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diff --git a/10098-0.txt b/10098-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d18fe1c --- /dev/null +++ b/10098-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8617 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10098 *** + +HOW JERUSALEM WAS WON + +BEING THE RECORD OF ALLENBY'S CAMPAIGN IN PALESTINE + +by + +W.T. MASSEY + +OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE LONDON NEWSPAPERS WITH THE EGYPTIAN +EXPEDITIONARY FORCE + + + + +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS + + + + +LONDON 1919 + + + +PREFACE + + +This narrative of the work accomplished for civilisation by General +Allenby's Army is carried only as far as the occupation of Jericho. +The capture of that ancient town, with the possession of a line of +rugged hills a dozen miles north of Jerusalem, secured the Holy City +from any Turkish attempt to retake it. The book, in fact, tells +the story of the twenty-third fall of Jerusalem, one of the most +beneficent happenings of all wars, and marking an epoch in the +wonderful history of the Holy Place which will rank second only to +that era which saw the birth of Christianity. All that occurred in the +fighting on the Gaza-Beersheba line was part and parcel of the taking +of Jerusalem, the freeing of which from four centuries of Turkish +domination was the object of the first part of the campaign. The Holy +City was the goal sought by every officer and man in the Army; and +though from the moment that goal had been attained all energies were +concentrated upon driving the Turk out of the war, there was not a +member of the Force, from the highest on the Staff to the humblest +private in the ranks, who did not feel that Jerusalem was the greatest +prize of the campaign. + +In a second volume I shall tell of that tremendous feat of arms which +overwhelmed the Turkish Armies, drove them through 400 miles of +country in six weeks, and gave cavalry an opportunity of proving that, +despite all the arts and devices of modern warfare, with fighters +and observers in the air and an entirely new mechanism of war, they +continued as indispensable a part of an army as when the legions +of old took the field. This is too long a story to be told in this +volume, though the details of that magnificent triumph are so firmly +impressed on the mind that one is loth to leave the narration of them +to a future date. For the moment Jerusalem must be sufficient, and if +in the telling of the British work up to that point I can succeed in +giving an idea of the immense value of General Allenby's Army to the +Empire, of the soldier's courage and fortitude, of his indomitable +will and self-sacrifice and patriotism, it will indeed prove the most +grateful task I have ever set myself. + +_April 1919._ + + + +CONTENTS + + +Chap. + + I. PALESTINE'S INFLUENCE ON THE WAR + + II. OLD BATTLEGROUNDS + + III. DIFFICULTIES OF THE ATTACK + + IV. TRAINING THE ARMY + + V. RAILWAYS, ROADS, AND THE BASE + + VI. PREPARING FOR 'ZERO DAY' + + VII. THE BEERSHEBA VICTORY + + VIII. GAZA DEFENCES + + IX. CRUSHING THE TURKISH LEFT + + X. THROUGH GAZA INTO THE OPEN + + XI. TWO YEOMANRY CHARGES + + XII. LOOKING TOWARDS JERUSALEM + + XIII. INTO THE JUDEAN HILLS + + XIV. THE DELIVERANCE OF THE HOLY CITY + + XV. GENERAL ALLENBY'S OFFICIAL ENTRY + + XVI. MAKING JERUSALEM SECURE + + XVII. A GREAT FEAT OF WAR + + XVIII. BY THE BANKS OF THE JORDAN + + XIX. THE TOUCH OF THE CIVILISING HAND + + XX. OUR CONQUERING AIRMEN + + APPENDICES + + INDEX + + +LIST OF MAPS + + +PLAN OF SOUTHERN PALESTINE + +PLAN OF GAZA-BEERSHEBA LINE + +PLAN OF THE BETH-HORON COUNTRY + +PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF JERUSALEM + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + +OFFICIAL ENTRY INTO THE HOLY CITY. GENERAL ALLENBY RECEIVED BY THE +MILITARY GOVERNOR OP JERUSALEM, DECEMBER 11, 1917 + +KANTARA TERMINUS OF THE DESERT MILITARY RAILWAY + +EAST FORCE H.Q. DUG-OUTS NEAR GAZA + +WADI GHUZZE NEAR SHELLAL + +OUR WATERWORKS AT SHELLAL + +ON THE MOVE IN THE DESERT + +THE GREAT MOSQUE AT GAZA + +TURKISH HEADQUARTERS AT GAZA. Note the Crusader Lion in Wall. + +A DESERT MOTOR ROAD NEAR SHELLAL + +TURKISH DUG-OUTS AT GAZA + +BEERSHEBA RAILWAY STATION WITH MINED ROLLING STOCK + +LIEUT.-GEN. SIR HARRY CHAUVEL OUTSIDE BEERSHEBA MOSQUE, NOVEMBER 1, +1917 + +EL MUGHAR. THE SCENE OF A YEOMANRY CHARGE + +BURIAL-PLACE OF ST. GEORGE, PATRON SAINT OF ENGLAND (AT LUDD) + +YEOMANRY GRAVES AT BETH-HORON THE UPPER, WHERE JOSHUA COMMANDED +THE SUN TO REMAIN STILL TO ENABLE THE ISRAELITES TO OVERTHROW THE +PHILISTINES + +IN THE JUDEAN HILLS + +A ROMAN CENTURION'S TOMB, KURYET EL ENAB + +ONE OF KING SOLOMON'S POOLS + +A TYPICAL NEW ZEALANDER + +WADI SURAR, CROSSED BY LONDON TERRITORIALS ON THE MORNING OF THEIR +ASSAULT ON THE JERUSALEM DEFENCES + +THE DEIR YESIN POSITION WEST OF JERUSALEM + +EASTERN FACE OF NEBI SAMWIL MOSQUE, SHOWING DESTRUCTION BY TURKISH +SHELL-FIRE + +OFFICIAL ENTRY INTO THE HOLY CITY. GENERAL ALLENBY ARRIVING OUTSIDE +THE JAFFA GATE + +OFFICIAL ENTRY. GENERAL ALLENBY RECEIVING THE MAYOR OF JERUSALEM (A +DESCENDANT OF MAHOMET) + +JERUSALEM FROM MOUNT OF OLIVES + +JERUSALEM FROM GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE + +PANEL IN THE CHAPEL OF THE KAISERIN AUGUSTA VICTORIA HOSPICE ON THE +MOUNT OF OLIVES + +BETHLEHEM + +CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, BETHLEHEM + +AIN KARIM, PART OF THE JERUSALEM DEFENCES + +RIVER AUJA, CROSSED AT NIGHT BY LOWLAND TERRITORIALS + +JERISHEH MILL, RIVER AUJA, ONE OF THE LOWLANDERS' CROSSINGS + +BARREL BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER AUJA + +DESTROYED BRIDGE ON THE JERICHO ROAD + +THE WILDERNESS, WITH A GLIMPSE OF THE DEAD SEA + +LONDONERS' BRIDGE OVER THE JORDAN. THE RIVER IS IN FLOOD + +GERMAN PRISONERS CROSSING THE JORDAN + +NEW ZEALAND MOUNTED RIFLES AT BETHLEHEM + +A HAIRPIN BEND ON THE JERUSALEM ROAD + + + +CHAPTER I + +PALESTINE'S INFLUENCE ON THE WAR + + +In a war which involved the peoples of the four quarters of the globe +it was to be expected that on the world's oldest battleground would +be renewed the scenes of conflict of bygone ages. There was perhaps a +desire of some elements of both sides, certainly it was the unanimous +wish of the Allies, to avoid the clash of arms in Palestine, and to +leave untouched by armies a land held in reverence by three of the +great religions of the world. But this ancient cockpit of warring +races could not escape. The will of those who broke the peace +prevailed. Germany's dream of Eastern Empires and world domination, +the lust of conquest of the Kaiser party, required that the tide of +war should once more surge across the land, and if the conquering +hosts left fewer traces of war wreckage than were to be expected in +their victorious march, it was due not to any anxiety of our foes +to avoid conflict about, and damage to, places with hallowed +associations, but to the masterly strategy of the British +Commander-in-Chief who manoeuvred the Turkish Armies out of positions +defending the sacred sites. + +The people of to-day who have lived through the war, who have had +their view bewildered by ever-recurring anxieties, by hopes shattered +and fears realised, by a succession of victories and defeats on a +colossal scale, and by a sudden collapse of the enemy, may fail to see +the Palestine campaign in true perspective. But in a future generation +the calm judgment of the historian in reviewing the greatest of all +wars will, if I mistake not, pay a great tribute to General Allenby's +strategy, not only as marking the commencement of the enemy's +downfall, but as preserving from the scourge of war those holy places +which symbolise the example by which most people rule their lives. +Britons who value the good name of their country will appreciate what +this means to those who shall come after us--that the record of a +great campaign carried out exclusively by British Imperial troops was +unsullied by a single act to disturb the sacred monuments, and left +the land in the full possession of those rich treasures which stand +for the principles that guided our actions and which, if posterity +observes them, will make a better and happier world. + +A few months after the Turks entered the war it was obvious that +unaided they could never realise the Kaiser's hope of cutting the Suez +Canal communications of the British Empire. The German commitments in +Europe were too overwhelming to permit of their rendering the Turks +adequate support for a renewed effort against Egypt after the failure +of the attack on the Canal in February 1915. There was an attempt +by the Turks in August 1916, but it was crushed by Anzac horse and +British infantry at Romani,[1] a score of miles from Port Said, and +thereafter the Turks in this theatre were on the defensive. Some +declare the Dardanelles enterprise to have been a mistake; others +believe that had we not threatened the Turks there Egypt would +have had to share with us the anxieties that war brings alike upon +attackers and defenders. Gallipoli and Mesopotamia, however we regard +those expeditions in the first years of the struggle, undoubtedly +prevented the Turks employing a large army against Egypt, and the +possibilities resulting from a defeat there were so full of danger to +us, not merely in that half-way house of the Empire but in India and +the East generally, that if Gallipoli served to avert the disaster +that ill-starred expedition was worth undertaking. We had to drive +the Turks out of the Sinai Peninsula--Egyptian territory--and, that +accomplished, an attack on the Turks through Palestine was imperative +since the Russian collapse released a large body of Turkish troops +from the Caucasus who would otherwise be employed in Mesopotamia. + +[Footnote 1: _The Desert Campaigns_: London, Constable and Co., Ltd.] + +When General Allenby took over the command of the Egyptian +Expeditionary Force the British public as a whole did not fully +realise the importance of the Palestine campaign. Most of them +regarded it as a 'side show,' and looked upon it as one of those minor +fields of operations which dissipated our strength at a time when it +was imperative we should concentrate to resist the German effort on +the Western Front. They did not know the facts. In our far-flung +Empire it was essential that we should maintain our prestige among +the races we governed, some of them martial peoples who might remain +faithful to the British flag only so long as we could impress them +with our power to win the war. They were more influenced by a triumph +in Mesopotamia, which was nearer their doors, than by a victory in +France, and the occupation of Bagdad was a victory of greater import +to the King's Indian subjects than the German retirement from the +Hindenburg line. If there ever was a fear of serious trouble in India +the advance of General Maude in Mesopotamia dispelled it, and made it +easier not only to release a portion of our white garrison in India +for active service elsewhere, but to recruit a large force of Indians +for the Empire's work in other climes. Bagdad was a tremendous blow to +German ambitions. The loss of it spelt ruin to those hopes of Eastern +conquest which had prompted the German intrigues in Turkey, and it was +certain that the Kaiser, so long as he believed in ultimate victory, +would refuse to accept the loss of Bagdad as final. Russia's +withdrawal as a belligerent released a large body of Turkish troops +in the Caucasus, and set free many Germans, particularly 'technical +troops' of which the Turks stood in need, for other fronts. It was +then that the German High Command conceived a scheme for retaking +Bagdad, and the redoubtable von Falkenhayn was sent to Constantinople +charged with the preparations for the undertaking. Certain it is that +it would have been put into execution but for the situation created by +the presence of a large British Army in the Sinai Peninsula. A large +force was collected about Aleppo for a march down the Euphrates +valley, and the winter of 1917-18 would have witnessed a stern +struggle for supremacy in Mesopotamia if the War Cabinet had not +decided to force the Turks to accept battle where they least wanted +it. + +The views of the British War Cabinet on the war in the East, at any +rate, were sound and solid. They concentrated on one big campaign, +and, profiting from past mistakes which led to a wastage of strength, +allowed all the weight they could spare to be thrown into the Egyptian +Expeditionary Force under a General who had proved his high military +capacity in France, and in whom all ranks had complete confidence, and +they permitted the Mesopotamian and Salonika Armies to contain the +enemies on their fronts while the Army in Palestine set out to crush +the Turks at what proved to be their most vital point. As to whether +the force available on our Mesopotamia front was capable of defeating +the German scheme I cannot offer an opinion, but it is beyond all +question that the conduct of operations in Palestine on a plan at once +bold, resolute, and worthy of a high place in military history saved +the Empire much anxiety over our position in the Tigris and Euphrates +valleys, and probably prevented unrest on the frontiers of India and +in India itself, where mischief makers were actively working in the +German cause. Nor can there be any doubt that the brilliant campaign +in Palestine prevented British and French influence declining among +the Mahomedan populations of those countries' respective spheres of +control in Africa. Indeed I regard it as incontrovertible that the +Palestine strategy of General Allenby, even apart from his stupendous +rush through Syria in the autumn of the last year of war, did as much +to end the war in 1918 as the great battles on the Western Front, +for if there had been failure or check in Palestine some British and +French troops in France might have had to be detached to other fronts, +and the Germans' effort in the Spring might have pushed their line +farther towards the Channel and Paris. If Bagdad was not actually +saved in Palestine, an expedition against it was certainly stopped by +our Army operating on the old battlegrounds in Palestine. We lost many +lives, and it cost us a vast amount of money, but the sacrifices +of brave men contributed to the saving of the world from German +domination; and high as the British name stood in the East as the +upholder of the freedom of peoples, the fame of Britain for justice, +fair dealing, and honesty is wider and more firmly established to-day +because the people have seen it emerge triumphantly from a supreme +test. + +In the strategy of the world war we made, no doubt, many mistakes, but +in Palestine the strategy was of the best, and in the working out of a +far-seeing scheme, victories so influenced events that on this front +began the final phase of the war--once Turkey was beaten, Bulgaria and +Austria-Hungary submitted and Germany acknowledged the inevitable. +Falkenhayn saw that the Bagdad undertaking was impossible so long as +we were dangerous on the Palestine front, and General Allenby's attack +on the Gaza line wiped the Bagdad enterprise out of the list of German +ambitions. The plan of battle on the Gaza-Beersheba line resembled +in miniature the ending of the war. If we take Beersheba for Turkey, +Sheria and Hareira for Bulgaria and Austria, and Gaza for Germany, +we get the exact progress of events in the final stage, except that +Bulgaria's submission was an intelligent anticipation of the laying +down of their arms by the Turks. Gaza-Beersheba was a rolling up from +our right to left; so was the ending of the Hun alliance. + + + +CHAPTER II + +OLD BATTLEGROUNDS + + +It was in accordance with the fitness of things that the British Army +should fight and conquer on the very spots consecrated by the memories +of the most famous battles of old. From Gaza onwards we made our +progress by the most ancient road on earth, for this way moved +commerce between the Euphrates and the Nile many centuries before the +East knew West. We fought on fields which had been the battlegrounds +of Egyptian and Assyrian armies, where Hittites, Ethiopians, Persians, +Parthians, and Mongols poured out their blood in times when kingdoms +were strong by the sword alone. The Ptolemies invaded Syria by this +way, and here the Greeks put their colonising hands on the country. +Alexander the Great made this his route to Egypt. Pompey marched over +the Maritime Plain and inaugurated that Roman rule which lasted for +centuries; till Islam made its wide irresistible sweep in the seventh +century. Then the Crusaders fought and won and lost, and Napoleon's +ambitions in the East were wrecked just beyond the plains. + +Up the Maritime Plain we battled at Gaza, every yard of which had +been contested by the armies of mighty kings in the past thirty-five +centuries, at Akir, Gezer, Lydda, and around Joppa. All down the ages +armies have moved in victory or flight over this plain, and General +Allenby in his advance was but repeating history. And when the +Turks had been driven beyond the Plain of Philistia, and the +Commander-in-Chief had to decide how to take Jerusalem, we saw the +British force move along precisely the same route that has been taken +by armies since the time when Joshua overcame the Amorites and the day +was lengthened by the sun and moon standing still till the battle +was won. Geography had its influence on the strategy of to-day as +completely as it did when armies were not cumbered with guns and +mechanical transport. Of the few passes from the Maritime Plain over +the Shephelah into the Judean range only that emerging from the green +Vale of Ajalon was possible, if we were to take Jerusalem, as the +great captains of old took it, from the north. The Syrians sometimes +chose this road in preference to advancing through Samaria, the Romans +suffered retreat on it, Richard Coeur de Lion made it the path for his +approach towards the Holy City, and, precisely as in Joshua's day and +as when in the first century the Romans fell victims to a tremendous +Jewish onslaught, the fighting was hardest about the Beth-horons, but +with a different result--the invaders were victorious. The corps which +actually took Jerusalem advanced up the new road from Latron through +Kuryet el Enab, identified by some as Kirjath-jearim where the +Philistines returned the Ark, but that road would have been denied to +us if we had not made good the ancient path from the Vale of Ajalon to +Gibeon. Jerusalem was won by the fighting at the Beth-horons as +surely as it was on the line of hills above the wadi Surar which +the Londoners carried. There was fighting at Gibeon, at Michmas, at +Beeroth, at Ai, and numerous other places made familiar to us by the +Old Testament, and assuredly no army went forth to battle on more +hallowed soil. + +Of all the armies which earned a place in history in Palestine, +General Allenby's was the greatest--the greatest in size, in +equipment, in quality, in fighting power, and not even the invading +armies in the romantic days of the Crusades could equal it in +chivalry. It fought the strong fight with clean hands throughout, and +finished without a blemish on its conduct. It was the best of all the +conquering armies seen in the Holy Land as well as the greatest. +Will not the influence of this Army endure? I think so. There is an +awakening in Palestine, not merely of Christians and Jews, but of +Moslems, too, in a less degree. During the last thirty years there +have grown more signs of the deep faiths of peoples and of their +veneration of this land of sacred history. If their institutions and +missions could develop and shed light over Palestine even while the +slothful and corrupt Turk ruled the land, how much faster and more in +keeping with the sanctity of the country will the improvement be under +British protection? The graves of our soldiers dotted over desert +wastes and cornfields, on barren hills and in fertile valleys, ay, and +on the Mount of Olives where the Saviour trod, will mark an era more +truly grand and inspiring, and offer a far greater lesson to future +generations than the Crusades or any other invasion down the track of +time. The Army of General Allenby responded to the happy thought of +the Commander-in-Chief and contributed one day's pay for the erection +of a memorial near Jerusalem in honour of its heroic dead. Apart from +the holy sites, no other memorial will be revered so much, and future +pilgrims, to whatever faith they belong, will look upon it as a +monument to men who went to battle to bring lasting peace to a land +from which the Word of Peace and Goodwill went forth to mankind. + +In selecting General Sir Edmund Allenby as the Palestine Army's chief +the War Cabinet made a happy choice. General Sir Archibald Murray +was recalled to take up an important command at home after the two +unsuccessful attempts to drive the Turks from the Gaza defences. The +troops at General Murray's disposal were not strong enough to take +the offensive again, and it was clear there must be a long period of +preparation for an attack on a large scale. General Allenby brought to +the East a lengthy experience of fighting on the Western Front, where +his deliberate methods of attack, notably at Arras, had given the +Allies victories over the cleverest and bravest of our enemies. +Palestine was likely to be a cavalry, as well as an infantry, +campaign, or at any rate the theatre of war in which the mounted arm +could be employed with the most fruitful of results. General Allenby's +achievements as a cavalry leader in the early days of the war marked +him as the one officer of high rank suited for the Palestine command, +and his proved capacity as a General both in open and in trench +warfare gave the Army that high degree of confidence in its +Commander-in-Chief which it is so necessary that a big fighting force +should possess. A tremendously hard worker himself, General Allenby +expected all under him to concentrate the whole of their energies +on their work. He had the faculty for getting the best out of his +officers, and on his Staff were some of the most enthusiastic soldiers +in the service. There was no room for an inefficient leader in any +branch of the force, and the knowledge that the Commander-in-Chief +valued the lives and the health of his men so highly that he would not +risk a failure, kept all the staffs tuned up to concert pitch. We +saw many changes, and the best men came to the top. His own vigour +infected the whole command, and within a short while of arriving at +the front the efficiency of the Army was considerably increased. + +The Palestine G.H.Q. was probably nearer the battle front than any +G.H.Q. in other theatres of operations, and when the Army had broken +through and chased the enemy beyond the Jaffa-Jerusalem line, G.H.Q. +was opened at Bir Salem, near Ramleh, and for several months was +actually within reach of the long-range guns which the Turks +possessed. The rank and file were not slow to appreciate this. They +knew their Commander-in-Chief was on the spot, keeping his eye and +hand on everything, organising with his organisers, planning with +his operation staff, familiar with every detail of the complicated +transport system, watching his supply services with the keenness of a +quartermaster-general, and taking that lively interest in the medical +branch which betrayed an anxious desire for the welfare and health of +the men. The rank and file knew something more than this. They saw the +Commander-in-Chief at the front every day. General Allenby did not +rely solely on reports from his corps. He went to each section of the +line himself, and before practically every major operation he saw the +ground and examined the scheme for attack. There was not a part of the +line he did not know, and no one will contradict me when I say that +the military roads in Palestine were known by no one better than the +driver of the Commander-in-Chief's car. A man of few words, General +Allenby always said what he meant with soldierly directness, which +made the thanks he gave a rich reward. A good piece of work brought a +written or oral message of thanks, and the men were satisfied they +had done well to deserve congratulations. They were proud to have the +confidence of such a Chief and to deserve it, and they in their turn +had such unbounded faith in the military judgment of the General and +in the care he took to prevent unnecessary risk of life, that there +was nothing which he sanctioned that they would not attempt. Such +mutual confidence breeds strength, and it was the Commander-in-Chief's +example, his tact, energy, and military genius which made his Army a +potent power for Britain and a strong pillar of the Allies' cause. + +Let it not be imagined that General Allenby in his victorious campaign +shone only as a great soldier. He was also a great administrator. In +England little was known about this part of the General's work, and +owing to the difficulties of the task and to the consideration which +had, and still has, to be shown to the susceptibilities of a number of +friendly nations and peoples, it may be long before the full story of +the administration of the occupied territory in Palestine is unfolded +for general appreciation. It is a good story, worthy of Britain's +record as a protector of peoples, and though from the nature of his +conquest over the Turks in the Bible country the name of General +Allenby will adorn the pages of history principally as a victor, it +will also stand before the governments of states as setting a model +for a wise, prudent, considerate, even benevolent, administration of +occupied enemy territory. In days when Powers driven mad by military +ambition tear up treaties as scraps of paper, General Allenby observed +the spirit as well as the letter of the Hague Convention, and found +it possible to apply to occupied territory the principles of +administration as laid down in the Manual of Military Law. + +The natives marvelled at the change. In place of insecurity, +extortion, bribery and corruption, levies on labour and property and +all the evils of Turkish government, General Allenby gave the country +behind the front line peace, justice, fair treatment of every race and +creed, and a firm and equitable administration of the law. Every man's +house became his castle. Taxes were readily paid, the tax gatherers +were honest servants, and, none of the revenue going to keep fat +pashas in luxury in Constantinople, there came a prospect of +expenditure and revenue balancing after much money had been usefully +spent on local government. Until the signing of peace international +law provided that Turkish laws should apply. These, properly +administered, as they never were by the Turks, gave a basis of good +government, and, with the old abuses connected with the collection +of revenue removed, and certain increased taxation and customs dues +imposed by the Turks during the war discontinued, the people resumed +the arts of peace and enjoyed a degree of prosperity none of them had +ever anticipated. What the future government of Palestine may be is +uncertain at the time of writing. There is talk of international +control--we seem ever ready to lose at the conference table what a +valiant sword has gained for us--but the careful and perfectly correct +administration of General Allenby will save us from the criticism of +many jealous foreigners. Certainly it will bear examination by any +impartial investigator, but the best of all tributes that could be +paid to it is that it satisfied religious communities which did not +live in perfect harmony with one another and the inhabitants of a +country which shelters the people of many different races. + +The Yilderim undertaking, as the Bagdad scheme was described, did not +meet with the full acceptance of the Turks. The 'mighty Jemal', as the +Germans sneeringly called the Commander of the Syrian Army, opposed it +as weakening his prospects, and even Enver, the ambitious creature and +tool of Germany, postponed his approval. It would seem the taking over +of the command of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force by General Allenby +set the Turks thinking, and made the German Military Mission in +Constantinople reconsider their plans, not with a view to a complete +abandonment of the proposal to advance on Bagdad, as would have been +wise, but in order to see how few of the Yilderim troops they could +allot to Jemal's army to make safe the Sinai front. There was an +all-important meeting of Turkish Generals in the latter half of +August, and Jemal stood to his guns. Von Falkenhayn could not get +him to abate one item of his demands, and there can be no doubt that +Falkenhayn, obsessed though he was with the importance of getting +Bagdad, could see that Jemal was right. He admitted that the Yilderim +operation was only practicable if it had freedom for retirement +through the removal of the danger on the Palestine front. With that +end in view he advocated that the British should be attacked, and +suggested that two divisions and the 'Asia Corps' should be sent from +Aleppo to move round our right. Jemal was in favour of defensive +action; Enver procrastinated and proposed sending one division to +strengthen the IVth Army on the Gaza front and to proceed with the +Bagdad preparations. The wait-and-see policy prevailed, but long +before we exerted our full strength Bagdad was out of the danger zone. +General Allenby's force was so disposed that any suggestion of +the Yilderim operation being put into execution was ruled out of +consideration. + +Several documents captured at Yilderim headquarters at Nazareth in +September 1918, when General Allenby made his big drive through Syria, +show very clearly how our Palestine operations changed the whole of +the German plans, and reading between the lines one can realise how +the impatience of the Germans was increasing Turkish stubbornness +and creating friction and ill-feeling. The German military character +brooks no opposition; the Turks like to postpone till to-morrow what +should be done to-day. The latter were cocksure after their two +successes at Gaza they could hold us up; the Germans believed that +with an offensive against us they would hold us in check till the wet +season arrived.[1] + +[Footnote 1: See Appendices I., II., and III.] + +Down to the south the Turks had to bring their divisions. Their line +of communications was very bad. There was a railway from Aleppo +through Rayak to Damascus, and onwards through Deraa (on the Hedjaz +line) to Afule, Messudieh, Tul Keram, Ramleh, Junction Station to Beit +Hanun, on the Gaza sector, and through Et Tineh to Beersheba. Rolling +stock was short and fuel was scarce, and the enemy had short rations. +When we advanced through Syria in the autumn of 1918 our transport was +nobly served by motor-lorry columns which performed marvels in getting +up supplies over the worst of roads. But as we went ahead we, having +command of the sea, landed stores all the way up the coast, and unless +the Navy had lent its helping hand we should never have got to Aleppo +before the Turk cried 'Enough.' Every ounce of the Turks' supplies had +to be hauled over land. They managed to put ten infantry divisions and +one cavalry division against us in the first three weeks, but they +were not comparable in strength to our seven infantry divisions and +three cavalry divisions. In rifle strength we outnumbered them by two +to one, but if the enemy had been well led and properly rationed he, +being on the defensive and having strong prepared positions, should +have had the power to resist us more strongly. The Turkish divisions +we attacked were: 3rd, 7th, 16th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 26th, 27th, 53rd, +and 54th, and the 3rd Cavalry Division. The latter avoided battle, but +all the infantry divisions had heavy casualties. That the moral of the +Turkish Army was not high may be gathered from a very illuminating +letter written by General Kress von Kressenstein, the G.O.C. of the +Sinai front, to Yilderim headquarters on September 29, 1917.