PALESTINE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 26 September 1918, Page 5

PALESTINE

BRJTJSH'cAPTURE OF HAIFA IMPORTANT.

TURKISH COMMANDER'S PROB-

ABLE PLAN

SEEKING TO COVER DAMASCUS

TURKISH PRISONERS WEAK

AND EXHAUSTED

LONDON, Sep. 24. The British capture of Haifa is regarded as important, providing a useful harbor with the railway in the direction of Lake Tiberias.

The Turks eastward of the: Jordan are falling back towards Amman, along •the Hedjaz railway. Their situation is critical, owing to their communications being broken at Ed Derah and the fact that the Arabs occupy Maan. General Maurice opines that yon Liman is seeking to cover Damascus by making a stand on the north side of the Yarmuk valley, between the mountain Druses and Lake Tiberias. As an interim measure he will try to block Yarmuk gorge, south-west of the lake long enough to ensure the escape of part of the Fourth Turkish Army— United Service.

A Turkish communique states: Very skilful rearguard fights are facilitating the accomplishment of our plans on both sides of the Jordan.—Aus.-N.Z Oable Assn.

Reuters correspondent at Palestine headquarters, writing on Tuesday, states that a few hundred Turks were lett behind at Haifa and resisted our advance. The configuration of the ground, with the marsh on one side of the road and the slopes of Mount Carmel on the other, prevented our troops from deploying an extensive line and sweeping up the Turks, who thus were able to concentrate their fire on a narrow front. The men gradually worked their way forward to drive out the Turks from their positions, but the Turks held out till the last. The population gave the men a most enthusiastic reception, even the German colonists participating in the welcome. These Germans are mostly quiet emigrants from Wurtemburg, who came to Palestine on conscientious grounds. They complain bitterly of Turkish exactions.

There was*some looting by the natives before the entry of the British, the Turkish commander having told the inhabitants to help themselves to Government stores, as there was no time to destroy them. However everything is now orderly, and administration was taken "over without the slightest hitch. The disposal of the thousands of prisoners _is a real problem. It is a pathetic sight to see an unending succession ot convoys more than 2000 strongr-in charge of'a, few guards, wearily footing it along the dry and tiusty roads towarde the railhead. The men look weak and exhausted. . Many fall out, and are picked up by the lorries.— Renter.