PALESTINE OPERATES.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1917, Page 1

PALESTINE OPERATES.

GENERAL MURRAY'S DESPATCH

LONDON, July 6

General Murray’s despatches, covering the period from October Ist, R»lo, to February 28th, 1917, mentions 129 Australians' and 43 New Zealanders. He specially comments on the Australian and New Zealand Mounteds’ skilful occupation of El lArish and Mnsmi on 'December 20tli, ending with General Chauvel’s line march to Maghabaga, wheiy 1282 of the enemy were taken prisoner, we losing only 154 i» killed and wounded' The brilliant dash of the Now Zealand 1 Mounteds including General diet wood’s column advancing on Rata on January 9th was the outstanding feature of the action, resulting in the capture of the entire Turkish force of 1600 men, and being the main factor in the success of conquering the Sinai districtIntense unremitting work was done and hundreds of miles of roads and railways were -built. Filters were installed, supplying, 1,500,000 gallons of water daily. Quantities of stone were tjranspoi/ted from distant \quarr,ies. Kantara was transformed jnt° an important water and railway terminus Hundreds of miles of barbed, wire on_ ta'nglements were erected and aerodromes;, wireless stations, sanitation works and other necessary operations to make the desert, habitable were carried out. The work of the Came] Corps including the Australian and New Zealand units was excellent throughout. They did a great, part °f the work of supplying the troops. (Tenoral Murray pays a tribute 1° the dxcdllenf (organising .powers ot General Dobell for maintaining Ins troops in the waterless desert, well ahead of the railway, General Cliotwode, for commanding the desert column with great foresight and decision, and General Chauvel for his skilful leadership. .