THE MIDDLE EAST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17815, 13 June 1918, Page 5

THE MIDDLE EAST.

' PALESTINE CAMPAIGN. THE RECENT ADVANCE. (Received June 12, 7.30 p.m.) LONDO'N, June 11. Writing from th i Palestine headquarters on Juno 10. Mr Massey reports:— Two highly successful operation? materially improved our positions in the* coastal sector at tho end of May, by which our line was advanced a mile on a seven miles front. Wo hold all tho ground gained. - The statement in tho highly-coloured Tvrkish communique stating that they retook the hills by an immediate counter-attack is quite inaccurate, tho fact being that several counter-attacks were completely repulsed with heavy loss. About two miles north of Arsuf the enemy still had power of observation over "our new lines from two knolls. It was decided to eject them from those eievited positions on the ridge. On Saturday at daybreak Scottish troops, moving up tho coast, got behind the Turkish trenches and rolled up the line, whilo the Indians, advancing behind a barrago, captured the high ground. All tho Turks were accounted for, hundreds of prisoners being taken. The operation was perfectly carried out by tho two columns co-operating with fine precision.