PALESTINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1918, Page 5

PALESTINE.

THREE MONTHS' OPERATIONS OEFKJIAL BEBOKT. Wellington, lost Night. The Minister for Defence has received the following from the Commandant of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in tgfpk, being * report on the operations MWfl, May, and Jane, IMS:— The New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade returned from the Amman raid to the Jordan Valley on April 2, occupying trenches, constntctnig defences near bridges and fords, and patrolling across Jtha Jordan, tiU the 20th. They took patt in a reconnaissance in force east of the Jordan on the 10th. This was carried out under considerable hostile artillery fee. The 16th Company, 1.C.C., were with thl Imperial Camel Corps in the operation* east of the Jordan Valley in April and May, and then moved back and eomucneed reorganisation as mounted rtffl One other unit moved from camp, to tw nsw camp in the camel zone on May JO, and the New Zealand section of {jha camel depot joined them on June 26*. On April 30 and May 1, the brigade waa engaged in a raid en Eg Salt, being deflHiiil to operate from the south. Burtag llay 1-3, the pressure was maintained on the position at Shunet Nimtfm by a force attacking from the south, wWe other forces entered Es Salt from fhs mat. On their return from Eg Salt on the 4th, the brigade withdrew to toe west of the Jordan. They were occupied in guarding bridges and patrolling until the 17th, when they moved into iisum, and on May SB they moved into a rest camp and remained there untij June 13. On June 15. they took up the defence of a sector in the Jordan Valley, patrolling and occupying trenches until the end of the month. The enemy shelled bivouac areas on several days, and snipers were more actirc than usual. The Rarotongans were employed on special duties north of Jaffa. The 15th Company, 1.C.C., were training and patrolling in the Canal area till June 14, and t&en moved up the line to Join another company and commence training as mounted rifles.