[1] + +[Footnote 1: See Appendix IV.] + +The troops who won Palestine and made it happier than it had been for +four centuries were exclusively soldiers of the British Empire. +There was a French detachment and an Italian detachment with General +Allenby's Army. The Italians for a short period held a small portion +of the line in the Gaza sector, but did not advance with our force; +the French detachment were solely employed as garrison troops. The +French battleship _Requin_ and two French destroyers cooperated with +the ships of the Royal Navy in the bombardment of the coast. Our Army +was truly representative of the Empire, and the units composing it +gave an abiding example that in unity rested our strength. From over +the Seven Seas the Empire's sons came to illustrate the unanimity +of all the King's subjects in the prosecution of the war. English, +Scottish, Irish, and Welsh divisions of good men and true fought side +by side with soldiers of varying Indian races and castes. Australia's +valiant sons constituted many brigades of horse and, with New Zealand +mounted regiments, became the most hardened campaigners in the +Egyptian and Palestine theatre of operations. Their powerful support +in the day of anxiety and trial, as well as in the time of triumph, +will be remembered with gratitude. South Africa contributed good +gunners; our dark-skinned brethren in the West Indies furnished +infantry who, when the fierce summer heat made the air in the Jordan +Valley like a draught from a furnace, had a bayonet charge which +aroused an Anzac brigade to enthusiasm (and Colonial free men can +estimate bravery at its true value). From far-away Hong Kong and +Singapore came mountain gunners equal to any in the world, Kroomen +sent from their homes in West Africa surf boatmen to land stores, +Raratongas from the Southern Pacific vied with them in boat craft and +beat them in physique, while Egypt contributed a labour corps and +transport corps running a long way into six figures. The communion of +the representatives of the Mother and Daughter nations on the stern +field of war brought together people with the same ideals, and if +there are any minor jealousies between them the brotherhood of arms +will make the soldiers returning to their homes in all quarters of the +globe the best of missionaries to spread the Imperial idea. Instead of +wrecking the British Empire the German-made war should rebuild it +on the soundest of foundations, affection, mutual trust, and common +interest. + + + +CHAPTER III + +DIFFICULTIES OF THE ATTACK + + +General Allenby's first problem was of vital consequence. He had to +pierce the Gaza line. Before his arrival there had been, as already +stated, two attempts which failed. A third failure, or even a +check, might have spelt disaster for us in the East. The Turks held +commanding positions, which they strengthened and fortified under the +direction of German engineers until their country, between the sea and +Beersheba, became a chain of land works of high military value, well +adapted for defence, and covering almost every line of approach. +The Turk at the Dardanelles had shown no loss of that quality of +doggedness in defence which characterised him in Plevna, and though we +know his commanders still cherished the hope of successfully attacking +us before we could attempt to crush his line, it was on his system of +defence that the enemy mainly relied to break the power of the British +force. On arriving in Egypt General Allenby was given an appreciation +of the situation written by Lieut.-General Sir Philip Chetwode, who +had commanded the Desert Column in various stages across the sands of +Sinai, was responsible for forcing the Turks to evacuate El Arish, +arranged the dash on Magdaba by General Sir Harry Chauvel's mounted +troops, and fought the brilliant little battle of Rafa. This +appreciation of the position was the work of a master military mind, +taking a broad comprehensive view of the whole military situation in +the East, Palestine's position in the world war, the strategical and +tactical problems to be faced, and, without making any exorbitant +demands for troops which would lessen the Allies' powers in other +theatres, set out the minimum necessities for the Palestine force. +General Allenby gave the fullest consideration to this document, and +after he had made as complete an examination of the front as any +Commander-in-Chief ever undertook--the General was in one or other +sector with his troops almost every day for four months--General +Chetwode's plan was adopted, and full credit was given to his +prescience in General Allenby's despatch covering the operations up to +the fall of Jerusalem. + +It was General Chetwode's view at the time of writing his +appreciation, that both the British and Turkish Armies were +strategically on the defensive. The forces were nearly equal in +numbers, though we were slightly superior in artillery, but we had no +advantage sufficient to enable us to attack a well-entrenched enemy +who only offered us a flank on which we could not operate owing to +lack of water and the extreme difficulty of supply. General Chetwode +thought it was possible the enemy might make an offensive against +us--we have since learned he had such designs--but he gave weighty +reasons against the Turk embarking upon a campaign conducted with +a view to throwing us beyond the Egyptian frontier into the desert +again. If the enemy contemplated even minor operations in the Sinai +Desert he had not the means of undertaking them. We should be retiring +on positions we had prepared, for, during his advance across the +desert, General Chetwode had always taken the precaution of having his +force dug in against the unlikely event of a Turkish attack. Every +step we went back would make our supply easier, and there was no water +difficulty, the pipe line, then 130 miles long, which carried the +purified waters of the Nile to the amount of hundreds of thousands +of gallons daily, being always available for our troops. It would be +necessary for the Turks to repair the Beersheba-Auja railway. They +had lifted some of the rails for use north of Gaza, and a raid we had +carried out showed that we could stop this railway being put into a +state of preparedness for military traffic. An attack which aimed at +again threatening the Suez Canal was therefore ruled as outside the +range of possibilities. + +On the other hand, now that the Russian collapse had relieved the Turk +of his anxieties in the Caucasus and permitted him to concentrate his +attention on the Mesopotamian and Palestine fronts, what hope had he +of resisting our attack when we should be in a position to launch it? +The enemy had a single narrow-gauge railway line connecting with the +Jaffa-Jerusalem railway at Junction Station about six miles south-east +of Ramleh. This line ran to Beersheba, and there was a spur line +running past Deir Sineid to Beit Hanun from which the Gaza position +was supplied. There was a shortage of rolling stock and, there being +no coal for the engines, whole olive orchards had been hacked down to +provide fuel. The Hebron road, which could keep Beersheba supplied if +the railway was cut, was in good order, but in other parts there were +no roads at all, except several miles of badly metalled track from +Junction Station to Julis. We could not keep many troops with such +ill-conditioned communications, but Turkish soldiers require far less +supplies than European troops, and the enemy had done such remarkable +things in surmounting supply difficulties that he was given credit for +being able to support between sixty and seventy battalions in the line +and reserve, with an artillery somewhat weaker than our own. + +If we made another frontal attack at Gaza we should find ourselves up +against a desperately strong defensive system, but even supposing we +got through it we should come to another halt in a few miles, as +the enemy had selected, and in most cases had prepared, a number of +positions right up to the Jaffa-Jerusalem road, where he would be in +a land of comparative plenty, with his supply and transport troubles +very considerably reduced. No one could doubt that the Turks intended +to defend Jerusalem to the last, not only because of the moral effect +its capture would have on the peoples of the world, but because its +possession by us would threaten their enterprise in the Hedjaz, and +the enormous amount of work we afterwards found they had done on the +Judean hills proved that they were determined to do all in their +power to prevent our driving them from the Holy City. The enemy, too, +imagined that our progress could not exceed the rate at which our +standard gauge railway could be built. Water-borne supplies were +limited as to quantity, and during the winter the landing of supplies +on an open beach was hazardous. In the coastal belt there were no +roads, and the wide fringe of sand which has accumulated for centuries +and still encroaches on the Maritime Plain can only be crossed by +camels. Wells are few and yield but small volumes of water. With the +transport allotted to the force in the middle of 1917 it was not +possible to maintain more than one infantry division at a distance of +twenty to twenty-five miles beyond railhead, and this could only be +done by allotting to them all the camels and wheels of other divisions +and rendering these immobile. This was insufficient to keep the enemy +on the move after a tactical success, and he would have ample time to +reorganise. + +General Chetwode held that careful preliminary arrangements, suitable +and elastic organisation of transport, the collection of material at +railhead, the training of platelaying gangs provided by the troops, +the utilisation of the earthwork of the enemy's line for our own +railway, luck as regards the weather and the fullest use of sea +transport, should enable us to give the enemy less breathing time than +appeared possible on paper. It was beyond hope, however, whatever +preparations were made, that we should be able to pursue at a speed +approaching that which the river made possible in Mesopotamia. General +Chetwode considered it would be fatal to attempt an offensive with +forces which might permit us to attack and occupy the enemy's Gaza +line but which would be insufficient to inflict upon him a really +severe blow, and to follow up that blow with sufficient troops. No +less than seven infantry divisions at full strength and three cavalry +divisions would be adequate for the purpose, and they would be +none too many. Further, if the Turks began to press severely in +Mesopotamia, or even to revive their campaign in the Hedjaz, a +premature offensive might be necessitated on our part in Palestine. + +The suggestion made by General Chetwode for General Allenby's +consideration was that the enemy should be led to believe we intended +to attack him in front of Gaza, and that we should pin him down to +his defences in the centre, while the real attack should begin on +Beersheba and continue at Hareira and Sheria, and so force the enemy +by manoeuvre to abandon Gaza. That plan General Allenby adopted after +seeing all the ground, and the events of the last day of October and +the first week of November supported General Chetwode's predictions to +the letter. Indeed it would be hard to find a parallel in history for +such another complete and absolute justification of a plan drawn up +several months previously, and it is doubtful if, supposing the Turks +had succeeded in doing what their German advisers advocated, namely +forestalling our blow by a vigorous attack on our positions, there +would have been any material alteration in the working out of the +scheme. The staff work of General Headquarters and of the staffs of +the three corps proved wholly sound. Each department gave of its best, +and from the moment when Beersheba was taken in a day and we secured +its water supply, there was never a doubt that the enemy could be kept +on the move until we got into the rough rocky hills about Jerusalem. +And by that time, as events proved, his moral had had such a +tremendous shaking that he never again made the most of his many +opportunities. + +The soundness of the plan can quite easily be made apparent to the +unmilitary eye. Yet the Turk was absolutely deceived as to General +Allenby's intentions. If it be conceded that to deceive the enemy is +one of the greatest accomplishments in the soldier's art, it must be +admitted that the battle of Gaza showed General Allenby's consummate +generalship, just as it was proved again, and perhaps to an even +greater extent, in the wonderful days of September 1918, in Northern +Palestine and Syria. A glance at the map of the Gaza-Beersheba line +and the country immediately behind it will show that if a successful +attack were delivered against Gaza the enemy could withdraw his whole +line to a second and supporting position where we should have to begin +afresh upon an almost similar operation. The Turk would still have his +water and would be slightly nearer his supplies. + +Since the two unsuccessful attacks in March and April, Gaza had been +put into a powerful state of defence. The houses of the town are +mostly on a ridge, and enclosing the place is a mass of gardens fully +a mile deep, each surrounded by high cactus hedges affording complete +cover and quite impossible for infantry to penetrate. To reduce +Gaza would require a prolonged artillery bombardment with far more +batteries than General Allenby could ever expect to have at his +command, and it is certain that not only would the line in front of +the town have had to be taken, but also the whole of the western end +of the Turks' trench system for a length of at least 12,000 yards. +And, as has been said, with Gaza secured we should still have had to +face the enemy in a new line of positions about the wadi Hesi. Gaza +was the Turks' strongest point. To attack here would have meant a +long-drawn-out artillery duel, infantry would have had to advance over +open ground under complete observation, and, while making a frontal +attack, would have been exposed to enfilade fire from the 'Tank' +system of works to the south-east. It would have proved a costly +operation, its success could only have been partial in that it did not +follow that we should break the enemy's line, and it would not have +enabled us to contain the remainder of the Turkish force. + +Nor would an attack on the centre have promised more favourably. Here +the enemy had all the best of the ground. At Atawineh, Sausage Ridge, +Hareira, and Teiaha there were defences supporting each other on high +ground overlooking an almost flat plain through which the wadi Ghuzze +runs. All the observation was in enemy possession, and to attack over +this ground would have been inviting disaster. There was little fear +that the Turks would attack us across this wide range of No Man's +Land, for we held secure control of the curiously shaped heaps of +broken earth about Shellal, and the conical hill at Fara gave an +uninterrupted view for several miles northward and eastward. The +position was very different about Beersheba. If we secured that place +with its water supply, and in this dry country the battle really +amounted to a fight for water, we should be attacking from high ground +and against positions which had not been prepared on so formidable +a scale as elsewhere, with the prospect of compelling the enemy to +abandon the remainder of the line for fear of being enveloped by +mounted troops moving behind his weakened left. That, in brief +outline, was the gist of General Chetwode's report, and with its full +acceptance began the preparations for the advance. These preparations +took several months to complete, and they were as thorough as the +energy of a capable staff could make them. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +TRAINING THE ARMY + + +Those of us who were fortunate enough to witness the nature of the +preparations for the first of General Allenby's great and triumphant +moves in Palestine can speak of the debt Britain and her Allies owe +not merely to the Commander-in-Chief and his Headquarters Staff, +but to the three Corps Commanders, the Divisional Commanders, the +Brigadiers, and the officers responsible for transport, artillery, +engineer, and the other services. The Army had to be put on an +altogether different footing from that which had twice failed to drive +the Turks from Gaza. It serves nothing to ignore the fact that the +moral of the troops was not high in the weeks following the second +failure. They had to be tuned up and trained for a big task. They knew +the Turk was turning his natural advantages of ground about Gaza into +a veritable fortress, and that if their next effort was to meet with +more success than their last, they had to learn all that experience on +the Western Front had taught as to systems of trench warfare. + +And, more than that, they had to prepare to apply the art of open +warfare to the full extent of their powers. + +A couple of months before General Allenby took over command, General +Chetwode had taken in hand the question of training, and in employing +the knowledge gained during the strenuous days he had spent in France +and Flanders, he not only won the confidence of the troops but +improved their tone, and by degrees brought them up to something +approaching the level of the best fighting divisions of our Army in +France. + +This was hard work during hot weather when our trench systems on a +wide front had to be prepared against an active enemy, and men could +ill be spared for the all-important task of training behind the front +line. It was not long, however, before troops who had got into that +state of lassitude which is engendered by a belief that they were +settling down to trench warfare for the duration of the war--that, +in fact, there was a stalemate on this front--became inspired by the +energy of General Chetwode. They saw him in the front line almost +every day, facing the risks they ran themselves, complimenting them +on any good piece of work, suggesting improvements in their defences, +always anxious to provide anything possible for their comfort, and +generally looking after the rank and file with a detailed attention +which no good battalion commander could exceed. + +The men knew that the long visits General Chetwode paid them formed +but a small part of his daily task. It has been said that a G.O.C. of +a force has to think one hour a day about operations and five hours +about beef. In East Force, as this part of the Egyptian Expeditionary +Force was then called, General Chetwode, having to look months ahead, +had also six worrying hours a day to think about water. For any one +who did not love his profession, or who had not an ardent soldierly +spirit within him, such a daily task would have been impossible. I had +the privilege of living in General Chetwode's camp for some time, and +I have seen him working at four o'clock in the morning and at nine +o'clock at night, and the notes on a writing tablet by the side of his +rough camp-bed showed that in the hours when sleep forsook him he was +planning the next day's work. + +His staff was entirely composed of hard workers, and perhaps no +command in this war ever had so small a staff, but there was no +officer in East Force who laboured so long or with such concentration +and energy and determination as its Chief. This enthusiasm was +infectious and spread through all ranks. The sick rate declined, +septic sores, from which many men suffered through rough life in the +desert on Army rations, got better, and the men showed more interest +in their work and were keener on their sport. The full effects had not +been wholly realised when the War Cabinet selected General Allenby +for the control of the big operations, but the improvement in the +condition of the troops was already most marked, and when General +Allenby arrived and at once directed that General Headquarters should +be moved from Cairo, which was pleasant but very far away from the +front, to Kelab, near Khan Yunus, there was not a man who did not see +in the new order of things a sign that he was to be given a chance of +testing the Briton's supremacy over the Turk. + +The improvement in the moral of the troops, the foundations of which +were thus begun and cemented by General Chetwode, was rapidly carried +on under the new Chief. Divisions like the 52nd, 53rd, and 54th, which +had worked right across the desert from the Suez Canal, toiling in a +torrid temperature, when parched throats, sun-blistered limbs, and +septic sores were a heavy trial, weakened by casualties in action and +sickness, were brought up to something like strength. Reinforcing +drafts joined a lot of cheery veterans. They were taught in the +stern field of experience what was expected of them, and they worked +themselves up to the degree of efficiency of the older men. + +The 74th Division, made up of yeomanry regiments which had been doing +excellent service in the Libyan Desert, watching for and harassing the +elements of the Senussi Army, had to be trained as infantry. These +yeomen did not take long to make themselves first-rate infantry, and +when, after the German attack on the Somme in March 1918, they went +away from us to strengthen the Western Front, a distinguished General +told me he believed that man for man the 74th would prove the finest +division in France. They certainly proved themselves in Palestine, +and many an old yeomanry regiment won for itself the right to bear +'Jerusalem, 1917' on its standard. + +The 75th Division had brought some of the Wessex Territorials from +India with two battalions of Gurkhas and two of Rifles. The 1/4th Duke +of Cornwall's Light Infantry joined it from Aden, but for some months +the battalion was not itself. It had spent a long time at that dreary +sunburnt outpost of the Empire, and the men did not regain their +physical fitness till close upon the time it was required for the Gaza +operations. + +The 60th Division came over from Salonika and we were delighted to +have them, for they not only gave us General Bulfin as the XXIst Corps +Commander, but set an example of efficiency and a combination of dash +and doggedness which earned for them a record worthy of the best +in the history of the great war. These London Territorials were +second-line men, men recruited from volunteers in the early days of +the war, when the County of London Territorial battalions went across +to France to take a part on a front hard pressed by German legions. +The 60th Division men had rushed forward to do their duty before +the Derby scheme or conscription sought out the cream of Britain's +manhood, and no one had any misgivings about that fine cheery crowd. + +The 10th Division likewise came from Salonika. Unfortunately it had +been doing duty in a fever-stricken area and malaria had weakened its +ranks. A little while before the autumn operations began, as many as +3000 of its men were down at one time with malaria, but care and tonic +of the battle pulled the ranks together, and the Irish Division, a +purely Irish division, campaigned up to the glorious traditions of +their race. They worked like gluttons with rifle and spade, and their +pioneer work on roads in the Judean hills will always be remembered +with gratitude. + +The cavalry of the Desert Mounted Corps were old campaigners in +the East. The Anzac Mounted Division, composed of six regiments of +Australian Light Horse and three regiments of New Zealand Mounted +Rifles, had been operating in the Sinai Desert when they were not +winning fame on Gallipoli, since the early days of the war. They had +proved sterling soldiers in the desert war, hard, full of courage, +capable of making light of the longest trek in waterless stretches of +country, and mobile to a degree the Turks never dreamed of. There were +six other regiments of Australian Light Horse and three first-line +regiments of yeomanry in the Australian Mounted Division, and nine +yeomanry regiments in the Yeomanry Mounted Division. The 7th Mounted +Brigade was attached to Desert Corps, as was also the Imperial Camel +Corps Brigade, formed of yeomen and Australians who had volunteered +from their regiments for work as camelry. They, too, were veterans. + +All these divisions had to be trained hard. Not only had the four +infantry divisions of XXth Corps to be brought to a pitch of physical +fitness to enable them to endure a considerable period of open +fighting, but they had to be trained in water abstinence, as, in the +event of success, they would unquestionably have long marches in a +country yielding a quite inadequate supply of drinking water, and this +problem in itself was such that fully 6000 camels were required to +carry drinking water to infantry alone. Water-abstinence training +lasted three weeks, and the maximum of half a gallon a man for all +purposes was not exceeded, simply because the men had been made +accustomed to deny themselves drink except when absolutely necessary. +But for a systematic training they would have suffered a great deal. +The disposition of the force is given in the Appendix.[1] + +[Footnote 1: See Appendix v]. + + + +CHAPTER V + +RAILWAYS, ROADS, AND THE BASE + + +To ease the supply problem a spur line was laid from Rafa to Shellal, +on the wadi Ghuzze. In that way supplies, stores, and ammunition were +taken up to our right flank. Shellal was a position of great strategic +importance. At one time it appeared as if we should have to fight hard +to gain it. The Turks had cut an elaborate series of trenches on +Wali Sheikh Nuran, a hill covering Shellal, but they evacuated +this position before we made the first attack on Gaza, and left an +invaluable water supply in our hands. + +At Shellal the stony bed of the wadi Ghuzze rests between high mud +banks which have been cut into fantastic shapes by the rushing waters +descending from the southern extremities of the Judean range of hills +during the winter rains. In the summer months, when the remainder +of the wadi bed is dry, there are bubbling springs of good water at +Shellal, and these have probably been continuously flowing for many +centuries, for close above the spot where the water issues Anzac +cavalry discovered a beautiful remnant of the mosaic flooring of an +ancient Christian church, which, raised on a hundred-feet mound, was +doubtless the centre of a colony of Christians, hundreds of years +before Crusaders were attracted to the Holy Land. Our engineers +harnessed that precious flow. A dam was put across the wadi bed and at +least a million gallons of crystal water were held up by it, +whilst the overflow went into shallow pools fringed with grass (a +delightfully refreshing sight in that arid country) from which horses +were watered. Pumping sets were installed at the reservoir and pipes +were laid towards Karm, and from these the Camel Transport Corps were +to fill fanatis--eight to twelve gallon tanks--for carriage of water +to troops on the move. + +The railway staff, the department which arranged the making up and +running of trains, as well as the construction staff, had heavy +responsibilities. It was recognised early in 1917 that if we were to +crush the Turk out of the war, provision would have to be made for a +larger army than a single line from the Suez Canal could feed. It +was decided to double the track. The difficulties of the Director of +Railway Transport were enormous. There was great shortage of railway +material all over the world. Some very valuable cargoes were lost +through enemy action at sea, and we had to call for more from +different centres, and England deprived herself of rolling stock she +badly needed, to enable her flag of freedom to be carried (though it +was not to be hoisted) through the Holy Land. And incidentally I may +remark that, with the solitary exception of a dirty little piece of +Red Ensign I saw flying in the native quarter in Jerusalem, the only +British flag the people saw in Palestine and Syria was a miniature +Union Jack carried on the Commander-in-Chief's motor car and by his +standard-bearer when riding. Thus did the British Army play the game, +for some of the Allied susceptibilities might have been wounded if the +people had been told (though indeed they knew it) that they were under +the protection of the British flag. They had the most convincing +evidence, however, that they were under the staunch protection of the +British Army. The doubling of the railway track went on apace. To save +pressure at the Alexandria docks and on the Egyptian State railway, +which, giving some of its rolling stock and, I think, the whole of +its reserve of material for the use of the military line east of the +Canal, was worked to its utmost capacity, and also to economise +money by saving railway freights, wharves were built on the Canal at +Kantara, and as many as six ocean-going steamers could be unloaded +there at one time. By and by a railway bridge was thrown over the +Canal, and when the war was over through trains could be run from +Cairo to Jerusalem and Haifa. Kantara grew into a wonderful town with +several miles of Canal frontage, huge railway sidings and workshops, +enormous stores of rations for man and horse, medical supplies, +ordnance and ammunition dumps, etc. Probably the enemy knew all about +this vast base. Any one on any ship passing through the Canal could +see the place, and it is surprising, and it certainly points to a lack +of enterprise on the part of the Germans, that no attempt was made to +bomb Kantara by the super-Zeppelin which in November 1917 left its +Balkan base and got as far south as the region of Khartoum on its way +to East Africa, before being recalled by wireless. This same Zeppelin +was seen about forty miles from Port Said and a visit by it was +anticipated. Aeroplanes with experienced pilots and armed with the +latest anti-Zeppelin devices were stationed at Port Said and Aboukir +ready to ascend on any moonlight night when the hum of aerial motor +machinery could be heard. The super-Zeppelin never came and Kantara's +progress was unchecked. + +The doubled railway track was laid as far as El Arish by the time +operations commenced, and this was a great aid to the railway staff. +Every engine and truck was used to its fullest capacity, and an +enormous amount of time was saved by the abolition of passing stations +for some ninety miles of the line's length. Railhead was at Deir el +Belah, about eight miles short of Gaza, and here troops and an army +of Egyptian labourers were working night and day, week in week out, +off-loading trucks with a speed that enabled the maximum amount of +service to be got out of rolling stock. There were large depôts down +the line too. At Rafa there was a big store of ammunition, and at +Shellal large quantities not only of supplies but of railway material +were piled up in readiness for pushing out railhead immediately the +advance began. A Decauville, or light, line ran out towards Gamli from +Shellal to make the supply system easier, and I remember seeing +some Indian pioneers lay about three miles of light railway with +astonishing rapidity the day after we took Beersheba. Every mile the +line advanced meant time saved in getting up supplies, and the radius +of action of lorries, horse, and camel transport was considerably +increased. + +To supply the Gaza front we called in aid a small system of light +railways. From the railhead at Deir el Belah to the mouth of the wadi +Ghuzze, and from that point along the line of the wadi to various +places behind the line held by us, we had a total length of 21 +kilometres of light railway. Before this railway got into full +operation horses had begun to lose condition, and during the summer +ammunition-column officers became very anxious about their horses. The +light railway was almost everywhere within range of the enemy's guns, +and in some places it was unavoidably exposed, particularly where it +ran on the banks of the wadi due south of Gaza. I recollect while the +track was being laid speaking to an Australian in charge of a gang of +natives preparing an earthwork, and asked why it was that a trench was +dug before earth was piled up. He pointed to the hill of Ali Muntar, +the most prominent feature in the enemy's system, and said that from +the Turks' observation post on that eminence every movement of the +labourers could be seen, and the men were often forced by gunfire to +the refuge of the trenches. + +When the railway was in running order trains had to run the gauntlet +of shell-fire on this section on bright moonlight nights, and no +camouflage could hide them. But they worked through in a marvellously +orderly and efficient fashion, and on one day when our guns were +hungry this little line carried 850 tons of ammunition to the +batteries. The horses became fit and strong and were ready for the war +to be carried into open country. In christening their tiny puffing +locomotives the Tommy drivers showed their strong appreciation of +their comrades on the sea, and the 'Iron Duke' and 'Lion' were always +tuned up to haul a maximum load. But the pride of the engine yard was +the 'Jerusalem Cuckoo'--some prophetic eye must have seen its future +employment on the light line between Jerusalem and Ramallah--though in +popularity it was run close by the 'Bulfin-ch,' a play upon the +name of the Commander of the XXIst Corps, for which it did sterling +service. + +The Navy formed part of the picture as well. Some small steamers of +1000 to 1500 tons burden came up from Port Said to a little cove north +of Belah to lighten the railway's task. They anchored about 150 yards +off shore and a crowd of boats passed backwards and forwards with +stores. These were carried up the beach to trucks on a line connected +with the supply depôts, and if you wished to see a busy scene where +slackers had no place the Belah beach gave it you. The Army tried all +sorts of boatmen and labourers. There were Kroo