PALESTINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1918, Page 5

PALESTINE.

THE TURKISH DEBACLE. Most Complete Victory in History Turks in Desperate Position. London, Sept- 24Mr. Massey, writing from Nablus ou Monday, says:—lu conversation with me to-day, a general with experience of many wars, said: "There is no more complete victory in history than General Alicnby's annihilation of the twoTurk-i.-h armies west of the Jordan." This, in one sentence, describes in epitome with absolute truth the operations of the last five days of this magnificent Imperial Army in Palestine. The Turkish 7th and Bth Armies have been practically wiped out. The very small number who succeeded in getting across the Jordan in isolated, batches are a mere fragment of the force opposed to us on the morning of the 19th. They are almost entirely without war material. It is extremely doubtful whether one gun, lorry, or anything on wheels got away. A few batches in the hills are still holding out in inaccessible spots, and it may be a day or two before plete, and probably unparalleled, has crowned the efforts of General Allenby's army. To-day the cavalry captured the important port of Haifa, the historical Acre, and Es Salt. The result will have a far-reaching effect on our Arab alliesThere are indications that the enemy is leaving strong positions east of the Jordan, particularly about Es Salt and Amman. It is clear that the Turks are willing to sacrifice their troops in the Hedjaz and to leave the Turkish army in Yemen to it- own devices. What effect this swift, and staggering knockout blow will have on them may be imagined. At present it is known that the prisoners greatly exceed 25.000, and it is certain this number will be exceeded, for in my movements over this wide battlefl»ld since our forward rush started I have always beard larger estimates than the official claims. Tha fact is that there are groups of men sitting under white flairs awaiting the_aeecptance of their surrender. More thin 2fio guns have been located within our lines and possibly more will be found. Artillery ammunition is in vast quantities everywhere. Some, depots are acres in extent As the fntk? manufacture only small arms ammunition, if they try to raise new armies to take the olace of those destroyed, they must call on Onnanv lor every gui. trnnsport. and instrument of war required. Assuredly our victory has put the Turk.? in a desperate position. SIX MILKS COVERED WITH DEBUTS To-day I saw one of the most remarkable sights which a soldier ever gazed upon. No veteran with long experience in many fields I have spoken with had seen the like. From Balata, where the. read from Nablus falls (hrouch er.vj.Tv hills and narrow passes to the Wuili y.irah. iiiere is a stretch more than six miles long covered with debris left bt the retreating army. In no section of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow could there have been a more terrible picture of hopeless, irretrievable defeat. In this area alone 87 guns of various calibres, fully 1000 horse and oxen-drawn vehicles, nearly 100 motor lorries, cars, field kitchens, water carts, and a mass of other impedimenta block the road, with the carcases of thousands of animals and the bodies of dead Turks and Germans. This was the work of the Irish, Welsh, and Indian infantry The artillery pressure behind and the energy of the indomitable British and Australian airmen in front had forced the enemy over the hills into the road. Just as the guns began to shell the retiring transport the airmen swooped down to within 200 feet and bombed the head of the column. THOROUGHNESS OF AIR WORK. i The airmen's work was done with surj prising thoroughness. One flight after another took up the work until the I column was one vast broken mass. The j enemy troops, seeing escape with the ] vehicles was impossible, fled to the hills. Some endeavoring to find an outlet up the Beisan road fell into the hands of the cavalry waiting for them. Others accepted the inevitable and sought refuge in our lines. For the effectiveness of the system of bombing it is difficult to find a parallel to this destroyed column. INFANTRY PRAISED. Operating and working up to this debacle the magnificently conducted Irish and Indian troops played a great part. In 30 ho-irs they marched 21 miles as tlie crow flies, over a continuous succession of mountains and deep rocky valleys, fighting incessantly against an enemy striving with much conspicuous gallantry to delay the advance. The whole nature of the country was in the enemy's favor, but the Irish and Indians brooked no opposition and fought with superb courage. A BRILLIANT MOVEMENT. Just before the Balata road was in sight the Turks tried hard to compel the Irish to halt where the Nablus road passed Huwarali. About five miles from Nablus there is a-wide flat surrounded by hills. The Turks held the summits with numerous machine-guns, and it was obvious it would take all day to drive them out by a prepared attack. The Irish and Indians therefore exteuded widely and advanced across the east of the plain. The Turks saw the infantry meant to get their flanks and started to retire. They too came into the plain, and the Yeomanry swung out from behind a hill and made a brilliant charge, sabring many Turks. Then, wheeling to the left, they got the village and more prisoners and materials. To-day the airmen have been busy in the Es Salt and Amman area, bombing the enemy on the move. They also attacked the station at Mafrak, the station and aerodrome at Derra, obtaining direct hits, including one on a hangar.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. TURKfI PRETEND TO BE PLEASED London, Sept. 24. A Turkish communique states:—Very skilful rearguard fights are facilitating the accomplishment of our plana on both sides of the Jordan—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.