CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 300, 17 December 1917, Page 5

CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM.

i A UNIQUE VICTORY. TURKS' HEAVY LOSSES IN FIERCE BAYONET CHARGE. LONDON, December 14. In describing the final operations which led to the fall of Jerusalem, neuter's correspondent at British headquarters in Palestine, af>fcr detailing the capture of Bethlehem and the progress of the troops north of the town, said:— The Londoners, in order to attack, had to climb down a deep slope and half-way up a higher slope on the opposite side, before they could come to grips with the enemy. The ground being so steep made it impossible to bring field guns forward to support the advance. While one body made a direct frontal attack on the Turkish defences above the village of Aitkarim, about dawn, the Londoners on both flanks were in position, enabling them to rush the Turkish works, which were stormed and captured, and by seven in the morning the whole of the enemy works west of Jerusalem were in our hands. The Turks, however, yet held the last line on top of the ridge overlooking Jerusalem, having posted numerous machine-guns in houses in the JewishGerman colonies on the farthest outskirts of Jerusalem. Our gallant London lads charged up this ascent towards late in the afternoon of the Bth December. It was a magnificent feat, crowned by complete success. The Turks were driven at the point of the bayonet from their line, survivors bolting on either side of JerusalemTheir losses, both at the works and especially in the final fight on the ridge, were exceedingly heavy. It is also true that throughout all fighting around Jerusalem they showed a most desperate spirit and greater tenacity than in almost any previous fighting, and they stood their ground to the last. During the night the enemy withdrew to the north and east of the city. At eight o'clock in the morning of December 9, the Mayor and the Chief ol Police came with a flag of truce, offering the surrender of the town. The General commanding the Londoners was instructed to accept the surrender, and at noon went forward without actually entering the Holy City, and formally took over the city. As they debouched from the defile they were fired upon by machine-guns placed on a hill on the Mount of Olives' Ridge, north of the city, commonly known as Mount Seyrus. This ridge was stormed by a bayonet charge, many dead Turks being left around the position, while the enemy was also being cleared off the Mount of Olives with the assistance of Welsh troops, who had by now moved up from the south while the Londoners were carrying. all before them. Their section of dismounted yeomanry were not less successful against their objectives further north, where the Turks were established in a strong series of trenches around the village of Beitikes. These were carried in a rush in a most gallant manner, our line being advanced right beyond the village. Some Turks who continued to hold out in the village after we passed were subsequently disposed of by the dismounteds, who secured a good position, which them to go forward as soon as the Londoners came through the suburbs of Jerusalem, the letter's advance being materially helped by the Yeomanry's success. They reached the road leading to Nablus, thus cutting off the retreat northwards. In these parts the enemy suffered very heavy casualties, our losses being comparatively light. Welsh troops who had advanced from the south pushed across the road east of Jerusalem leading to Jericho, and clashed with Turkish reinforcements who were advancing by this road, having been rushed by Hedjuz railway to the succour of Jerusalem. The Turks were held up and forced back. In the course of opera» tions we captured nearly a thousand prisoners, three guns, many machine-guns, and 700 wounded Turks lying in hospital. Among the wounded -were three British prisoners captured at Gaza. The correspondent pays a tribute to the admirable staff work, to the wonderful co-ordination of all movements, and to the master-mind which conceived the plan of capturing the city, and succeeded, without injuring a single stone. A good deal is now known of what took place at Jerusalem in the early dava of the war. The attack on the Suez Canal was made to appear-as a triumph of Turkish organisation. What was not known is that the Turkish losses at this period exceeded 45,000 dead from neglect, lack of food and overwork, the people of Jerusalem being so reduced that its inhabitants used to fight for the bodies of animals which died in the streets.— (Reuter.) A report from the commander of the British forces in Palestine states: "North-east of Jerusalem we further extended our line on Thursday, taking ! 140 prisoners."—(A. and 2ST.Z. and ! Reuter.)