boys who found the +Mediterranean waters a comparative calm after the turbulent surf on +their own West African shore. The Maltese were not a success. The +Egyptians were, both here and almost everywhere else where their +services were called for. The best of all the fellows on this beach, +however, were the Raratongas from the Cook Islands, the islands from +which the Maoris originally came. They were first employed at El +Arish, where they made it a point of honour to get a job done well and +quickly, and, on a given day, it was found that thirty of them had +done as much labourers' work as 170 British soldiers. They were men of +fine physical strength and endurance, and some one who knew they had +the instincts of sportsmen, devised a simple plan to get the best out +of them. He presented a small flag to be won each day by the crew +accomplishing the best work with the boats. The result was amazing. +Every minute the boats were afloat the Raratongas strained their +muscles to win the day's competition, and when the day's task was +ended the victorious crew marched with their flag to their camp, +singing a weird song and as proud as champions. Some Raratongas worked +at ammunition dumps, and it was the boast of most of them that they +could carry four 60-pounder shells at a time. A few of these stalwart +men from Southern Seas received a promotion which made them the +most envied men of their race--they became loading numbers in heavy +howitzer batteries, fighting side by side with the Motherland gunners. + +However well the Navy and all associated with it worked, only a very +small proportion of the Army's supplies was water borne. The great +bulk had to be carried by rail. Enormously long trains, most of them +hauled by London and South-Western locomotives, bore munitions, food +for men and animals, water, equipment, medical comforts, guns, wagons, +caterpillar tractors, motor cars, and other paraphernalia required for +the largest army which had ever operated about the town of Gaza in the +thousands of years of its history. The main line had thrown out from +it great tentacles embracing in their iron clasp vital centres for the +supply of our front, and over these spur lines the trains ran with +the regularity of British main-line expresses. Besides 96,000 actual +fighting men, there was a vast army of men behind the line, and there +were over 100,000 animals to be fed. There were 46,000 horses, 40,000 +camels, 15,000 mules, and 3500 donkeys on Army work east of the +Canal, and not a man or beast went short of rations. We used to +think Kitchener's advance on Khartoum the perfection of military +organisation. Beside the Palestine expedition that Soudan campaign +fades into insignificance. In fighting men and labour corps, in +animals and the machinery of war, this Army was vastly larger and more +important, and the method by which it was brought to Palestine and was +supplied, and the low sick rate, constitute a tribute to the master +minds of the organisers. The Army had fresh meat, bread, and +vegetables in a country which under the lash of war yielded nothing, +but which under our rule in peace will furnish three times the produce +of the best of past years of plenty. + +A not inconsiderable portion of the front line was supplied with Nile +water taken from a canal nearly two hundred miles away. But the Army +once at the front depended less upon the waters of that Father of +Rivers than it had to do in the long trek across the desert. Then all +drinking water came from the Nile. It flowed down the sweet-water +canal (if one may be pardoned for calling 'sweet' a volume of water +so charged with vegetable matter and bacteria that it was harmful for +white men even to wash in it), was filtered and siphoned under the +Suez Canal at Kantara, where it was chlorinated, and passed through +a big pipe line and pumped through in stages into Palestine. The +engineers set about improving all local resources over a wide stretch +of country which used to be regarded as waterless in summer. Many +water levels were tapped, and there was a fair yield. The engineers' +greatest task in moving with the Army during the advance was always +the provision of a water supply, and in developing it they conferred +on the natives a boon which should make them be remembered with +gratitude for many generations. + +In the months preceding our attack Royal Engineers were also concerned +in improving the means of communication between railway depôts and the +front line. Before our arrival in this part of Southern Palestine, +wheeled traffic was almost unknown among the natives. There was not +one metalled roadway, and only comparatively light loads could be +transported in wheeled vehicles. The soil between Khan Yunus and Deir +el Belah, especially on the west of our railway line, was very sandy, +and after the winter rains had knitted it together it began to crumble +under the sun's heat, and it soon cut up badly when two or three +limbers had passed over it. The sandy earth was also a great nuisance +in the region between Khan Yunus and Shellal, but between Deir el +Belah and our Gaza front, excepting on the belt near the sea which was +composed of hillocks of sand precisely similar to the Sinai Desert, +the earth was firmer and yielded less to the grinding action of +wheels. For ordinary heavy military traffic the engineers made good +going by taking off about one foot of the top soil and banking it +on either side of the road. These tracks lasted very well, but they +required constant attention. Ambulances and light motor cars had +special arrangements made for them. Hundreds of miles of wire netting +were laid on sand in all directions, and these wire roads, which, +stretching across bright golden sand, appeared like black bands to +observers in aircraft, at first aroused much curiosity among enemy +airmen, and it was not until they had made out an ambulance convoy on +the move that they realised the purpose of the tracks. + +The rabbit wire roads were a remarkable success. Motor wheels held +firmly to the surface, and when the roads were in good condition cars +could travel at high speed. Three or four widths of wire netting were +laced together, laid on the sand and pegged down. After a time loose +pockets of sand could not resist the weight of wheels and there became +many holes beneath the wire, and the jolting was a sore trial alike to +springs and to a passenger's temper. But here again constant attention +kept the roads in order, and if one could not describe travelling over +them as easy and comfortable they were at least sure, and one could +be certain of getting to a destination at an average speed of twelve +miles an hour. In sand the Ford cars have performed wonderful feats, +but remarkable as was the record of that cheap American car with +us--it helped us very considerably to win the war--you could never +tell within hours how long a journey would take off the wire roads. +Once leave the netting and you might with good luck and a skilful +driver get across the sand without much trouble, but it often meant +much bottom-gear work and a hot engine, and not infrequently the +digging out of wheels. The drivers used to try to keep to the tracks +made by other cars. These were never straight, and the swing from side +to side reminded you of your first ride on a camel's back. The wire +roads were a great help to us, and the officer who first thought out +the idea received our daily blessings. I do not know who he was, but I +was told the wire road scheme was the outcome of a device suggested +by a medical officer at Romani in 1916, when infantry could not march +much more than six miles a day through the sand. This officer made a +sort of wire moccasin which he attached to the boot and doubled the +marching powers of the soldier. A sample of those moccasins should +find a place in our War Museum. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +PREPARING FOR 'ZERO DAY' + + +About the middle of August it was the intention that the attack on the +Turks' front line in Southern Palestine should be launched some time +in September. General Allenby knew his force would not be then at +full strength, but what was happening at other points in the Turkish +theatres of operations might make it necessary to strike an early blow +at Gaza to spoil enemy plans elsewhere. However, it was soon seen that +a September advance was not absolutely necessary. General Allenby +decided that instead of making an early attack it would be far more +profitable to wait until his Army had been improved by a longer period +of training, and until he had got his artillery, particularly some of +his heavy batteries, into a high state of efficiency. He would risk +having to take Jerusalem after bad weather had set in rather than be +unable, owing to the condition of his troops, to exploit an initial +success to the fullest extent. How wholly justified was this decision +the subsequent fighting proved, and it is doubtful if there was ever a +more complete illustration of the wisdom of those directing war policy +at home submitting to the cool, balanced calculations of the man on +the spot. The extra six weeks spent in training and preparation were +of incalculable service to the Allies. I have heard it said that +a September victory in Palestine would have had its reflex on the +Italian front, and that the Caporetto disaster would not have assumed +the gigantic proportions which necessitated the withdrawal to Italy +of British and French divisions from the Western Front and prevented +Cambrai being a big victory. That is very doubtful. On the contrary, a +September battle in Palestine before we were fully ready to follow +the Turks after breaking and rolling up their line, even if we had +succeeded in doing this completely, might have deprived us of the +moral effect of the capture of Jerusalem and of the wonderful +influence which that victory had on the whole civilised world by +reason of the sacrifices the Commander-in-Chief made to prevent any +fighting at all in the precincts of the Holy City. Of this I shall +speak later, giving the fullest details at my command, for there is no +page in the story of British arms which better upholds the honour and +chivalry of the soldier than the preservation of the Holy Place from +the clash of battle. + +That last six weeks of preparation were unforgettable. The London +newspapers I had the honour to represent as War Correspondent knew +operations were about to begin, but I did not cable or mail them one +word which would give an indication that big things were afoot. They +never asked for news, but were content to wait till they could tell +the public that victory was ours. In accordance with their practice +throughout the war the London Press set an example to the world by +refraining from publishing anything which would give information of +the slightest value to the enemy. It was a privilege to see that +victory in the making. Some divisions which had allotted to them the +hardest part of the attack on Beersheba were drawn out of the line, +and forming up in big camps between Belah and Shellal set about a +course of training such as athletes undergo. They had long marches +in the sand carrying packs and equipment. They were put on a short +allowance of water, except for washing purposes. They dug, they had +bombing practice, and with all this extra exercise while the days were +still very hot they needed no encouragement to continue their games. +Football was their favourite sport, and the British Tommy is such a +remarkable fellow that it was usual to see him trudge home to camp +looking 'fed up' with exercise, and then, after throwing off his pack +and tunic, run out to kick a ball. The Italian and French detachments +used to look at him in astonishment, and doubtless they thought his +enthusiasm for sport was a sore trial. He got thoroughly fit for +marches over sand, over stony ground, over shifting shingle. During +the period of concentration he had to cross a district desperately bad +for marching, and it is more than probable the enemy never believed +him capable of such endurance. He was often tired, no doubt, but he +always got to his destination, was rarely footsore, and laughed at the +worst parts of his journey. The sand was choking, the flies were an +irritating pest, equipment became painfully heavy; but a big, brave +heart carried Tommy through his training to a state of perfect +condition for the heavy test. + +To enable about two-thirds of the force to carry on a moving battle +while the remainder kept half the enemy pinned down to his trench +system on his right-centre and right, it was necessary to reinforce +strongly the transport service for our mobile columns. The XXIst Corps +gave up most of its lorries, tractors, and camels to XXth Corps. These +had to be moved across from the Gaza sector to our right as secretly +as possible, and they were not brought up to load at the supply depôts +at Shellal and about Karm until the moment they were required to carry +supplies for the corps moving to attack. + +It is not easy to convey to any one who has not seen an army on the +move what a vast amount of transport is required to provision two +corps. In France, where roads are numerous and in comparatively good +condition, the supply problem could be worked out to a nicety, but in +a roadless country where there was not a sound half-mile of track, and +where water had to be developed and every gallon was precious, the +question of supply needed most anxious consideration, and a big margin +had to be allowed for contingencies. It will give some idea of the +requirements when I state that for the supply of water alone the XXth +Corps had allotted to it 6000 camels and 73 lorries. To feed these +water camels alone needed a big convoy. + +We got an impression of the might and majesty of an army in the field +as we saw it preparing to take the offensive. The camp of General +Headquarters where I was located was situated north of Rafa. The +railway ran on two sides of the camping ground, one line going to +Belah and the other stretching out to Shellal, where everything was in +readiness to extend the iron road to the north-east of Karm, on the +plain which, because the Turks enjoyed complete observation over it, +had hitherto been No Man's Land. We saw and heard the traffic on this +section of the line. It was enormous. Heavily laden trains ran night +and day with a mass of stores and supplies, with motor lorries, cars, +and tractors; and the ever-increasing volume of traffic told those of +us who knew nothing of the date of 'Zero day' that it was not far off. +The heaviest trains seemed to run at night, and the returning empty +trains were hurried forward at a speed suggesting the urgency of +clearing the line for a fully loaded train awaiting at Rafa the signal +to proceed with its valuable load to railhead. Perfect control not +only on the railway system but in the forward supply yards prevented +congestion, and when a train arrived at its destination and was split +up into several parts, well-drilled gangs of troops and Egyptian +labourers were allotted to each truck, and whether a lorry or a +tractor had to be unshipped and moved down a ramp, or a truck had to +be relieved of its ten tons of tibbin, boxes of biscuit and bully, or +of engineers' stores, the goods were cleared away from the vicinity of +the line with a celerity which a goods-yard foreman at home would have +applauded as the smartest work he had ever seen. There was no room for +slackers in the Army, and the value of each truck was so high that +it could not be left standing idle for an hour. The organisation was +equally good at Kantara, where the loading and making up of trains had +to be arranged precisely as the needs at the front demanded. Those +remarkable haulers, the caterpillar tractors, cut many a passage +through the sand, tugging heavy guns and ammunition, stores for the +air and signal services, machinery for engineers and mobile workshops, +and sometimes towing a weighty load of petrol to satisfy their +voracious appetites for that fuel. The tractors did well. Sand was no +trouble to them, and when mud marooned lorries during the advance in +November the rattling, rumbling old tractor made fair weather of it. +The mechanical transport trains will not forget the service of the +tractors on the morning after Beersheba was taken. From railhead to +the spot where Father Abraham and his people fed their flocks the +country was bare and the earth's crust had yielded all its strength +under the influence of the summer sun. Loaded lorries under their own +power could not move more than a few yards before they were several +inches deep in the sandy soil, but a Motor Transport officer devised +a plan for beating down a track which all lorries could use. He got a +tractor to haul six unladen lorries, and with all the vehicles using +their own power the tractor managed to pull them through to Beersheba, +leaving behind some wheel tracks with a hard foundation. A hundred +lorries followed, the drivers steering them in the ruts, and they made +such good progress that by the afternoon they had deposited between +200 and 300 tons of supplies in Beersheba. The path the tractor cut +did not last very long, but it was sound enough for the immediate and +pressing requirements of the Army. + +Within a month of his arrival in Egypt, General Allenby had visited +the whole of his front line and had decided the form his offensive +should take. As soon as his force had been made up to seven infantry +divisions and the Desert Mounted Corps, and they had been brought up +to strength and trained, he would attack, making his main offensive +against the enemy's left flank while conducting operations vigorously +and on an extensive scale against the Turkish right-centre and right. +The principal operation against the left was to be conducted by +General Chetwode's XXth Corps, consisting of four infantry divisions +and the Imperial Camel Brigade, and by General Chauvel's Desert +Mounted Corps. General Bulfin's XXIst Corps was to operate against +Gaza and the Turkish right-centre south-east of that ancient town. +If the situation became such as to make it necessary to take the +offensive before the force had been brought up to strength, the XXIst +Corps would have had to undertake its task with only two divisions, +but in those circumstances its operations were to be limited to +demonstrations and raids. By throwing forward his right, the XXIst +Corps Commander was to pin the enemy down in the Atawineh district, +and on the left he would move against the south-western defences of +Gaza so as to lead the Turks to suppose an attack was to come in this +sector. That movement being made, the XXth Corps and Desert Mounted +Corps were to advance against Beersheba, and, having taken it, to +secure the valuable water supply which was known to have existed there +since Abraham dug the well of the oath which gave its name to the +town. Because of water difficulties it was considered vital that +Beersheba should be captured in one day, a formidable undertaking +owing to the situation of the town, the high entrenched hills around +it and the long marches for cavalry and infantry before the attack; +and in drawing up the scheme based on the Commander-in-Chief's plan, +the commanders of XXth Corps and Desert Mounted Corps had always to +work on the assumption that Beersheba would be in their hands by +nightfall of the first day of the attack. General Barrow's Yeomanry +Mounted Division was to remain at Shellal in the gap between XXth +Corps and XXIst Corps in case the enemy should attempt to attack the +XXth Corps' left flank. Having dealt with the enemy in Beersheba, +General Chetwode with mounted troops protecting his right was to move +north and north-west against the enemy's left flank, to drive him from +his strong positions at Sheria and Hareira, enveloping his left flank +and striking it obliquely. + +While the XXth Corps was moving against this section of the enemy +line, Desert Mounted Corps was to bring up the mounted division left +at Shellal, and passing behind the XXth Corps to march on Nejile, +where there was an excellent water supply, and the wadi Hesi, so as to +threaten the left rear and the line of retreat of the Turkish Army. + +It was always doubtful whether XXth Corps would be able to close up +the gap between it and the XXIst Corps owing to the length of its +marches and the distance it was from railhead, and the scheme +therefore provided that the XXIst Corps should confirm successes +gained on our right by forcing its way through the tremendously strong +Gaza position to the line of the wadi Hesi and joining up with Desert +Mounted Corps. A considerable number of XXth Corps troops would then +return to the neighbourhood of railhead and release the greater +part of its transport for the infantry of XXIst Corps moving up the +Maritime Plain. + +This, in summary form, was the scheme General Allenby planned before +the middle of August, and though the details were not, and could not +be, worked out until a couple of months had passed, it is noteworthy +as showing that, notwithstanding the moves an enterprising enemy had +at his command in a country where positions were entirely favourable +to him, where he had water near at hand, where the transport of +supplies was never so serious a problem for him as for us when we got +on the move, and where he could make us fight almost every step of +the way, the Commander-in-Chief foresaw and provided for every +eventuality, and his scheme worked out absolutely and entirely +'according to plan,' to use the favourite phrase of the German High +Command. + +When the Corps Commanders began working out the details two of the +greatest problems were transport and water. Only patience and skilful +development of known sources of supply would surmount the water +difficulty, and we had to wait till the period of concentration before +commencing its solution. But to lighten the transport load which must +have weighed heavily on Corps Staffs, the Commander-in-Chief agreed to +allow the extension of the railway east of Shellal to be begun sooner +than he had provided for. It was imperative that railway construction +should not give the enemy an indication of our intentions. If he had +realised the nature and scope of our preparations he would have done +something to counteract them and to deny us that element of surprise +which exerted so great an influence on the course of the battle. +General Allenby, however, was willing to take some risks to simplify +supply difficulties, and he ordered that the extension to a railway +station north-east of Karm should be completed by the evening of the +third day before the attack, that a Decauville line from Gamli, not to +be begun before the sixth day prior to the attack, was to be completed +to Karm by the day preceding the opening of the fighting at Beersheba, +and that a new Decauville line should be started at Karm when fighting +had begun, and should be carried nearly three miles in the Beersheba +direction early on the following morning. These new lines, though of +short length, were an inestimable boon to the conductors of supply +trains. The new railheads both of the standard gauge and light lines +were well placed, and they not only saved time and shortened the +journeys of camel convoys and lorry transport columns, but prevented +congestion at depôts in one central spot. + +A big effort was made to escape detection by enemy aircraft. For the +first time since the Egyptian Expeditionary Force took the field we +had obtained mastery in the air. On the 8th and 15th October two enemy +planes were shot down behind our lines, and the keenness of our airmen +for combat made the German aviators extremely careful. They had been +bold and resolute, taking their observations several thousand feet +higher than our pilots, it is true, but neither anti-aircraft fire nor +the presence of our machines in the air had up to this time deterred +them. However, just at the moment when airwork was of extreme +importance to the Turks, the German flying men, recognising that our +pilots had new battle planes and were full of resource and daring, +showed an unusual lack of enterprise, and we profited from their +inactivity. The concentration of the force in the positions from which +it was to attack Beersheba was to have taken seven days, but owing +to the difficulties attending the development of water at Asluj and +Khalasa the time was extended to ten days. During this period the +uppermost thought of commanders was to conceal their movements. All +marching was done at night and no move of any kind was permitted till +nearly six o'clock in the evening, when enemy aircraft were usually at +rest and the light was sufficiently dull to prevent the Fritzes seeing +much if they had made an exceptionally late excursion. All the tents +and temporary shelters which had been occupied for weeks were left +standing. Cookhouses, horse lines, canteens, and so on were untouched, +and one had an eerie feeling in passing at night through these +untenanted camping grounds, deserted and lifeless, and a prey to the +jackal and pariah dog. A vast area of many square miles which had held +tens of thousands of troops and animals almost became a wilderness +again, and the few natives hereabouts who had made large profits +from the sale of eggs, fruit, and vegetables looked disconsolate and +bewildered at the change, hoping and believing that the empty tents +merely denoted a temporary absence. But the great majority of the Army +never came that way again. + +When the infantry started on the march, divisions and brigades had +allotted to them particular areas for their march routes, and all over +that country, where scarcely a tree or native hut existed to make +a landmark, there were dotted small arrow-pointed boards with the +direction 'A road,' 'B road,' 'Z road,' as the case might be. Marching +in the dark hours when a refreshing air succeeded the heat of the day, +the troops halted as soon as a purple flush threw into high relief the +southern end of the Judean hills, and they hid themselves in the wadis +and broken ground; and on one unit vacating a bivouac area it was +occupied by another, thus making the areas in which the troops rested +as few as possible. + +The concentration was worked to a time-table. Not only were brigades +allotted certain marches each night, but they were given specified +times to cover certain distances, and these were arranged according to +the condition of the ground. In parts it was very broken and covered +with loose stones, and the pace of infantry by night was very slightly +more than one mile per hour. The routes for guns were not chosen +until the whole country had been reconnoitred, and it was a highly +creditable performance for artillery to get their field guns and +heavy howitzer batteries through to the time-table. But the clockwork +precision of the movements reflected even more highly on the staff +working out the details than on the infantry and artillery, and it may +be said with perfect truth that the staff made no miscalculation +or mistake. The XXth Corps staff maps and plans, and the details +accompanying them, were masterpieces of clearness and completeness. +The men who fought out the plans to a triumphant finish were glad to +recognise this perfection of staff work.[1] + +[Footnote 1: See Appendix VI.] + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE BEERSHEBA VICTORY + + +The XXth Corps began its movement on the night of 20-21st October. +The whole Corps was not on the march, but a sufficient force was sent +forward to form supply dumps and to store water at Esani for troops +covering Desert Mounted Corps engineers engaged on the development of +water at Khalasa and Asluj. Some of the Australian and New Zealand +troops engaged on this work had previously been at these places. + +In the early summer it was thought desirable to destroy the Turkish +railway which ran from Beersheba to Asluj and on to Kossaima, in order +to prevent an enemy raid on our communications between El Arish and +Rafa, and the mounted troops with the Imperial Camel Corps had had +a most successful day in destroying many miles of line and several +bridges. The Turks were badly in need of rails for the line they were +then constructing down to Deir Sineid, and they had lifted some of the +rails between Asluj and Kossaima, but during our raid we broke every +rail over some fifteen miles of track. Khalasa and Asluj being water +centres became the points of concentration for two mounted divisions, +and the splendid Colonials in the engineer sections worked at the +wells as if the success of the whole enterprise depended upon their +efforts, as, indeed, to a very large extent it did. Theirs was not an +eight hours day. They worked under many difficulties, often thigh deep +in water and mud, cleaning out and deepening wells and installing +power pumps, putting up large canvas tanks for storage, and +making water troughs. The results exceeded anticipations, and the +Commander-in-Chief, on a day when the calls on his time were many and +urgent, made a long journey to thank the officers and men for the work +they had done and to express his high appreciation of their skill and +energy. + +The principal work carried out by the XXth Corps during the period of +concentration consisted in laying the standard gauge line to Imara +and opening the station at that place on October 28; prolonging the +railway line to a point three-quarters of a mile north-north-east +of Karm, where the station was opened on November 3; completing by +October 30 the light railway from the east bank of the wadi Ghuzze at +Gamli _via_ Karm to Khasif; and developing water at Esani, Malaga, and +Abu Ghalyun for the use first by cavalry detachments and then by the +60th Division. Cisterns in the Khasif and Imsiri area were stocked +with 60,000 gallons of water to be used by the 53rd and 74th +Divisions, and this supply was to be supplemented by camel convoys. +Apparently the enemy knew very little about the concentration until +about October 26, and even then he could have had only slight +knowledge of the extent of our movements, and probably knew nothing at +all of where the first blow was to fall. In the early hours of October +27 he did make an attempt to interfere with our concentration, and +there was a spirited little action on our outpost line which had been +pushed out beyond the plain to a line of low hills near the wadi +Hanafish. The Turks in overwhelming force met a most stubborn defence +by the Middlesex Yeomanry, and if the enemy took these London yeomen +as an average sample of General Allenby's troops, this engagement must +have given them a foretaste of what was in store for them. + +The Middlesex Yeomanry (the 1st County of London Yeomanry, to give +the regiment the name by which it is officially known, though the men +almost invariably use the much older Territorial title) and the 21st +Machine Gun Squadron, held the long ridge from El Buggar to hill 630. +There was a squadron dismounted on hill 630, three troops on hill 720, +the next and highest point on the ridge, and a post at El Buggar. At +four o'clock in the morning the latter post was fired on by a Turkish +cavalry patrol, and an hour later it was evident that the enemy +intended to try to drive us off the ridge, his occupation of which +would have given him the power to harass railway construction parties +by shell-fire, even if it did not entirely stop the work. Some 3000 +Turkish infantry, 1200 cavalry, and twelve guns had advanced from the +Kauwukah system of defences to attack our outpost line on the ridge. +They heavily engaged hill 630, working round both flanks, and brought +heavy machine-gun and artillery fire to bear on the squadron holding +it. The Royal Flying Corps estimated that a force of 2000 men attacked +the garrison, which was completely cut off. + +A squadron of the City of London Yeomanry sent to reinforce was held +up by a machine-gun barrage and had to withdraw. The garrison held +out magnificently all day in a support trench close behind the crest +against odds of twenty to one, and repeatedly beat off rushes, +although the bodies of dead Turks showed that they got as close as +forty yards from the defenders. Two officers were wounded, and four +other ranks killed and twelve wounded. + +The attack on hill 720 was made by 1200 cavalry supported by a heavy +volume of shell and machine-gun fire. During the early morning two +desperate charges were beaten off, but in a third charge the enemy +gained possession of the hill after the detachment had held out for +six hours. All our officers were killed or wounded and all the men +were casualties except three. At six o'clock in the evening the Turks +were holding this position in strength against the 3rd Australian +Light Horse, but two infantry brigades of the 53rd Division were +moving towards the ridge, and during the evening the enemy retired and +we held the ridge from this time on quite securely. The strong defence +of