ANZACS AGAIN.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15917, 2 June 1917, Page 9

ANZACS AGAIN.

BRILLIANT ADVANCE ON BEERSHEBA. ITALIANS TEN MILES FROM TRIESTE. FURIOUS FIGHTING IN CHAMPAGNE. RUSSIAN ARMY READY TO ADVANCE. SERIOUS STRIKES IN FRANCE. (3rd YEAR—3O6th DAY.)

THE EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN, ADVANCE ON BEERSHEBA. TURKISH FORCES REPULSED. ANZACS AGAIN ACTIVE. (By Cable—Press Association —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received June. Ist. 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 1. Mr W. T. Massoy, war correspondent with the forces in Egypt, telegraphing from tho neighbourhood of Gaza on May 24th, states that the Turks have again felt the force of a British cavalry stroke. "The British commander," he says, 'decided to destroy tho greater part of the railway south-east of Beersheba. "Mounted troops of the desert and a column under Goncral Chauvol. by another of those dashing raids which have characterised tho column's operations sine© Christmas, simultaneously attacked 22 miles of the raihvay and destroyed it beyond repair. "Tho operation i B important, because the Turks owing to a shortage of matorials, have lately been obliged to take up the old lines in order to lay new ones.

"Two. columns,, moved out ..on .the night of May 22nd, and the Camol Corps marched 82 miles to Riya and destroyed bridges, culverts, and tho entire line eastwards of the town. Meanwhile tho engineers, togethor with the Anzacs and Imperial mounted forces, after a special training in destructive methods, attacked tho railway betweon Ashij and Hadaj. "These splendid horsemen marchod 30 miles on an extremely dark night, through a dust storm, which obscured the stars and obliterated the tracks over sharp and jagged limestone ridges. "Ono party reached Aeliji at 6 o'clock in the morning and tho other reached Hadaj at 7 o'clock, ''They worked toward each othor, completing the destruction of 10 miles of track o» throe long ridges substantially built of 'stone and concroto. In three hours not a longth of rail, not a singlo bolt, was left intact. While the enginoer 8 blew up the rnihvay tho cavalry mado a strong demonstration towards Bocrshcba, and are now within fivo miles of tho town. "They destroyed th 0 railway bridge to the northward of the town and repulsed two Turkish cavalry brigades to tho south of Bcersheba, and returned to their bivouacs in tho afternoon."