TURKS DEFEATED.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 44, Issue 134036, 2 January 1918, Page 5

TURKS DEFEATED.

(Renter's Telegrams.)

(Received Wednesday, at 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, Tuesday.

Renter's correspondent writes:— "On the night of December 26th the Turks began an offensive against our entire right flank. Their forces were strengthened by a division. from the Caucasus, and all wore keyed to the utmost effort, being told that Jerusalem

would be lost for ever if tho attack failed. As though tho appeal to their religious fervour was insufficient, the prospect of abundant food there was dangled before them, coupled with the assurance that very few English wcro barring the way. Some of the men wore without' rations for a couple of days. Doubtless* this hope of food stimulated them to tho greatest ardour. What may have induced the Turkish commander to plan the attack was the severe rainstorms 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, the Cheshire, and the Home County troops guarded tho line towards the east. Northwards the key of tho position was the steep hill Telelful, believed to be identical with Gibeah. Benjamin and Esadk are not in the regular line, but a scries of posts extending on either side on the Nablus Eoad. The first fighting took place shortly before midnight, when one of our small advanced posts retired before the weight of the enemy advance.

"It soon became evident that a seri ova push was contemplated.

The first attack was delivered at 1.20 o'clock in the morning, but broke before reaching our positions. ATTACK UPON ATTACK. ''Then in quick succession the enemy delivered attack upon attack. The men who Jell back were reinforced and. driven forward always in increasing numbers. One small post on our left held by a couple of companies was attacked, by four separate lines, iive hundred of the enemy participating in the final -assault., p>l , t all they got close our men. stood like rocks and did not yield a, Coot. lOiicli wave was compelled fo fall back, leaving a 101 lof <li':i>\. A FIMMOUS ASSAPLT. •• Round about Tel-el-Ful <■ iljlit attacksfollowed upon one another. The lineswayed backwards and forwards. A furious assault, before dawn was followed by a. bill in the storm, which so far had failed to make the slightest impression.

"Every soldier knew that the Cut , , , of Jerusalem depended on his tenacity, and nothing could lie liner than their reuse, ji'rim steadfastness. > BATTEK'KD AX I) .RUOKK.V. ■'The Turks were employed in 'lie morning for hours for one last despevare etf'ort, which was delivered, at 1 o'llcu-k. but without any happier result for them. "All the eneinv's offensives, whifli were supported by slronir artillery tire upon and (o the rear of our positions, failed to vicld him the smallest success, and battered and broken, he was forced to withdraw. INFRKXO OF SHELLS. "His attacks cast of Jerusalem were carried out wit ft not less defenniuat ion. although in smaller force. The principal contention here was the ridye between two hills, and this was finally so hotly shelled as - to be untenable by either side. I.lit the Welsh troops definitely established themselves after dark. A IIKAYY PEICI-:. lasted without intermission all day. The Turks paid a heavy price for their attempt to oust these men, 260 dead beJn£- i.ountod before our positions. '' The nature of th«> ground <ii<l not periii.it much use of the bayonet, but there was the liveliest exchange of grenades. "One de.tai-hed post east of Bethlehem was completely surrounded, but held out. until relieved in ihe following morning. "

OVER I'IKFICt'LT COUNTRY. ''While the Turks were making furious, if" ineffective, assuults, north-east of Jerusalem, our high command decided that, the moment had come for a, counter stroke. Consequently the Irish troops and dismounted Yeomanry advanced against the Turkish communications and positions dominating the Nablus Road. Some hills were so precipitous that guns dangled in the air while they were hauled into position. The men had to climb on one another ■'$ shoulders. "The Yeoniciiry advancing upon Attirch forestalled attacks the enemy were organising arid yot among the Turks with the bayonet, accounting for one hundred killed on the spot. Three machine guns' w< , re captured. "By nightfall on December 27th these troops had advanced 2A miles on a nine miles front, which, in view of the terrain, was a remarkable feat. ''The advance continued next day, position after position falling without the slightest opposition, so completely were th e Turks caught. " Reverting to tho situation in front of the Londoners, the correspondent says: The enemy's assault having failed, and finding his rear threatened, he began to withdraw northwards. ENEMY'S MORALE SHAKEN. The Londoners immediately pressed forward, and easily brushed aside the Turkish rearguards. It was evident that the enemy's , morale was badly shattered, as ho lied to Erram, a strong position on the site of Ramah, in Benjamin.