THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11471, 25 February 1918, Page 5

THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN.

AUSTRALASIANS OCCUPY JERICHO. TURKISH SUPPLIES CUT OFF. London, Feb. 23. Mr Massey, at the Palestine Headquarter;-, reporting on the 21st lust., says: General .Allenby’s army lias driven the Turks from a strong position east of Jerusalem. London troops captured all commanding positions overlooking the southern Jordan Valley, and Australian and New Zealand Monnteds entering Jericho to-day. The enemy, entrenched in a series of hills, were attacked by London infantry on Tuesday and yesterday on a 12-milos from.. The enemy were defeated everywhere, i and suffered heavy losses. The country is extremely difficult, being a mass of bills,, valleys, kloofs and dongas, worn into the rockfaeed hills.?? One place, Wadi-famr, has a preporrdicular cliff side 500 feet high, but the infantry routed out the enemy from their trendies, and blasted them out on ridges and spurs of the mountain ranges, showing the greatest gallantry. On Tuesday at dawn they attacked a line of about twent}thousand yards. In some places the Turks retreated. Daring the artillery bombardment in the centre, one battalion bad to assault three times before winning the system of trendies. During Tuesday night the infantry moved to attack the r-:ngo from Talrt-ed-Duma to Ekteiff, the key to the Jericho-Jerusalem road, which runs through these Trills. On the Dtimn is the ‘‘Good Samaritan Inn,” and the remains of the Crusader Castle Hill, known to the Arabs as the “Hill of Blood. ” I saw tiie Londoners carry'tire hill in splendid style, after most accurate artillery tiro, but the enemy .held on stubbornly to Ekteiff, whose southern face is as precipitous as Gibraltar. Marching during the night, the troops had great difficulties over tiro rough ground. One column took nearly eight hours to cover slightly over three miles In some places the men walked in single tile. The enemy cleared off Ekteiff in the afternoon. Meanwhile the Anzacs moved through desperately Irani country, threatening,tiro cncmy’sjjrear. They were held up u [considerable time in u detile, through which only two men could pass abreast, the Turks bringing several guns to bear on this epoiut. : By nightfall we “had occupied all the positions“coinmanding the southern Jordan Valley. The Turks “hurriedly retired. Tire Anzacs marie a rapid march this

morning, entering Jericho pt 8 o’clock. Yesterday tho Turks burnt stores on the northern shores of the De.d Sea. Our operations will retard, if not entirely prevent, an important ['source of grain supply to tire Turkish forces.

GEN SEAL A LLBNB Y’S POSITION. IN TOUCH WITH THE ARABS. Reuter. London, Feb. 24. Reuter is authoritatively informed that the British advance on die Jordan will greatly help in establishing tofich with the Arabs, thereby greatly encouraging I the Allies. General Allenby’s position is nowwell defined. Tho right Hank rests on tho Dead Sea and the left on die Mediterranean, hence a frontal attack alone is possible-for the enemy. Wo control tho Dead Sea, have access to the rich lands on tho eastern side, and menace the railway to Damascus. Ahead are easier country and hotter roads. THE ENEMY RETIRING. London, Feb. 22. Palestine official; The enemy from Jericho retired northwards of Wadi-Auja, leaving posts on high ground on the left bank. They also retired eastwards across the Jordan, holding the bridgehead at El Goran bje. OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION OF VICTORY. London, Feb. 2. Palestine official: Our forces, advancing on Thursday morning, encountered small opposition. Australian Monnteds entered Jericho, and established themselves on the line Jordau-Wadi Auja. The weather was bad. Our casualties on Wednesday were slight. We extended our positions north-north-west of Jerusalem. ACCOUNTING FOR DEFEAT. TURKISH WAY OF PUTTING IT. London, Feb. 31. Wireless Turkish official: We were unable to repulse all the enemy’s attacks in Palestine. Consequently we took up previously appointed positions. ANZACS AT'PLAY. London, Fob. 24. At Rugby Now Zealand Headquarters’ eleven beat Australian Headquarters three.