PALESTINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1918, Page 5

PALESTINE.

SOME SMART RAIDS.

COMPLETE ENEMY SOKPMSE.

Cairo, August 14.

'Mr Massey, writing on Monday night, says tho enemy lines astride the Jerusa. lemiNiaiblus road were raided on a several mile front by the (London, Irish and Indian troops with the most successful results. Two hundred and fifty prisoners were taken and 150 to 200 Turks were killed or wounded on the main road and West road. Against the line were entrenched hills, which involved a most difficult approach owing to the steep and /oeky 3ides. Two columns about three miles apart moved against the hills on cither flank of entrenchments. When the artillery barrage lifted tlie Indian troops of" each column rushed to the flanking hills. Then the Irishmen, moving from the end's of the lino towards the centre, got astride of the trenches. So surprised was the enemy that many were taken prisoner who were actually firing/-at right angles to the direction of oiir advance- They lost numerous dead.

While tlm main attack was progressing f -■•" subsidiary rtiids were carried on: i.-t of the Nalblus road* In one the Londoners killed fifty men. in another, the IndisEns killed twenty. In the third the Indians rushed the system of trenches.

Thanks to the magnificent co-operation fleftween the artillery and the infantry. our casualties were exceptionally light. —'Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. <'