PALESTINE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16432, 2 January 1918, Page 5

PALESTINE.

■» SEEK TO-RETAKE li, r' * V "* "defeated, :?-/-< FURTHERADVANCOS MADE. ■cf I C\' N.Z. Cable Assn. ,S Received .11.5 a.m., Jan. Ist. •. LONDON, Jan. 1. •:. • Official .~TVb have occupied Beitin (anciently Botliel) and Eb Balua, a milo j:northsof Bireftli Klielburj and west of 'EI - Balua, Janiah. and Raskerker, sis 'or seven miles respectively north-west of.Biretli.

• Our operations on Friday and Saturday led to serious defeat of the enemy. The latter on Thursday, with German assistance, determinedly attempted to retake Jerusalem and pressed attacks with vigour, continuing from two in the morning of Thursday for twentysix hours. General Allenby immediately counter-attacked tho Turkish west flank, and progressed two and a half miles over very difficult country. Seeing on Friday that the Turkish attack was spent, we made a general advance, troops from Nablus road advancing north and thosa on their left eastward, and drove back the enemy. We gamed seven miles of ground, securing in the north-west four strong positions between the enemy and Jerusalem, instead of ono. The Turkish casualties were heavy; tho killed alone arc estimated at ono thousand. Six hundred prisoners liave been counted, and twenty machine-guns were taken.

VIVID STORY OF RECENT PROGRESS.

Renter's Telegrams. Received 1.55 a.m., Jan. 2nd.

correspondent says:—When in Jierusalem ten days ago the Ho'iy City was well within the battle zoro. The past few days has seen a marvellous change in the situation. The Turks have been driven helter-skelter from immensely strong positions, where they had been firmly established for weeks. Our line has been flung forward and now embraces tho furthest limits of the old kingdom of Judea, and fi'om a defensive standpoint all dominating heights and positions are in our hands. This result was brought about by the valour of our men and the strategy of our chiefs, who, seizing the psychological moment for attack, converted what might have boon merely a Turkish check into a disastrous defeat. Tho record of tho last few days' fighting is a great achievement, and will furnish a page of history of whoso brillianco wo may well be. proud.

On tha niglit of the 26tli began an offensive against our entire right flank, by forces strengthened by a division from tlio Caucasus, all keyed for tlio utmost effort, being told that Jerusalem would be' lost for ever if tlio attack failed. As though appeal to religions fervour was insufficient, the prospect of abundant food there was dangled before t-lioni. coupled with an assurance that veiny few English were barring theway. As some of the men had been witihout rations for a eouolo of days, doubtless 'this hopo of food stimulated their ardour. "What may Ikivo induced tlio Turkish oommandor to plan the attack was tho oocuiixiiico of severe Minstorms somo days previously, which would presumably have interfere ed with our supplies. Our d-cfonces north of Jerusatom held gallant lads from the County of London, while Welsh, Cheshire and Home County troops guarded- the line towards the east and northward. The key of the position was the stoep hill believed to bo identical Trabli Gibeah, or Benjamin Esadk. Tlie regular lino was 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 the weight of the enemy advance.