PALESTINE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1918, Page 5

PALESTINE

HOLDING JERUSALEM. A GREAT HISTORIC RECORD. ENEMY STIMTLATED TO RECAPTURE. Router Service. London, Jan. 1. Renter's correspondent in Palestine writes: When in Jerusalem ten day n ago the Holy cicy was well within the batfe zone. The past few days has seen a marvellous change in the situation. The Turks have been driven belter skelter from the immensely strong positions where they had been (irmly established for weeks, while our line has been Hung forward and now embraces the furthest limits of the old kingdom of Jndea and, from a defensive standpoint, all the dominating heights and positions are in our hands.

This result has been brought about by the valor of our men and the strategy of their chiefs, who, seizing the psychological moment of attack, converted what might have been merely a Turkish check into a disastrous defeat.

The record of the last few days of lighting is a great achievement and will iiirnHi a page in the history that Brittannia may well be proud of. On the night of the twenty-sixth there began an olfensive against our entire right flunk, the forces being strengthened by divisions from the Caucasus, all keyed up to the utmost effort by being told that Jerusalem would be lost for "ver if the attack failed, and as though the appeal to religious fervor was inflnflicicnt, the prospect of abundant food there was dangled before them, coupled with an assurance that very few English were barring the way. Some of the men had been without rations for a couple of days, and doubtless this hope of food stimulated great ardor. What mav have induced the Turkish commander to plan the attack was the severe rainstorms some days previously, which would, presumably, have interfered with our supplies.

Our defer.ee-: north of Jerusalem were held by gallant lads from (lie County of London, while the Welsh, Cheshire and Home Conntv (roups guarded the line towards the east and northwards. The key position was the sleep hill of Tel el Fill, which is believed to he identical with, fiibeah. The Renjamin-Esadk is the regular line, hut the;.: fire a series of liosts extending on either side of the Nulling road. The first fighting- took place shortly before midnight, when one of our small advanced post-- retired before t'ue weight of the enemy advance. THE TURKISH ATTACKS. I DESPERATE EFFORTS MADE. BRITISH DEFENCE PREVAILS. London, Jan. 1. It soon bcame evident that a serious push was contemplated. The first attack w«.s delivered at 1.20 in the morning, hut bnike before reaching our positions. Then, in quick succession, the enemy delivered attack upon attack; men fell hack, hut. were reinforced and driven forward, always in increasing numbers. One small post on our left held by a couple of companies was attacked by four separate linos, 500 of the enemy participating in the final assault; but although they got close, our men stood like rocks and did not yield a foot. Each wave was compelled to fall back, leaving a toll of death.

Round about Tel-el-Ful eight attacks followed, upon one another and the line swayed backwards and forwards. A furious assault before the dawn wag followed by a lull in the storm, which so far had failed to make the slightest impression. Every soldier knew that the [ate of Jerusalem depended upon his tenacity and nothing could be finer than their tense, grim steadfastness. The Turks employed the morning hours in organising for one last desperate effort, which was delivered at one o'clock, but without any happier result for them. All the enemy's offensive, which was supported by strongwtillcry lire upon* and to the rear of our positions, failed to yield him the smallest success find battered and broken he was forced to withdraw. His attae'ks east of Jerusalem were carried out with not less determination although in smaller force. The principal bone of contention here was a ridge, between two hills and it was finally so hotiy shelled as to be untenable by either side. But Welsh troops definitely established themselves after dusk. The fighting lasted without intermission all day and the Turks paid heavily for their attempt to oust these men, 260 dead being counted before our positions. The nature of the ground did not permit much use of the bayonet, but there was the liveliest exchange of grenades.

One detached post east of Bethlehem was completely surrounded, but held out until relieved the following morning.

While tlie Turks wore making furious, if ineffectual, assaults north-east of Jerusalem our high command decided that the moment had come for a coun-ter-stroke. Consequently Irish troops and dismounted Yeomanry advanced against the Turks' communications and positions dominating the Nablous road. The country through which they had to advance was the most impossible conceivable. Some hills were so precipitous that the guns dangled in the air while being hauled into position, and the men had to climb one another's shoulders. The Yeomen advancing upon Attircli forestalled the attacks the enemy was organising and got among the Turks with the bayonet, accounting for a hundred killed on the spot. Three machineguns were captured.

r.y nightfall on the 27th these troops had advanced 2£ miles on a nine-mile front which, in view of the terrain, was a- remarkable foat. The advance continued next day, position after position falling with the slightest oppositiou, so completely were the Turks caught, thanks to their ill-judged offensive, Reverting to the situation in front of the Londoners tho correspondent pays that the enemy assaults having failed and finding his rear threatened, he began to withdraw northwards. The Londoners immediately pressed forward, and easily /brushed aside the Turkish rearguard. It was evident his moral was badly shattered, as he flod to Erram, a strong position on the site of Ramah in Benjamin. Soon shells began to drop near

On the 29th the dismounted men captured Rahmallah and the Londoners Burch, while the Welsh pushed forward and linked up with the Londoners east [of Erram.