CAMPAIGN IN PALESTINE

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 14

CAMPAIGN IN PALESTINE

ATTEMPT TO RECOVER JERUSALEM FOILED. BRITISH STILL ADVANCING. Palestine official messages state: We occupied Beitin (anciently known as Bethel), El Balua, a mile north of Birch; Rhelburj, west-of El Balua; Janiah and Raskerker, six and seven miles respectively north-west of Birch. The operations on December 28 and 29 led to the serious defeat of the enemy. The latter on Thursday (27th), with German assistance, determinedly attempted to retake Jerusalem. They pressed attacks with vigour, continuing from two in the morning for 26 hours. General Allenby immediately counter-attacked on the Turkish west flank, and progressed two miles and a-half in very difficult country. Seeing that- the. Turkish attack was spent, we made a general advance, the troops on Nablus road advancing north and those to s their left eastward, and drove back the enemy. We gained seven miles of ground, securing on the north-west four strong positions between the enemy and Jerusalem, instead of one. The Turkish casualties were heavy. In killed alone they are estimated at 1006, and 750 prisoners have been counted, with 20 machino guns. We further advanced over three miles along the Nablus road, occupying Beenoth and also liizmah and Jeba Burkah, eastward of the road, and jßamallah Ridge and Thatieres, westward of the road. Our mounted forces in the centre reached Khurbe el Haibn, Harith, and Deir el Kuddih.""

We drove back tho enemy on the Ist inst. and advanced our line to a depth of two miles on a 13-milo front. This has given us higher ground at R-asarku Beshuffa, four miles from Jeni salem and a mile northward of the Jericho road, and at Anata (2225 ft), Er Ram (2600 ft), and Kulonieh, the two latter places being eastward and westward respectively of the Nablus road, and five miles northward of Jerusalem and Bethany, On the 4th there was a further advanco of over a mile of part of General Allonby's Une northward of Jerusalem. A bombing Sfaid waa carried out on Afules, direct hits

of rolling stock, hangars, and camp being obtained.

TURKS' ATTACK ON JERUSALEM

Reuter's correspondent at the Palestine Headquarters writes under date December 28: When I was in Jerusalem 10 days ago tho Holy City was well within the battle zone, but during the past few days there has been a marvellous change in the situation. The Turks have been driven helter-skelter from immensely strong positions, Avhere they were firmly established for weeks. Our line has been flung forward, and now embraces the furthest limit of the old kingdom of Judea, and from the defensive standpoint all the dominating heights and positions are in our. hands. This result has been brought about by the valour of the men and the strategy of the chiefs, who, seizing the psychological moment, attacked and converted what might have been merely a Turkish check into a disastrous defeat. The record of the last few days' fighting has been a _ great achievement, and furnishes a page in history of which Britannia will be proud.

» On the night of the 26th ult. the enemy began an "offensive against our entire right flank, their forces "being strengthened by a division from the Caucasus. All were keyed to the utmost effort, being told that Jerusalem would be lost for ever if the attack failed. As thougn the appeal to religious fervour was not sufficient, the prospect of abundant food there was dangled before them, coupled with the assurance that there were very few English barring the way. Some men had been without rations for a couple of days, and doubtless this hope of food stimulated them to the greatest ardour. What may have induced the Turkish commander's plan of attack was the severe rainstorms for some days previously, which would presumably have interfered with our supplies.

Our defences north of Jerusalem were held by the gallant lads of the County of London, -while the Welsh, Cheshire, and Home County troops guarded the line to-wards-the east. In the the key of tho position was the steep hill of Tel-el-ful, believed to bo identical with Gibeah Benjamin Esadk. It was not a regular line, but a series of posts extending on either side of the Nablus road. The first fighting took place shortly before midnight, when one of our small advanced posts retired before tho weight of tho enemy advance.

The Turks attacked on a line cast and north and north-west of Jerusalem in considerable strength, and with great determination, on December 26. Whether they thought that Christmas festivals had caused us to relax viligance or that the inclement weather had reduced our fighting strength, their _ reception must have speedily undeceived them. The Welsh and London troops were guarding the sector's attacked, and in the

absence of a Boxing Day pantomime they took their entertainment out of the Turks, who soon had cause to rue their temerity.

Everywhere they were driven back with the severest losses.

While the Irish troops and dismounted Yeomanry were attacking in turn upon the enemy's right flank, we advanced our line to a depth of two and a-half miles on a nine-mile front.

The attack was conducted with great gallantry. The result greatly improves our position on the left, and it must make the Turks, in their positions south of Bireh and at Rasmallah, feel exceedingly uncomfortable.

