ALLENBY'S VICTORY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 309, 24 September 1918, Page 5

ALLENBY'S VICTORY

PURSUIT OP THE TURKS

PRACTICALLY ALL. AVENUES OF ESCAPE CLOSED,

INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE

London, September 22. An official report from Palestine states: "By 8 o'clock on Friday evening the enemy's resistance had collapsed everywhere except-on the Turkish left, in the Jordan Valley. Our left wing, swinging eastwards, had readied the line of Dideh, Baka, and Messudieh Junction, and was astride the railway and roads which converge upon Nabliis from the west. Tho riglit wing, traversing difficult country against considerable resistance, reached tho line Mhanjibeit and'Eshawcih, facing north, astride the JerusalemNablus road. To the northward om; cavalry, after traversing the field of Armageddon, had occupied Nazareth, Afuleh, and Beisan, and were collectine: disorganised maSies of tho enemy and of transport arriving from the south. All the avenues of escape except the fords of the Jordan, between Beisan and Damier, wero thus closed to the enemy.' Eastward of the Jordan the Arab forces of tho King of Hejaa had effected numerous demolitions on the railways radiating from Dera, and destroyed several important bridges, including the one in tho Yurmak Valley. Accurate figures of the captures are not yet available. Eight thousand prisoners and 100 guns, large quantities of horse and mechanical transport, four aeroplanes, many locomotives, and much rolling stock have already been counted. The air service'inflicted most severe losses on the masses of Turks retreating over the difficult roads. Some German mail-carrying aeroplanes landed in the midst'.of our troops at Afuleh. The pilot, who first believed the place was still in Turkish hands, destroyed the machine and its contents beforo'he was taken prisoner."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.

18,000 PRISONERS OFFICIALLY REPORTED (Rec. September 23, 9.55 p.m.) London, September 22, 9 p.m. An official communique from Palestine states: "By nine o'clock in the ovoning of September 21 'our left wing of the infantry, pivoting on their left about Birasnr, had reached the Beitde-jah-Samaria-Birasur line, shepherding the enemy on and westward of the Jerusalem-Nnblus Road, into the arms of tho cavalry operating southwards from Jenin and Beisan. Other enemy columns attempted to escape into the Jordan Valley, in tho direction of Jisr-ed-Damie, which tho onemy still held. These columns sufl'ored severely, being constantly bombed and machinegunned from low altitudes. We. hold -Nazareth and tho rail and Toad passages over the Jordan at Jisr-etf-Damie. Eighteen thousand prisoners and one hundred and twenty guns have been counted."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable ' Assii.lVeuter.

TURKISH OFFICIAL REPORT (Rec. September 23, 7.45 p.m.) London, September 22. A'Turkish communique, dealing with tho British attack, speaks of "most violent all-night fighting on September 18, witli forces continually reinforced on a wido front east of the JerusalemNablus road." The Turks'claim that the attack- was arrested mr the JaludWadi Abzu-Zerka line, hut admits that after a two hours' violent bombardment, supported by naval gnus end desperate hand-to-hand fighting, the British penetrated tho Turkish positions between tho coast and the LyddaTul Kerain railway, and adds: 'The Turks have withdrawn to Tul Kerain." —Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Itcuter.

THRILLING EXPLOITS AND., INCIDENTS MR; MASSEY'S STORY OF THE ROUND-UP. London, September 22. M". W. T. Massey, writing at Headquarters in Palestine) says: "General Allenby has.crushed tho Turkish 7th and Bth Annies. His cavalry lias closed every exit except one, which cannot be readied by many of the enemy, and in a. wide encircling movement tho horsemen hare brilliantly broken down all attempts to put up delaying rearguard fights.. AYe hare taken prisoner forces which, when counted, will probably amount to 20,000. The cavalry .-have captured Nazareth, No bins, Be:san, and Jenin. Tlioy had one charge on the Plain of Armageddon (Megiddo) and another at' Jeniii. They secured an enormous quantity of valuable booty, and we have not heard-the last of their efforts. Once tho infantryhad broken through tho southern defences tho cavalry had great opportunities, while tho infantry has continued to display superb skill and endurance in driving the enemy from the hills between the Plain of Sharon and the plateau of Judca. The cavalry movements were perfectly timed, it has been a masterly success, and their unfailing regularity in fulfilling the plans laid down by the Staff suggests movements regulated by a clock.

