THE ADVANCE CONTINUED.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1918, Page 5

THE ADVANCE CONTINUED.

HIGH GROUND SECURED. j London, Dec. 30. | MEfelestine official.; We drove back the iWwmj yesterday and advanced our line to a depth of two miles on a 13-mile front This has given us the high ground at RaS-Arkufc-es-Huffa, four miles from Jerusalem, a mile northward of the Jericho road, also Anata Erram and Kuhmdia. The two latter are eastward Sal westward of the Nablous road, five miles northward of Jerusalem. We also captured Ketania. Received Dec. 31, 11.5 p.m. London, Dec. 30. XUestine official: We further advanced our three miles along the Nabloua road, tacdpying Beeroth, also Hizmah, Jeba, and Buntah, eastward of the road to Bameßah ridge, and Thatieres to the westward of the road. The mounteds in tile centre reached: Harith and Deire-el-Kurfdfii. SntONC POSITIONS TAKEN. SIBUOUS DiSHSAT OF ENEMY. WITHHEAVY CASUALTIES. i®;- and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Jan. 1, 11.30 p.m. London, Jan. 1. Parting official: We occupied Beitin, anciently known as Bethel, El Barua, a mile north of Bireh, Khelburj, west of El Bala, Janiah and Kaskerfber, six and ■even miles respectively north-west of Bireh.

The operations on Friday and Saturday led to a serious defeat of the enemy. She latter, on Thursday, with German assistance, determinedly attempted to Mtake Jerusalem. They pressed their attacks with vigor, continuing front 2 in the morning on Thursday for twentysix hours.

General AHen immediately counterattacked the Turkish west Hank and progressed two and a half miles over very difficult county. Seeing, on Friday, that tile Turkish attaek was spent, we made a general advance, the troops on the Habus road advancing north and those on their left eastward, and drove back fte enemy. We gained seven miles of ground, securing in the north-west four positions between the enemy and Jerusalem instead of one. The Turkish (ssnaltieg were heavy, the killed alone being estimated at a thousand. We took M 0 prisoners, and couoted twenty m<v «Uo»guiu.