the Middlesex Yeomanry undoubtedly prevented the Turks establishing +themselves on the ridge, and saved the infantry from having to make a +night attack which might have been costly. Thereafter the enemy made +no attempt to interfere with the concentration. The yeomanry losses in +this encounter were 1 officer and 23 other ranks killed, 5 officers +and 48 other ranks wounded, 2 officers and 8 other ranks missing. + +On the night of October 30-31 a brilliant moon lit up the whole +country. The day had been very hot, and at sunset an entire absence of +wind promised that the night march of nearly 40,000 troops of all +arms would be attended by all the discomforts of dust and heat. The +thermometer fell, but there was not a breath of wind to shift the pall +of dust which hung above the long columns of horse, foot, and guns. +Where the tracks were sandy some brigades often appeared to be +advancing through one of London's own particular fogs. Men's faces +became caked with yellow dust, their nostrils were hot and burning, +and parched throats could not be relieved because of the necessity +of conserving the water allowance. A hot day was in prospect on the +morrow, and the fear of having to fight on an empty water-bottle +prevented many a gallant fellow broaching his supply before daybreak. +Most of the men had had a long acquaintance with heat in the Middle +East, and the high temperature would have caused them scarcely any +trouble if there had been wind to carry away the dust clouds. The +cavalry marched over harder and more stony ground than the infantry. +They advanced from Khalasa and Asluj a long way south of Beersheba to +the east of the town. It was a big night march of some thirty miles, +but it was well within the powers of the veterans of the Anzac Mounted +Division and Australian Mounted Division, whose men and horses were in +admirable condition. + +The infantry were ordered to be on their line of deployment by four +o'clock on the morning of October 31, and in every case they were +before time. There had been many reconnaissances by officers who were +to act as guides to columns, and they were quite familiar with the +ground; and the guns and ammunition columns were taken by routes which +had been carefully selected and marked. In places the banks of +wadis had been cut into and ramps made to enable the rough stony +watercourses to be practicable for wheels, and, broken as the country +was, and though all previous preparations had to be made without +arousing the suspicions of Turks and wandering Bedouins, there was no +incident to check the progress of infantry or guns. Occasional rifle +fire and some shelling occurred during the early hours, but at a +little after three A.M. the XXth Corps advanced headquarters had the +news that all columns had reached their allotted positions. + +The XXth Corps plan was to attack the enemy's works between the +Khalasa road and the wadi Saba with the 60th and 74th Divisions, while +the defences north of the wadi Saba were to be masked by the Imperial +Camel Corps Brigade and two battalions of the 53rd Division, the +remainder of the latter division protecting the left flank of the +Corps from any attack by enemy troops who might move south from the +Sheria area. The first objective was a hill marked on the map as +'1070,' about 6000 yards south-west of Beersheba. It was a prominent +feature, 500 yards or perhaps a little more from a portion of the +enemy's main line, and the Turks held it strongly and were supported +by a section of German machine-gunners. We had to win this height in +order to get good observation of the enemy's main line of works, and +to allow of the advance of field artillery within wire-cutting range +of an elaborate system of works protecting Beersheba from an advance +from the west. At six the guns began to bombard 1070, and the volume +of fire concentrated on that spot must have given the Turks a big +surprise. On a front of 4500 yards we had in action seventy-six +18-pounders, twenty 4.5-inch howitzers, and four 3.7-inch howitzers, +while eight 60-pounders, eight 6-inch howitzers, and four 4.5-inch +howitzers were employed in counter battery work. The absence of wind +placed us at a heavy disadvantage. The high explosive shells bursting +about the crest of 1070 raised enormous clouds of dust which obscured +everything, and after a short while even the flames of exploding +shells were entirely hidden from view. The gunners had to stop firing +for three-quarters of an hour to allow the dust to settle. They then +reopened, and by half-past eight, the wire-cutting being reported +completed, an intense bombardment was ordered, under cover of which, +and with the assistance of machine-gun fire from aeroplanes, the 181st +Infantry Brigade of the 60th Division went forward to the assault. +They captured the hill in ten minutes, only sustaining about one +hundred casualties, and taking nearly as many prisoners. A German +machine-gunner who fell into our hands bemoaned the fact that he had +not a weapon left--every one of the machine guns had been knocked out +by the artillery, and a number were buried by our fire. + +The first phase of the operations having thus ended successfully quite +early in the day, the second stage was entered upon. Field guns were +rushed forward at the gallop over ground broken by shallow wadis and +up and down a very uneven stony surface. The gun teams were generally +exposed during the advance and were treated to heavy shrapnel fire, +but they swung into action at prearranged points and set about +wire-cutting with excellent effect. The first part of the second phase +consisted in reducing the enemy's main line from the Khalasa road to +the wadi Saba, though the artillery bombarded the whole line. The 60th +Division on the right had two brigades attacking and one in divisional +reserve, and the 74th Division attacking on the left of the 60th +likewise had a brigade in reserve. The 74th, while waiting to advance, +came under considerable shell-fire from batteries on the north of the +wadi, and it was some time before their fire could be silenced. As +a rule the enemy works were cut into rocky, rising ground and the +trenches were well enclosed in wire fixed to iron stanchions. +They were strongly made and there were possibilities of prolonged +opposition, but by the time the big assault was launched the Turks +knew they were being attacked on both sides of Beersheba and they must +have become anxious about a line of retreat. General Shea reported +that the wire in front of him was cut before noon, but General +Girdwood was not certain that the wire was sufficiently broken on the +74th Division's front, though he intimated to the Corps Commander +that he was ready to attack at the same time as the 60th. It +still continued a windless day, and the dust clouds prevented any +observation of the wire entanglements. General Girdwood turned this +disadvantage to account, and ordering his artillery to raise their +fire slightly so that it should fall just in front of and about the +trenches, put up what was in effect a dust barrage, and under cover +of it selected detachments of his infantry advanced almost into the +bursting shell to cut passages through the wire with wire-cutters. The +dismounted yeomanry of the 231st and 230th Infantry Brigades rushed +through, and by half-past one the 74th Division had secured their +objectives. The 179th and 181st Brigades of the 60th Division had won +their trenches almost an hour earlier, and about 5000 yards of works +were in our hands south of the wadi Saba. The enemy had 3000 yards of +trenches north of the wadi, and though these were threatened from the +south and west, it was not until five o'clock that the 230th Brigade +occupied them, the Turks clearing out during the bombardment. During +the day, on the left of the 74th Division, the Imperial Camel Corps +Brigade and two battalions of the 53rd Division held the ground to +the north of the wadi Saba to a point where the remainder of the 53rd +Division watched for the approach of any enemy force from the +north, while the 10th Division about Shellal protected the line of +communications east of the wadi Ghuzze, and the Yeomanry Mounted +Division was on the west side of the wadi Ghuzze in G.H.Q. reserve. +The XXth Corps' losses were 7 officers killed and 42 wounded, +129 other ranks killed, 988 wounded and 5 missing, a light total +considering the nature of the works carried during the day. It was +obvious that the enemy was taken completely by surprise by the +direction of the attack, and the rapidity with which we carried his +strongest points was overwhelming. The Turk did not attempt anything +in the nature of a counter-attack by the Beersheba garrison, nor did +he make any move from Hareira against the 53rd Division. Had he done +so the 10th Division and the Yeomanry Mounted Division would have +seized the opportunity of falling on him from Shellal, and the Turk +chose the safer course of allowing the Beersheba garrison to stand +unaided in its own defences. The XXth Corps' captures included 25 +officers, 394 other ranks, 6 guns, and numerous machine guns. + +The Desert Mounted Corps met with stubborn opposition in their +operations south-east and east of Beersheba, but they were carried +through no less successfully than those of the XXth Corps. The mounted +men had had a busy time. General Ryrie's 2nd Australian Light Horse +Brigade and the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade had moved southwards +on October 2, and on them and on the 1st and 2nd Field Squadrons +Australian Engineers the bulk of the work fell of developing water and +making and marking tracks which, in the sandy soil, became badly cut +up. On the evening of October 30 the Anzac Mounted Division was at +Asluj, the Australian Mounted Division at Khalasa, the 7th Mounted +Brigade at Esani, Imperial Camel Brigade at Hiseia, and the Yeomanry +Mounted Division in reserve at Shellal. The Anzac Division commanded +by General Chaytor left Asluj during the night, and in a march of +twenty-four miles round the south of Beersheba met with only slight +opposition on the way to Bir el Hamam and Bir Salim abu Irgeig, +between five and seven miles east of the town. The 2nd Australian +Light Horse Brigade during the morning advanced north to take the high +hill Tel el Sakaty, a little east of the Beersheba-Hebron road, which +was captured at one o'clock, and the brigade then swept across +the metalled road which was in quite fair condition, and which +subsequently was of great service to us during the advance of one +infantry division on Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The 1st Australian Light +Horse Brigade commanded by General Cox, and the New Zealand Mounted +Rifles Brigade under General Meldrum, moved against Tel el Saba, a +1000-feet hill which rises very precipitously on the northern bank +of the wadi Saba, 4000 yards due east of Beersheba. Tel el Saba is +believed to be the original site of Beersheba. It had been made into a +strong redoubt and was well held by a substantial garrison adequately +dug in and supported by nests of machine-gunners. The right bank of +the wadi Khalil was also strongly held, and between the Hebron road +and Tel el Saba some German machine-gunners in three houses offered +determined opposition. The New Zealanders and a number of General +Cox's men crept up the wadi Saba, taking full advantage of the cover +offered by the high banks, and formed up under the hill of Saba. They +then dashed up the steep sides while the horse artillery lashed the +crest with their fire, and driving the Turks from their trenches had +captured the hill by three o'clock. At about the same time the 1st +Light Horse Brigade suitably dealt with the machine-gunners in the +houses. Much ground east of Beersheba had thus been made good, and +the Hebron road was denied to the garrison of the town as a line of +retreat. The Anzac Mounted Division was then reinforced by General +Wilson's 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade, and by six P.M. the +Division held a long crescent of hills from Point 970, a mile north +of Beersheba, through Tel el Sakaty, round south-eastwards to Bir el +Hamam. + +General Hodgson's Australian Mounted Division had a night march of +thirty-four miles from Khalasa to Iswawin, south-east of Beersheba, +and after the 3rd Light Horse Brigade had been detached to assist the +Anzac Division, orders were given to General Grant's 4th Australian +Light Horse Brigade to attack and take the town of Beersheba from the +east. The orders were received at four o'clock, and until we had +got an absolute hold on Tel el Saba an attack on the town from this +direction would have been suicidal, as an attacking force would have +been between two fires. The shelling of the cavalry during the day had +been rather hot, and enemy airmen had occasionally bombed them. It was +getting late, and as it was of the greatest importance that the town's +available water should be secured that night, General Grant was +directed to attack with the utmost vigour. His brigade worthily +carried out its orders. The ground was very uneven and was covered +with a mass of large stones and shingle. The trenches were well manned +and strongly held, but General Grant ordered them to be taken at the +gallop. The Australians carried them with an irresistible charge; +dismounted, cleared the first line of all the enemy in it, ran on and +captured the second and third system of trenches, and then, their +horses having been brought up, galloped into the town to prevent any +destruction of the wells. The first-line eastern trenches of Beersheba +were eight feet deep and four feet wide, and as there were many of the +enemy in them they were a serious obstacle to be taken in one rush. +This charge was a sterling feat, and unless the town had been occupied +that night most, if not all, of the cavalry would have had to withdraw +many miles to water, and subsequent operations might have been +imperilled. Until we had got Beersheba there appeared small prospect +of watering more than two brigades in this area. + +Luckily there had been two thunderstorms a few days before the attack, +and we found a few pools of sweet water which enabled the whole of the +Corps' horses to be watered during the night. These pools soon dried +up and the water problem again became serious. The Commander-in-Chief +rewarded General Grant with the D.S.O. as an appreciation of his work, +and the brigade was gratified at a well-earned honour. The 7th Mounted +Brigade was held up for some time in the afternoon by a flanking fire +from Ras Ghannam, south of Beersheba, but this was silenced in time +to enable the brigade to assist in the occupation of Beersheba at +nightfall. The 4th Light Horse Brigade's captures in the charge were +58 officers, 1090 other ranks, and 10 field guns, and the total 'bag' +of the Desert Mounted Corps was 70 officers and 1458 other ranks. + +The loss of Beersheba was a heavy blow to the Turk. Yet he did not +even then realise to the full the significance of our capture of the +town. He certainly failed to appreciate that we were to use it as +a jumping-off place to attack his main line from Gaza to Sheria by +rolling it up from left to right. In this plan there is no doubt that +General Allenby entirely deceived his enemy, for in the next few +days there was the best of evidence to show that General Kress von +Kressenstein believed we were going to advance from Beersheba to +Jerusalem up the Hebron road, and he made his dispositions to oppose +us here. It was not merely the moral effect of the loss of Beersheba +that disturbed the Turks; they had been driven out of a not +unimportant stronghold. + +All through the many centuries since Abraham and his people led a +pastoral life near the wells, Beersheba had been a meanly appointed +place. There were no signs as far as I could see of any elaborate +ruins to indicate anything larger than a native settlement. Elsewhere +we saw crumbling walls of ancient castles and fortresses to tell of +conquerors and glories long since faded away, of relics of an age when +great captains led martial men into new worlds to conquer, of the +time when the Crusading spirit was abroad and the flower of Western +chivalry came East to hold the land for Christians. Here the native +quarter suggested that trade in Beersheba was purely local and not +ambitious, that it provided nothing for the world's commerce save a +few skins and hides, and that the inhabitants were content to live the +rude, simple lives of their forefathers. But the enterprising German +arrived, and you could tell by his work how he intended to compel a +change in the unchanging character of the people. He built a handsome +Mosque--but before he was driven out he wired and mined it for +destruction. He built a seat of government, a hospital, and a +barracks, all of them pretentious buildings for such a town, well +designed, constructed of stone with red-tiled roofs, and the gardens +were nicely laid out. There were a railway station and storehouses on +a scale which would not yield a return on capital expenditure for many +years, and the water tower and engine sheds were built to last longer +than merely military necessities demanded. They were fashioned by +European craftsmen, and the solidity of the structures offered strange +contrast to the rough-and-ready native houses. The primary object of +the Hun scheme was, doubtless, to make Beersheba a suitable base for +an attack on the Suez Canal, and the manner of improving the Hebron +road, of setting road engineers to construct zigzags up hills so that +lorries could move over the road, was part of the plan of men whose +vision was centred on cutting the Suez Canal artery of the British +Empire's body. The best laid schemes.... + +When I entered Beersheba our troops held a line of outposts +sufficiently far north of the town to prevent the Turks shelling it, +and the place was secure except from aircraft bombs, of which a number +fell into the town without damaging anything of much consequence. Some +of the troops fell victims to booby traps. Apparently harmless whisky +bottles exploded when attempts were made to draw the corks, and +several small mines went up. Besides the mines in the Mosque there +was a good deal of wiring about the railway station, and some rolling +stock was made ready for destruction the instant a door was opened. +The ruse was expected; some Australian engineers drew the charges, +and the coaches were afterwards of considerable service to the supply +branch. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +GAZA DEFENCES + + +Meanwhile there were important happenings at the other end of the +line. Gaza was about to submit to the biggest of all her ordeals. She +had been a bone of contention for thousands of years. The Pharaohs +coveted her and more than 3500 years ago made bloody strife within the +environs of the town. Alexander the Great besieged her, and Persians +and Arabians opposed that mighty general. The Ptolemies and the +Antiochi for centuries fought for Gaza, whose inhabitants had a +greater taste for the mart than for the sword, and when the Maccabees +were carrying a victorious war through Philistia, the people of Gaza +bought off Jonathan, but the Jews occupied the city itself about a +century before the Christian era. Later on the place was captured +after a year's siege and destroyed, and for long it remained a mass +of mouldering ruins. Pompey revived it, making it a free city, and +Gabinius extended it close to the harbour, whilst under Caesar and +Herod its prosperity and fame increased. In succeeding centuries +Gaza's commerce flourished under the Greeks, who founded schools +famous for rhetoric and philosophy, till the Mahomedan wave swept +over the land in the first half of the seventh century, when the town +became a shadow of its former self, though it continued to exist as a +centre for trade. The Crusaders made their influence felt, and many +are the traces of their period in this ancient city, but Askalon +always had more Crusader support. Napoleon's attack on Gaza found +Abdallah's army in a very different state of preparedness from von +Kress's Turkish army. Nearly all Abdallah's artillery was left behind +in a gun park at Jaffa owing to lack of transport, and though he had +a numerically superior force he did not like Napoleon's dispositions, +and retreated when Kleber moved up the plain to pass between Gaza and +the sea, and the cavalry advanced east of the Mound of Hebron, or Ali +Muntar, as we know the hill up which Samson is reputed to have carried +the gates and bar of Gaza. For nearly a century and a quarter since +Napoleon passed forwards and backwards through the town, Gaza pursued +the arts of peace in the lethargic spirit which suits the native +temperament, but in eight months of 1917 it was the cockpit of strife +in the Middle East, and there was often crammed into one day as +much fighting energy as was shown in all the battles of the past +thirty-five centuries, Napoleon's campaign included. + +Fortunately after the battles of March and April nearly all the +civilian population left the town for quieter quarters. Some of them +on returning must have had difficulty in identifying their homes. In +the centre of the town, where bazaars radiated from the quarter of +which the Great Mosque was the hub, the houses were a mass of stones +and rubble, and the narrow streets and tortuous byways were filled +with fallen walls and roofs. The Great Mosque had entirely lost its +beauty. We had shelled it because its minaret, one of those delicately +fashioned spires which, seen from a distance, lead a traveller to +imagine a native town in the East to be arranged on an artistic and +orderly plan, was used as a Turkish observation post, and the Mosque +itself as an ammunition store. I am told our guns were never laid on +to this objective until there was an accident within it which exploded +the ammunition. Be that as it may, there was ample justification for +shelling the Mosque. I went in to examine the structure a few hours +after the Turks had been compelled to evacuate the town, and whilst +they were then shelling it with unpleasant severity. Amid the wrecked +marble columns, the broken pulpit, the torn and twisted lamps and +crumbling walls were hundreds of thousands of rounds of small-arms +ammunition, most of it destroyed by explosion. A great shell had cut +the minaret in half and had left exposed telephone wires leading +direct to army headquarters and to the Turkish gunners' fire control +station. Most of the Mosque furniture and all the carpets had +been removed, but a few torn copies of the Koran, some of them in +manuscript with marginal notes, lay mixed up with German newspapers +and some typical Turkish war propaganda literature. That Mosque, which +Saladin seized from the Crusaders and turned from a Christian into +a Mahomedan place of worship, was unquestionably used for military +purposes, and the Turks cared as little for its religious character or +its venerable age as they did for the mosque on Nebi Samwil, where the +remains of the Prophet Samuel are supposed to rest. Their stories of +the trouble taken to avoid military contact with holy places and sites +were all bunkum and eyewash. They would have fought from the walls of +the Holy City and placed machine-gun nests in the Church of the Holy +Sepulchre and the Mosque of Omar if they had thought it would spare +them the loss of Jerusalem. + +Gaza had, as I have said, been turned into a fortress with a mass of +field works, in places of considerable natural strength. If our force +had been on the defensive at Gaza the Germans would not have attacked +without an army of at least three times our strength. It is doubtful +if the Turks put as much material in use on Gallipoli as they did +here. Their trenches were deeply cut and were protected by an immense +amount of wire. In the sand-dune area they used a vast quantity of +sandbags, and they met the shortage of jute stuffs by making small +sacks of bedstead hangings and curtains which, in the dry heat of the +summer, wore very well. Looking across No Man's Land one could easily +pick out a line of trenches by a red, a vivid blue, or a saffron +sandbag. The Turkish dug-outs were most elaborate places of security. +The excavators had gone down into the hard earth well beneath the +deep strata of sand, and they roofed these holes with six, eight, and +sometimes ten layers of palm logs. We had seen these beautiful +trees disappearing and had guessed the reason. But an even greater +protection than the devices of military engineers had been provided +for the Turks by Dame Nature. Along the southern outskirts of the town +all the fields were enclosed by giant cactus hedges, sometimes with +stems as thick as a man's body and not infrequently rearing their +strong limbs and prickly leaves twenty feet above the ground. The +hedges were deep as well as high. They were at once a screen for +defending troops and a barrier as impenetrable as the walls of a +fortress. If one line of cactus hedges had been cut through, infantry +would have found another and yet another to a depth of nearly two +miles, and as the whole of these thorny enclosures were commanded by +a few machine guns the possibility of getting through was almost +hopeless. There were similar hedges on the eastern and western sides +of Gaza, but they were not quite so deep as on the south. On the +western side, and extending south as far as the desert which the Army +had crossed with such steady, methodical, and one may also say painful +progression, was a wide belt of yellow sand, sometimes settled down +hard under the weight of heavy winds, and in other places yielding to +the pressure of feet. The Turks had laboured hard in this mile and +a half width of sand, right down to the sea, to protect their right +flank. There was a point about 4000 yards due west from the edge of +the West Town of Gaza which we called Sea Post. It was the western +extremity of the enemy's exceedingly intricate system of defences. The +beach was below the level of the Post. From Sea Post for about 1500 +yards the Turkish front line ran to Rafa Redoubt. There were wired-in +entrenchments with strong points here and there, and a series of +communication trenches and redoubts behind them for 3000 yards to +Sheikh Hasan, which was the port of Gaza, if you can so describe an +open roadstead with no landing facilities. From Rafa Redoubt the +contour of the sand dunes permitted the enemy to construct an +exceedingly strong line running due south for 2000 yards, the +strongest points being named by us Zowaid trench, El Burj trench, +Triangle trench, Peach Orchard, and El Arish Redoubt, the nomenclature +being reminiscent of the trials of the troops in the desert march. +Behind this line there was many a sunken passageway and shelter from +gunfire, while backing the whole system, and, for reasons I have +given, an element of defence as strong as the prepared positions, were +cactus hedges enclosing the West Town's gardens. + +From El Arish Redoubt the line ran east again to Mazar trench with +a prodigal expenditure of wire in front of it, and then south for +several hundred yards, when it was thrown out to the south-west to +embrace a position of high importance known as Umbrella Hill, a dune +of blazing yellow sand facing, about 500 yards away, Samson's Ridge, +which we held strongly and on which the enemy often concentrated his +fire. This ended the Turks' right-half section of the Gaza defences. +Close by passed what from time immemorial has been called the Cairo +Road, a track worn down by caravans of camels moving towards Kantara +on their way with goods for Egyptian bazaars. But there was no break +in the trench system which ran across the plain, a beautiful green +tinted with the blooms of myriads of wild flowers when we first +advanced over it in March, now browned and dried up by absolutely +cloudless summer days. In the gardens on the western slopes of the +hills running south from Ali Muntar the Turk had achieved much +spadework, but he had done far more work on the hills themselves, and +these were a frame of fortifications for Ali Muntar, on which we once +sat for a few hours, and the possession of which meant the reduction +of Gaza. By the end of summer the hill of Muntar had lost its shape. +When we saw it during the first battle of Gaza it was a bold feature +surmounted by a few trees and the whitened walls and grey dome of a +sheikh's tomb. In the earlier battles of 1917 much was done to ruffle +Muntar's crest. We saw trees uprooted, others lose their limbs, and +naval gunfire threatened the foundations of the old chief's burying +place. But Ali Muntar stoutly resisted the heavy shells' attack. As +if Samson's feat had endowed it with some of the strong man's powers, +Muntar for a long time received its daily thumps stoically; but by +degrees the resistance of the old hill declined, and when agents +reported that the sheikh's tomb was used as an observation post, +8-inch howitzers got on to it and made it untenable. There was a bit +of it left at the end, but not more than would offer protection from a +rifle bullet, and the one tree left standing was a limbless trunk. The +crest of the hill lost its roundness, and the soil which had worked +out through the shell craters had changed the colour of the summit. +Old Ali Muntar had had the worst of the bombardment, and if some +future sheikh should choose the site for a summer residence he will +come across a wealth of metal in digging his foundations. + +To capture Gaza the Formidable it was proposed first to take the +western defences from Umbrella Hill to Sea Post, to press on to Sheikh +Hasan and thus turn the right flank of the whole position. That would +compel the enemy to reinforce his right flank when he was being +heavily attacked elsewhere, and if he had been transferring his +reserves to meet the threat against the left of his main line after +Beersheba had been won for the Empire he would be in sore trouble. +Gaza had already tasted a full sample of the war food we intended it +should consume. Before the attack on Beersheba had developed, ships of +war and the heavy guns of XXIst Corps had rattled its defences. The +warships' fire was chiefly directed on targets our land guns could +not reach. Observers in aircraft controlled the fire and notified the +destruction of ammunition dumps at Deir Sineid and other places. The +work of the heavy batteries was watched with much interest. Some were +entirely new batteries which had never been in action against any +enemy, and they only arrived on the Gaza front five weeks before the +battle. These were not allowed to register until shortly before the +battle began, and they borrowed guns from other batteries in order to +train the gun crews. So desirous was General Bulfin to conceal the +concentration of heavies that the wireless code calls were only those +used by batteries which were in position before his Corps was formed, +and the volume of fire came as an absolute surprise to the enemy. It +came as a surprise also to some of us in camp at G.H.Q. one night at +the end of October. Suddenly there was a terrific burst of fire on +about four miles of front. Vivid fan-shaped flashes stabbed the sky, +the bright moonlight of the East did not dim the guns' lightning, and +their thunderous voices were a challenge the enemy was powerless to +refuse. He took it up slowly as if half ashamed of his weakness. Then +his fire increased in volume and in strength, but it ebbed again and +we knew the reason. We held some big 'stuff' for counter battery work, +and our fire was effective. + +The preliminary bombardment began on October 27 and it grew in +intensity day by day. The Navy co-operated on October 29 and +subsequent days. The whole line from Middlesex Hill (close to Outpost +Hill) to the sea was subjected to heavy fire, all the routes to the +front line were shelled during the night by 60-pounder and field-gun +batteries. Gas shells dosed the centres of communication and bivouac +areas, and every quarter of the defences was made uncomfortable. The +sound-ranging sections told us the enemy had between sixteen and +twenty-four guns south of Gaza, and from forty to forty-eight north of +the town, and over 100 guns were disclosed, including more than thirty +firing from the Tank Redoubt well away to the eastward. On October 29 +some of the guns south of Gaza had been forced back by the severity of +our counter battery work, and of the ten guns remaining between us and +the town on that date all except four had been removed by November +2. For several nights the bombardment continued without a move by +infantry. Then just at the moment von Kress was discussing the loss of +Beersheba and his plans to meet our further advance in that direction, +some infantry of the 75th Division raided Outpost Hill, the southern +extremity of the entrenched hill system south of Ali Muntar, and +killed far more Turks than they took prisoners. There was an +intense bombardment