FIGHT ON THE JORDAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4875, 22 May 1918, Page 5

FIGHT ON THE JORDAN.

TURKISH ATTACK FAILS. REPULSED BY THE ANZACS. CAIRO, April 15. Reuter’s correspondent, writing from headquarters on Saturday, says that Anzac troops inflicted a most severe and salutary lesson on ‘heir enemies in the Jordan area. Alter a raid into the land, of Gilead sonic days ago, when, besides destroying five miles of track on the Iledjaz railway, they captured prisoners and other spoil, they withdrew to the right hank of the Jordan, bringing with them several thousand refugees who seized the opportunity of placing themselves under British protection. The British maintained, however, a bridgehead on the other side of the El Ghornniyeh Ford, which relieved the Anzacs there. The enemy closely followed the withdrawal, doubtless fancying that they were driving us back, and apparently concluded the moment opportune for the delivery of a- .blow. Naturallyj-gjiothing was better suited to our plans, as the chief trouble we experience is to get the enemy to take the initiative. An attack seldom .ventures to more than bring local counter-attacks during our offensives, but abandoning the usual caution, they advanced to assault the bridgehead at El Ghoraniyeb, and the advanced posts ten miles further up the west bank of the Jordan.

Hie latter attack was preceded by a violent shelling, as many as 40 shells per - minute from the field mountain guns spraying our position. But all attempts to advance were completely held up. The other attack was more seriously pushed. Opposite the El Ghoraniveh bank of the Jordan, after a couple of hundred . yards, a thick undergrowth rises in a, series of marl hillocks to the plain, which extends for four miles to the foot of the hills of Gilead. These marl banks afford admirable cover, which the Anzacs made the fullest use of.

Two thousand Turks, with: a few Germans, were seen to debouch from the hills and advance in open order against the bridgehead. Guns planted shells with deadly upon the assailants, who, nevertheless, porservered with great pluck/ hut when 200' yards from the wire the assault pitifully melted away under the fire of rifles and machine guns. The enemy’s , losses were terribly heavy, and the next morning wo counted 367 dead before the lines, but- the Turks had been burying the dead ajl night. The actual loss in killed *isl, not far short of a thousand. ■ As the Turks fell hack, the Australian Cavalry sallied forth, cut off their retreat, and captured nearly a hundred prisoners, besides accounting for many more casualties. Me brought in a number of enemy wounded, but many more are still lying beforo _ our positions. Our losses were onite insignificant.