BEYOND JERUSALEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1918, Page 8

BEYOND JERUSALEM.

TURKS DRIVES FROM RIDGES. CHESHIRE LADS' CHARGE. Jerusalem, Doc. IS. During the last two days our troops casl, of Jerusalem have been actively straightening our line. The Mount of Olives makes the most wonderful observation point in the world. In the clear atmosphere objects "jOOOyds or GOOOyds away look as though within a pistol-shot, and you only realise the distance when the seemingly close shell-bursts of our guns are known to be really at the maximum range. The winding course of the Jordan is clearly visible, and a number of small motor-boats skimming the Dead Sea. I witnessed some of the lighting this morning, and although 3000 yds awav I could see every detail. ■STORMING THE HEIGHTS. The objective was a rocky escarpment projecting six or seven feet above the saddle between two lulls. The attack,on this part was made by troops from Cheshire. I saw the lads deploy in open formation and swing round the slope of the hill which was held by us, to climb to the position of the enemy. As tliey came into view a burst of macliinu-gun and rifle lire showed that the enemy was alevt. The Turk? could be seen lining the ridge and pouring a rapid fire on the steadily-climbing infantry. A small projecting plateau was the first objective, and when within a few yards of the top the gallant lads charged and gained the crest. The late Turkish occupants could be seen scuttling beyond and finally drop- | ping behind the wall. Our shell? were falling freely among these rocks, and the Turks had a good many casualties. I could see them carry off the dead and wounded, sometimes by the legs and shoulders and occasionally slung over the back. Our stretcher-bearers were heavily fired on as they were collecting the wounded. Tliev nevertheless persisted ivilh admirable coolness and gallantry. I Reinforcements joined tile party on the plateaus before the final rush was made which would yield possession of the whole ridge. Further to the right, where the Sussex troops had made their attack in the early hours of dawn, the Turks from a couple of- neighboring hills kept up an active fusillade. One small party of ?.0 men advanced in the open and threw themselves 011 the bare hillside. BRAVF. TURKISH PLATOON. These were immediately the target for our guns, which doused them with shrapnel and high explosive, while a machinegun 011 a neighboring height peppered them liberally. The Small puffs of dust raised by the impact of the bullets could be traced as tliev crept up among them. Nevertheless (he Turks grimly stuck to their places. Now and again one man would, retire to the rear. One was just jc-rossing the crest when a lyddite shell ! burst: ahead of him and a crumpled heap j was carried oil' a few minutes later. But j the rest of the group must have borne charmed lives, because they seemed im- | pervious to the gruelling, using their I rifles freely whenever a target presented itself.

On a nighboring knoll the enemy was less lucky. The guns caught t.liem crossing the top, and half a dozen bodies dotted the ground a little later. A machinegun was brought to this crest, but the lirt shell must have knocked out the machine-gunner, and soon afterwards a couple of men rushed forward from behind a rocky outcrop and carried away the machine-gun, which did not speak again 011 that hilltop. The reckless tenacity shown by some of these Turks in clinging to, the position, under such a heavy gunfire seems to confirm the report that many were greatly distressed at the loss of Jerusalem, 'which they would like ±0 recover at all costs. ' This spirit was not general, however.

In all the operations since the inception of our offensive, the Welsh troops iJfld home counties affiliated wftto them have taken an important and gallant share. It was they who captured Kuweylfey Ridge, which ensured the success of our turning movement after the capture of Beersheeba. The position was difficult to take, because it had to be approached on the steepest side, where the Turks simply rolled bombs among the attackers. Also it was not easy to hold ! when won, because access was less difficult from the north. The Turks, with I important reinforcements of fresh troops, aaste sis