PRISONERS DEFEND CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1919, Page 11

PRISONERS DEFEND CAMP.

INCIDENT IN PALESTINE. ATTACK BY ARAB LOOTERS. A. strange and almost ludicrous episode, which occurred at the end of the Palestine campaign, was related by a, New Zealand sergeant who returned by the Ulimaroa. At a spot on the Mecca railway, about twenty miles south of Amman, the Second Brigade of Australian Light Horse had received the surrender of about 1000 Turks, who formed a part of the enemy's army in that area. On the railway there were waggons of Turkish arms and ammunition, and the Arabs were determined to secure this and other loot before it fell Into the hands of the British. They assembled in great numbers, and harassed the force so much that the Turks joined with the Australians in keeping off these tribesmen- The situation became so difficult that the New Zealand Mounted Brigade was sent to the scene to make it possible for the Australians to tjlke their prisoners out in safety. When the New Zealanders arrived early one morning they met putpost parties consisting of Australians and Turks, all fully armed, coming in after night duty. "Th«y seemed quite happy arid fraternal," said the sergeant, "and it was difficult to realise that the Turks had been the enemy so recently. The Turks were in a serious position. They wanted to surrender, aud wanted to "be protected from the Arabs. The Arabs wanted to loot and anything they could get, and we, I suppose, wanted everything. The New Zealanders finally held [the Arabs while the Australians and 'their prisoner comrades retired "