THE CAPTURE OF NAZARETH.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1918, Page 5

THE CAPTURE OF NAZARETH.

(From Mr H. S. Gullett, Commonwealth Official Correspondent.)

In -the Field, Palestine, Sep. 23. Yesterday. I spent a couple of houis at Nazaretihi with West Country Yeomanry, who first entered tlie town. The capture of the place was highly dramatic- The Yeomanry crossed Esdraelon Main in the dark, covering fully 60 miles from the Jaffa district, inside of 24 hours. Trotting up the steep, tortuous roadway to Nazareth, just before dawn, they overran a moving convoy of 75 motor lorries. The German drivers were greatly startled at the apparently miraculous appearance of our Ihoraemen, and in the confusion which followed a number of lorries overturned off the narrow mountain road. Maintaining the pace the Yeomanry clattered over the crest into the little hilltop basin, where Nazareth lies. The town contained numerous enemy troops. These, like the inhabitants, were still sleeping, believing the lino to be unbroken and our army miles away. The Yeomanry quickly made the w%ole force prisoners. The British, however, were only a small party, and when, later in the day, German machine-gunners from the ridges rotund the town to the aorth opened a vigorous fire they temporarily withdrew. The following morning tiiey outflanked the machine-gun posts, and re-entered Nazareth. That night the Turks counter-attacked, but meanwhile our force was strengthened hy some Indian Lancers, who, galloping out, killed 50, and took 100 prisoners in a slashing moonlight charge. The inhabitants expressed the greatest delight at the arrival of t'ho British. .Returning from Nazareth, I fell across an armored motor battery and light car patrol proceeding on a flying reconnaissance of Haifa, and joined the enterprise. The little expedition wa3 marked by splendid dash. Speeding over the hills of Lower Galilee we crossed Esdraelon Plain, then ran east under the shadow of Camel. 'When many miles in advance of our outposts, and three miles from Haifa, we encountered an enemy strong post, and after a brief engagement tiie paTty captured 70 prisoners, including two officers. Over the next two miles our prisoners increased by upwards of 100. The armored cars pushed immediately into the outskirts of the town, despite heavy fire from enemy batteries, machine guns, and rifle fire, at point blank range. The mission was fully accomplished, and the cars pulled out slowly, marching the prisoners before them while fighting a vigorous rearguard action. The remarkable success of General A'lenby's bold strategy was largely dueto the complete ascendancy of Wtie British airmen. Towards this the Australian squadron very substantially contributed. Preceding the advance the enemy was kept practically blind. Scarcely a single Hun 'plane crossed our line. An odd one which came was immediately challenged, and destroyed, or chased right home to his aerodrome. Simultaneously all--enemy aerodromes were being bombed, as -we now know from personal observation, almost out of existence. Twelve Distinguished flying Crosse®; ,hav6»been awarded ovu:-i»ra-.j^id»'ofisi3f , J >•