THE NEW CRUSADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4817, 14 March 1918, Page 5

THE NEW CRUSADE.

BRITISH ADVANCE IN PALESTINE. STRONG OPPOSITION OVERCOME. MOUNTAIN ROAD MADE IN A DAY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. - r _ , LONDON, Alarcli 12. n i , • • , }'• Massey reports from ialestme Headquarters: On tlie 11th tlieie ivas a stern fight in the mountainous country between Jerusalem and Nablus. This has given General Allen by s army another splendid victory. Ilie operations were as difficult as anything in Palestine. All our objectives vvere gained, though the lurks fought desperately to retain the positions they thought impregnable. The efforts made h v the British infantry and the _ Australian Light Horse were magnificent. In ground which was a continuous succession of steep, rocky hills, and deep valleys and watercourses, we have beaten hack reinforcement's of tlie enemy for ten thousand yards on , a front approximately twenty thousand yards. Great wadis with sides like cliffs, intersected the country. Tlie guns were frequently manhandled. In one place the artillery was lowered by ropes. A long line of men hauled them up the slopes on the other side. There was only' one road. A large portion of the force was employed to make pack-tracks, which later were improved for wheels. * British troops blasted a road out of a mountain and had lorries run- j ning over it next day. The advance began at dawn on the 9th!. The Welsh captured El Asur, tlie most commanding position in Palestine. They engaged the enemy on the ton with bombs, hut these suddenly ceased. The Turks came over the top in a counterattack. and were swept down with Lewis guns, which left us in secure possession of the hill. Dismounted Yeomanry and Irish, on the left, made excellent progress. When I was in their area to-day they held positions, commanding Tnrmus, Aya and Sinjer. The London troops were busy in the Jordan Valley, to prevent enemy ,reinforcements coming down the Beisan road. They met a good deal of opposition, occupying Abu Telfud and Beidudat. The enemy never had a chance to use the ford over the Jordan, where the river Aujua joins the river Wells. The Londoners and . Australian Light Horse operated in the hills, which were unsuitable for cavalry, giving admirable protection to the flanks and thus releasing many infantry . ’We have now obtained a line of great strength, from which we can Tee the Plains of Sharon and Esdrae]on. ALLENBY’S OBJECTIVE. THREATENING ENEAIY COMMUNICATIONS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS. March 12. The Journal des Debats states that General Allenhv has a double objective—firstly to cut the great traverse road through Samnia: secondly, extending east in the valley of the Jordan, threatening the great line of north and south communications between Damascus and Mecca- Ir he cuts the railway to Hedjaz. the Turks in Arabia will be in a critical position. British aeroplanes are already bombing the railwayBRITISH ADVANCE CONTINUES. TURKS SUSTAIN HEAVY CASUALTIES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter’s. (Received Alarcli 13, 10 p.m.) LONDON. Alarcli 12. A Palestine official report says:— AYc further advanced astride the Jemsalem-Nablus road and inflicted considerable casualties. AYe captured several machine-guns.