SUCCESS IN PALESTINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16783, 25 February 1918, Page 4

SUCCESS IN PALESTINE.

r t b From small beginnings, with strictly local purposes, the British cam- . j paigns in the Middle East have developed a considerable strategical importance. At the moment the allies in the west are waiting for Germany's next move, and while I Turkish troops are being transferred to France, Sir Edmund Allenby has struck a new blow at the weakest limit in the Quadruple Alliance. Grave tactical mistakes a year ago enabled the Turks to consolidate a . defensive position on the southern borders of Palestine, and the long i summer allowed them to recuperate J after the precipitate retreat across '. the Sinai Peninsula. The rainy season has again given them a respite of two months, but the en- . trenchments built upon the rugged heights of- the Judean hills have 1 fallen at the first assault, and once • more the Turks are in retreat and ■ the British marching north towards 3 their objectives. There is some significance in the fact that Australian 1 Light Horse and New Zealand Mounted Rifles captured Jericho. From the capture of Beersheba on October 31, the Anzacs pursued the 1 Turks along the littoral plain and • occupied Jaffa, afterwards sharing 3 j in breaking the enemy's defence on ; I the River El Auja. Now they have j j been moved across the high country, j probably marching through Jerusa- : lem on the way, and have passed " | into the inhospitable Valley of tho } j Jordan. From this it is evident that 5 i Sir Edmund Allenby intends a rapid ) j development of his offensive against 51 the left flank of the enemy, probably . j involving the ascent of the great i depression in which the Jordan j flows, and an extension of his forces ' j across Moab and Gilead to cut the 5 j Medina railway and junction with ' the Arabs of the Hedjaz. It is posi sible to pass over the Jordan at ' many places in tho summer, but ' with the river in flood the only " bridge in the lower reaches is on the Jericho-Gilead road. Over this 1 bridge the Turks have no doubt y \ passed, and they may now bo atr | tempting a stand on 'the eastern 3 1 bank. For some months the Hedjaz * I Arabs have been harrying the r j Turkish posts guarding tho railway * east of the Dead Sea. A strong "i force operating in this region will V ! form a new menace to the Turkish & : defence of Damascus. The new campaign has opened brilliantly, s I and its development will be watched '" I with keen interest in the allied ■* I countries, and with increasing alarm "j in Turkey. It must also be remem--8 j bered that the season is favourable •for military operations in Meso"jpotamia, and renewed activity on * the part of Sir William Marshall's " j forces may be anticipated. V 3 r t 1 ri J 1 l\ 1]