THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1918, Page 6

THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN.

HAVOC OF THE RETREAT, , TERRIBLE EXECUTION BY AIRMEN, DARING EXPLOITS BY THE NEW ZEAL ANDERS. (From W. T. Massey.) Shechein, Sept. 23. in conversation with me to-day, a General with experience of many wars said that no more complete victory had been won in the history of wars than General Allenby'g annihilation of the two Turkish armies west of the Jordan. This one sentence describes in epitome with resolute truth the operations ot the last five days. The Turkish -7th and Bth Armies are practically wiped out. The very small number who succeeded in getting across the Jordan in isolated hatches are a mere fragment of the force opposed to us on the morning of the 19th. They are almost entirely without war material, for it is extremely doubtful whether one gun, lorry, or anything on wheels got away. A few batches in the hills are holding out in inaccessible spots, and it may be a day or two before all are rounded up, but the victory is final and complete. I saw to-day one of the most remarkable sights which a soldier has ever gazed upon. No veteran with long experience of war in many fields whom I have spoken to has seen the like. From Balata, where the road from Shechem falls through craggy hills and narrow passes to the Wadi Farah, there is a stretch of more than six miles long covered with the debris of the retreating army. In no section of Napoleon r s retreat from Moscow could there have been a more terrible picture of hopeless and irretrievable defeat. In this area alone 87 guns of various calibres and fully a thousand horses and oxen-drawn vehicles, nearly a hundred motor-lor-ries, caTs, 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 and artillery, with their pressure behind, and of the indomitable British and Australian airmen in front. The infantry had forced the enemy over tho hills into the road, and just as the guns began to shell the retiring transport the airmen swooped down to 200 feet and bombed the lipad of the column. That accomplished, with front and rear a broken mass Of wheels, time only was require;! to finish the job. It was done with surprising thoroughness. One flight after another took up the work until the whole column was one vast broken mass of enemy troops. Seeing that escape with vehicles was impossible they fled to Jthe. hills. Some endeavored to find anoutlet ud the Beisan road and fell into the hands of the cavalry waiting for them. Others, accepting the inevitable, sought refuge in our lines. For effectiveness of systematic bombing it would be difficult to find a parallel to this destroyed column

The operation working up to this debacle was magnificently conducted. Irish and Indian troops played a great part. In 30 hours they marched 21 miles as the crow flies over a continuous succession of mountains and deep rocky valleys, fighting incessantly against the enemy who strove with conspicuous gallantry to delay the advawee. The whole nature of the country was in their favor, but the Irish and Indians brooked no. opposition. They fought with superb courage. Just before the Balata road was in sight (he Turks tried hard to compel the Jri?h to halt. Where the Shechem roai! [ku<He3 Huwarah, about five miles south of Shechem, there is a wide flat surrounded by hills. The Turks held the summits with numerous machincguno. It was obvious that it would take all dav to drive them out by a prepared attack. The Irish and Indians therefore extended widely, and advanced across the east plain. When the Turks saw that the infantry meant to get to their flanks they started_to retire. They too came into the plain, and Yeomanry swung out. behind the hill and made a brilliant charge, sabring many Turks and taking over a bundled prisoners. Then, wheeling to the left, they got into the village and took more prisoners and material. To-day airmen have been busy in the Es Salt and Amman area, bombing the enemv on the move. They also attacked the station of Mafrak and the station and aerodrome of Deraa, making direct hits including one on a hangar, which was burnt, and one on a machine. An enemy two-seater was also driven down. THE DASH INTO GILHEAD. The Turkish 4th Army, a portion of which has already been captured at Amman, seems in for trouble. I have just returned from witnessing the mounted men's triumphant capture of Amman, and I can speak of the splendid handling of the troop 3 in eountry where nature has raised enormous barkers against an attacking army. The Anzao Mounted Division east of the Jordan won the admiration of Colonial veterans, knew the countr.y having made two dashing raids and inflicted damage on the Hedjas railway. They drove the Turks and Germans out of Amman, though the presence there of Germans indicated what deep importance the enemy set upon thio section of the line. At the moment when Genera] Allenby"s plans overwhelmed two Turkish armies in Palestine the Anzacs began their movement to harass the Turkish 4th Army over the Jordan. They had to get across several miles of flat under enemy observation, and enter Gilhead across a mountain chain, which is almost impenetrable except for the one pass to Es Salt. Until the pass was won only pack transport was possible. The cavalry moved up goat tracks and were | in Es Salt the third day after operal tions began east of the Jordan. The enemy, fearing an advance against the town, months ago made a ' strategic road west of Es Salt, and had wired one valley, and all the approaches thereto were covered with many machine guns. The New Zcalanders dei elined a frontal attack, hut got over the crags of the hill, threatened the enemy flank and compelled their retirement on the town. There was not much fightin* in Es Salt, but between 600 and 700° prisoners were taken. The pas* from the Jordan to Es Salt was strewn with the litter of Turkish camps and a lot of abandAned transport. In the bed of a stream running alongside the road lies a long-range naval gun which for months has intermittently shelled Jen-

dan. She has made her last Turkish bark, which is generally worse than her bite. The enemy tried to blow up the road, and if they had been successful they would have hindered the bringing up of supplies, but only a portion of the charges exploded, leaving the roadway damaged, but clear. LITTER OF RETREAT. Here and on the Amman road from Es Salt were many evidences of our effective aerial bombing, and dead men, animals, broken guns, and transport had to be cleared from the path. On the 24th the cavalry got to Suweileh, halfway up .the Amman road, and at dawn yesteruTay; began operations against Amman. The Australian Light Horse Brigade moved from the right, continually driving over the rough plateau the Turkish cavalry and infantry, and accounted for a number of prisoners. Several detachments mounted on little wiry horses, very unlike our mounts, caused surprised interest as they passed through our lines. On the right the brigade made good progress, and by noon had got into an excellent position south-west of Amman. On the left a brigade of Australian Light Horse likewise made energetic progress. A small party got- astride the railway north of Amman, and removed two of the rails as a train approached from the south. They saw it derailed. The troops in it got out and escaped into the hills, while our little demolition party walked away on the other side of the train, The New Zealand Mounted Rifles attacked the town, which is in a hollow dominated by high hills. Our rapid movements in the mountains only permitted of the mountain artillery being brought ap for attack. At 3 o'clock the New Zealanders rushed into the town. As I looked over the ancient citadel, a prominent landmark, I saw their patrols creep up to the south-east of the hill, followed by the main body. The latter forced the enemy, who chiefly relied on tha weight of machinegun fire, from the crest. They went, through the town before dusk. The inhabitants crowded the roofa of the houses and displayed keen interest in the arrival of the British- There were many signs' of welcome. Many prisoners were captured.

The work of the Anzaes in this difficult region was highly creditable. They have borne a heavy share in the defences of the Jordan valley during the tremendous heat of the summer, which has in no way impaired their physique or their spirits. The wonderful enthusiasm with whioh they arc taking part in General Allenby's army's great victory in a fine display of patriotism. When I told them some of their Australian comrades had made a dashing cavalry charge, getting home with cold steel for the first time, they showed as much delight as if they had themselves participated. ,