Sennacherib over two thousand six hundreds years ago and by Napoleon in 1799, while it figured prominently in the Crusades. Situated on the sea coast, thirty one miles north-west of Jerusalem, it was the port for that city and the landing place of the cedars wherewith King Solomon built the Temple, Although the harbor is shallow it provides a good means for landing supplies and its possession will materially assist the further success of the British operations in Palestine, while it deals the Turks a great blow. It is the irony of fate that this ancient seaport, with traditions extending back to the earliest of the world's records, should now be in the hands of troops hailing from the youngest colony in existence. The war has furnished many surprises, but not one of these has been so striking as this episode at Jaffa. When the call to arms came there was not the remotest idea that the operations would extend to Palestine, but when the ever-memorable Gallipoli campaign was terminated it be ; came evident that the power of the Turks must be completely broken in Order to protect both Egypt and India. The New Zealanders have earned further glory in 'Palestine and before the close of the campaign in this theatre will, it is confidently expected, have done their full share in crushing the Turks and clearing them out of the danger zone affecting British interests. According to late cable messages, General Allenby's sweeping drive has thrown the Turks into complete confusion, also that the decisiveness of the repeated strokes has seriously cmbarasscd and possibly defeated General von Falkenhayn's plans. Apparently, the crucial struggle has still to come when Falkenhayn brings up his reserves, but there can be no question that the Turks have been so hard pressed that a certain amount of demoralisation must have set in. It is certain that the Imperial forces are in the best of spirits, and the victories they have obtained have engendered a confidence in their success that will ) rove a valuable factor in deciding the issue. Although (he conquest of the Turks formed no part of the original j struggle which the Germans precipitated, it fits in with later developments. Just | m Germany, at the outset, intended to |

J make a meteoric dash on Paris and a

similar offensive at St. Petersburg, bo 'now she has made a raid on Ita'y ant*, has tbrtatened tu raid Mesopotamia and 'Pak'feUiic. .She was foiled in her inarch oil (he French capital, ami l'clrograd is still in Kussian hands, while t'.i: Italians are holding up the Hun horde* with a v.'olence of resistance that shouM enable the Anglo-French forces to turn the scale. Will Falkenhayn do any hot - ter in Palestine? It is hardly likely, while failure will discredit Germany ani probably impel the Turks to suj for peace. The gratifying victories obtained in Palestine are of the utmost service at the present juncture, and British success in this region will open up a new era for Hint portion of thj wcrld which is full of especial interest for all Christian countries and peoples. General Allenby just now is the hero of the ,hour, and it is greatly to be desired that ,he shall finish the good work he has been doing so thoroughly, so that the Turks will be no longer a menace to the people of Palestine or any other nation. JJow that lie is Hearing Jerusalem the progress of events will be watched with the': utmost interest, in the expectation that after driving the enemy out of this region he will be able to co-operate in ridding Mesopotamia of the same pest. The outlook in this quarter of war operations is certainly bright with promise.