THE NEAR EAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17158, 10 November 1917, Page 7

THE NEAR EAST

ACTIVITY IN PALESTINE. RESULT OF TEN DAYS' WORK. Renter's Telegrams. LONDOtf, November 8. Renter's correspondent at headquarters in Palestine reports under date November 8 that the majority of the Turks after the fall of Gaza crossed the Wady He3i, but a remnant is still at Boitlahi, five miles north of Gaza, where contact with them is being maintained by our yeomanry and Indian cavalry. Within 10 days -we have captured the towns of Gaza and Beersheba, demolished defence lines representing months of labour directed by technical. German skill, taken nearly 4000 prisoners, and captured 30 guns and great quantities of war material. Our aviators have established complete superiority in the air. A squadron of 21 machines to-day bombarded Askalon. ACTTVTW IN MESOPOTAMIA. STRONG POSITION CARRIED. BRITISH OCCUPY TEKRIT. Aujtralian and N.Z. Cable Association end , Reuter. LONDON, November 8. (Received Nov. 9, at 7.30 p.m.) Mesopotamia official: Descending the Tigris on the sth inst., our troops crossed 1200 yards of open country and attacked a strongly entrenched position covering Tekrit. Indian, Sikh, and rifle, regiments captured the first two lines of trenches, inflicting heavy casualties, and repulsed a counter-attack. The cavalry attacked the enemy's right flank, and the artillery shelled Turkish communications northward. We carried further trenches in the afternoon. British and Indian cavalry charged over the trenches and cut down the retreating Turks. The enemy, fleeing at night time, burned their stores and blew up three ammunition dumps. We occupied Tekrit on Tuesday and secured much material.

[Tekrit was" at the thne of the Caliphs a town of considerable importance, and it was here that Saladin, the hero of the third crusade, was born. It is 118 miles north-north-west of Bagdad. Of late years it has been a relatively insignificant town, but its distance from Bagdad moasnres the importance of the British advance.]