TRIUMPHANT CAPTURE OF AMMAN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 30 September 1918, Page 5

TRIUMPHANT CAPTURE OF AMMAN.

NEW ZEALANDERS PLAY A PROMINENT PART.

LONDON^. Sept. 27. Mr Massey writes: I have just returned l_rom witnessing the mounted men's triumphant of Amman, a position which the enemy considered of high importance. At the. moment When General Allenby's* plans overwhelmed the two Turkish armies in Palestine, the Anzacs began a movement to harass; the Turkish 4th Army oyer the Jordan, and had to' get across several miles of flat under enemy ob-. servation and enter the Gilead mountain chain, which is almost impene.trable except for one pass to Es Salt. ! Until this pass was won only pack 'transport was possible. The cavalry moved up the goat tracks and were in Es Salt oh the (third *day after the operations began east of the Jordan. Tne enemy, fearing an advance' against the town months ago, made a strategic road east of, Es Salt, and had wired one valley,, and aU the approaches thereto were covered by many machine guns. The N.w Zealanders declined; a frontal attack, got over Gragg's Hill. threatened the enemy flank, and compelled a retirement on the town. Here was. not much fighting at Es Salt. Between' 600 and 700 prisoners were taken, the pass from the Jordan to Es Salt being strewn with litter. The, Australian Light Horse, moved from the right, of Ainsir, continuallydriving over a rough plateau the Turkish, cavalry and infantry. A small party got astride the railway north dx Amman and removed two of the rails' as-a train approached and saw it derailed. The troops got out and escaped in the hills. •

While our little demolition party walked away, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles attacked the town, which is jpn hijgh hills. Our rapid movements in the mountains' only permitted mountain artillery to be brought up for the attack. By three o'clock the New;Zfi*a. landers rushed into, the town, and their parols crept up the south-east hill,-'fol-lowed by the main body, who forced the enemy, chiefly relying on machine gun fire, l_rom the crest and went through the town., • ■'/... The inhabitants, lining the roofs ef the houses, were keenly interested in the British arrival, there being many signs of welcome. Many prisoners, were captured. The work of the Anzacs in this difficult region was very- creditable. They have borne a heavy share of the; defence of the Jordan valley during the tremendous heat of the summer,, this leftno mark on their physique. Their spirits'are as wonderful as meir enthusiasm in taking part in General AUenbv's army's great victory.—A__s_W.Z. Cable Assn.