THE OPERATIONS IN PALESTINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1917, Page 6

THE OPERATIONS IN PALESTINE.

TURKISH DEFENCE DESTROYED. Loudon, .Nov. li). Writing just prior to the capture of Julia, Eeutcr's correspondent at British headquarters in Palestine, under date Xovcmber 1(1, says:— r Our cavalry entered Ramlc-h and Lydda last night. The former has 'been an important eentre of Turkish defence, and therefore it probably has yielded important prizes. Both, places have innumerable historic Lvdda is reputed to be the birth and burial place of the patron saint of England,. St. George. An old church dated from the twelfth century, still exists, with a crypt called "George's Tomb.'' Ramleli contains many relics of the Crusaders, especially a fine church, which iong since was converted into a mosque, and is still in an excellent stat,c of preservation. The country around each place is a veritable oasis of fertility. It is extremely cultivated. " .<■ The railway to- .fafl'a was pulled up some time ago, v and tile, material was partly used in t'lie construction of a strategic, railway to the northward from Rainleh Rayak. From the beginning of operations up tn yesterday fIOOO prisoners have passed through tlie collecting stations. STRUGGLE EVERY FEW MTLES. M riting yesterday, the correspondent slid:— Our infantry is consolidating the ground on the other side of Wadi Surar, while the cavalry has advanced upon Ramleh, and other patrols have pushed eastward as far as Almssnseh, whielj is close to t'ho sit? of Gczar, the old royal city of Canaan.

'Tlcre wo wore attacked with some vigor by j,'he Turks, who wove repulsed with loss.

Following the. lino of the Turkish retrofit, 0110 was struck-, first, by the tremendous distances which had been covered, and next by the grit shown by the enemy in his attempts to check the pursuit. Every two or three miles there are evidences of a struggle, in the shape of low, shallow rifle pits, hundreds of used and nnus-d cartridges, often parts of broken rides and bayonets, and parts of equipment. As one gets further north these tell-tale marks increase.

. There are more villages here, and the Turks would conceal a machine-gun in a cactus hedge and hang on until they were nearly surrounded, or 'knocked out by our shelling. The enemy's artillery line, nov hp is away from registered targets, is distinctly poor, but friend and foe alike testify to the marvellniy work of our gunners. On alHliese ri3g"s north of Wadi fvikereir, our line was deadly as it was accurate because tlie enemy had not' the protection afforded by deep trenches. Shallow pits are of no rise against well-directed shrapnel, and the Turk had to pay /he price of his temerity. sTiTExnor;?? T.OSS OV MATETUAT.-. Although we bury the bodies as quickly as possible, yet a considerable number still lie on these elevated situations, with thousands of rounds of small-arm ammunition. Indeed, the Turkish losses of material are stupendous. Wherever we go we see piles nf boxes filled with gun or small-arms ammunition, while innumerable quantities have been destroyed by fire by the onemv.

At. Die junction station wo found three Albatross aeroplanes destroyed, as well /is several lorries; but a 'quantity of Hie rolling stork fell into our hands in ■an almost undamaged condition, with t\\ -> locomotive.?, which should prove invaluable.

At Attine station, where the line to fiazn branches off. there are immense supplies, including 10,500.000 rounds of cartridges.

Tli'ore*was rather a liloodv business at this place on the previous morning. About 1000 Turkish stragglers were busy looting the. stores, and remained just too. long. An armored motor ear jjot among them, and simply mowed them" down. An officer said it was a revolting experience, like shooting sheep, the target'! were so easy. The survivors did ""not holt, but hid. and were taken prisoner when the infantry shortly artefwards arrived on the scene, .100 being captured.

DEADLY AIR RAID IX OONTOY

The bombing by our aircraft wrought great damage behind the Turkish lines...Near Arak El ?.lenshye the aviators discovered a. convoy of carts drawn bv bullocks and horses! They rained bombs among them, Nearly 50 waggons were :.destroyed, and the place is like a shamIdes, too unpleasant to describe. But- it is a fearful testimony tn the handiwork of our planes. It is stated by prisoners that (he drivers of all other carts bolted, and iluul to he chased bv cavalry and brought back to duty. All the roads leading northward are almost lined with carcases of dead horse?, and bullocks.' Most of these, especially .tlm bullock's, are Turkish, .but our cattle also- siiflerqd. The great Mat. coupled with the dearth of water, entailed a fearful strain oil nil our animals.

It is a, pathetic sight to sop largo hunches of horses waiting their turn, sometimes for hours, at. some village well, whore the water is often nearly » hundred feet below the surface, and has to be brought up in buckets of live gallons at a Time. OUT OP THE THIRSTY LAND. One lot of horses was only twice watered in J Of) hours, and covered over fifty miles of sand country. The animals frequently go SO or 40 hours without a drink. a marvel how they have stood it so long. And their condition must have suflered. Now, happily, we have reached a region where water is slightly more plentiful. Wadi Rubin actually is (lowing to the surface. The rains are already • practically a month overdue, and eaniifit. it is hoped, hold off much longer. A Turkish arUllery officer, a, prisoner, who spoke a litt'le English', told some of our men tlmt • ho- left' .Ternsrlam two nights ago. "Oo on," he said, "they arc all waiting l iy itli open amis 1 to receive you. Everybody is tirM of Envoi - Pasha and the Germans"''