of the enemy's works at the same time. The next +night--November 1-2--was the opening of XXIst Corps' great attack on +Gaza, and though the enemy did not leave the town or the remainder of +the trenches we had not assaulted till nearly a week afterwards, the +vigour of the attack and the bravery with which it was thrust home, +and the subsequent total failure of counter-attacks, must have made +the enemy commanders realise on the afternoon of November 2 that Gaza +was doomed and that their boasts that Gaza was impregnable were thin +air. Their reserves were on the way to their left where they were +urgently wanted, there was nothing strong enough to replace such heavy +wastage caused to them by the attack of the night of November 1 and +the morning of the 2nd, and our big gains of ground were an enormous +advantage to us for the second phase in the Gaza sector, for we had +bitten deeply into the Turks' right flank. + +Like the concentration of the XXth Corps and the Desert Mounted Corps +for the jump off on to Beersheba, the preparations against the Turks' +extreme right had to be very secretly made. The XXIst Corps Commander +had to look a long way ahead. He had to consider the possibility of +the enemy abandoning Gaza when Beersheba was captured, and falling +back to the line of the wadi Hesi. His troops had been confined to +trench warfare for months, digging and sitting in trenches, putting +out wire, going out on listening patrols, sniping and doing all the +drudgery in the lines of earthworks. They were hard and strong, their +health having considerably improved since the early summer, but at the +end of September the infantry were by no means march fit. Realising +that, if General Allenby's operations were successful, and no one +doubted that, we should have a period of open warfare when troops +would be called upon to make long marches and undergo the privations +entailed by transport difficulties, General Bulfin brought as many +men as he could spare from the trenches back to Deir el Belah and the +coast, where they had route marches over the sand for the restoration +of their marching powers. Gradually he accumulated supplies in +sheltered positions just behind the front. In three dumps were +collected seven days' mobile rations, ammunition, water, and +engineers' material. Tracks were constructed, cables buried, concealed +gun positions and brigade and battalion headquarters made, and from +the 25th October troops were ready to move off with two days' rations +on the man. Should the enemy retire, General Hill's 52nd (Lowland) +Division was to march up the shore beneath the sand cliffs, get across +the wadi Hesi at the mouth, detach a force to proceed towards Askalon, +and then move eastward down to the ridge opposite Deir Sineid, and, by +securing the bridge and crossings of the wadi Hesi, prevent the enemy +establishing himself on the north bank of the wadi. The operations +on the night of November 1-2 were conducted by Major-General Hare, +commanding the 54th Division, to which General Leggatt's 156th +Infantry Brigade was temporarily attached. The latter brigade was +given the important task of capturing Umbrella Hill and El Arish +Redoubt. Umbrella Hill was to be taken first, and as it was +anticipated the enemy would keep up a strong artillery fire for a +considerable time after the position had been taken, and that his fire +would interfere with the assembly and advance of troops detailed +for the second phase, the first phase was timed to start four hours +earlier than the second. For several days the guns had opened intense +fire at midnight and again at 3 A.M. so that the enemy should not +attach particular importance to our artillery activity on the night of +action, and a creeping barrage nightly swept across No Man's Land to +clear off the chain of listening posts established 300 yards in front +of the enemy's trenches. Some heavy banks of cloud moved across the +sky when the Scottish Rifle Brigade assembled for the assault, but the +moon shed sufficient light at intervals to enable the Scots to file +through the gaps made in our wire and to form up on the tapes laid +outside. At 11 P.M. the 7th Scottish Rifles stormed Umbrella Hill with +the greatest gallantry. The first wave of some sixty-five officers and +men was blown up by four large contact mines and entirely destroyed. +The second wave passed over the bodies of their comrades without a +moment's check and, moving through the wire smashed by our artillery, +entered Umbrella Hill trenches and set about the Turks with their +bayonets. They had to clear a maze of trenches and dug-outs, but they +bombed out of existence the machine-gunners opposing them and had +settled the possession of Umbrella Hill in half an hour. + +The 4th Royal Scots led the attack on El Arish Redoubt. It was a +bigger and noisier 'show' than the Royal Scots had had some months +before, when in a 'silent' raid they killed with hatchets only, for +the Scots had seen the condition of some of their dead left in Turkish +hands and were taking retribution. Not many Turks in El Arish Redoubt +lived to relate that night's story. The Scots were rapidly in the +redoubt and were rapidly through it, cleared up a nasty corner known +as the 'Little Devil,' and were just about to shelter from the shells +which were to answer their attack when they caught a brisk fire from a +Bedouin hut. A platoon leader disposed his men cleverly and rushed +the hut, killing everybody in it and capturing two machine guns. The +vigorous resistance of the Turks on Umbrella Hill and El Arish Redoubt +resulted in our having to bury over 350 enemy dead in these positions. + +The second phase was to attack the enemy's front-line system from El +Arish Redoubt to the sea at Sea Post. At 3 A.M., after the enemy +guns had plentifully sprinkled Umbrella Hill and had given it up as +irretrievably lost, we opened a ten-minutes' intense bombardment of +the front line, exactly as had been done on preceding mornings, but +this time the 161st and 162nd Infantry Brigades followed up our shells +and carried 3000 yards of trenches at once. Three-quarters of an +hour afterwards the 163rd Infantry Brigade tried to get the support +trenches several hundred yards in rear, but the difficulties were too +many and the effort failed. Having secured Sea Post and Beach Post the +162nd Brigade completed the programme by advancing up the coast and +capturing the 'port' of Gaza, Sheikh Hasan, with a considerable body +of prisoners. + +The enemy's guns remained active until seven o'clock, when they +reserved their fire till the afternoon. Then a heavy counter-attack +was seen to be developing by an aerial observer, whose timely +warning enabled the big guns and warships to smash it up. Another +counter-attack against Sheikh Hasan was repulsed later in the day, and +a third starting from Crested Rock which aimed at getting back El +Burj trench was a complete failure. After the second phase our troops +buried 739 enemy dead. Without doubt there were many others killed and +wounded in the unsuccessful counter-attacks, particularly the first +against Sheikh Hasan, when many heavy shells were seen to fall in the +enemy's ranks. We took prisoners 26 officers, including two battalion +commanders, and 418 other ranks. Our casualties were 30 officers and +331 other ranks killed, 94 officers and 1869 other ranks wounded, and +10 officers and 362 other ranks missing. Considering the enormous +strength of the positions attacked, the numbers engaged, and the fact +that we secured enemy front 5000 yards long and 3000 yards deep, the +losses were not more severe than might have been expected. + +The Turks clung to their trenches with a tenacity equal to that which +characterised their defences on Gallipoli, and officer prisoners told +us they had been ordered to hold Gaza at all costs. That was good +news, though even if they had got back to the wadi Hesi line it is +doubtful if, when Sheria was taken, they could have done more than +temporarily hold us up there. During the next few days the work +against the enemy's right consisted of heavy bombardments on the line +of hills running from the north-east to the south of Gaza, and on the +prominent position of Sheikh Redwan, east of the port. The enemy made +some spirited replies, notably on the 4th, but his force in Gaza was +getting shaken, and prisoners reluctantly admitted that the heavy +naval shells taking them in flank and rear were affecting the moral +of the troops. The gunfire of Rear-Admiral Jackson's fleet of H.M.S. +_Grafton_, _Raglan_, Monitors 15, 29, 31, and 32, river-gunboats +_Ladybird_ and _Amphis_, and the destroyers _Staunch_ and _Comet_, was +worthy of the King's Navy. They were assisted by the French battleship +_Requin_. We lost a monitor and destroyer torpedoed by a submarine, +but the marks of the Navy's hard hitting were on and about Gaza, and +we heard, if we could not see, the best the ships were doing. On one +day there was a number of explosions about Deir Sineid indicating the +destruction of some of the enemy's reserve of ammunition, and while +the Turks were still in Gaza they received a shock resembling +nothing more than an earthquake. One of the ships--the _Raglan_, I +believe--taking a signal from a seaplane, got a direct hit on an +ammunition train at Beit Hanun, the railway terminus north of Gaza. +The whole train went up and its load was scattered in fragments over +an area of several hundred square yards, an extraordinary scene of +wreckage of torn and twisted railway material and destroyed ammunition +presenting itself to us when we got on the spot on November 7. There +was another very fine example of the Navy's indirect fire a short +distance northward of this railway station. A stone road bridge had +been built over the wadi Hesi and it had to carry all heavy traffic, +the banks of the wadi being too steep and broken to permit wheels +passing down them as they stood. During our advance the engineers had +to build ramps here. A warship, taking its line from an aeroplane, +fired at the bridge from a range of 14,000 yards, got two direct hits +on it and holed it in the centre, and there must have been thirty or +forty shell craters within a radius of fifty yards. The confounding of +the Turks was ably assisted by the Navy. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +CRUSHING THE TURKISH LEFT + + +Now we return to the operations of XXth Corps and Desert Mounted Corps +on our right. After the capture of Beersheba this force was preparing +to attack the left of the Turkish main line about Hareira and Sheria, +the capture of which would enable the fine force of cavalry to get +to Nejile and gain an excellent water supply, to advance to the +neighbourhood of Huj and so reach the plain and threaten the enemy's +line in rear, and to fall on his line of retreat. It was proposed +to make the attack on the Kauwukah and Rushdi systems at Hareira on +November 4, but the water available at Beersheba had not been equal +to the demands made upon it and was petering out, and mounted troops +protecting the right flank of XXth Corps had to be relieved every +twenty-four hours. The men also suffered a good deal from thirst. The +weather was unusually hot for this period of the year, and the dust +churned up by traffic was as irritating as when the khamseen wind +blew. The two days' delay meant much in favour of the enemy, who was +enabled to move his troops as he desired, but it also permitted our +infantry to get some rest after their long marches, and supplies were +brought nearer the front. 'Rest' was only a comparative term. Brigades +were on the move each day in country which was one continual rise and +fall, with stony beds of wadis to check progress, without a tree to +lend a few moments' grateful relief from a burning sun, and nothing +but the rare sight of a squalid native hut to relieve the monotony of +a sun-dried desolate land. + +The troops were remarkably cheerful. They were on their toes, as the +cavalry told them. They had drawn first blood profusely from the Turk +after many weary months of waiting and getting fit, and they knew that +those gaunt mountain ridges away on their right front held behind them +Bethlehem and Jerusalem, goals they desired to reach more than any +other prizes of war. They had seen the Turk, and had soundly thrashed +him out of trenches which the British could have held against a much +stronger force. Their confidence was based on the proof that they were +better men, and they were convinced that once they got the enemy into +the open their superiority would be still more marked. The events of +the next six weeks showed their estimate of the Turkish soldier was +justified. + +The 53rd Division with the Imperial Camel Corps on its right moved to +Towal Abu Jerwal on November 1 to protect the flank guard of the XXth +Corps during the pending attack on the Kauwukah system. The infantry +had some fighting on that day, but it was mild compared with the +strenuous days before them. The 10th Division attacked Irgeig railway +station north-west of Beersheba and secured it, and waited there with +the 74th Division on its right while the Welsh Division went forward +to fight for Khuweilfeh on November 3. The Welshmen could not obtain +the whole of the position on that day, and it was not until the 6th +that it became theirs. Khuweilfeh is about ten miles due east of +Sheria, the same distance north of Beersheba, and some five miles west +of the Hebron road. It is in the hill country, difficult to approach, +with nothing in the nature of a road or track leading to it, and there +was no element in the position to suggest the prospect of an easy +capture. When General Mott advanced to these forbidding heights the +strength of the enemy in these parts was not realised. Prisoners +taken during the day proved that there were portions of three or four +Turkish divisions in the neighbourhood, and the strong efforts made to +prevent the Welsh troops gaining the position and the furious attempts +to drive them out of it suggested that most of the Turkish reserves +had been brought over to their left flank to guard against a wide +movement intended to envelop it. It afterwards turned out that von +Kressenstein believed General Allenby intended to march on Jerusalem +up the Hebron road, and he threw over to his left all his reserves to +stop us. That was a supreme mistake, for when we had broken through at +Hareira and Sheria the two wings of his Army were never in contact, +and their only means of communication was by aeroplane. + +The magnificent fight the 53rd Division put up at Khuweilfeh against +vastly superior forces and in the face of heavy casualties played a +very important part in the overwhelming defeat of the Turks. For four +days and nights the Welsh Division fought without respite and with the +knowledge that they could not be substantially reinforced, since the +plan for the attack on Hareira and Sheria entailed the employment of +all the available infantry of XXth Corps. Attack after attack was +launched against them with extreme violence and great gallantry, their +positions were raked by gunfire, whilst water and supplies were not +over plentiful. But the staunch Division held on grimly to what it had +gained, and its tenacity was well rewarded by what was won on other +portions of the field. + +During the night of November 5-6 and the day of the 6th, the 74th, +60th, and 10th Divisions concentrated for the attack on the Kauwukah +system. The enemy's positions ran from his Jerusalem-Beersheba railway +about five miles south-east of Hareira, across the Gaza-Beersheba road +to the wadi Sheria, on the northern bank of which was an exceedingly +strong redoubt covering Hareira. The eastern portion of this line +was known as the Kauwukah system, and between it and Hareira was +the Rushdi system, all being connected up by long communication and +support trenches, while a light railway ran from the Rushdi line to +dumps south of Sheria. At the moment of assembly for attack our line +from right to left was made up as follows: the 158th Infantry Brigade +was on the right, south of Tel Khuweilfeh. Then came the 160th Brigade +and 159th Brigade. The Yeomanry Mounted Division held a long line +of country and was the connecting link between the 53rd and 74th +Divisions. The latter division disposed from right to left the 231st +Brigade, the 229th Brigade, and 230th Brigade, who were to march from +the south-east to the north-west to attack the right of the Kauwukah +system of entrenchments on the railway. The 181st Brigade, 180th +Brigade, and 179th Brigade of the 60th Division were to march in the +same direction to attack the next portion of the system on the left of +the 74th Division's objectives, then swinging to the north to march +on Sheria. The 31st Brigade, 30th Brigade, and 29th Brigade were to +operate on the 60th Division's left, with the Australian Mounted +Division watching the left flank of XXth Corps. The Turkish VIIth +Army and 3rd Cavalry Division were opposing the XXth Corps, another +Division was opposite the 53rd Division and the Imperial Camel Corps +with the 12th Depôt Regiment at Dharahiyeh on the Hebron road, the +16th Division opposite our 74th, the 24th and 26th Divisions opposite +our 69th, and the 54th against the 10th Division. The 3rd, 53rd, and +7th Turkish Divisions were in the Gaza area. + +At daybreak the troops advanced to the attack. The first part of the +line in front of the 231st Brigade was a serious obstacle. Two or +three small outlying rifle pits had to be taken before the Division +could proceed with its effort to drive the enemy out of Sheria and +protect the flank of the 60th Division, which had to cross the railway +where a double line of trenches was to be tackled, the rear line above +the other with the flank well thrown back and protected by small +advanced pits to hold a few men and machine guns. The Turks held on +very obstinately to their ground east of the railway, and kept the +74th Division at bay till one o'clock in the afternoon, but the +artillery of that Division had for some time been assisting in the +wire-cutting in front of the trenches to be assaulted by the 60th +Division, and the latter went ahead soon after noon, and with the +assistance of one brigade of the 10th Division, had won about 4000 +yards of the complicated trench system and most of the Rushdi system +by half-past two. The Londoners then swung to the north and occupied +the station at Sheria, while the dismounted yeomanry worked round +farther east, taking a series of isolated trenches on the way, the +Irish troops relieving the 60th in the captured trenches at Kauwukah. +The 60th Division, having possession of the larger part of Sheria, +intended to attack the hill there at nightfall, and the attack was in +preparation when an enemy dump exploded and a huge fire lighted up the +whole district, so that all troops would have been exposed to the +fire of the garrison on the hill. General Shea therefore stopped the +attack, but the hill was stormed at 4.30 next morning and carried at +the point of the bayonet. A bridgehead was then formed at Sheria, and +the Londoners fought all day and stopped one counter-attack when it +was within 200 yards of our line. On that same morning the Irish +troops had extended their gains westwards from the Rushdi system till +they got to Hareira Tepe Redoubt, a high mound 500 yards across the +top, which had been criss-crossed with trenches with wire hanging +about some broken ground at the bottom. Here there was a hot tussle, +but the Irishmen valiantly pushed through and not only gave XXth Corps +the whole of its objectives and completed the turn of the enemy's left +flank, but joined up with the XXIst Corps. The working of XXth Corps' +scheme had again been admirable, and once more the staff work had +enabled the movements to be timed perfectly. + +The Desert Mounted Corps was thus able to draw up to Sheria in +readiness to take up the pursuit and to get the water supply at +Nejile. This ended the XXth Corps' task for a few days, though the +60th Division became temporarily attached to Desert Mounted Corps. +XXth Corps had nobly done its part. The consummate ability, energy, +and foresight of the corps commander had been supported throughout by +the skill of divisional and brigade commanders. For the men no praise +could be too high. The attention given to their training was well +repaid. They bore the strain of long marches on hard food and a small +allowance of water in a way that proved their physique to be only +matched by their courage, and that was of a high order. Their +discipline was admirable, their determination alike in attack and +defence strong and well sustained. To say they were equal to the +finest troops in the world might lay one open to a charge of +exaggeration when it was impossible to get a fair ground of +comparison, seeing the conditions of fighting on different fronts +was so varied, but the trials through which the troops of XXth +Corps passed up to the end of the first week of November, and their +magnificent accomplishments by the end of the year, make me doubt +whether any other corps possessed finer soldierly qualities. The men +were indeed splendid. The casualties sustained by the XXth Corps from +October 31 to November 16 were: killed, officers 63, other ranks 869; +wounded, officers 198, other ranks 4246; missing, no officers, 108 +other ranks--a total of 261 officers and 5223 other ranks. + +During the period after Beersheba when the XXth Corps troops were +concentrating to break up the Turks' defensive position on the left, +the Desert Mounted Corps was busily engaged holding a line eight or +ten miles north and north-east of Beersheba, and watching for any +movement of troops down the Hebron road. The 2nd Australian Light +Horse Brigade and 7th Mounted Brigade tried to occupy a line from +Khuweilfeh to Dharahiyeh, but it was not possible to reach it--a fact +by no means surprising, as in the light of subsequent knowledge it was +clear that the Turks had put much of their strength there. A patrol +of Light Horsemen managed to work round to the north of Dharahiyeh, +a curious group of mud houses on a hill-top inhabited by natives who +have yet to appreciate the evils of grossly overcrowded quarters as +well as some of the elementary principles of sanitation, and they saw +a number of motor lorries come up the admirably constructed hill road +designed by German engineers. The lorries were hurrying from the +Jerusalem area with reinforcements. Prisoners--several hundreds of +them in all--were brought in daily, but no attempt was made to force +the enemy back until November 6, when the 53rd Division, which for the +time being was attached to the Desert Mounted Corps, drove the Turks +off the whole of Khuweilfeh, behaving as I have already said with +fine gallantry and inflicting severe losses. There were also +counter-attacks launched against the 5th Mounted Brigade, the New +Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, and the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade, +but these were likewise beaten off with considerable casualties to +the enemy. When the XXth Corps had captured the Khauwukah system, a +detachment for the defence of the right flank of the Army was formed +under the command of Major-General G. de S. Barrow, the G.O.C. +Yeomanry Mounted Division, consisting of the Imperial Camel Corps +Brigade, 53rd Division, Yeomanry Mounted Division, New Zealand Mounted +Rifles Brigade, and two squadrons and eight machine guns of the 2nd +Australian Light Horse Brigade. The Australian Mounted Division +marched from Karm, whither it had been sent on account of water +difficulties, to rejoin Desert Mounted Corps to whom the 60th Division +was temporarily attached. The Desert Corps had orders on November 7 to +push through as rapidly as possible to the line wadi Jemmameh-Huj, and +from that day the Corps commenced its long march to Jaffa, a march +which, though strongly opposed by considerable bodies of troops, was +more often interfered with by lack of water than by difficulty in +defeating the enemy. + +The scarcity of water was a sore trouble. There was an occasional pool +here and there, but generally the only water procurable was in deep +wells giving a poor yield. The cavalry will not forget that long +trek. No brigade could march straight ahead. Those operating in the +foothills on our right had to fight all the way, and they were often +called upon to resist counter-attacks by strong rearguards issuing +from the hills to threaten the flank and so delay the advance in +order to permit the Turks to carry off some of their material. It was +necessary almost every day to withdraw certain formations from the +front and send them back a considerable distance to water, replacing +them by other troops coming from a well centre. In this way brigades +were not infrequently attached to divisions other than their own, and +the administrative services were heavily handicapped. Several times +whole brigades were without water for forty-eight hours, and though +supplies reached them on all but one or two occasions they were often +late, and an exceedingly severe strain was put on the transport. +During that diagonal march across the Maritime Plain I heard infantry +officers remark that the Australians always seemed to have their +supplies up with them. I do not think the supplies were always there, +but they generally were not far behind, and if resource and energy +could work miracles the Australian supply officers deserve the credit +for them. The divisional trains worked hard in those strenuous days, +and the 'Q' staff of the Desert Mounted Corps had many a sleepless +night devising plans to get that last ounce out of their transport men +and to get that little extra amount of supplies to the front which +meant the difference between want and a sufficiency for man and horse. + +On the 7th November the 60th Division after its spirited attack on +Tel el Sheria crossed the wadi and advanced north about two miles, +fighting obstinate rearguards all the way. The 1st Australian Light +Horse took 300 prisoners and a considerable quantity of ammunition +and stores at Ameidat, and with the remainder of the Anzac Division +reached Tel Abu Dilakh by the evening, and the Australian Mounted +Division filled the gap between the Anzacs and the Londoners, but +having been unable to water could not advance further. The 8th +November was a busy and brilliantly successful day. The Corps' effort +was to make a wide sweeping movement in order first to obtain the +valuable and urgently required water at Nejile, and then to push +across the hills and rolling downs to the country behind Gaza to +harass the enemy retreating from that town. The Turks had a big +rearguard south-west of Nejile and made a strong effort to delay the +capture of that place, the importance of which to us they realised +to the full, and they were prepared to sacrifice the whole of the +rearguard if they could hold us off the water for another twenty-four +hours. The pressure of the Anzac Division and the 7th Mounted Brigade +assisting it was too much for the enemy, who though holding on to the +hills very stoutly till the last moment had to give way and leave the +water in our undisputed possession. The Sherwood Rangers and South +Notts Hussars were vigorously counter-attacked at Mudweiweh, but they +severely handled the enemy, who retired a much weakened body. + +By the evening the Anzacs held the country from Nejile to the north +bank of the wadi Jemmameh, having captured 300 prisoners and two guns. +The Australian Mounted Division made an excellent advance round +the north side of Huj, which had been the Turkish VIIIth Army +Headquarters, and the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade was in touch +with the corps cavalry of XXIst Corps at Beit Hanun, while the 3rd +Australian Light Horse Brigade had taken prisoners and two of the +troublesome Austrian 5.9 howitzers. + +It was the work of the 60th Division in the centre, however, which +was the outstanding feature of the day, though the Londoners readily +admitted that without the glorious charge of the Worcester and +Warwickshire Yeomanry in the afternoon they would not have been in the +neighbourhood of Huj when darkness fell. The 60th were in the centre, +sandwiched between the Anzacs and Australian Mounted Division, and +their allotted task was to clear the country between Sheria and Huj, a +distance of ten miles. The country was a series of billowy downs with +valleys seldom more than 1000 yards wide, and every yard of the way +was opposed by infantry and artillery. Considering the opposition the +progress was good. The Londoners drove in the Turks' strong flank +three times, first from the hill of Zuheilika, then from the +cultivated area behind it, and thirdly from the wadi-torn district +of Muntaret el Baghl, from which the infantry proceeded to the high +ground to the north. It was then between two and three o'clock in the +afternoon, and maps showed that between the Division and Huj there was +nearly four miles of most difficult country, a mass of wadi beds and +hills giving an enterprising enemy the best possible means for holding +up an advance. General Shea went ahead in a light armoured car to +reconnoitre, and saw a strong body of Turks with guns marching across +his front. It was impossible for his infantry to catch them and, +seeing ten troops of Warwick and Worcester Yeomanry on his right about +a mile away, he went over to them and ordered Lieut.