THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN

Thames Star, Volume LII, Issue 13819, 8 October 1918, Page 2

THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN

Great Mutes of Cavalry

CAIRO, October 6 A correspondent, describing the advance upon Damascus, afcy*: —• General Alleniby's mounteds were supremely successful. They never missed an opportunity of hitting hard blows, and swiftly following one big movement by another until the three cavalry divisions convwged on Damascus. Masses of British. Yeomanry, Australian and Indian Horse, larger probably than ever before, were assembled under one commander, after out-manoeuvring the Turkish, forces, and dealing death blow* to their armies. -

For ten days the mounted troops covered fully 150 miles over country which yielded no food for main or beast.

DAMASCUS A PICTURE. < „ The city ac it lies, before u> is set in a most beautiful frame of gloriously green gardens, rendered more refreshing to eyes, used to tih'e glare of the eastern sun; by comparison with, the stony hills overlooking the Verdant scene. DESTROYING STORES. The enemy burned vast quantities of stores. Numerous explosions of ammunition and petrol were fljeard. They burned the military establish^ meats, and at our approach, blew up the enormous wireless installment affording communication between Constantinople and Berlin. FIGHTING OVER BAB ROADS The roads over which the troops advanced were absolutely the worst on the surface of the gWbe. The highways were a. mass of lava, buildel's. Brisk action was delayed. The advance at one.point was on steep rough hills overlooking the road, with Wadi in the front.

Several hundred Germaaig and Turfss, with machine-guns and two field guns well placed, put up a fight. We got them on tihe flank, and most of them wiere • captured, while the rest scattered. Other columns also had some brisk brushes with the enemy attempting to stop our approach to the city. LARGE CAPTURES OF PRISONERS

Many prisoners being overcome in these actioins., a regiment of Light Horse and French,' cavalry sent in 3,500 between them.

VAST PYROTECHNIC DISPIM.Y. The enemy destruction of stores . and munitions, within.; ih» city v on« rarest pyrotechnic display, lighting up the circle of hille, and . throwing out immense balls of, flame and rolling smoke clouds to an immense height. The enemy's aramunition dump went up with- one .1 stunning roar, the hills widely i»*ch»ittgit. ' What , ammunition Allemby's army did not 'capture' s^enns? to b« in'process of destruction. DEUGHT OF THE AlfiAßS:'

The inhabitants are gratified at thte British advance. It is significcun't that a deputation of Druse Shieks asked permission to figiht with us, and expressed' deep thankfulness at' our Arrival to deliver them from the Tuifcs.—A. and N.Z. Catble.