NEW ZEALANDERS CLOSE GAP IN THE JORDAN

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 228, 24 September 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS CLOSE GAP IN THE JORDAN

ROUND UP EIGHT HUNDRED PRISONERS.

(Received 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, September 23. Mr. \V. T. Massey, in his latest message, says:—To-day's news is ac good as the preceding days. In the Jordan Valley we made important ground. A few of the enemy had come down from the Nablus road and got across the Jisr-ed-Dsunieh ferry. The New Zealandcre at eight o'clock got across the track to stop this exit, and rounded up eight hundred prisoners, including the staff commander of the Turkish Fifty-third Division. Apparently it brings bad luck to command this division, for in tho first battle of Gaza the Australians caught the commander in his carriage. At one o'clock to-day the New Zealandere crossed the Jordan and secured the Damieh bridgehead east of Jericho. The infantry who rolled up the enemy from the -west had little to do to-day, beyond taking the surrender of isolated parties, but they increased their captures of guns. The Irish, Welsh, and Indian infantry operating about the Nablus road got well north and cast of Nablus, adding to the discomfiture of the retreating enemy, the Irish covering 21 miles and fighting over mountains for 36 hours. The cavalry approached Kcfr K.-inna and Seflarieh, north of Nazareth, yesterday. To-day the Yeomanry and Indian cavalry beat off an attack on the Tcbriah-Acre north of Nazareth, from tho direction of Haifa.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) One feature of this battle has been the magnificent dash of the Indian troops. The veteran soldiers of India were expected to do well and they have lived up high reputation. Young battalions who replaced white troops sent for sen-ice to the western front were an unknown quantity, but these young Indian battalions came through the ordeal magnificently, and fought like seasoned warriors, cheerfully answering any call. The divisional commanders tell mc that they are delighted at the Indians' valour under all conditions. Forty-seven hours of continuous fighting and marching tested them to the utmost, but they behaved BupeTbly, their only fault being too great eagerness to push on. In Thursday's tremendous attack against the coastal defences, the officers had to restrain thnir men from rushing into our artillery barrage. These took the place of some Londoners Bent to France, and were tremendously keen to preserve the record of the division. The Indians with the Londoners, who were the first in Jerusalem and first over the Jordan, wanted to be first through the coastal defences. They succeeded, ■went on, and secured the crossing of Wadi Falik for the cavalry, then advanced north-eastwards on TulkeTam, covering the astonishing distance of 22 miles in 13J hours, including trench 6ghting and actions in the open. This wonderful performance ie an example of what the young Indian battalions are capable. All are practically the same quality for skill in hill fighting. It would be hard to find a parallel for this incident.

There was a stern struggle for the Biet Lid hills, 5000 yards from Nablus, on Friday. When they were captured it was decided to take the station which was commanded on the south by a high steep hill. A Sikh battalion crept up the irregular elope In the moonlight, caught the garrison entirely unprepared, and rushed the surprised German machine-gunners. There was not one single casualty among the .Sikhs. The Indians, marching over the hilly country, had to leave all their artillery except their mountain «*un,s behind.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)