THE NEAR EAST.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14588, 17 December 1917, Page 5

THE NEAR EAST.

CAMPAIGN IN PALESTINE.

DELIVERANCE OF JERUSALEM.

FULL NARRATIVE OF THE

- BRITISH SUCCESS

TURKISH NIGHTMARE DISPELLED

THE PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS

(Reuters Telegrams.)

London, Dec. 14. Reuters correspondent at Egyptian. Headquarters reports :—

Surely nevor has the population of a conquered,-city'received with deeper or more heartfelt gladness invaders* v,ith whom it tad no connection. It is a striking tribute to the qualities of our race and the reputation of our soldiers that there was hardly a soul in Jerusalem but wa& elated at this fresh and great success of the British arms. Jews, Arabs, Greeks and Copts were banded together in enthusiasm over our advent.

The nigltmare of Turkish oppression was dispelled by the thunder of our guns outside the town. With the hasty flight of the last remnants of the Turkish soldiery, Jerusalem woke to a welcome dawn.

When the British general entered tie town his progress was a moving and pathetic spectacle. His car was surrounded by huge crowds of hysterical people, laughing, crying 1 and clapping their hands and showering flowers on our officers. Relief and confidence were general and unmistakable. These feelings were intensified by the knowledge that, despite provocation, not a single strapnel or rifle bullet had been directed upon the town.

The offensive which resulted in su.ch a glorious success began on the night of December 7th. For some days previous the Turks had been distinctly aggressive. They made several attacks on our positions, "especially at NebySamwil, which was then held by the Londoners. Four attacks succeeded each other, the Turks employing special storm troops. The final attack was preceded by such a heavy shelling that the.enemy were- confident* that our

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troops must be blown "off ile summit. They advanced to the assault with their rifles slung. . Our lads allowed them to cherish the delusion until they were quite close, and then.dealt with them with rifles and bayonets. Every attack was repulsed, with bloody, loss to tie enemy.

The Turks held a strong line south and north-east of Jerusalem. By dint of great labour they had dug trenches' some way down the slope of the last rise before the Holy City, and the protected places were abundantly provided with machine guns. Their artillery dominated tie opposite crests over which our men must advance. Some guns were actually established just outside the vi alls of Jerusalem, making it^ impossible to reply to their fire without endangering ihe town.

Unfortunately the weather again played ua false. Torrent of heavy rain succeeded torrent, but despite discomfort and exposure the men moved into their positions under cover of the night. •

Our attack pivoted on Neby S'amwil, dismounted Yeomanry attacking nortreastward of that position, and the Londoners in the lino due east upon Jerusalem. At the same time the Welsh and some Home Counties troops moved up the Hebron road', threatening Jerusalem from the south. The latter found Hebron evacuated, but encountered resistance around Bethlehem Here also the Turks had so posted their guns that counter-battery work would endanger the Sacred Village. So our troops had to undergo the disagreeable experience of being ehelled without the ability to reply. Nevertheless they pressed forward and drove out the Turks, and by midday on December stb the Welsh and Cheshire troops were two miles north of Bethlehem. " The Londoners, in order to attack had to climb down a eteep slope and half-way up the higher slope on the opposite side before they could come to grips. The ground was so steep that it was impossible to bring field guns forward to support the advance. Wiile one body made a direct frontal attack on the Turkish defences above the village of Airkarim about dawn, the Londoners on both flanks were in a position enabling them to rush the Turkish works, which were stormed and captured, and by 7 in the morning the whole enemy works west of Jerusalem were in our lands.

The. Turks, however, yet held the last line on the top of the ridge overlooking Jerusalem, having posted numerous machine guns in the houses in the Turkish and German colonies.- in the farthest outskirts of Jerusalem.

Tfe gallant London lads charged up this ascent late in the afternoon of December Bth. It was a magnificent feat, crowned by complete (success. The Turks were driven at £he point of the bayonet from their line, the survivors bolting on either side of Jerusalem. Their losses, both at the works and especially in the final fight on tie ridge, were exceedingly heavy.

It is also true that throughout all the fighting around Jerusalem they showed a most desperate spirit and greater tenacity than in almost any previous fighting. They stood their ground to tifc last.

During the night the enemy withdrew to the north and east of the city.

At 8 o'clock on tfce morning of December &th tK© Mayor and Chief of Police came with 3 flag of truce offering to surrender the town.

The general commanding tie Londoners was instructed to accept the surrender at noon, and went forward without actually entering the Holy City and formally took over tne city.

Our forces swept through the suburbs to the north of the city. As they debouched from the defile tiey were fired upon by machine guns from the Mount of Olives ridge, north of the city, commonly known as Mount Seopus; This'ridge,.'"was stormed by a bayonet charge, mariy dead Turks being left round the position, while the enemy were also cleared off the Mount of Olives by tie assistance of Welsh troops, who by now had moved lip from the south; ■>

While the Londoners were carrying all before, them, the.. section of dismounted, Yeomanry were not 'ess evccessful against their objectives farther north. The Turks were established in a strong series of trenches round t're village of Birtikes. These were carnal in a rush in the most gallant manner.

After our line had been advan ;ed on the right beyond the village, -some Turks who continued to hold out in the village after we passed were subsequently cUsposed of. The dismounted Yeomanry secured a good position, which enabled ttem to go forward. As soon as the Londoners came through the suburbs of Jerusalem they advanced, being materially helped by tho Yeomanry's success. They reached, the road leading to Nablus, thus cutting the retreat northwards.

In these parts the enemy suffered very heavy casualties. Our losses were comparatively light.

The Welsh, who had advanced +icm the south, pushed across the u.ftd cast of Jerusalem, leading to T irieho. Trirkisb reinforcements, who were r.tivaneing by this road, having been rushed by the Hedjaz railway to the succour of Jerusalem, were held p and fenced back.

In the course of the op^ra^ens »*e' capttyed nearly 1000 prisoners, throe guns, and many machine guns, wd also 700 rounds of ammunition. Tbr°o British' .prisoners were captured at '(Sola. " . ■.■■•*■•' The correspondent pay* a tribute ro the admirable staff work, tire wotidorful co-ordination of all movements, and the master mind which conceited the plans for capturing the city without injuring a single stone. ■ A good deal now is known of ivhat took place at Jerusalem in the oaijy

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days of the war. The attack on the Suez Canal was made to appear as a Turkish triumph." What was not Known is that the Turkish losses at that .)enod exceeded 45,000 dead from neglect, lack of food and overwork. The people were so reduced that the inhabitants used to fight for the bodies of animals which died in tie. streets. '