TURKS BEATEN AND ROUTED ARABS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1918, Page 2

TURKS BEATEN AND ROUTED ARABS.

Arab forces under the command of the Sheik of Mecca have completely defeated the Turkish army operating southeast of the Dead Sea. In a sanguinary battle which began on January 30th, the Arab tribesmen practically annihilated the entire Turkish force, capturing 300 prisoners, including the Turkish commander-in-chief and his staff, the report Itates. The Turkish loss 11 killed alone exceeded 400. Eighteen machine-guns, two mountain guns, and a large amount of booty fell into the hands of the Arabs. The engagement, according to the report made to (ieneral Allenby of the British forces in Palestine, began at Korek, near the south-eastern end of the Dead Sea. The Turks, badly beaten, lost many prisoners, seven machine-guns, one mountain gun, and a large quantity of booty, retiring in disorder. Pursuing Arabs overtook the detachments near Tafile, where the remaining forces were cut to pieces. In the Jerusalem sector, General Allenby reports that railway communication has been opened with t-hg Jerusalem railroad, which virtually assures the British line of communication in their drive across the Jordan to cut the Hejaz railroad. Tf thi s campaign, which military critics predict is Allenby's plan of strategy, is successful, the Turk communication line with Medina will be brokenTribesmen under the "King of Mecca," as the former Sheik of Medina now designates himself, has been of great assistance to the British expeditionary forces in driving the Turk from the Holy Land-

Shortly after the British campaign in Palestine got under way, the Sheik ruling over Mecca and Medina by the authoritv of the Sultan, declared the independence of Arabia from Turkish rule. England recognises the new-formed Oovernment, and as a result the Arabs allied themselves with the British.