Magnificent Work by tho 'Cavalry. "The British Yeomanry, 'the Australian Light Horse, and' the Indian cavalry, all in magnificent condition and in a high.state of training, performed a. feat almost without parallel in its way. Critics wiio have declared that the day of cavalry is over must hide their heads. Tho utter defeat of the Turkish army in Palestine would •.nit have been possible but for General Allenby's hold use of cavalry. Tho role of the mounted troops was most admirably performed, and their part in this extremely important battle will probably take a leading place in military text-books. Tho prisoners already counted in these operations exceed eighteen thousand, but thousands moro .have been taken and have wit J'et passed in. The whole of the countrv I have passed through is littered with abandoned and bombed transport and ammunition depots, motors, lorries, and a large amount of rolling stock, Niiblus, the Sheohennof the Bible, was taken this afternoon by the Australian Light Horse. French" mounted troops later passed into the town first. We had previously occupied Messudie- and Miiiiaria."

The Capture, of Nazareth. The Irish and Welsh troops, operating in the appallingly difficult country '. ntween the Nalilus'Road and the Jor.!sn Valley, were harassing'tho remnant of tbo enemy's forces which was .having to get a'way by tha Damioh ford to the east. The Jordan Road to the ford has bwn incessantly bombed. Directly the Londoners and Indian Infantry had earned the three lines of trenches on the sea coast early on Thursday, the Yeomanry and Indian Cavalrv moved up the at the gallop, crossed the Ifcbr-cl-Falik, swen-t north, and got over l.!io Nalir Iskandcrun, collecting SSO prisoners on the wav. After sundown Ihey advanced to 'the north-east, left _ tho low ground, and got into tho hills east cf Mount Carmel. They rode over tho \Plain of Esdralon at sunrise, yesterday, and climbed tho hill on which Nazareth stands. Thore they met with considerable opposition. They ; surrounded tho

town, which was taken during the I morning, with 2300 prisoners. The Mayor, in surrendering tho town, atated that Limau von Sanders, GermanTurkish Generalissimo, left Nazareth the previous ovening when he heard the cavalry were over the Iskanderun. I saw (this hatch of prisoners as they came over the plain to-day. They included many German telegraphists, mechanics, and other technical troops. A section of.tho cavalry which captured. Nazareth covered over 50 miles in twenty-four hours, with stiff fighting in several places. Another cavalry column passed through the defenoe and also moved north for a few miles en the coast. This column, composed of Yeomanry and Indian cavalry, had as its objective. Afuleh, where tho Haifa railway joins the lino from tho south. They marched through the Musnius Pass during the night, securing 400 prisoners on the way. They were opposed at Lejjuu, tho ancient Mogiddo, but beat off the enemy. Before they, advanced into tho plain, a regiment of Indian Lancers, acting as the advance guard, had tho opportunity all cavalry desire. A Turkish battalion was lightly dug in on tho flat about two miles from tho entrance to the pass. Tho Lancers dashed over tho narrow defde in extended order and galloped over this plain of Armageddon, and crashed into tho infantry and machine-gunners with the lance, killing ninety and wounding as many more. They took 410 prisoners. Tho charge was most brilliantly executed. Tho cavalry had to gallop over exposed ground against heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, but it never faltered. Each wave of horsemen rodo through the enemy, and those who wore not lulled threw up their hands.

Hugo Haul of Booty. The last column then moved along the plain to Afuleh, which was won in a very short time, and tho garrison of 1500 -was captured. There, was an immense amount of material in _ the station, including eight locomotives.' two complete trains, forfctf lorries, and a great quantity of stores. Portion of the column did not remain long at Afuleh. Turning to the east it proceeded up tho valley of 'Jezreel to Beisan, and along the route and in tho town added another thousand Turks, to the bag. One regiment was detached and took Jisr Mejamic, nine miles south of tho Sea of Galilee, to prevent any reinforcements coming down that road. Some of the cavalry of this column had marched seventy miles in two days. The Australian Light Horse, with tho Yeomanry arid Indians, captured Jenin, almost midway between Afuleh and Samaria. Tlioy also had a long march. Thov attacked Jenin from the north and west. On the western outskirts a Turkish battalion was entrenched, and hotly opposed tho Light Horse Brigade. The latter, recently armed with swords, charged the trenches, sabring many, and rounding tip a thousand prisoners. The fighting for Jenin continued all last night, some of the Germans resisting strongly; hut early this morning the place was entirely 'ours. Nearly seven thousand prisoners in all won, taken by the cavalry. The story of the cavalry, told thus brioflv, was full of incident. All the regiments showed great dash and staying power. They had to frequently r>ht in difficult country; but no task w"as too heavv for them to undertake. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.