SYRIAN FIGHTING

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 3629, 9 November 1918, Page 4

SYRIAN FIGHTING

OPERATIONS OF NEW ZEA-

LANDERS

CAPTURE OF ES SALT AND AMMAN.

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Aus.-N.Z. Cable Ansociation.) London, Nov. C. An official report of the operations of the Now Zealanders in Syria in September and October states: The Brigade carried out reconnaissance work in tho Jordan Valley up to September 19. Tho enemy periodically shelled our watering area. On September 19 tho Brigade pushed northward on the west of the Jordan. Patrols from tho Auckland Mounted Rifles and the Wellington Mounted Rifles moved forward and came under heavy fire from an onoiny battery. A. battalion of tho British West Indies Regiment working in conjunction with the mounted troops moved forward, and, after severe fighting, drove the onemy from tho south bank of tho Jadi Bakr. During the evening the Wellington Mounted Rifles took up a position on the Wadi. Tho enemy fell back during the early part of the next morning, and thoir position was occupied by the British West Indies Regiment. On September 21 the Wellington Mounted Rifles, with one section of machine-guns and an Indian Mountain battery, occupied Eusail, capturing two machineguns and 26 prisoners. Patrols pushed Avell forward in the direction of Umm Esh Shert. On the 22nd the Auckland Mounted itifles were ordered to cut the Jisr Ed Darnier Nablus-road. During the day heavy fighting ensued, all the Brigade taking part. Jur Ed Damieh and a bridge across the Jordan there, were captured after some sharp fighting, in which the Auckland Mounted Rifles and the Wellington Mounted Rifles took the chief post. Tho captures were 886 prisoners, including the commander and staff of the 53rd Turkish Division, 6 guns, 9 machineguns, and a large dump. On the 23rd the Brigade moved on towards Es Salt and came in touch with the enemy after a very trying march in the heat up steep mountain tracks. Es Salt was enveloped and captured. The corps did splendid work as an advance guard during the march, skilfully capturing several enemy posts, without checking our advance. In on© of these posts nine officers and 130 men were captured. The captures at Es Salt, included 538 prisoners, 3 guns, 4 machine-guns and a largo ammunition dump. Next day the Brigade moved towards Amman, and on the 25th the Brigade attacked Omman from the north, whilst the 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade attacked from the west. They came under heavy artillery fire. The Canterbury Mounted Rifles galloped forward and came under machino-gun fire and dismounted And attacked the enemy, supported by artillery fire, and took the position at the point oi the bayonet. Nineteen officers and a hundred other ranks, mostly Germans, and including officer commanding and the staff of the 146 th Battalion and six machineguns were captured here. One troop of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles immeditaely galloped forward and entered Amman. The Canterbury Mounted Rifles then attacked in the rear of the enemy position east of the town, and a general advance was ordered. The Auckland, Canterbury, and Wellington Mounted Rifles carried everything before them. Several hundred of the enemy surrendered in the trenches. The captures by the New Zealand Brigade were 1734 prisoners, - 6 guns, 25 machine guns, 3 wireless plants, aud a large ammunition dump and stores. From the 20th (? 26th) to the 29th the Brigade was engaged in clearing up the battlefield. On the 30th the Brigade moved south to Ziza to support 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade in guarding prisoners and captured stores of the army from Moan, which had surrendered the previous day. Erom Ist to 3rd October the Brigade was engaged visiting and clearing up outlying positions and places. On October 4 and 5 the Brigade returned to Jericho, and on October 16 moved into rest camp at Richon le Zion Ludd. General Allenby sent a highly congratulatory nessage to General Chaytor's force after these operations