The flying corps did good work, and participated in the fighting, bombing and machine-gunning the enemy's rearguard. Our aviators a&so made things unpleasant for the Turkish craft in the Dead Sea, where navigation is practically "at a standstill. '

Continuing the description of the attempt by the enemy to retake Jerusalem, Reuter's representative at British headquarters in Palestine says: It soon became evident that a serious push was contemplated. The first attack was delivered at 1.20 in the morning, but it broke down before reaching our positions. Then in quick succession the enemy delivered attack upon attack. Men who fell back wsxe reinforced and driven forward, always in increasing numbers. One small post on our left was held by a couple of companies. They were attacked by four separate lines, 500 of the enemy participating in the final assault; but although they got close our men stood like a rock, and did not yield a foot. Each wave was compelled to fall back, leaving a toll of dead.

Round about Tel-el-Ful eight attacks followed one upon another, and the line swayed backwards and forwards. A furious assault before dawn was followed by a lull ill the storm, which so far had failed to make the slightest impression.

Every soldier knew that the fate of Jerusalem depended upon his tenacity, and nothing could be finer than our tense, grim steadfastness.

The Turks employed the morning hours organising for one last desperate effort, which was delivered at 1 o'clock, but without any happier result for them. All the enemy's offensive, which was supported by strong artillery fire upon and near our positions, failed to yield them the smallest success. Battered and broken, they were forced to withdraw. The enemy's attacks to the east of Jerusalem were carried out with not less determination, although in smaller force. The principal bone of contention hero was the ridge bejtween two hills, which was finally m> hotly shelled as to be untenable by either side. But the Welsh troops definitely established themselves after dusk, after the fighting had la6ted without intermission all day.

The Turks paid a heavy price for their attempt, 260 dead being counted before our position. The nature of the ground did not permit much use of the bayonet, but there was the liveliest exchange of grenades. One detached post east of Bethlehem, which was completely surrounded, held out until relieved the following morning.

THE BRITISH COUNTER-ATTACK. While the Turks were making furious, if ineffective, assaults north-east of Jerusalem, our High Command decided that the moment had come to make a counterstroke. Consequently the Irish troops and the dismounted Yeomanry advanced against the Turks' communications and the positions dominating the Nablus road. The country through which they had to advance was the most impossible conceivable, some i of the hills being so precipitous that the guns dangled in the air while being hauled into position. { Our men had to climb upon one an- ! other's shoulders. The Yeomanry advancing upon Attirch forestalled the attacks of the enemy while organising, and got among the Turks with the bayonet, thus accounting for 100 who were killed at this spot. Three machine guns were captured by nightfall on the 27th alt. These troops had advanced two and a-half miles on a nine-mile front, which, in view of the nature of the terrain, was a remarkable feat.

The advance wag continued next day, position after position falling with only the slightest opposition, so completely wero the Turks caught, thanks to their illjudged offensive. Reverting to the situation in the front of the Londoners, the correspondent says : The enemy's assault having failed, and finding their rear threatened, they began to withdraw northwards. The Londoners immediately-pressed forward, and easily brushed aside the Turkish rearguards.' It was evident that the enemy's morale had been badly shattered, as they fled to Er Ram, a strong position on the site of Ramah in Benjamin. Soon shells began to drop near. On the 29th the dismounteds captured Rah Mallah, and the Londoners took Bireh, while the Welsh pushed forward and linked up. with the Londoners east of Er Ram. On the previous day the Welsh and Herefords captured the main Turkish positions east of Jerusalem commanding all the valley towards Jerusalem, the Jordan, and the Dead Sea. After a stiff fight the first attempt was heM up by enfilading fire along the ridge, which the men had. to cross, but they rushed it with the bayonet after dusk, the Turks, as usual, not waiting for the cold steel. With the linking up of the troops northeast of Jerusalem, we hold an immensely strong line for its defence. To-day we occupied Beiten (the ancient Bethel). The Turkish losses in three days' operations were extraordinarily heavy. We

counted over 700 dead before one position, and the enemy must have carried off a considerable number, as is the invariable practice. We captured 600 prisoners, including 40 officers. The estimate of total enemy losses at 5000 is a low one. [ | JEWS IN PALESTINE. i Talaat Pasha, Grand Vizier, interviewed at Berlin, stated that it was impossible to concede to the Jews in Palestine privileges 'that were not enjoyed by other citizens in Turkey;' therefore an autonomous Jewish State of Palestine was impossible. The Zionites in Germany have adopted a resolution applauding Great Britain's Palestine .policy..