PALESTINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1918, Page 5

PALESTINE.

A TURKISH ATTACK. 'JftiULKED WITH SEVERE LOSSES. r Washington, Dec. 30. Official reports haTe been Teceived that four TuAish divisions, reinforced by AUBtro-Genn&n3 from the Russian front, are desperately endeavoring to retake Jernsdßwn. The attacks all failed. London, Dec. 30. Palestine headquarters reported on Friday: The Turks attacked our line east, north, and north-west of Jerusalem, in considerable strength and with great «tetennination on Wednesday night. .Whether they thought that the Christmas festivities would have caused us to relax our vigilance, or that the inclement weather had reduced our fighting strength, their reception must speedily bare undeceived them. Welsh and London troops were guarding thet' sectors attacked, and in the absence of a Boxing Day pantomime they took fheir entertainment out of the Tnrks, who soon had cause to rue their temerity and were everywhere driven back with the severest losses, while the Irish troops and dismounted Yecmanry, attacking in turn upon the enemy's flank, advanced oar line to a depth of 2J miles on a 9-mile front. | The attack was conducted with great gallantry, and gTeatly improves onr position on' the left, and must make the Turks south of the Bireh and Rasmallah positions feel exceedingly uncomfortable. The Plying corps did good work. They participated in the fighting, bombing and machine-gunning the enemy's rear. Aviators afeo made things unpleasant for Turkish craft on the dead sea, where navigation is practically at a standstill.