-Colonel H. Cheape +to charge the enemy. It was a case for instant action. The enemy were +a mile and a half from our cavalry. The gunners had come into action +and were shelling the London Territorials, but they soon had to +switch off and fire at a more terrifying target. Led by their gallant +Colonel, a Master of Foxhounds who was afterwards drowned in the +Mediterranean, the yeomen swept over a ridge in successive lines and +raced down the northern slope on to the flat, at first making direct +for the guns, then swerving to the left under the direction of Colonel +Cheape, whose eye for country led him to take advantage of a mound on +the opposite side of the valley. Over this rise the Midland yeomen +spurred their chargers and, giving full-throated cheers, dashed +through the Turks' left flank guard and went straight for the guns. +Their ranks were somewhat thinned, for they had been exposed to a +heavy machine-gun fire as well as to the fire of eight field guns and +three 5.9 howitzers worked at the highest pressure. The gunners were +nearly all Germans and Austrians and they fought well. They splashed +the valley with shrapnel, and during the few moments' lull when the +yeomanry were lost to view behind the mound they set their shell fuses +at zero to make them burst at the mouth of the guns and act as case +shot. They tore some gaps in the yeomen's ranks, but nothing could +stop that charge. The Midlanders rode straight at the guns and sabred +every artilleryman at his piece. The Londoners say they heard all the +guns stop dead at the same moment and they knew they had been silenced +in true Balaclava style. Having wiped out the batteries the yeomen +again answered the call of their leader and swept up a ridge to deal +effectively with three machine guns, and having used the white arm +against their crews the guns were turned on to the retreating Turks +and decimated their ranks. This charge was witnessed by General Shea, +and I know it is his opinion that it was executed with the greatest +gallantry and élan, and was worthy of the best traditions of British +cavalry. The yeomanry lost about twenty-five per cent. of their +number in casualties, but their action was worth the price, for they +completely broke up the enemy resistance and enabled the London +Division to push straight through to Huj. The Warwick and +Worcester Yeomanry received the personal congratulations of the +Commander-in-Chief, and General Shea was also thanked by General +Allenby. + +During this day General Shea accomplished what probably no other +Divisional Commander did in this war. When out scouting in a light +armoured car he was within 500 yards of a big ammunition dump which +was blown up. He saw the three men who had destroyed it running away, +and he chased them into a wadi and machine-gunned them. They held up +their hands and were astonished to find they had surrendered to a +General. These men were captured in the nick of time. But for the +appearance of General Shea they would have destroyed another dump, +which we captured intact. + +I was with the Division the night after they had taken Huj. It was +their first day of rest for some time, but the men showed few signs +of fatigue. No one could move among them without being proud of the +Londoners. They were strong, self-reliant, well-disciplined, brave +fellows. I well remember what Colonel Temperley, the G.S.O. of the +Division, told me when sitting out on a hill in the twilight that +night. Colonel Temperley had been brigade major of the first New +Zealand Infantry Brigade which came to Egypt and took a full share in +the work on Gallipoli on its way to France. He had over two years of +active service on the Western Front before coming out to Palestine for +duty with the 60th Division, and his views on men in action were based +on the sound experience of the professional soldier. Of the London +County Territorials he said: 'I cannot speak of these warriors without +a lump rising in my throat. These Cockneys are the best men in the +world. Their spirits are simply wonderful, and I do not think any +division ever went into a big show with higher moral. After three +years of war it is refreshing to hear the men's earnestly expressed +desire to go into action again. These grand fellows went forward +with the full bloom on them, there never was any hesitation, their +discipline was absolutely perfect, their physique and courage were +alike magnificent, and their valour beyond words. The Cockney makes +the perfect soldier.' I wrote at the time that 'whether the men came +from Bermondsey, Camberwell or Kennington, or belonged to what were +known as class corps, such as the Civil Service or Kensingtons, before +the war, all battalions were equally good. They were trained for +months for the big battle till their bodies were brought to such a +state of fitness that Spartan fare during the ten days of ceaseless +action caused neither grumble nor fatigue. The men may well be +rewarded with the title "London's Pride," and London is honoured by +having such stalwarts to represent the heart of the British Empire. In +eight days the Londoners marched sixty-six miles and fought a number +of hot actions. The march may not seem long, but Palestine is not +Salisbury Plain. A leg-weary man was asked by an officer if his feet +were blistered, and replied: "They're rotten sore, but my heart's +gay." That is typical of the spirit of these unconquerable Cockneys. I +have just left them. They still have the bloom of freshness and I do +not think it will ever fade. Scorching winds which parched the throat +and made everything one wore hot to the touch were enough to oppress +the staunchest soldier, but these sterling Territorials, costers +and labourers, artisans and tradesmen, professional men and men of +independent means, true brothers in arms and good Britons, left their +bivouacs and trudged across heavy country, fearless, strong, proud, +and with the cheerfulness of good men who fight for right.' What I +said in those early days of the great advance was more than borne out +later, and in the capture of Jerusalem, in taking Jericho, and in +forcing the passage of the Jordan this glorious Division of Londoners +was always the same, a pride to its commander, a bulwark of the XXth +Corps, and a great asset of the Empire. + + + +CHAPTER X + +THROUGH GAZA INTO THE OPEN + + +On the Gaza section of the front the XXIst Corps had been busily +occupied with preparations for a powerful thrust through the remainder +of the defences on the enemy's right when the XXth Corps should have +succeeded in turning the main positions on the left. The 52nd Division +on the coast was ready to go ahead immediately there was any sign that +the enemy, seeing that the worst was about to happen, intended to +order a general retirement, and then it would be a race and a fight to +prevent his establishing himself on the high ground north of the wadi +Hesi. Should he fail to do that there was scarcely a possibility of +the Turks holding us up till we got to the Jaffa-Jerusalem road, +though between Gaza and that metalled highway there were many points +of strength from which they could fight delaying actions. It is very +doubtful whether the Turkish General Staff gave the cavalry credit for +being able to move across the Plain in the middle of November when the +wadis are absolutely dry and the water-level in the wells is lower +than at any other period of the year. Nor did they imagine that the +transport difficulties for infantry divisions fed as ours were could +be surmounted. They may have thought that if they could secure the +wadi Hesi line before we got into position to threaten it in flank +they would immobilise our Army till the rains began, and there was a +possibility of sitting facing each other in wet uncomfortable trench +quarters till the flowers showed themselves in the spring, by which +time, the Bagdad venture of the German Higher Command proving hopeless +before it was started, a great volume of reinforcements might be +diverted to Southern Palestine with Turkish divisions from the +Salonika front and a stiffening of German battalions spared from +Europe in consequence of the Russian collapse. + +Whatever they may have been, the Turkish calculations were completely +upset. The cavalry's water troubles remained and no human foresight +could have smoothed them over, but the transport problem was solved in +this way. During the attack on Beersheba XXIst Corps came to the aid +of XXth Corps by handing over to it the greater part of its camel +convoys and lorries, so much transport, indeed, that a vast amount of +work in the Gaza sector fell to be done by a greatly depleted supply +staff. When Beersheba had been won and the enemy's left flank had been +smashed and thrown back, the XXth Corps repaid the XXIst Corps, not +only by returning what it had borrowed, but by marching back into the +region of railhead at Karm, where it could live with a minimum of +transport and send all its surplus to work in the coastal sector. The +switching over of this transport was a fine piece of organisation. On +the allotted day many thousands of camels were seen drawn out in huge +lines all over the country intersected by the wadi Ghuzze, slowly +converging on the spots at which they could be barracked and rested +before loading for the advance. The lorries took other paths. There +was no repose for their drivers. They worked till the last moment on +the east, and then, caked with the accumulated dust of a week's weary +labour in sand and powdered earth, turned westward to arrive just in +time to load up and be off again in pursuit of infantry, some making +the mistake of travelling between the West and East Towns of Gaza, +while others took the longer and sounder but still treacherous route +east of Ali Muntar and through the old positions of the Turks. These +lorry drivers were wonderful fellows who laughed at their trials, but +in the days and nights when they bumped over the uneven tracks and +negotiated earth rents that threatened to swallow their vehicles, they +put their faith in the promise of the railway constructors to open the +station at Gaza at an early date. Even Gaza, though it saved them so +many toilsome miles, did not help them greatly because of a terrible +piece of road north-east of the station, but Beit Hanun was +comfortable and for the relief brought by the railway's arrival at +Deir Sineid they were profoundly grateful. + +But this is anticipating the story of Gaza's capture. The XXIst Corps +had not received its additional transport when it gained the ancient +city of the Philistines, though it knew some of it was on the way and +most of it about to start on its westward trek. On the day of November +4 and during the succeeding night the Navy co-operated with the Corps' +artillery in destroying enemy trenches and gun positions, and the +Ali Muntar Ridge was a glad sight for tired gunners' eyes. The enemy +showed a disposition to retaliate, and on the afternoon of the 4th he +put up a fierce bombardment of our front-line positions from Outpost +Hill to the sea, including in his fire area the whole of the trenches +we had taken from him from Umbrella Hill to Sheikh Hasan. Many +observers of this bombardment by all the Turks' guns of heavy, medium, +and small calibre declared it was the prelude not of an attack but +of a retirement, and that the Turks were loosing off a lot of the +ammunition they knew they could not carry away. They were probably +right, though the enemy made no sign of going away for a couple of +days, but if he thought his demonstration by artillery was going to +hasten back to Gaza some of the troops assembling against the left of +his main line he was grievously in error. The XXIst Corps was strong +enough to deal with any attack the Turks could launch, and they would +have been pleased if an attempt to reach our lines had been made. + +Next day the Turks were much quieter. They had to sit under a terrific +fire both on the 5th and 6th November, when in order to assist +XXth Corps' operations the Corps' heavy artillery, the divisional +artillery, and the warships' guns carried out an intense bombardment. +The land guns searched the Turks' front line and reserve systems, +while the Navy fired on Fryer's Hill to the north of Ali Muntar, +Sheikh Redwan, a sandhill with a native chief's tomb on the crest, +north of Gaza, and on trenches not easily reached by the Corps' guns. + +During the night of November 6-7 General Palin's 75th Division, as +a preliminary to a major operation timed for the following morning, +attacked and gained the enemy's trenches on Outpost Hill and the +whole of Middlesex Hill to the north of it, the opposition being less +serious than was anticipated. At daylight the 75th Division pushed on +over the other hills towards Ali Muntar and gained that dominating +position before eight o'clock. The fighting had not been severe, +and it was soon realised that the enemy had left Gaza, abandoning a +stronghold which had been prepared for defence with all the ingenuity +German masters of war could suggest and into which had been worked an +enormous amount of material. It was obvious from the complete success +of XXth Corps' operations against the Turkish left, which had been +worked out absolutely 'according to plan,' that General Allenby had so +thoroughly mystified von Kressenstein that the latter had put all +his reserves into the wrong spot, and that the 53rd Division's stout +resistance against superior numbers had pinned them down to the wrong +end of the line. There was nothing, therefore, for the Turk to do but +to try to hold another position, and he was straining every nerve to +reach it. The East Anglian Division went up west of Gaza and held from +Sheikh Redwan to the sea by seven o'clock, two squadrons of the Corps' +cavalry rode along the seashore and had patrols on the wadi Hesi a +little earlier than that, and the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, +composed of troops raised and maintained by patriotic Indian princes, +passed through Gaza at nine o'clock and went out towards Beit Hanun. +To the Lowland Division was given the important task of getting to the +right or northern bank of the wadi Hesi. These imperturbable Scots +left their trenches in the morning delighted at the prospect of once +more engaging in open warfare. They marched along the beach under +cover of the low sand cliffs, and by dusk had crossed the mouth of +the wadi and held some of the high ground to the north in face of +determined opposition. The 157th Brigade, after a march through very +heavy going, got to the wadi at five in the afternoon and saw the +enemy posted on the opposite bank. The place was reconnoitred and the +brigade made a fine bayonet charge in the dark, securing the position +between ten and eleven o'clock. On this and succeeding days the +division had to fight very hard indeed, and they often met the enemy +with the bayonet. One of their officers told me the Scot was twice +as good as the Turk in ordinary fighting, but with the bayonet his +advantage was as five to one. The record of the Division throughout +the campaign showed this was no too generous an estimate of their +powers. After securing Ali Muntar the 75th Division advanced over +Fryer's Hill to Australia Hill, so that they held the whole ridge +running north and south to the eastward of Gaza. The enemy still held +to his positions to the right of his centre, and from the Atawineh +Redoubt, Tank Redoubt, and Beer trenches there was considerable +shelling of Gaza and the Ali Muntar ridge throughout the day. A large +number of shells fell in the plantations on the western side of the +ridge; our mastery of the air prevented enemy aviators observing for +their artillery, or they would have seen no traffic was passing along +that way. We were using the old Cairo 'road,' and as far as I could +see not an enemy shell reached it, though when our troops were in the +town of Gaza there were many crumps and woolly bears to disturb the +new occupation. But all went swimmingly. It was true we had only +captured the well-cracked shell of a town, but the taking of it was +full of promise of greater things, and those of us who looked on the +mutilated remnants of one of the world's oldest cities felt we were +indeed witnesses of the beginning of the downfall of the Turkish +Empire. Next morning the 75th Division captured Beer trenches and Tank +and Atawineh Redoubts and linked up with the Irish Division of XXth +Corps on its right. They were shelled heavily, but it was the shelling +of rearguards and not attackers, and soon after twelve o'clock we +had the best of evidence that the Turks were saying good-bye to a +neighbourhood they had long inhabited. I was standing on Raspberry +Hill, the battle headquarters of XXIst Corps, when I heard a terrific +report. Staff officers who were used to the visitations of aerial +marauders came out of their shelters and searched the pearly vault of +the heavens for Fritz. No machine could be found. Some one looking +across the country towards Atawineh saw a huge mushroom-shaped cloud, +and then we knew that one enormous dump at least contained no more +projectiles to hold up an advance. This ammunition store must have +been eight miles away as the crow flies, but the noise of the +explosion was so violent that it was a considerable time before some +officers could be brought to believe an enemy plane had not laid an +egg near us. The blowing up of that dump was a signal that the Turk +was off. + +The Lowlanders had another very strenuous day in the sand-dune belt. +First of all they repulsed a strong counter-attack from the direction +of Askalon. Then the 155th Infantry Brigade went forward and, swinging +to the right, drove the Turks off the rising ground north-west of Deir +Sineid, the possession of which would determine the question whether +the Turk could hold on in this quarter sufficiently long to enable him +to get any of his material away by his railway and road. The enemy put +in a counter-attack of great violence and forced the Scots back. + +The 157th Brigade in the early evening attacked the ridge and gained +the whole of their objectives by eight o'clock. There ensued some +sanguinary struggles on this sandy ground during the night. The Turks +were determined to have possession of it and the Scots were willing to +fight it out to a finish. The first counter-attack in the dark hours +drove the Lowlanders off, but they were shortly afterwards back on the +hills again. The Turks returned and pushed the Highland Light Infantry +and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders off a second time. A third +attack was delivered with splendid vigour and the enemy left many +dead, but they renewed their efforts to get the commanding ground and +succeeded once more. The dogged Scots, however, were not to be denied. +They re-formed and swept up the heavy shifting sand, met the Turk on +the top with a clash and knocked him down the reverse slope. Soon +afterwards there was another ding-dong struggle. The Turks, putting in +all their available strength, for a fourth time got the upper hand, +and the Lowlanders had to yield the ground, doing it slowly and +reluctantly and with the determination to try again. They were Robert +Bruces, all of them. It's the best that stays the longest. After a +brief rest these heroic Scots once more swarmed up the ridge. Their +cheers had the note of victory in them, they drove their bayonets +home with the haymakers' lift, and what was left of the Turks fled +helter-skelter down the hill towards Deir Sineid, broken, dismayed, +beaten, and totally unable to make another effort. The H.L.I. +Brigade's victory was bought at a price. The cost of that hill was +heavy, but the Turks' tale of dead was far heavier than ours, and +we had won and held the hills and consolidated them. The Turks then +turned their faces to the north and the Scots hurried them on. The +Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade had also met with considerable +resistance, but they worked up to and on the ridge overlooking Beit +Hanun from the east and captured a 5.9. By evening these Indian +horsemen were linked up with the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade on +their right and the 52nd Division on their left, and pursued the enemy +as far as Tumrah and Deir Sineid. + +General Headquarters directed that two infantry divisions should +advance to the line Julis-Hamameh in support of mounted troops, and +the 75th Division was accordingly ordered from its position east of +Gaza up to Beit Hanun. On the 9th November the 52nd Division was again +advancing. The 156th Brigade had moved forward from the Gaza trenches. +One officer, five grooms, and two signallers mounted on second horses +formed a little party to reconnoitre Askalon, and riding boldly into +the ancient landing place of the Crusader armies captured the ruined +town unaided. There are visible remains of its old strength, but the +power of Askalon has departed. It still stands looking over the blue +Mediterranean as a sort of watch tower, a silent, deserted outpost of +the land the Crusaders set their hearts on gaining and preserving for +Christianity, but behind it is many centuries' accumulation of sand +encroaching upon the fertile plain, and no effort has been made to +stop the inroad. The gallant half-dozen having reported to the 156th +Brigade that Askalon was open to them--the Brigade occupied the place +at noon--rode across the sand-dunes to the important native town of +Mejdel, where there was a substantial bazaar doing a good trade in the +essentials for native existence, beans and cereals in plenty, fruit, +and tobacco of execrable quality. At Mejdel the six accepted the +surrender of a body of Turks guarding a substantial ammunition dump +and rejoined their units, satisfied with the day's adventure. The +Turks had retired a considerable distance during the day. The +principal body was moving up what is called the main road from Deir +Sineid, through Beit Jerjal to Julis, to get to Suafir esh Sherkiyeh, +Kustineh, and Junction Station, from which they could reach Latron by +a metalled road, or Ramleh by a hard mud track by the side of their +railway. They were clearly going to oppose us all the way or they +would lose the whole of their material, and their forces east and west +of the road were well handled in previously selected and partially +prepared positions. + +They left behind them the unpleasant trail of a defeated army. Turks +had fallen by the way and the natives would not bury them. Our +aircraft had bombed the road, and the dead men, cattle and horses, +and smashed transport were ghastly sights and made the air offensive. +There they lay, one long line of dead men and animals, and if a London +fog had descended to blind the eyes of our Army the sense of smell +would still have carried a scout on the direct line of the Turkish +retreat. + +I will break off the narrative of fighting at this point to describe a +scene which expressed more eloquently than anything else I witnessed +in Palestine how deeply engraved in the native mind was the conviction +that Britain stood for fair dealing and freedom. The inhabitants, like +the Arabs of the desert, do not allow their faces to betray their +feelings. They preserve a stolid exterior, and it is difficult to tell +from their demeanour whether they are friendly or indifferent to +you. But their actions speak aloud. Early on the morning after the +Lowlanders had entered Mejdel I was in the neighbourhood. Our guns +banging away to the north were a reminder that there was to be no +promenade over the Plain, and that we had yet to make good the +formidable obstacle of the wadi Sukereir, when I passed a curious +procession. People whom the Turks had turned out of Gaza and the +surrounding country were trekking back to the spots where they and +their forefathers had lived for countless generations. All their +worldly goods and chattels were packed on overloaded camels and +donkeys. The women bore astonishingly heavy loads on their heads, the +men rode or walked carrying nothing, while patriarchs of families +were either held in donkey saddles or were borne on the shoulders of +younger men. Agriculturists began to turn out to plough and till the +fields which had lain fallow while the Turkish scourge of war was on +the land, and the people showed that, now they had the security of +British protection, they intended at once to resume their industry. +The troops had the liveliest welcome in passing through villages, +though the people are not as a rule demonstrative; and one could point +to no better evidence of the exemplary behaviour of our soldiers than +the groups of women sitting and gossiping round the wells during the +process of drawing water, just as they did in Biblical days, heedless +of the passing troops whom they regarded as their protectors. The man +behind a rude plough may have stopped his ill-matched team of pony +and donkey to look at a column of troops moving as he had never seen +troops march before, a head of a family might collect the animals +carrying his household goods and hurry them off the line of route +taken by military transport, but neither one nor the other had any +fear of interference with his work, and the life of the whole country, +one of the most unchanging regions of the world, had suddenly again +become normal, although only yesterday two armies had disputed +possession of the very soil on which they stood. The moment we were +victorious old occupations were resumed by the people in the way that +was a tradition from their forefathers. Our victory meant peace +and safety, according to the native idea, and an end to extortion, +oppression, and pillage under the name of requisitions. It also meant +prosperity. The native likes to drive a bargain. He will not sell +under a fair price, and he asks much more in the hope of showing a +buyer who has beaten him down how cheaply he is getting goods. The +Army chiefly sought eggs, which are light to carry and easy to cook, +and give variety to the daily round of bully, biscuit, and jam. The +soldier is a generous fellow, and if a child asked a piastre (2-1/2d.) +for an egg he got it. The price soon became four to five for a +shilling in cash, though the Turks wanted five times that number for +an equivalent sum in depreciated paper currency. The law of supply +and demand obtained in this old world just as at home, and it became +sufficient for a soldier to ask for an article to show he wanted it +and would pay almost anything that was demanded. It was curious to see +how the news spread not merely among traders but also among villagers. +The men who first occupied a place found oranges, vegetables, fresh +bread, and eggs cheap. In Ramleh, for example, a market was opened for +our troops immediately they got to the town, and the goods were sound +and sold at fair rates. The next day prices were up, and the standards +fixed behind the front soon ruled at the line itself. There was no +real control attempted, and while the extortionate prices charged by +Jews in their excellent agricultural colonies and by the natives made +a poor people prosperous, it gave them an exaggerated idea of the size +of the British purse, and they may be disappointed at the limitation +of our spending powers in the future. Also it was hard on the bravest +and most chivalrous of fighting men. But it opened the eyes of the +native, whose happiness and contentment were obvious directly we +reached his doors. + +Our movements on November 9 were limited by the extent to which +General Chauvel was able to use his cavalry of the Desert Mounted +Corps. Water was the sole, but absolute handicap. The Yeomanry Mounted +Division rejoined the Corps on that day and got south of Huj, +but could not proceed further through lack of water and supply +difficulties. The Australian Mounted Division also had to halt for +water, and it was left to Anzac Mounted Division, plus the 7th Mounted +Brigade, to march eighteen miles north-westwards to occupy the line +Et Tineh-Beit Duras-Jemameh-Esdud (the Ashdod of the Bible). The 52nd +Division occupied the area Esdud-Mejdel-Herbieh by the evening of the +10th, and on the way, Australian cavalry being held up on a ridge +north of Beit Duras, the 157th Brigade made another of its fine +bayonet charges at night and captured the ground, enabling the cavalry +to get at some precious water. The brigade made the attack just after +completing a fourteen miles' march in heavy going, achieving the +remarkable record of having had three bayonet battles on three +nights out of four. On this occasion the Turks again suffered heavy +casualties in men and lost many machine guns. The 75th Division +prolonged the infantry line through Gharbiyeh to Berberah. The 54th +Division was in the Gaza defences with all its transport allotted to +the divisions taking part in the forward move, but as the 54th had +five days' rations in dumps close at hand it was able to maintain +itself, and the railway was being pushed on from the wadi Ghuzze with +the utmost speed. The iron road in war is an army's jugular vein, +and each mile added to its length was of enormous value during the +advance. + +General Allenby, looking well ahead and realising the possibilities +opened out by his complete success in every phase of the operations on +the Turks' main defensive line, on the 10th November ordered the 52nd +and 75th Divisions to concentrate on their advanced guards so as +to support the cavalry on their front and to prevent the Turk +consolidating on the line of the wadi Sukereir. The enemy was +developing a more organised resistance on a crescent-shaped line from +Et Tineh through Yasur to Beshshit, and it was necessary to adopt +deliberate methods of attack to move him. The advance on the 11th was +the preliminary to three days of stirring fighting. The Turks put up +a very strong defence by their rearguards, and when one says that +at this time they were fighting with courage and magnificent +determination one is not only paying a just tribute to the enemy but +doing justice to the gallantry and skill of the troops who defeated +him. The Scots can claim a large share of the success of the next two +days, but British yeomanry took a great part in it, and their charge +at Mughar, and perhaps their charge at Abu Shushe as well, will find a +place in military text-books, for it has confounded those critics who +declared that the development of the machine gun in modern warfare has +brought the uses of cavalry down to very narrow limits. + +The 156th Brigade was directed to take Burkah on the 12th so as to +give the infantry liberty of manoeuvre on the following day. Burkah +was a nasty place to tackle. The enemy had two lines of beautifully +sited trenches prepared before he fell back from Gaza. The Scots had +to attack up a slope to the first line, and having taken this to pass +down another slope for 1000 yards before reaching the glacis in front +of the second line. The Scottish Rifles assaulted this position by day +without much artillery support, but they took it in magnificent style. +It looked as if the Turks had accepted the verdict, but at night they +returned to a brown hill on the right and drove the 4th Royal Scots +from it. This battalion came back soon afterwards and retook the +hill with the assistance of some Gurkhas of General Colston's 233rd +Infantry Brigade, and the Turk retired to another spot, hoping that +his luck would change. While this fighting was going on about Burkah +the 155th Brigade went ahead up a road which the cavalry said was +strongly held. They got eight miles north of Esdud, and were in +advance of the cavalry, intending to try to secure the two heights +and villages of Katrah and Mughar on the following day. Katrah was a +village on a long mound south of Mughar, native mud huts constituting +its southern part, whilst separated from it on the northern side by +some gardens was a pretty little Jewish settlement whose red-tiled +houses and orderly well-cared-for orchards spoke of the industry of +these settlers in Zion. All over the hill right up to the houses the +cactus flourished, and the hedges were a replica of the terrible +obstacles at Gaza. From Katrah the ground sloped down to the flat on +all four sides, so that the village seemed to stand on an island in +the plain. A mile due west of it was Beshshit, while one mile to the +north across more than one wadi stood El Mughar at the southern end of +an irregular line of hills which separated Yebnah and Akir, which will +be more readily recognised, the former as the Jamnia of the Jews and +the latter as Ekron, one of the famous Philistine cities. While the +75th Division was forcing back the line Turmus-Kustineh-Yasur and +Mesmiyeh athwart the road to Junction Station the 155th Brigade +attacked Katrah. The whole of the artillery of two divisions opened a +bombardment of the line at eight o'clock, but the Turks showed more +willingness to concede ground on the east than at Katrah, where the +machine-gun fire was exceptionally heavy. General Pollak M'Call +decided to assault the village with the bulk of his brigade, and +seizing a rifle and bayonet from a wounded man, led the charge +himself, took the village, and gradually cleared the enemy out of the +cactus-enclosed gardens. The enemy losses at Katrah were very heavy. +In crossing a rectangular field many Turks were caught in a cross fire +from our machine guns, and over 400 dead were counted in this one +field. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +TWO YEOMANRY CHARGES + + +In front of the mud huts of Mughar, so closely packed together on the +southern slope of the hill that the dwellings at the bottom seemed to +keep the upper houses from falling into the plain, there was a long +oval garden with a clump of cypresses in the centre, the whole +surrounded by cactus hedges of great age and strength. In the +cypresses was a nest of machine guns whose crews had a perfect view +of an advance from Katrah. The infantry had to advance over flat open +ground to the edge of the garden. The Turkish machine-gunners and +riflemen in the garden and village were supported by artillery firing +from behind the ridge at the back of the village, and although the +brigade made repeated efforts to get on, its advance was held up in +the early afternoon, and it seemed impossible to take the place by +infantry from the south in the clear light of a November afternoon. +The 6th Mounted Brigade commanded by Brigadier-General C.A.C. Godwin, +D.S.O., composed of the 1/1st Bucks Hussars, 1/1st Berkshire Yeomanry, +and 1/1st Dorset Yeomanry, the Berkshire battery Royal Horse +Artillery, and the 17th Machine Gun Squadron--old campaigners with +the Egyptian Expeditionary Force--had worked round to the left of +the Lowlanders and had reached a point about two miles south-west of +Yebnah, that place having been occupied by the 8th Mounted Brigade, +composed of the 1/1st City of London Yeomanry, 1/1st County of London +Yeomanry, and the 1/3rd County of London Yeomanry. At half-past twelve +the Bucks Hussars less one squadron and the Berks battery, which were +in the rear of the brigade, advanced _via_ Beshshit to the wadi Janus, +a deep watercourse with precipitous banks running across the plain +east of Yebnah and joining the wadi Rubin. One squadron of the Bucks +Hussars had entered Yebnah from the east, co-operating with the 8th +Brigade. General Godwin was told over the telephone that the infantry +attack was held up and that his brigade would advance to take Mughar. +This order was confirmed by telegram a quarter of an hour later as +the brigadier was about to reconnoitre a line of approach. The Berks +battery began shelling Mughar and the ridge behind the village from a +position half a mile north of Beshshit screened by some trees. Brigade +headquarters joined the Bucks Hussars headquarters in the wadi Janus +half a mile south-east of Yebnah, where Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. F. +Cripps commanding the Bucks Hussars had, with splendid judgment, +already commenced a valuable reconnaissance, the Dorset and Berks +Yeomanry being halted in a depression out of sight a few hundred yards +behind. The Turks had the best possible observation, and, knowing they +were holding up the infantry, concentrated their attention upon the +cavalry. Therein they showed good judgment, for it was from the +mounted troops the heavy blow was to fall. Lieut. Perkins, Bucks +Hussars, was sent forward to reconnoitre the wadi Shellal el Ghor, +which runs parallel to and east of the wadi Janus. He became the +target of every kind of fire, guns, machine guns, and rifles opening +on him from the ridge whenever he exposed himself. Captain Patron, of +the 17th Machine Gun Squadron, was similarly treated while examining +a position from which to cover the advance of the brigade with +concentrated machine-gun fire. It was not an easy thing to get cavalry +into position for a mounted attack. Except in the wadis the plain +between Yebnah and Mughar offered no cover and was within easy range +of the enemy's guns. The wadi Janus was a deep slit in the ground with +sides of clay falling almost sheer to the stony bottom. It was hard to +get horses into the wadi and equally troublesome to get them to bank +again, and the wadi in most places was so narrow that horses could +only move in single file. The Dorsets were brought up in small parties +to join the Bucks in the wadi, and they had to run the gauntlet of +shell and rifle fire. The Berks were to enter the wadi immediately the +Bucks had left it. Behind Mughar village and its gardens the ground +falls sharply, then rises again and forms a rocky hill some 300 yards +long. There is another decline, and north of it a conical shaped hill, +also stony and barren, though before the crest is reached there is +some undulating ground which would have afforded a little cover if the +cunning Turks had not posted machine guns on it. The Dorset Yeomanry +were ordered to attack this latter hill and the Bucks Hussars the +ridge between it and Mughar village, the Berks Yeomanry to be kept in +support. There seems to be no reason for doubting that Mughar would +not have been captured that day but for the extremely brilliant charge +of these home counties yeomen. The 155th Brigade was still held fast +in that part of the wadi Janus which gave cover south-west and south +of Mughar, and after the charge had been completely successful and the +yeomanry were working forward to clear up the village a message was +received--timed 2.45 P.M., but received at 4 P.M.