SIGHTING IN PALESTINE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1014, 6 November 1917, Page 2

SIGHTING IN PALESTINE.

STORY OF BEERSHEBA. AUSTRALIANS’ OKI PART, (By Elkctuio TBi.EOUAvn—CorYKionx.) i Run I'KKHW AmhOO'IATXON.J Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON. Nov. 5. 1 Mr Massey (war correspondent), in a stirfine i ie.-] >a I eh, deaei’ilios (loner,’ll Allenht ■ surprise blows in whieb lie smashed (lie eastern end of the Turkish line and uLested Heersheba. Irom the enemy. There was stern lighting all day, wherein (he New Zealand and Australian monnteds and the British infantry displayed great endurance and courage, doing everything exactly as planned, so that the stall's scheme seemed to go like clockwork. The story of that ■ day will add glory to the lads from the English cities and shires and the Australian and New Zealand horsemen, whose work ’ was splendid. The British infantry after a long night inarch attacked with such determination that they tore down the entanglements with their hands, and then as the moon rose over the Judea hills the Australian horse dashed at the strongly held trenches and captured the town at dawn on the 31st, The Australians and New Zealanders were south of Beersheba and the British infantry were facing the northern, western and south-western defences, which were cut in (lie range hiding Beersheba from view. The Turkish entrenchments were elaborate, skilfully slioscn and heavily protected with wire, and guns covered all the approaches. Prisoners declare they believed Heersheba was impregnable. General Allenby’s astonishing success in eon coaling his march across the desert is the outstanding reason for the success. The movement commenced with a cavalry “scrap" on the 27th, when 3000 Turks with twelve guns attacked the British cavalry screen occupying the high ground near the I Jerusalem and Beersheba railway. 'the British squadron held out throughout the day with both flanks enveloped, but though surrounded on three sides they beat off three determined cavalry charges. When the British infantry arrived they were able _to occupy tho ground without lighting. The British infantry marched at night and were hidden in the daytime in. the wady beds. On the night of the 30th-51st, the Australians and New Zealanders made a wide rapid sweep to the south-west in order to make a rush at dawn to get astride tin tlebroi road to prevent the Turkish retirement. The infantry then attacked 11 ill .1070 and succeeded, by an irresistible rush, within half an hour, to go through the German machine gun section and occupied (lie hill. The infantry then pressed on (he Wady-Sara (tenches, making rushes acro.-s the open, and not heeding tho enfilading guns and spasmodic machine gun fire. Iknnbers dashed wherever our artillery broke (lie wire. Elsewhere the Britishers tore the wire from its iron supports with their hands. It, was grand work, the English countrymen showing nu inspiring courage and resource, ami thought fighting for twelve hours they captured one defence after another until all the Beersheba stronghold was captured by 9.30. Many Australians and New Zea landers rode thirty miles before getting into action, and their work was as meritorious as the Britishers. They first, captured Sakaty, a high hill six miles to the north east of Beersheba and dominating a wide district. With their usual elan these big Australians stopped at nothing, they round ed up every Turk on Hakaty Hill by one in the afternoon and then captured the Hebron road. Even more difficult was the taking of Tel-el-Saba, a foothill three miles east of Beersheba. which had been converted into a redoubt of great strength and made almost unapproachable .by the steep bank of a wady running alongside. '1 lie New Zealanders carried it by 3.50, and then turned their attention to a group of bouses between the iiill and Hebron road, and held hv German machine-gunners. The place felt tho full weight of the colonial arm, but a-' it, was getting dark and there was anxiety about water for-the horses, the other Australians settled matters. The Australians ‘formed up against the Eastern trenches, fixed bayonets, and charging lino after hue wont for the enemy. Before tho last wave reached the trenches the German machine gunners were silent, telling a tale of enemt dead. Dismounting at the first line the An zacs went on afoot, overpowering all the Turks. Then, bringing forward thenchargers, they galloped cheering into the .low," There was every evidence that the Turks bad been completely surprised. A train was standing in the station and ware bouses full of corn were almost intact. Ihe 51st was a great day for the Palestine army. The staff work had been admirable, and the morale of our troops was never higher. GAINS CONSOLIDATED. VALUE OF OCCUPIED TERRITORY. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Nov. 4. Headquarters in Palestine reports:—Our advance yesterday morning amounted to a I depth of BCO vnrds on Umbrella Hill, on our I right, to 2000 yards on Sheik’s Hassan. on | tho seashore west of Gasa. The Scottish and I East Anglian troops shared the honours in I tho fighting. Four counter-attacks were repulsed with heavy enemy losses. All our gains were maintained and our position con Uolidated. On the right flank our infantry dislodged the enemy from Abur-lr-Goig station, eight miles north-west of Beorsheha. where there is an abundant water supply. The enemy’s retreat was so precipitate that there was no lime to destroy the new pump ing plant. Our operations are almost entirely dependent on the water hence tlio value of these successes. o*i\ a 1 1 .. brushes occurred in tho hilly country sonic miles north of Beersheba, the lurks being driven in the direction of Ulniherwos. Flier.' communications in the roar sulicrod heavily from the fire of our artillery, which blowup three ammunition dumps and damaged the railway. M ESO POT A MI A IH EATR E . TURKS FURTHER WITHDRAW. Australian-New Zealand Gable Association. LONDON, Nov. 5. A Mesopotamia official report, says:— Onr reconnoitring columns engaged the, 'Turks i,ii the right bank of the Tigris opposite Dur. Tho enemy withdrew towards Teknl under cover of a strong rearguard. We drove nut the latter from successive lines < of trencher and occupied the whole position. i Our cavalry harassed the retreating enemy.