50,000 PRISONERS TAKEN IN PALESTINE OPERATICNS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16969, 1 October 1918, Page 6

50,000 PRISONERS TAKEN IN PALESTINE OPERATICNS.

. mows mmm with arabs fast m Jordan. J& .TURKISH R?Bi-BTAN3g BSOK&tt in T!»ERWB REGION. A ' -_ AssfeiOiaa teft N.Z, ife4 Rente*. Ofeed. 7.85 ft*.} LONDON. Sept. 20. : : v "\ An \sivM report from British headquarters in Palestine stales: ;V "; fJjvotigK'Ut Satiafday the enemy resisted in the Lake Tiberias area, holding the erodings of the Upper Jordan at Jisr Bonaty Akud, and positions about Irbid astride the roada to Megerib and Derat. A brigade of Australian Light Horse at evening 'forced-a passage to the south of the Jisr Bonaty Akud.. On Saturday' morning the enemy was driven out of positions on. the TJpp&r Jordan, we crossing to the left bank and undertaking the repair of the bridge. The cavalry overcame the resistance of the Turks at Irbid and drove the enemy north through Mezerib, effecting a junction with the Hussien Arabs at Derat. The latter captured the stations of Ezra and Ghazale, and entered Derat and Shiek Hsaad, ISJ miles north-west of Derat, on Friday, taking 1500 prisoners. We, in conjunction with the Arabs, were approaching Mezerib on Saturday evening. We took STOO prisoners in the southern area, by Friday, and captured 28 guns, in the operations east of the Jordan, Effecting a junction about El Kastal, 14$ miles south of Amman, we forced the Turks to retreat from Amman. Up to Friday evening 'we had tekian 50,000 pris lers, while 327 guns had been counted. .