--which shows the +difficulties facing that very gallant infantry brigade: '52nd Division +unable to make progress. Co-operate and turn Mughar from the north.' + +It was a hot bright afternoon. The dispositions having been made, the +Bucks Hussars and Dorset Yeomanry got out of the wadi and commenced +their mounted attack, the Berks battery in the meantime having +registered on certain points. The Bucks Hussars, in column of +squadrons extended to four yards interval, advanced at a trot from +the wadi, which was 3000 yards distant from the ridge which was their +objective. Two machine guns were attached to the Bucks and two to the +Dorsets, and the other guns under Captain Patron were mounted in a +position which that officer had chosen in the wadi El Ghor from which +they could bring to bear a heavy fire almost up to the moment the +Bucks should be on the ridge. This machine-gun fire was of the highest +value, and it unquestionably kept many Turkish riflemen inactive. 'B' +squadron under Captain Bulteel, M.C., was leading, and when 1000 yards +from the objective the order was given to gallop, and horses swept +over the last portion of the plain and up the hill at a terrific pace, +the thundering hoofs raising clouds of dust. The tap-tap of machine +guns firing at the highest pressure, intense rifle fire from all parts +of the enemy position, the fierce storm of shells rained on the hill +by the Berks battery, which during the charge fired with splendid +accuracy no fewer than 200 rounds of shrapnel at a range of 3200 to +3500 yards, and the rapid fire of Turkish field guns, completely +drowned the cheers of the charging yeomen. 'C' squadron, commanded by +Lord Bosebery's son, Captain the Hon. Neil Primrose, M.C., who was +killed on the following day, made an equally dashing charge and came +up on the right of 'B' squadron. Once the cavalry had reached the +crest of the hill many of the Turks surrendered and threw down their +arms, but some retired and then, having discovered the weakness of the +cavalry, returned to some rocks on the flanks and continued the fight +at close range. Captain Primrose's squadron was vigorously attacked on +his left flank, but Captain Bulteel was able to get over the ridge and +across the rough, steep eastern side of it, and from this point he +utilised captured Turkish machine guns to put down a heavy barrage on +to the northern end of the village. 'A' squadron under Captain Lawson +then came up from Yebnah at the gallop, and with his support the whole +of the Bucks' objectives were secured and consolidated. + +The Dorset Yeomanry on the left of the Bucks had 1000 yards farther +to go, and the country they traversed was just as cracked and broken. +Their horses at the finish were quite exhausted. At the base of the +hills Captain Dammers dismounted 'A' squadron, which charged on the +left, and the squadron fought their way to the top of the ridge on +foot. The held horses were caught in a cone of machine-gun fire, and +in a space of about fifty square yards many gallant chargers perished. +'B' squadron (Major Wingfield-Digby) in the centre and 'C' squadron +(Major Gordon, M.C.) on the right, led by Colonel Sir Randolf Baker, +M.P., formed line and galloped the hill, and their horse losses were +considerably less than those of the dismounted squadron. The Berks +Yeomanry moved to the wadi El Ghor under heavy machine-gun and rifle +fire from the village and gardens on the west side, and two squadrons +were dismounted and sent into the village to clear it, the remaining +squadron riding into the plain on the eastern side of the ridge, where +they collected a number of stragglers. Dotted over this plain were +many dead Turks who fell under the fire of the Machine-Gun Squadron +while attempting to get to Ramleh. The Turkish dead were numerous and +their condition showed how thoroughly the sword had done its work. I +saw many heads cleft in twain, and Mughar was not a sweet place to +look upon and wanted a good deal of clearing up. The yeomanry took 18 +officers and 1078 other ranks prisoners, whilst fourteen machine guns +and two field guns were captured. But for the tired state of the +horses many more prisoners would have been taken, large numbers being +seen making their way along the red sand tracks to Ramleh, and +an inspection of the route on the morrow told of the pace of the +retirement brought about by the shock of contact with cavalry. Machine +guns, belts and boxes of ammunition, equipment of all kinds were +strewn about the paths, and not a few wounded Turks had given up the +effort to escape and had lain down to die. + +The casualties in the 6th Mounted Brigade were 1 officer killed and +6 wounded, 15 other ranks killed and 107 wounded and 1 missing, a +remarkably small total. Among the mortally wounded was Major de +Rothschild, who fell within sight of some of the Jewish colonies which +his family had founded. Two hundred and sixty-five horses and two +mules were killed and wounded in the action. + +Mughar was a great cavalry triumph, and the regiments which took part +in it confirmed the good opinions formed of them in this theatre +of war. The Dorsets had already made a spirited charge against the +Senussi in the Western Desert in 1916,[1] and having suffered from the +white arm once those misguided Arabs never gave the cavalry another +chance of getting near them. The Bucks and Berks, too, had taken part +in that swift and satisfactory campaign. All three regiments on the +following day were to make another charge, this time on one of the +most famous sites in the battle history of Palestine. The 6th Mounted +Brigade moved no farther on the day of Mughar because the 22nd Mounted +Brigade, when commencing an attack on Akir, the old Philistine city of +Ekron, were counter-attacked on their left. During the night, however, +the Turks in Akir probably heard the full story of Mughar, and did not +wait long for a similar action against them. The 22nd Mounted Brigade +drove them out early next morning, and they went rapidly away across +the railway at Naaneh, leaving in our hands the railway guard of +seventy men, and seeking the bold crest of Abu Shushe. They moved, as +I shall presently tell, out of the frying-pan into the fire. + +[Footnote 1: _The Desert Campaigns_: Constable.] + +The 155th Infantry which helped to finish up the Mughar business took +a gun and fourteen machine guns. Then with the remainder of the 52nd +Division it had a few hours of hard-earned rest. The Division had had +a severe time, but the men bore their trials with the fortitude of +their race and with a spirit which could not be beaten. For several +days, when water was holding up the cavalry, the Lowlanders kept ahead +of the mounted troops, and one battalion fought and marched sixty-nine +miles in seven days. Their training was as complete as any infantry, +even the regimental stretcher-bearers being taught the use of Lewis +guns, and on more than one occasion the bearers went for the enemy +with Mills bombs till a position was captured and they were required +to tend the wounded. A Stokes-gun crew found their weapon very useful +in open warfare, and at one place where machine guns had got on to a +large party of Turks and enclosed them in a box barrage, the Stokes +gun searched every corner of the area and finished the whole party. +The losses inflicted by the Scots were exceptionally severe. Farther +eastwards on the 13th, the 75th Division had also been giving of +its best. The objective of this Division was the important Junction +Station on the Turks' Jaffa-Jerusalem railway, and a big step forward +was made in the early afternoon by the overcoming of a stubborn +resistance at Mesmiyeh, troops rushing the village from the south and +capturing 292 prisoners and 7 machine guns. The 234th Brigade began +an advance on Junction Station during the night, but were strongly +counter-attacked and had to halt till the morning, when at dawn they +secured the best positions on the rolling downs west of the station, +and by 7.30 the station itself was occupied. Two engines and 45 +vehicles were found intact; two large guns on trucks and over 100 +prisoners were also taken. The enemy shelled the station during the +morning, trying in vain to damage his lost rolling stock. This booty +was of immense value to us, and to a large extent it solved the +transport problem which at this moment was a very anxious one indeed. +The line was metre gauge and we had no stock to fit it, though later +the Egyptian State Railways brought down some engines and trucks from +the Luxor-Assouan section, but this welcome aid was not available +till after the rains had begun and had made lorry traffic temporarily +impossible between our standard gauge railhead and our fighting front. +Junction Station was no sooner occupied than a light-railway staff +under Colonel O'Brien was brought up from Beit Hanun. The whole of the +line to Deir Sineid was not in running order, but broken culverts were +given minor repairs, attention was bestowed on trucks, and the engines +were closely examined while the Turks were shelling the station. The +water tanks had been destroyed, as a result of which two men spent +hours in filling up the engines by means of a water jug and basin +found in the station buildings, and the Turks had the mortification of +seeing these engines steam out of the station during the morning to +a cutting which was effective cover from their field-gun fire. The +light-railway staff were highly delighted at their success, and the +trains which they soon had running over their little system were +indeed a boon and a blessing to the fighting men and horses. + +On this morning of November 14 the infantry were operating with Desert +Mounted Corps' troops on both their wings. The Australian Mounted +Division was on the right, fighting vigorous actions with the enemy +rearguards secreted in the irregular, rocky foothills of the Shephelah +which stand as ramparts to the Judean Mountains. It was a difficult +task to drive the Turks out of these fastnesses, and while they held +on to them it was almost impossible to outflank some of the places +like Et Tineh, a railway station and camp of some importance on the +line to Beersheba. They had already had some stiff fighting at Tel el +Safi, the limestone hill which was the White Guard of the Crusaders. +The Division suffered severely from want of water, particularly the +5th Mounted Brigade, and it was necessary to transfer to it the 7th +Mounted Brigade and the 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade. On the +left of the infantry the Yeomanry Mounted Division was moving forward +from Akir and Mansura, and after the 22nd Mounted Brigade had taken +Naaneh they detailed a demolition party to blow up one mile of +railway, so that, even if the 75th Division had not taken Junction +Station, Jerusalem would have been entirely cut off from railway +communication with the Turkish base at Tul Keram, and Haifa and +Damascus. + +Between Naaneh and Mansura the 6th Mounted Brigade was preparing for +another dashing charge. The enemy who had been opposing us for two +days consisted of remnants of two divisions of both the Turkish VIIth +and VIIIth Armies brought together and hurriedly reorganised. The +victory at Mughar had almost, if not quite, split the force in two, +that is to say that portion of the line which had been given the duty +of holding Mughar had been so weakened by heavy casualties, and the +loss of moral consequent upon the shock of the cavalry charge, that +it had fallen back to Ramleh and Ludd and was incapable of further +serious resistance. There was still a strong and virile force on the +seaside, though that was adequately dealt with, but the centre was +very weak, and the enemy's only chance of preventing the mounted +troops from working through and round his right centre was to fall +back on Abu Shushe and Tel Jezar to cover Latron, with its good water +supply and the main metalled road where it enters the hills on the way +to Jerusalem. The loss of Tel Jezar meant that we could get to Latron +and the Vale of Ajalon, and the action of the 6th Mounted Brigade on +the morning of the 14th gave it to us. + +The Berks Yeomanry had had outposts on the railway south-east of +Naaneh since before dawn. They had seen the position the previous day, +and at dawn sent forward a squadron dismounted to engage the machine +guns posted in the walled-in house at the north of the village. From +the railway to the Abu Shushe ridge is about three miles of up and +down country with two or three rises of sufficient height to afford +some cover to advancing cavalry. General Godwin arranged that six +machine guns should go forward to give covering fire, and, supported +by the Berks battery R.H.A. from a good position half a mile west +of the railway, the Bucks Hussars were to deliver a mounted attack +against the hill, with the assistance on their left of two squadrons +of Berks Yeomanry. The Dorset Yeomanry were moved up to the red hill +of Melat into support. + +At seven o'clock the attack started, the 22nd Mounted Brigade +operating on foot on the left. The Bucks Hussars, taking advantage of +all the dead ground, galloped about a mile and a half until they came +to a dip behind a gently rising mound, when, it being clear that the +enemy held the whole ridge in strength, Colonel Cripps signalled to +Brigade Headquarters at Melat for support. The Dorset Yeomanry moved +out to the right of the Bucks, and the latter then charged the hill a +little south of the village and captured it. It was a fine effort. The +sides of the hill were steep with shelves of rock, and the crest was a +mass of stones and boulders, while from some caves, one or two of them +quite big places, the Turks had machine guns in action. When the Bucks +were charging there was a good deal of machine-gun fire from the +right, but the Dorsets dealt with this very speedily, assisted by the +Berks battery which had also moved forward to a near position from +which they could command the ridge in flank. A hostile counter-attack +developed against the Dorsets, but this was crushed by the Berks +battery and some of the 52nd Division's guns. Two squadrons of the +Berks Yeomanry in the meantime had charged on the left of the Bucks +and secured the hill immediately to the south-east of Abu Shushe +village, and at nine o'clock the whole of this strong position was +in our hands, the brigade having sustained the extremely slight +casualties of three officers and thirty-four other ranks killed and +wounded. So small a cost of life was a wonderful tribute to good and +dashing leading, and furnished another example of cavalry's power when +moving rapidly in extended formation. To the infinite regret of the +brigade, indeed of the whole of General Allenby's Army, one of the +officers killed that day was the Hon. Neil Primrose, an intrepid +leader who, leaving the comfort and safety of a Ministerial +appointment, answered the call of duty to be with his squadron of the +Bucks Hussars. He was a fine soldier and a favourite among his men, +and he died as a good cavalryman would wish, shot through the head +when leading his squadron in a glorious charge. His body rests in the +garden of the French convent at Ramleh not far from the spot where +humbler soldiers take their long repose, and these graves within +visual range of the tomb of St. George, our patron saint, will stand +as memorials of those Britons who forsook ease to obey the stern call +of duty to their race and country. + +The overwhelming nature of this victory is illustrated by a comparison +of the losses on the two sides. Whereas ours were 37 all told, we +counted between 400 and 500 dead Turks on the field, and the enemy +left with us 360 prisoners and some material. The extraordinary +disparity between the losses can only be accounted for first by the +care taken to lead the cavalry along every depression in the ground, +and secondly by rapidity of movement. The cavalry were confronted by +considerable shell fire, and the volume of machine-gun fire was heavy, +though it was kept down a good deal by the covering fire of the 17th +Machine Gun Squadron. + +I have referred to the importance of Jezar as dominating the +approaches to Latron on the north-east and Ramleh on the north-west. +Jezar, as we call it on our maps, has been a stronghold since men of +all races and creeds, coloured and white, Pagan, Mahomedan, Jew, and +Christian, fought in Palestine. It is a spot which many a great leader +of legions has coveted, and to its military history our home county +yeomen have added another brilliant page. Let me quote the description +of Jezar from George Adam Smith's _Historical Geography of the Holy +Land_, a book of fascinating interest to all students of the Sacred +History which many of the soldiers in General Allenby's Army read with +great profit to themselves: + +'One point in the Northern Shephelah round which these tides of war +have swept deserves special notice--Gezer, or Gazar. It is one of the +few remarkable bastions which the Shephelah flings out to the west--on +a ridge running towards Ramleh, the most prominent object in view of +the traveller from Jaffa towards Jerusalem. It is high and isolated, +but fertile and well watered--a very strong post and striking +landmark. Its name occurs in the Egyptian correspondence of the +fourteenth century, where it is described as being taken from the +Egyptian vassals by the tribes whose invasion so agitates that +correspondence. A city of the Canaanites, under a king of its +own--Horam--Gezer is not given as one of Joshua's conquests, though +the king is; but the Israelites drave not out the Canaanites who dwelt +at Gezer, and in the hands of these it remained till its conquest by +Egypt when Pharaoh gave it, with his daughter, to Solomon and Solomon +rebuilt it. Judas Maccabeus was strategist enough to gird himself +early to the capture of Gezer, and Simon fortified it to cover the way +to the harbour of Joppa and caused John his son, the captain of the +host, to dwell there. It was virtually, therefore, the key of Judea at +a time when Judea's foes came down the coast from the north; and, with +Joppa, it formed part of the Syrian demands upon the Jews. But this is +by no means the last of it. M. Clermont Ganneau, who a number of years +ago discovered the site, has lately identified Gezer with the Mont +Gisart of the Crusades. Mont Gisart was a castle and feif in the +county of Joppa, with an abbey of St. Katharine of Mont Gisart, "whose +prior was one of the five suffragans of the Bishop of Lydda." It was +the scene, on the 24th November 1174, seventeen years before the Third +Crusade, of a victory won by a small army from Jerusalem under the +boy-king, the leper Baldwin IV., against a very much larger army under +Saladin himself, and, in 1192, Saladin encamped upon it during his +negotiations for a truce with Richard. + +'Shade of King Horam, what hosts of men have fallen round that citadel +of yours. On what camps and columns has it looked down through the +centuries, since first you saw the strange Hebrews burst with the +sunrise across the hills, and chase your countrymen down Ajalon--that +day when the victors felt the very sun conspiring with them to achieve +the unexampled length of battle. Within sight of every Egyptian and +every Assyrian invasion of the land, Gezer has also seen Alexander +pass by, and the legions of Rome in unusual flight, and the armies of +the Cross struggle, waver and give way, and Napoleon come and go. If +all could rise who have fallen around its base--Ethiopians, Hebrews, +Assyrians, Arabs, Turcomans, Greeks, Romans, Celts, Saxons, +Mongols--what a rehearsal of the Judgment Day it would be. Few of +the travellers who now rush across the plain realise that the first +conspicuous hill they pass in Palestine is also one of the most +thickly haunted--even in that narrow land into which history has so +crowded itself. But upon the ridge of Gezer no sign of all this now +remains, except in the Tel Jezer, and in a sweet hollow to the north, +beside a fountain, where lie the scattered Christian stone of Deir +Warda, the Convent of the Rose. + +'Up none of the other valleys of the Shephelah has history surged as +up and down Ajalon and past Gezer, for none are so open to the north, +nor present so easy a passage to Jerusalem.' + + + +CHAPTER XII + +LOOKING TOWARDS JERUSALEM + + +The Anzac Mounted Division had only the 1st Australian Light Horse and +the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade operating with it on the 14th. +The Australians, by the evening, were in the thick olive groves on the +south of Ramleh, and on the ridges about Surafend. On their left the +Turks were violently opposing the New Zealanders who were working +along the sand-dunes with the port and town of Jaffa as their ultimate +objective. There was one very fierce struggle in the course of the +day. A force attacked a New Zealand regiment in great strength and for +the moment secured the advantage, but the regiment got to grips with +the enemy with hand-grenades and bayonets, and so completely repulsed +them that they fled in hopeless disorder leaving many dead and wounded +behind them. It was unfortunate that there was no mobile reserve +available for pursuit, as the Turks were in such a plight that a large +number would have been rounded up. General Cox's brigade seized Ramleh +on the morning of the 15th, taking ninety prisoners, and then advanced +and captured Ludd, being careful that no harm should come to the +building which holds the grave of St. George. In Ludd 360 prisoners +were taken, and the brigade carried out a good deal of demolition work +on the railway running north. The New Zealanders made Jaffa by noon +on the 16th, the Turks evacuating the town during the morning without +making any attempt to destroy it, though there was one gross piece of +vandalism in a Christian cemetery where monuments and tombstones had +been thrown down and broken. In the meantime, in order to protect the +rear of the infantry, five battalions of the 52nd Division with three +batteries were stationed at Yebnah, Mughar, and Akir until they could +be relieved by units of the 54th Division advancing from Gaza. To +enable the 54th to move, the transport lent to the 52nd and 75th +Divisions had to be returned, which did not make the supply of those +divisions any easier. The main line of railway was still a long way in +the rear, and the landing of stores by the Navy at the mouth of the +wadi Sukereir had not yet begun. A little later, and before Jaffa had +been made secure enough for the use of ships, many thousands of tons +of supplies and ammunition were put ashore at the wadi's mouth, and at +a time when heavy rains damaged the newly constructed railway tracks +the Sukereir base of supply was an inestimable boon. Yet there were +times when the infantry had a bare day's supply with them, though +they had their iron rations to fall back upon. It speaks well for +the supply branch that in the long forward move of XXIst Corps the +infantry were never once put on short rations. + +While the 54th were coming up to take over from the 52nd, plans were +prepared for the further advance on Jerusalem. The Commander-in-Chief +was deeply anxious that there should be no fighting of any description +near the Holy Places, and he gave the Turks a chance of being +chivalrous and of accepting the inevitable. We had got so far that the +ancient routes taken by armies which had captured Jerusalem were just +before us. The Turkish forces were disorganised by heavy and repeated +defeats, the men demoralised and not in good condition, and there was +no hope for them that they could receive sufficient reinforcements +to enable them to stave off the ultimate capture of Bethlehem and +Jerusalem, though as events proved they could still put up a stout +defence. We know from papers taken from the enemy that the Turks +believed General Allenby intended to go right up the plain to get +to the defile leading to Messudieh and Nablus and thus threaten the +Hedjaz railway, in which case the position of the enemy in the Holy +City would be hopeless, and the Turks formed an assault group of three +infantry divisions in the neighbourhood of Tul Keram to prevent this, +and continued to hold on to Jerusalem. General Allenby proposed to +strike through the hills to the north-east to try to get across the +Jerusalem-Nablus road about Bireh (the ancient Beeroth), and in this +operation success would have enabled him to cut off the enemy forces +in and about the Holy City, when their only line of retreat would have +been through Jericho and the east of the Jordan. The Turks decided +to oppose this plan and to make us fight for Jerusalem. That was +disappointing, but in the end it could not have suited us better, for +it showed to our own people and to the world how after the Turks had +declined an opportunity of showing a desire to preserve the Holy +Places from attack--an opportunity prompted by our strength, not by +any fear that victory could not be won--General Allenby was still able +to achieve his great objective without a drop of blood being spilled +near any of the Holy Sites, and without so much as a stray rifle +bullet searing any of their walls. That indeed was the triumph of +military practice, and when Jerusalem fell for the twenty-third time, +and thus for the first time passed into the hands of British soldiers, +the whole force felt that the sacrifices which had been made on the +gaunt forbidding hills to the north-west were worth the price, and +that the graves of Englishman, Scot and Colonial, of Gurkha, Punjabi, +and Sikh, were monuments to the honour of British arms. The scheme was +that the 75th Division would advance along the main Jerusalem road, +which cuts into the hills about three miles east of Latron, and occupy +Kuryet el Enab, and that the Lowland Division should go through Ludd, +strike eastwards and advance to Beit Likia to turn from the north the +hills through which the road passes, the Yeomanry Mounted Division +on the left flank of the 52nd Division to press on to Bireh, on the +Nablus road about a dozen miles north of Jerusalem. A brief survey +of the country to be attacked would convince even a civilian of the +extreme difficulties of the undertaking. North and east of Latron +(which was not yet ours) frown the hills which constitute this +important section of the Judean range, the backbone of Palestine. +The hills are steep and high, separated one from another by narrow +valleys, clothed here and there with fir and olive trees, but +elsewhere a mass of rocks and boulders, bare and inhospitable. +Practically every hill commands another. There is only one road--the +main one--and this about three miles east of Latron passes up a narrow +defile with rugged mountains on either side. There is an old Roman +road to the north, but, unused for centuries, it is now a road only in +name, the very trace of it being lost in many places. In this strong +country men fought of old, and the defenders not infrequently held +their own against odds. It is pre-eminently suitable for defence, and +if the warriors of the past found that flint-tipped shafts of wood +would keep the invader at bay, how much more easily could a modern +army equipped with rifles of precision and machine guns adapt Nature +to its advantage? It will always be a marvel to me how in a country +where one machine gun in defence could hold up a battalion, we made +such rapid progress, and how having got so deep into the range it was +possible for us to feed our front. We had no luck with the weather. +In advancing over the plain the troops had suffered from the abnormal +heat, and many of the wells had been destroyed or damaged by the +retreating enemy. In the hills the troops had to endure heavy rains +and piercingly cold winds, with mud a foot deep on the roads and +the earth so slippery on the hills that only donkey transport was +serviceable. Yet despite all adverse circumstances the infantry and +yeomanry pressed on, and if they did not secure all objectives, their +dash, resource, and magnificent determination at least paved the way +for ultimate triumph. + +To the trials of hard fighting and marching on field rations the wet +added a severe test of physical endurance. The troops were in enemy +country where they scrupulously avoided every native village, and no +wall or roof stood to shelter them from wind or water. The heat of +the first two weeks of November changed with a most undesirable +suddenness, and though the days continued agreeably warm on the plain +into December, the nights became chilly and then desperately cold. The +single blanket carried in the pack--most of the infantry on the march +had no blanket at all--did not give sufficient warmth to men whose +blood had been thinned by long months of work under a pitiless Eastern +sun, and lucky was the soldier who secured even broken sleep in the +early morning hours of that fighting march across the northern part of +the Maritime Plain. The Generals, with one eye on the enemy and the +other on the weather, must have been dismayed in the third week of +November at the gathering storm clouds which in bursting flooded the +plain with rains unusually heavy for this period of the year. The +surface is a very light cotton soil several feet deep. When baked by +summer sun it has a cracked hard crust giving a firm foothold for man +and horse, and yielding only slightly to the wheels of light cars; +even laden lorries made easy tracks over the country. The lorries +generally kept off the ill-made unrolled Turkish road which had been +constructed for winter use and, except for slight deviations to avoid +wadis and gullies cut by Nature to carry off surplus water, the supply +columns could move in almost as direct a course as the flying men. +When the heavens opened all this was altered. The first storm turned +the top into a slippery, greasy mass. In an hour or two the rain +soaked down into the light earth, and any lorry driver pulling out of +the line to avoid a skidding vehicle ahead, had the almost certainty +of finding his car and load come to a full stop with the wheels held +fast axle deep in the soft soil. An hour's hard digging, the fixing +of planks beneath the wheels, and a towing cable from another lorry +sometimes got the machine on to the pressed-down track again and +enabled it to move ahead for a few miles, but many were the supply +vehicles that had to wait for a couple of sunny days to dry a path for +them. + +My own experience of the first of the winter rains was so like that of +others in the force who moved on wheels that I may give some idea of +the conditions by recounting it. We had taken Ludd and Ramleh, and +guided by the ruined tower of the Church of the Forty Martyrs I had +followed in the cavalry's wake. I dallied on the way back to see if +Akir presented to the latter-day Crusader any signs of its former +strength when it stood as the Philistine stronghold of Ekron. Near +where the old city had been the ghastly sight of Turks cut down by +yeomanry during a hot pursuit offended the senses of sight and smell, +and when you saw natives moving towards their village at a rate +somewhat in excess of their customary shuffling gait you were almost +led to think that their superstitious fears were driving them home +before sundown lest darkness should raise the ghosts of the Turkish +dead. A few of the Jewish settlers, whose industry has improved the +landscape, were leaving the fields and orchards they tended so well, +though there was still more than an hour of daylight and their tasks +were not yet done. They were weatherwise. They could have been deaf to +the rumblings in the south and still have noticed the coming of the +storm. I was some forty miles from the spot at which my despatch could +be censored and passed over land wire and cable to London, when a +vivid lightning flash warned me that the elements were in forbidding +mood and that I had misread the obvious signal of the natives' +homeward movement. + +The map showed a path from Akir through Mansura towards Junction +Station, from which the so-called Turkish road ran south. In the +gathering gloom my driver picked up wheel tracks through an olive +orchard and, crossing a nullah, found the marks of a Ford car's wheels +on the other side. The rain fell heavily and soon obliterated all +signs of a car's progress, and with darkness coming on there was +a prospect of a shivering night with a wet skin in the open. An +Australian doctor going up to his regiment at grips with the Turk told +me that he had no doubt we were on the right road, for he had been +given a line through Mansura, which must be the farmhouse ahead of us. +These Australians have a keen nose for country and you have a sense +of security in following them. The doctor's horse was slipping in the +mud, but my car made even worse going. It skidded to right and left, +and only by the skill and coolness of my driver was I saved a ducking +in a narrow wadi now full of storm water. After much low-gear work we +pulled up a slight rise and saw ahead of us one or two little fires. +Under the lee of a dilapidated wall some Scottish infantry were +brewing tea and making the most of a slight shelter. It was Mansura, +and if we bore to the right and kept the track beaten down by lorries +across a field we might, by the favour of fortune, reach Junction +Station during the night. The Scots had arranged a bivouac in that +field before it became sodden. They knew how bad it had got, and a +native instinct to be hospitable prompted an invitation to share the +fire for the night. However, London was waiting for news and I decided +to press on. The road could not be worse than the sea of mud in which +I was floundering, and it might be better. We turned right-handed +and after a struggle came up against three lorry drivers hopelessly +marooned. They had turned in. Up a greasy bank we came to a stop and +slid back. We tried again and failed. I relieved the car of my weight +and made an effort to push it from behind, but my feet held fast in +the mud and the car cannoned into me when it skidded downhill. 