THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1918. THE VICTORY IN PALESTINE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17428, 24 September 1918, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1918. THE VICTORY IN PALESTINE.

If the campaign in Palestine has seemed to move slowly, it has, nevertheless, had its highly dramatic moments. One of the most notable of these was certainly that experienced on Wednesday last, when General Allenby launched the important movement, a record of the results of which constitutes a gratifying feature of the cable messages. Nino months have elapsed since the Allies struck the prestige of the Turks a heavy blow and gave the civilised world cause for rejoicing by their capture of Jerusalem. But, the sensation created by that event having died down, we have heard little for many months concerning operations in Palestine. To outward appearance, explained in part by the tropical weather, the opposed forces have for some time past had to be content with watching one another closely without finding opportunity of striking any effective blow. The spell has now, however, been broken in a manner which confers the highest lustre on British arms. We are not at present concerned to estimate the importance of what have been called the " side-shows" of the war, which include the operations in Palestine. It is sufficient to be mindful of Germany's designs upon the gateway of the East, and her prompting of Turkey to believe that she had only to exert herself and she might become once more master of Egypt and thrust herself forward into Persia. Professor Hans Delbruck at the beginning of the war impressed upon his countrymen the view that 'the main ganglion of the British Empire was the Suez Canal, and that if Turkey came out of the war a strong State, and provided herself with railways, Great Britain could never go on holding Egypt as in the past. Turkey's prospects of emerging from the war a strong State were never very considerable. They are now more remote than ever. The British expedition, operating under all manner of difficulties, has been carrying out its allotted task in the Holy Land slowly but surely. The fall of Jerusalem was the first great spectacular reward of its exertions. But the messages of the past forty-eight hours have brought tidings of what promises to be a fitting sequel to that event, while in itself a much more comprehensive and significant military success. The extensive operations commenced by General Allenby last week have been extended witli all the success that proclaims a great and important victory. The rapid and sweeping character of them is graphically described by the official correspondent at Palestine Headquarters, who does not hesitate to suggest that the Turkish power of resistance has been completely crushed. We must await further developments before it can be learnt whether this conclusion is justified or is merely a pronouncement born of the enthusiasm which a few stirring days have •excited. But the evidence abundantly shows that the -Turks have received a staggering blow, the full effects of which may involve them in worse disaster than is yet recorded.

General Allen by's plans were skilfully laid, and they have already been crowned by sensational success. A feature of the operations was the

rapidity of their development, infantry and mounted troops co-operating in such a manner that from the moment of the turning of tho Turkish right flank at the coast tho enemy was unable to make an effective stand at any point. The speed with which this operations of the British forces were carried out is illustrated by the rapidity of the advance to Nazareth. Tho official correspondent, Mr W. T. Massey, pays a glowing tribute to the work of the cavalry, which found its opportunity one© tho infantry had broken through the southern defences. " Our cavalry movements, perfectly timed, have," he writes, " been a masterly success. The British Yeomanry, Australian Light Horse, and Indian cavalry were in magnificent condition, and performed a feat almost without parallel. Those critics who have declared that the day of cavalry is over must hide their heads. The utter defeat of the Turkish Palestine army would not have been possible but for General Allenby's -hold use of cavalry in the role of mounted corps." So far tho capture of nearly 20,000 prisoners, together with 120 guns and vast quantities of material, including rolling stock, is reported, and if, as we judge to be the case, the British hold the only railway upon which the Turks have had to rely for the conveyance of their supplies, the plight of the enemy will be the more grave. The news of the victory in Palestine synchronises happily with that from other theatres of the war. Whether or not there are further rapid developments there in our favour, the effects of the blow upon the enemy must in any case be largely demoralising. It will bs surprising if war-weary Turkey has much heart left to carry on the struggle in Palestine. General Allenby's success means an addition to the already serious losses of the Ottoman Empire, and if the Grand Vizier was responsible, as reported, for a recent statement to the effect that nothing more could be got from the war, his disgust at tho continuance of a struggle which is obviously futile from the Turkish viewpoint will now he accentuated.