PALESTINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1917, Page 3

PALESTINE.

ADVANCING NORTH W ARDS. ON THE DEAD SEA. •[AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATHN & REUTER.] (Received This Dav at 9.50. a.m.) LQNDON, December 19. Palestine official©—We isAizod higli ground eastward of Abudis, south-east-ward of Jerusalem. Our casualties were considerably fewer than the Turkish dead. Our aeroplanes are bombing boats, and troops at- the north end of the Dead Sea.

ACTIVE OPERATIONS. r “REUTER’s” TELEGRAM-1 (Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) LONDON December 19. Telegrams from Palestine front state on Monday troops east of Jerusalem were active in straightening out the line. When the Turks were driven from the city, some retired north and others eastward, where they were joined by reinforcements from Jericho. These adopted guerilla tactics and split up intq numerous small bodies attack&g outposts and sniping patrols. x The roughness of the country between Jerusalem and the Jordan facilitated such tactics. - In order to improve the line troops (from the home countries were ordered to take certain ridges which afforded a wider range of defence. Attacks were made at dawn and all the objectives were quickly reached and 150 prisoners taken, despite the enemy’s stiff resistance for a time. Our stretcher ' bearers jvere heavily fired on while collecting the wounded but persisted in their duty with admirable coolness. Among the prisoners are some youngsters fitter for the schoolroom than the battlefield.