PRISONERS DEFEND CAMP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17234, 9 August 1919, Page 10

PRISONERS DEFEND CAMP.

INCIDENT IN PALESTINE, ATTACK BY ARAB LOGTEES. A strange and utmost ludicrous episode, whiefe. occurred at the end of the Palestine campaign, was related by a- New I Zealand sergeant who returned by the I Xllimaroa yesterday. At a spot on the ' Mecca railway, about twenty miles south I of Amman, the Second Brigade of Aus- J tralian tight Horse hftd received the sup- | render of about 1000 Turks, who formed I a part of the enemy's army in that area, j On the railway there were waggons of Turkish arms and ammun&ibn, and ttie Arabs were determined to secure this and other loot before it fell into the bands of the British They assembled in great numbers, and harassed the force so ranch that , the Turks Joined with the Australians in keeping off these tribesmen. The situa- I «°tt (Same *° difficult that the New ' Zealand Mounted Brigade was sent to the ' scenes to make it possible for the Anatranana to take their prioonere out in safety. When the Now Zealandsrs arrived early ©no morning they met outpost parties consisting of Australians and rnrta, all folly armed, coming in after night duty. "They seemed quite bappv and fraternal, said the sergeant, " anil it was difficult to realise that the Turks bad been fcbe enemy eo recently. The lurks were in a serious position. They wanted to surrender, and wanted to bo l rom . thc ,A*rf». The Arabs wanted loot ana anything th<jy could get, and X?' I suppose, wanted overvfchfnjr. fhe L New Zaafanders finally held the Arabs while the Australians and their prisoner comrades retired." '