FIGHT ON THE JORDAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1918, Page 7

FIGHT ON THE JORDAN.

TURKISH ATTACK FAILS. REPULSED BY THE ANZACS Cairo, April IS Renter's correspondent writing from headquarters on Saturday, says that Anzac troops inflicted a most severe and salutary lesson on their enemies in the Jordan area. After a raid into the land of .Gilead some days ago, when, besides destroying five miles of track on ithe Hedhaz railway, they captured prisoners and other spoils, they withdrew to the right bank of the Jordan, bringing with them several thousand refugees who seized the opportunity of placing themselves under British protection. The British maintained however, a bridgehead'on the other side of the El. Ghoraniyeh Ford, which relieved the Anzaes there.

The enemy closely followed the withdrawal, doubtless fancying that they were driving us back, and apparently concluded the moment opportune for the delivery of a blow. Naturally, nothing was better suited to our plans, as the chief trouble we experience is to get the enemy to take the initiative. An attack seldom ventures to more than bring local counter-attacks during our offensives, but abandoning the usual caution they advanced to assault the bridgehead at El Ghoraniyeh, and the advance post ten miles further up the west bank of the Jordan.

The latter attack was preceded by a violent shelling, as many as 40 sheila per minute from the field mountain guns spraying our positions. But all attempts to advance were completely held up. The other attack was nioTe seriously pushed. Opposite the El Ghoraniyoh bank of the Jordan, after a couple of hundred yards, a thick undergrowth rises in a series of marl pillocks to the plain, which extends for four miles to tli* 1 foot of the hills at Gilend. These marl banks afl'ord an admirable cover, which the Anzacs made the fullest use of. Two thousand Turks with a few Germans, were seen to debouch from the hills and advanced in open order against the bridgehead. Guns planted shells with deadly effect upon the assailants, who, nevertheless, persevered wfth great pluck, but when 200 yds from the wire the assault, pitifully melted away under the fire of rifles and machineguns. The enemy losses were terribly heavy, and the next morning we counted 307 dead before the lines, but the Turks had been burying their dead all night. The actual loss in killed is, therefore, not far short of a 1000.

As the Turks fell back the Australian Cavalry sallied forth, cut off their retreat, and captured nearly 100 prisoners, besides accounting for many more casualties; We brought in a number of enemy wounded, but many more arc still lyng before the positions. Our: losses were quite insignificant.