PALESTINE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 25 May 1917, Page 5

PALESTINE

BRITISH STILL GAINING GROUND

LONDON, May 23

In the House of Commons, Mr J. I. MacPherson (Parliamentary Under-Sec-retary to the War Office) stated-tbat the British were in close touch, witfi the Turkish main position at Gaza which had been extended by a series of trenches and redoubts for eleven miles south-east of Gaza. The Turks had reinforced their position, which was of great natural strength, the left flank being protected by broken, waterless country. Under these conditions our progress was necessarily blow. No serious fighting had occurred since April 10. We, however, have continued to gain ground, and hav c consolidated our position.