PALESTINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1917, Page 5

PALESTINE.

HIGH GROUND SEIZED. BRITISH AEROPLANES BUSY. London, Dec. 10. Palestine official: seized the high ground eastward of Auudis, south-east-ward of Jerusalem. Our casualties were eonsideraoTy fewer than the Turkish dead. Our aeroplanes are bombing boats and troops at the north end of the Dead Sea. GUERILLA TACTICS. ADOPTED BY TURKS. BRITISH TAKE USEFUL RIDGES. Received Dec. 20, 5.5 p.m fieuter Service. London, Dec. 19. Telegrams from the Palestine front state that on Monday troops east of Jerusalem were active in straightening out the line. When the Turks were driven from the city some retired north, others eastward, -where they were joined by reinforcements from Jericho. These adopted guerilla tactics, splitting into numerous small bodies, attacking outpost? and sniping patrols. The roughness,of the country between Jerusalem and the river Jordan facilitated such tactics. In order to improve the line, troops from the Home Counties were ordered to take certain ridges, which afforded wider range for defence. Attacks were made at dawn and all the objectives were quickly reached, and 150 prisoners were "taken, —'itc the enemy's stiff resistance. For a time our stretcher-bearers were heavily fired on wliile collecting the wounded, but persisted in their duty with admirable coplness. .mong the prisoners were some yo_~ 0 - sters, who were fitter for the schoolroom than for the battlefield.