THE ADVANCE IN PALESTINE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 59, 3 December 1917, Page 5

THE ADVANCE IN PALESTINE

GREAT PROGRESS MADE TURKS STUBBORNLY RESISTING BRITISH STEADILY APPROACHING JERUSALEM London, November 30. Renter's correspondent at the Egyptian Headquarters, writing on Thursday, states: "The troops have made great progress since the last dispatch. Our advanced posts now hold the hill called Neby Samwil, from which the Crusaders obtained their first view of the Holy City. "We have advanced from the west, and aro threatening the main road loading from Jerusalem to Shcchem, the modern Nablus. Our progress is not easy, nor is it undisputed. These Judean hills lend themselves to defensive tactics. ,'lhey aro barred with' rooky slopes, intersected by deep and narrow defiles, and there is only one tolerable road, which the Turks had mined in several places, but which is being restored without much difficulty. , The rain lost week greatly intensified the discomfort of the men, and the nights aro extremely chilly. Scottish troops made a pathway six milos long, and helped to man-handle the guns to enable them to bo brought into elfectivo action. "The Turks put up a stout resistance at Latron, where the Jaffa-Jerusalem and Gaza-Jerusalem roads meet, r.nd held still moro tenaciously tho ridge of Kuryet-el-Enab,- the Biblical Kirjath Jearim, whore they only yielded to a bayonet charge by the' Gurkhas and Somersets supported by the AViltshires. The Turkish Headquarters - seems to have been transferred' to Nablus, and their main strength appears to bo concentrated at this place and at Turkoran, both of which aro joined by the strategic railway running to Ramleh. They also hold Shnnshef and Jerusalem, with their chief display of strength in the neigbourhood of Bires-'il-Jid, bettor known as Gibeon. Yesterday and on the previous day tho enemy exerted considerable pressure along our 1 front, and attacks at Neby .Samwil .

were beaten off. Our aviators hare accounted for nineteen enemy twoplanes since the beginning of the offensive."—Reuter.

ENEMY RUSH ADVANCED WORKS AUSTRALIANS SURROUND A DETACHMENT. (Rec. December 2, 11.5 p.m.) London, December 1. A Palestine official report states: "The enemy rushed our advanced works on Thursday night on the south bank of the Naharaiya, in tho viciniEy of Birkeet ol Janus, establishing himself closo to our line. Tho Australian mounteds on Friday morning surrounded a detachment, taking prisoner 148. Wo took 306 prisoners on Friday at Beit Ur el Kokka."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. SERIOUS POSmOfTFOR TURKEY 1 CENTRAL POWERS MUST ABANDON PERSIA AND EGYPT. Amsterdam, November 30. A wireless message states that Professor Hoetzsch, writing in the "Krouz Zeitiing," admits the seriousness of the position in Palestine for Turkey and her allies. He points out that the question is whether the Sultan or Great Britain will rule tho Moslem world, and adds: "The Central Powers, having more urgent troubles nearer nome, will now be compelled to abandon Persia and Egypt. But their Oriental policy was not planned on the basis of Turkey being deprived of Mesopotamia, Arabia, and Palestine. Their guarantee for Turkey's integrity can only be carried out by negotiation; therefore Germany ought not to tie her hands regarding the securities sho holds in Eastern France, as she w : U need them when negotiating with her enemies, who also hold securities.''— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.