THE BEERSHEBBA VICTORY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1013, 5 November 1917, Page 6

THE BEERSHEBBA VICTORY.

DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING. j Br Elkotrio TiMOßArn—OorrwaßT.) 1 ti*M PBBSB AHB9OIATION.J . iUsLraUoii-Mow LONDON 1 , rsov -,s: An Egyptian official message After licavv bombardment wo attacked:?}! lliurslay night the western and souyh-westcrn lelcitee, of Gaza. We captured 'tho lurMili ir>t line OU H Ironl or MOO yarcfa -.aijd remised three counter-attacks with nca\j •ncniv losses; . o.•liter's correspondent ai Headquarters, 'aim, iu a message Hated November 1i'ivs: The veil which hatf' obscured the hap-' .enings on the Palestine front for some hue was partially lifted by the welcome Hid huiJorlaiit news of tlie capture ol beer|H.lii The preparations wire made WitH treat seei'eev, and the silence was broken ive davs ago when tlie gnu* began a Vigorms shelling of (lie Turkish lines llip lire was most intense, about Gaza and Ahmuuar and there was nothing to show that tho \v~.i blow was zoius to fall al the other oxremitv of the line nearly thirty miles away. Hi.'! country at Beersii.cba is undulating uid is traversed from north to sou til by leep wadie'a (dry watercourses). Jbe 'own itself lies in ft depression along the banks oi bo YYa'dy Sndah, with the Turkish dol.onced •xtending north, west, and soutb at distaii■es averaging from three to live miles. I lie position is one of great. natural strcngtn, tud was well pro.vkled with guns and ma■hiue guns and held by two complete regiments and detachments of. other regiments. The attack of tho infantry brigade aud cavolrv came as t< complete aijd absolute surprise. The Turks tf«B-practically wiped out before tho news could reach their lii.aorju'arters. The success was "wt merely due to carefully laid plans, but also 1 to the perfect working of till the movements ol um troops, in which all itfms iKirticipaicd. uie lion's share, fell to tilt Cavalry, * v ' lo marched nearly liftv miles, c'lnohy at time, with the object of taking the - ewmy iu the rear. The Anwic mounted? imuoV.Jl wide circuit with the Yeomanry, forming a" jtinoiion with the infantry. General Uh'aU'vel commanded the cavalry movement., which begun after dark, and tlie Turkish position was completely out flanked belore they realised thai il was any tiling more serious than a reconnaissance. The first real re-.i/.Uuue came from the strong redoubt of Teleisaba, defending die eastern approaches to the town, which held uji the iirmiMMate advance to the town. While this fight-was progressing, Colored Kyrift's Light Ilorse brigade captured the positions across n wan further east, and established themselves' acres the Hebron road, thus off escape or reinforcements from that direction. Teleisaba fell a couple of hours later. hut a strong force of the enemy still held the VYady, preventing an approach u> tlie town. General Grant's brigade of light Horse was ordered to support the Anzacs, and. attacking after s-tmset, and using fixed bayonets as lance-:, they swept over all opposition, and carried the town with 1) rush. Meanwhile the infantry, after ;l preliminary bombardment, attacked the strong defences westward of Becrsheba, and cap lured the Turkish lirst line. After conikilidating their winnings, they attacked the main position, and captured it after a fight I a .--tii i-25 minute*-. Among the hills, to the norih-V't :-i, the enemy still continued the light, but our combined movements»soon drove them qut. One of the most, satisfactory features wa.- that our casualties were comparatively small. The new part of Beershebii wis found to he in good condition, but hardly anything' remains of "the old town. Some buildings were found'to ..be mined, but the witter .supply and pumping plant was practically intact. Considerable quantities of barley was found in .storehouses. The prisoner.-, are still coming in. and already .1500 have been counted. Nine guns and y number of machine guns were captured. CAPTURES AT BEERSHEBA. Received November 5, 10.10 a m. LONDON, Nov. «. E%'vpt official: The capture at Beersheba were.'Ui guns. The prisoners til Gazu uumbor 444, ini-ludiii" ft pHier-is, THE TURKISH REPORT, [!'-c."ivcd November !>. 10.10 n m. LONDON, Nov 4. .\ Tiii-kiih communique stab-: There is intense urliller.ving ai Gain. Our battorhs olfeciivily replied to eii-ni.', cruisers bunt barJiti" the eoatt.