PALESTINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1918, Page 7

PALESTINE.

JURKSOVERTAICEN,

BRILLIANT CHARGE BY INDIANS. HEAVY TIRE AT CLOSE QUARTERS Cairo, Nov. 6. The retreating Turks were overtaken on tlhe Alexandretta road. The Jodlipore Lancers, with fine impetuosity, charged right through the enemy, the latter being over three thousand strong. At first they threw up their hand and surrendered, but on seeing the gmallncss of the attacking force they re-opened a heavy fire at dose range, causing casualties. The Indians charged back safely. The enemy was pursued northwards by the cavalry, and armoured cars, ana the nearest rearguards, who are over 26 miles away, are reported to be still pressing northward, having been joined by a small force which retired from Mesopotamia. —Reuter.

OF NEW ZEALANDERS' OPERATION DURING SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.

The Official report of operations of tfoe New Zealanders in Syria during September and October, states that: The brigade carried out reconnaisance work in the Jordan Valley. Up to September 19 the enemy periodically shelled our watering area. On the 19th the Brigade pushed northward on the vrest of the Jordan. Patrols from toe A.H.K. and W.N.R. moved forward and came under heavy fire from an enemy battery. A battalion of the B.WJ. regiment, working in conjunction with the mounted troops, moved forward, drove the enemy from the south bank of the Jadi Bakr. During the evening, the W.MH. took up a position on the Wadi. The enemy fell back during the early part of tfee next morning, and their position was occupied by the 8.W.1. regiment, on the 21st the VOI-R,. with one section of the M.G. and Indian mountain battery occupied Fusail, capturing two machine guns and 26 prisoners. The patrols pushed well forward in the direction of Uium Esh Shert. On tihe 22 the AJOt. were ordered to cut the Jiar Ed Damieh Nalus road. During the day heavy fighting ensued, all the brigade taking part at Jisr Ed Damieh, and the brigade went across the Jordan. There were captures, after some sharp fighting in which the M.MJI and the W.M.K. took the chief part. These captures were 886 prisoners, including the commander and staff of the 53rd Turkish division, sis guns, nine machine guns, and a large dump. On the 3rd, the Brigade moved on towards Es Salt, and came in touch witto the enomy. After a very trying march in the theat, up steep mountain tracks, Es Salt was enveloped and captured. The C.M.R. did splendid work as the advance guard during the march, skilfully capturing several enemy posts without a check to our advance, in one of these posts, nine officers and 150 men were captured. The captives at Es Salt included 538 prisoners, three guns, four machine guns, and a large ammunition | dump. The the Brigade mo"ed towards Amman's. On the 25th the Brigade attacked while the 2nd A-LH. j Brigade attacked from the west and came under heavy artillery fire. T.C.M.R. galloped forward and came under machine gun fire, and dismounted and attacked the enemy at Stone to Mer, supported by artillery fire, and took tho position at the point of the bayonet, 19 officers and 100 other ranks (mostly Germans including the O.C. staff of the 146 th battalion) and sis machine guns being captured here. One troop of the C.M.R. immediately galloped forward and entered Animas. The C.M.R. then attacked in the rear the enemy position east of tho town. A general advance was ordered, and the A.M.R. C.M.R. and WJM.R. carried everything before them. Several hundred of the enemy surrendered in the trenches. Tic captures by the New Zealand Brigade inclnded 1734 prisoners, six guns, £5 machine guns, three wireless plants, a large ammunition dump and stores. From the 26th to the 20th the Brigade was clearing up the battlefield. On the 30th the Brigade moved south to Ziza to support the 2nd A.LH. Brigade; in guarding prisoners and captured stores of the army from Moan, which had surrendered on the previous day. October Ist to 3rd, visiting and clearing up outlying positions and places. October 4 and s.—The Brigadier returned to Jericho, and on OctobeT 16 moved into the rest camp at Richon Le Zion, Ludd.

General Alleuby swit a highly congratulatory message to Colonel Chaytor's force after these operations.