STRENGTH OF TURKISH FORGES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17429, 25 September 1918, Page 5

STRENGTH OF TURKISH FORGES.

ALL NOT YET PRISONERS. NO LONGER A FIGHTING Au FORGE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association- x LONDON, September 23. ?!' (Received Sept. 24, at 10.15 p.m.) Ge The Turkish roads of escape are blocked vo ( at Nazareth, Bicsan, and Megaae, while- o f the Nablus road is cut at Ecidaze. The n Turkish force westward o£ the Jordan therefore is boxed in. Still some are not j.^ taken prisoner, but they have ceased to p r exist as a fighting force. All transport, jj n guns, and l'olling stock have been captured. The original estimate that there were m j 18,000 Turks westward of the Jordan re- o f ferred to the bayonet strength and j^, eluded artillery, machine guns, and other* re ' units. The total ration strength is 60,000 and the combatant strength 35,000. The k 0 Turkish force eastward of the Jordan con- co sisting of rifle strength is between 6000 and 8000, and the ration strength 30,000. They are situated on the line of the Hedjaz railway, and ha<vo not yst been dealt with. ROYAL CONGRATULATIONS. TRIBUTE TO THE TROOPS. ar PRAISE OF GENERALSHIP. ° f ._ 7 Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. I LONDON, September 23. (Eeceived Sept. 24, at 11 p.m.) *■ The Press Bureau states that the King ■ has telegraphed : With pride and admiration wo received news of the ably conceived and brilliantly carried ont operations, in which the British, Indian, and Allied forces under your command, ?' with the support of the Royal navy, b , gained a complete victory. lam con- * fident that this will rank as one of the ?! i great exploits in the history of the British Empire, and will ever stand as a, sc memorable testimony to British leader- al ship and the fighting qualities of the lr British and Indian troops. &. a - v;