'Better +give it up till the morning,' said an M.T. driver whose sleep was +disturbed by the running of our engine. 'Can't? Who've you got there? +Eh? Oh, very well. Here, Jim, give them a hand or we'll have no sleep +to-night'--or words to that effect. Three of the lorry men and the +engine got us on the move, and before they took mud back with them to +the dry interiors of the lorries they hoped, they said, that we would +reach G.H.Q., but declared that it was hopeless to try. + +Before getting much farther a light, waved ahead of us, told of some +one held up. I walked on and found General Butler, the chief of the +Army Veterinary Service with the Force, unable to move an inch. The +efforts of two drivers failed to locate the trouble, and everything +removable was taken off the General's car and put into ours, and with +the heavier load we started off again for Junction Station. This was +not difficult to pick up, for there were many flares burning to enable +working parties to repair engines, rolling stock, and permanent way. +We got on to the road ultimately, carrying more mud on our feet than I +imagined human legs could lift. Leaving a driver and all spare gear at +the station, we thrashed our way along a road metalled with a soft, +friable limestone which had been cut into by the iron-shod wheels of +German lorries until the ruts were fully a foot deep, and the soft +earth foundation was oozing through to the surface. It was desperately +hard to steer a course on this treacherous highway, and a number of +lorries we passed had gone temporarily out of action in ditches. The +Germans with the Turks had blown up most of the culverts, and the road +bridges which had been destroyed had only been lightly repaired with +planks and trestles, no safety rails being in position. To negotiate +these dangerous paths in the dark the driver had to put on all +possible speed and make a dash for it, and he usually got to the other +side before a skid became serious. Most of the lorry drivers put out +no light because they thought no car would be able to move on such a +night, and we had several narrow escapes of finishing our career on a +half-sunken supply motor vehicle. + +Reinforcements for infantry battalions moved up the road as we came +down it. They were going to the front to take the place of casualties, +for weather and mud are not considered when bayonets are wanted in the +line. So the stolid British infantryman splashed and slipped his way +towards the enemy, and he would probably have been sleeping that night +if there had not been a risk of his drowning in the mud. The Camel +Transport Corps fought the elements with a courage which deserved +better luck. The camel dislikes many things and is afraid of some. But +if he is capable of thinking at all he regards mud as his greatest +enemy. He cannot stand up in it, and if he slips he has not an +understanding capable of realising that if all his feet do not go +the same way he must spread-eagle and split up. This is what often +happens, but if by good luck a camel should go down sideways he seems +quite content to stay there, and he is so refractory that he prefers +to die rather than help himself to his feet again. On this wild night +I had a good opportunity of seeing white officers encourage the +Egyptian boys in the Camel Transport Corps. At Julis the roadway +passes through the village. There was an ambulance column in +difficulties in the village, and while some cars were being extricated +a camel supply column came up in the opposite direction. The camels +liked neither the headlights nor the running engines, and these had to +be made dark and silent before they would pass. The water was running +over the roadway several inches deep, carrying with it a mass of +garbage and filth which only Arab villagers would tolerate. Officers +and Gyppies coaxed and wheedled the stubborn beasts through Julis, +but outside the place the animals raised a chorus of protest and went +down. They held me up for an hour or more, and though officers and +boys did their utmost to get them going again it was a fruitless +effort, and the poor beasts were off-loaded where they lay. That night +of rain and thunder, wind and cold, was bad alike for man and beast, +but beyond a flippant remark of some soldier doing his best and the +curious chant of the Gyppies' chorus you heard nothing. Tommy could +not trust himself to talk about the weather. It was too bad for words, +for even the strongest. + +It took our car ten hours to run forty miles, and as the last ten +miles was over wet sand and on rabbit wire stretched across the +sand where the car could do fifteen miles an hour, we had averaged +something under three miles an hour through the mud. Wet through, +cold, with a face rendered painful to the touch by driven rain, I +reached my tent with a feeling of thankfulness for myself and deep +sympathy for the tens of thousands of brave boys enduring intense +discomfort and fatigue, coupled with the fear of short rations for the +next day or two. The men in the hills which they were just entering +had a worse time than those in the waterlogged plain, but no storms +could damp their enthusiasm. They were beating your enemies and mine, +and they were facing a goal which Britain had never yet won. Jerusalem +the Golden was before them, and the honour and glory of winning it +from the Turk was a prize to attain which no sacrifice was too great. +Those who did not say so behaved in a way to show that they felt it. +They were very gallant, perfect knights, these soldiers of the King. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +INTO THE JUDEAN HILLS + + +When the 52nd Division were moving out of Ludd on the 19th November +the 75th Division were fighting hard about Latron, where the Turks +held the monastery and its beautiful gardens and the hill about Amwas +until late in the morning. Having driven them out, the 75th pushed +on to gain the pass into the hills and to begin two days of fighting +which earned the unstinted praise of General Bulfin who witnessed it. +For nearly three miles from Latron the road passes through a flat +valley flanked by hills till it reaches a guardhouse and khan at the +foot of the pass which then rises rapidly to Saris, the difference +in elevation in less than four miles being 1400 feet. Close to the +guardhouse begin the hills which tower above the road. The Turks had +constructed defences on these hills and held them with riflemen and +machine guns, so that these positions dominated all approaches. Our +guns had few positions from which to assist the infantry, but they did +sterling service wherever possible. In General Palin the Division +had a commander with wide experience of hill fighting on the Indian +frontier, and he brought that experience to bear in a way which must +have dumb-founded the enemy. Frontal attacks were impossible and +suicidal, and each position had to be turned by a wide movement +started a long way in rear. All units in the Division did well, the +Gurkhas particularly well, and by a continual encircling of their +flanks the Turks were compelled to leave their fastnesses and fall +back to new hill crests. Thus outwitted and outmatched the enemy +retreated to Saris, a high hill with a commanding view of the pass for +half a mile. The hill is covered with olive trees and has a village on +its eastern slope, and as the road winds at its foot and then takes +a left-handed turn to Kuryet el Enab its value for defence was +considerable. + +The Turks had taken advantage of the cover to place a large body of +defenders with machine guns on the hill, but with every condition +unfavourable to us the 75th Division had routed out the enemy before +three o'clock and were ready to move forward as soon as the guns +could get up the pass. Rain was falling heavily, the road surface was +clinging and treacherous, and, worse still, the road had been blown up +in several places. The guns could not advance to be of service that +day, and the infantry had, therefore, to remain where they were for +the night. There was a good deal of sniping, but Nature was more +unkind than the enemy, who received more than he gave. The troops were +wearing light summer clothing, drill shorts and tunics, and the sudden +change from the heat and dryness of the plain to bitter cold and wet +was a desperate trial, especially to the Indian units, who had little +sleep that night. They needed rest to prepare them for the rigour of +the succeeding day. A drenching rain turned the whole face of the +mountains, where earth covered rock, into a sea of mud. On the +positions about Saris being searched a number of prisoners were taken, +among them a battalion commander. Men captured in the morning told us +there were six Turkish battalions holding Enab, which is something +under two miles from Saris. + +The road proceeds up a rise from Saris, then falling slightly it +passes below the crest of a ridge and again climbs to the foot of a +hill on which a red-roofed convent church and buildings stand as a +landmark that can be seen from Jaffa. On the opposite side of the road +is a substantial house, the summer retreat of the German Consul in +Jerusalem, whose staff traded in Jordan Holy Water; and this house, +now empty, sheltered a divisional general from the bad weather while +the operations for the capture of the Holy City were in preparation. I +have a grateful recollection of this building, for in it the military +attachés and I stayed before the Official Entry into Jerusalem, and +its roof saved us from one inclement night on the bleak hills. On the +20th November the Turks did their best to keep the place under German +ownership. The hill on which it stands was well occupied by men under +cover of thick stone walls, the convent gardens on the opposite side +of the highway was packed with Turkish infantry, and across the deep +valley to the west were guns and riflemen on another hill, all of them +holding the road under the best possible observation. The enemy's +howitzers put down a heavy barrage on all approaches, and on the +reverse of the hill covering the village lying in the hollow +there were machine guns and many men. Reconnaissances showed the +difficulties attending an attack, and it was not until the afternoon +that a plan was ready to be put into execution. No weak points in the +defences could be discovered, and just as it seemed possible that a +daylight attack would be held up, a thick mist rolled up the valley +and settled down over Enab. The 2/3rd Gurkhas seized a welcomed +opportunity, and as the light was failing the shrill, sharp notes +of these gallant hillmen and the deep-throated roar of the 1/5th +Somersets told that a weighty bayonet charge had got home, and that +the keys of the enemy position had been won. The men of the bold 75th +went beyond Enab in the dark, and also out along the old Roman road +towards Biddu to deny the Turks a point from which they could see the +road as it fell away from the Enab ridge towards the wadi Ikbala. That +night many men sought the doubtful shelter of olive groves, and built +stone sangars to break the force of a biting wind. A few, as many as +could be accommodated, were welcomed by the monks in a monastery in +a fold in the hills, whilst some rested and were thankful in a crypt +beneath the monks' church, the oldest part of the building, believed +to be the work of sixth-century masons. The monks had a tale of woe to +tell. They had been proud to have as their guest the Latin Patriarch +in Jerusalem, who was a French protégé, and this high ecclesiastic +remained at the monastery till November 17, when Turkish gendarmerie +carried him away. The Spanish Consul in Jerusalem lodged a vigorous +protest, and, so the monks were told, he was supported by the German +Commandant. But to no purpose, for when General Allenby entered +Jerusalem he learned that the Latin Patriarch had been removed to +Damascus. For quite a long time the monks did many kindly things for +our troops. They gave up the greater part of the monastery and church +for use as a hospital, and many a sick man was brought back to health +by rest within those ancient walls. Some, alas, there were whose +wounds were mortal, and a number lie in the monks' secluded garden. +They have set up wooden crosses over them, and we may be certain that +in that quiet sequestered spot their remains will rest in peace and +will have the protection of the monks as surely as it has been given +to the grave of the Roman centurion which faces those of our brave +boys who fell on the same soil fighting the same good fight. + +While the 75th Division were making their magnificent effort at Enab +the Lowlanders had breasted other and equally difficult hills to the +north. General Hill had posted a strong force at Beit Likia, and then +moved south-east along the route prepared by Cestius Gallus nearly +1900 years ago to the height of Beit Anan, and thence east again +to Beit Dukku. On the 21st the road and ground near it were in +exceedingly bad condition, and the difficulty of moving anything on +wheels along it could hardly have been greater. Already the 52nd +Division had realised it was hopeless to get all their divisional +artillery into action, and only three sections of artillery were +brought up, the horses of the guns sent back to Ramleh being used to +double the teams in the three advanced sections. It was heavy work, +too, for infantry who not only had to carry the weight of mud-caked +boots, but were handicapped by continual slipping upon the rocky +ground. The 75th advancing along the road from Enab to Kustul got an +idea of the Turkish lack of attention to the highway, the main road +being deep in mud and full of dangerous ruts. They won Kustul about +midday, and officers who climbed to the top got their first glimpse +of the outskirts of Jerusalem from the ruined walls of a Roman castle +that gives its name to the little village perched on the height. They +did not, however, see much beyond the Syrian colony behind the main +Turkish defences, and the first view of Jerusalem by the troops of +the British Army was obtained by General Maclean's brigade when they +advanced from Biddu to Nebi Samwil, that crowning height on which many +centuries before Richard the Lion Heart buried his face in his casque +and exclaimed: 'Lord God, I pray that I may never see Thy Holy City, +if so be that I may not rescue it from the hands of Thine enemies.' + +What a fight it was for Nebi Samwil! The Turk had made it his advanced +work for his main line running from El Jib through Bir Nabala, Beit +Iksa to Lifta, as strong a chain of entrenched mountains as any +commander could desire. General Maclean's brigade advanced from Biddu +along the side of a ridge and up the exposed steep slope of Nebi +Samwil, not all of which, in the only direction he could select for an +advance, was terraced, as it was on the Turks' side. He was all +the time confronted by heavy artillery and rifle fire, and, though +supported by guns firing at long range from the neighbourhood of Enab, +he could not make Nebi Samwil in daylight. Round the top of the hill +the Turk had dug deeply into the stony earth. He knew the value +of that hill. From its crest good observation was obtained in all +directions, and if, when we had to attack the main Jerusalem defences +on December 8, the summit of Nebi Samwil had still been in Turkish +hands, not a movement of troops as they issued from the bed of the +wadi Surar and climbed the rough face of the western buttresses of +Jerusalem would have escaped notice. The brigade won the hill and held +it just before midnight, but the battle for the crest ebbed and flowed +for days with terrific violence, we never giving up possession of it, +though it was stormed again and again by an enemy who, it is fair to +admit, displayed fine courage and not a little skill. That hill-top at +this period had to submit to a thunderous bombardment, and the Mosque +of Nebi Samwil became a battered shell. Here are supposed to lie the +remains of the Prophet Samuel. The tradition may or may not be well +founded, but at any rate Mahomedans and Christians alike have held +the place in veneration for centuries. The Turk paid no regard to the +sanctity of the Mosque, and, as it was of military importance to him +that we should not hold it, he shelled it daily with all his available +guns, utterly destroying it. There may be cases where the Turks will +deny that they damaged a Holy Place. They could not hide their guilt +on Nebi Samwil. I was at pains to examine the Mosque and the immediate +surroundings, and the photographs I took are proof that the wreckage +of this church came from artillery fired from the east and north, the +direction of the Turkish gun-pits. It is possible we are apt to be +a little too sentimental about the destruction in war of a place of +worship. If a general has reason to think that a tower or minaret +is being used as an observation post, or that a church or mosque is +sheltering a body of troops, there are those who hold that he is +justified in deliberately planning its destruction, but here was a +sacred building with associations held in reverence by all classes and +creeds in a land where these things are counted high, and to have set +about wrecking it was a crime. The German influence over the Turk +asserted itself, as it did in the heavy fighting after we had taken +Jerusalem. We had batteries on the Mount of Olives and the Turk +searched for them, but they never fired one round at the Kaiserin +Augusta Victoria Hospice near by. That had been used as Falkenhayn's +headquarters. General Chetwode occupied it as his Corps Headquarters +soon after he entered Jerusalem. There was a wireless installation and +the Turks could see the coming and going of the Corps' motor cars. I +have watched operations from a summer-house in the gardens, and no +enemy plane could pass over the building without discovering the +purpose to which it was put. And there were spies. But not one shell +fell within the precincts of the hospice because it was a German +building, containing the statues of the Kaiser and Kaiserin, and (oh, +the taste of the Hun!) with effigies of the Kaiser and his consort +painted in the roof of the chapel not far from a picture of the +Saviour. Britain is rebuilding what the Turks destroyed, and there +will soon arise on Nebi Samwil a new mosque to show Mahomedans that +tolerance and freedom abide under our flag. + +When the 75th Division were making the attack on Nebi Samwil the 52nd +Division put all the men they could spare on to the task of making +roads. To be out of the firing line did not mean rest. In fact, as +far as physical exertion went, it was easier to be fighting than in +reserve. From sunrise till dark and often later the roadmakers were at +work with pick, shovel, and crowbar, and the tools were not too many +for the job. The gunners joined in the work and managed to take their +batteries over the roads long before they were considered suitable +for other wheels. The battery commanders sometimes selected firing +positions which appeared quite inaccessible to any one save a mountain +climber, but the guns got there and earned much credit for their +teams. + +On the 22nd Nebi Samwil was thrice attacked. British and Indian troops +were holding the hill, but the Turks were on the northern slopes. They +were, in fact, on strong positions on three sides, and from El Burj, +a prominent hill 1200 yards to the south-east, and from the wooded +valley of the wadi Hannina, they could advance with plenty of cover. +There was much dead ground, stone walls enclosed small patches of +cultivation, and when troops halted under the terraces on the slopes +no gun or rifle fire could reach them. The enemy could thus get quite +close to our positions before we could deal with them, and their +attacks were also favoured by an intense volume of artillery fire from +5.9's placed about the Jerusalem-Nablus road and, as some people in +Jerusalem afterwards told me, from the Mount of Olives. The attackers +possessed the advantage that our guns could not concentrate on them +while the attack was preparing, and could only put in a torrent of +fire when the enemy infantry were getting near their goal. These three +attacks were delivered with the utmost ferocity, and were pressed home +each time with determination. But the 75th Division held on with a +stubbornness which was beyond praise, and the harder the Turk tried +to reach the summit the tighter became the defence. Each attack was +repulsed with very heavy losses, and after his third failure the enemy +did not put in his infantry again that day. + +The 75th Division endeavoured to reach El Jib, a village on the hill a +mile and a half to the north of Nebi Samwil. The possession of El Jib +by us would have attracted some of the enemy opposing the advance +of the Yeomanry Mounted Division on the left, but not only was the +position strongly defended in the village and on the high ground on +the north and north-west, but our infantry could not break down the +opposition behind the sangars and boulders on the northern side of +Nebi Samwil. The attack had to be given up, but we made some progress +in this mountainous sector, as the 52nd Division had pushed out from +Dukku to Beit Izza, between 3000 and 4000 yards from El Jib, and +by driving the enemy from this strong village they made it more +comfortable for the troops in Biddu and protected the Nebi Samwil +flank, the securing of which in those days of bitter fighting was +an important factor. It was evident from what was happening on this +front, not only where two divisions of infantry had to strain every +nerve to hold on to what they had got but where the Yeomanry Mounted +Division were battling against enormous odds in the worse country to +the north-west, that the Turks were not going to allow us to get +to the Nablus road without making a direct attack on the Jerusalem +defences. They outnumbered us, had a large preponderance in guns, were +near their base, and enjoyed the advantage of prepared positions and a +comparatively easy access to supplies and ammunition. Everything was +in their favour down to the very state of the weather. But our army +struggled on against all the big obstacles. On the 23rd the 75th +Division renewed their attack on El Jib, but although the men showed +the dash which throughout characterised the Division, it had to be +stopped. The garrison of El Jib had been reinforced, and the enemy +held the woods, wadi banks, and sangars in greater strength than +before, while the artillery fire was extremely heavy. Not only was the +75th Division tired with ceaseless fighting, but the losses they had +sustained since they left the Plain of Ajalon had been substantial, +and the 52nd Division took over from them that night to prepare +for another effort on the following day. The Scots were no more +successful. They made simultaneous attacks on the northern and +southern ends of Nebi Samwil, and a brigade worked up from Beit Izza +to a ridge north-west of El Jib. Two magnificent attempts were made +to get into the enemy's positions, but they failed. The officer +casualties were heavy; some companies had no officers, and the troops +were worn out by great exertions and privations in the bleak hills. +The two divisions had been fighting hard for over three weeks, they +had marched long distances on hard food, which at the finish was not +too plentiful, and the sudden violent change in the weather conditions +made it desirable that the men should get to an issue of warmer +clothing. General Bulfin realised it would be risking heavy losses to +ask his troops to make another immediate effort against a numerically +stronger enemy in positions of his own choice, and he therefore +applied to General Allenby that the XXth Corps--the 60th Division was +already at Latron attached to the XXIst Corps--might take over the +line. The Commander-in-Chief that evening ordered the attack on the +enemy's positions to be discontinued until the arrival of fresh +troops. During the next day or two the enemy's artillery was as active +as hitherto, but the punishment he had received in his attacks made +him pause, and there were only small half-hearted attempts to reach +our line. They were all beaten off by infantry fire, and the reliefs +of the various brigades of the XXIst Corps were complete by November +28. It had not been given to the XXIst Corps to obtain the distinction +of driving the Turks for ever from Jerusalem, but the work of +the Corps in the third and fourth weeks of November had laid the +foundation on which victory finally rested. The grand efforts of the +52nd and 75th Divisions in rushing over the foothills of the Shephelah +on to the Judean heights, in getting a footing on some of the most +prominent hills within three days of leaving the plain, and in +holding on with grim tenacity to what they had gained, enabled the +Commander-in-Chief to start on a new plan by which to take the Holy +City in one stride, so to speak. The 52nd and 75th Divisions and, as +will be seen, the Yeomanry Mounted Division as well, share the glory +of the capture of Jerusalem with the 53rd, 60th, and 74th Divisions +who were in at the finish. + +The fighting of the Yeomanry Mounted Division on the left of the 52nd +was part and parcel of the XXIst Corps' effort to get to the Nablus +road. It was epic fighting, and I have not described it when narrating +the infantry's daily work because it is best told in a connected +story. If the foot sloggers had a bad time, the conditions were +infinitely worse for mounted troops. The ground was as steep, but the +hillsides were rougher, the wadis narrower, the patches of open flat +fewer than in the districts where infantry operated. So bad indeed was +the country that horses were an encumbrance, and most of them were +returned to the plain. After a time horse artillery could proceed no +farther, and the only guns the yeomanry had with them were those of +a section of the Hong Kong and Singapore mountain battery, manned by +Sikhs, superb fellows whose service in the Egyptian deserts and in +Palestine was worthy of a martial race. But their little guns were +outranged by the Turkish artillery, and though they were often right +up with the mounted men they could not get near the enemy batteries. +The supply of the division in the nooks and crannies where there was +not so much as a goat-path was a desperate problem, and could not have +been solved without the aid of many hundreds of pack-donkeys which +dumped their loads of supplies and ammunition on the hillsides, +leaving it to be carried forward by hand. The division were fighting +almost continually for a fortnight. They got farther forward than +the infantry and met the full force of an opposition which, if not +stronger than that about Nebi Samwil, was extremely violent, and they +came back to a line which could be supplied with less difficulty +when it was apparent that the Turks were not going to accept the +opportunity General Allenby gave them to withdraw their army from +Jerusalem. The Division's most bitter struggle was about the +Beth-horons, on the very scene where Joshua, on a lengthened day, +threw the Canaanites off the Shephelah. + +The Yeomanry Mounted Division received orders on the afternoon of +November 17 to move across Ajalon into the foothills and to press +forward straight on Bireh as rapidly as possible. Their trials they +began immediately. One regiment of the 8th Brigade occupied Annabeh, +and a regiment of the 22nd Brigade got within a couple of miles of +Nalin, where a well-concealed body of the enemy held it up. Soon the +report came in that the country was impassable for wheels. By +the afternoon of the next day the 8th Brigade were at Beit ur el +Foka--Beth-horon the Upper--a height where fig trees and pomegranates +flourish. Eastwards the country falls away and there are several +ragged narrow valleys between some tree-topped ridges till the eye +meets a sheikh's tomb on the Zeitun ridge, standing midway between +Foka and Beitunia, which rears a proud and picturesque head to bar the +way to Bireh. The wadis cross the valleys wherever torrent water can +tear up rock, but the yeomanry found their beds smoother going, filled +though they were with boulders, than the hill slopes, which generally +rose in steep gradients from the sides of watercourses. During every +step of the way across this saw-toothed country one appreciated to +the full the defenders' advantage. If dead ground hid you from one +hill-top enemy marks-men could get you from another, and it was +impossible for the division to proceed unless it got the enemy out of +all the hills on its line of advance. The infantry on the right were +very helpful, but the brigade on the left flank had many difficulties, +which were not lessened when, on the second day of the movement, all +Royal Horse Artillery guns and all wheels had to be sent back owing to +the bad country. Up to this point the fight against Nature was more +arduous than against the enemy. Thenceforward the enemy became more +vigilant and active, and the hills and stony hollows more trying. All +available men were set to work to make a road for the Hong Kong and +Singapore gunners, a battery which would always get as far into the +mountains as any in the King's Army. The road parties laboured night +and day, but it was only by the greatest exertions that the battery +could be got through. The heavy rain of the 19th added to the +troubles. The 8th Brigade, having occupied Beit ur et Tahta +(Beth-horon the Lower) early on the morning of the 19th, proceeded +along the wadi Sunt until a force on the heights held them up, and +they had to remain in the wadi while the 6th Mounted Brigade turned +the enemy's flank at Foka. The 22nd Mounted Brigade on the north met +with the same trouble--every hill had to be won and picqueted--and +they could not make Ain Arik that day. As soon as it was light on the +following morning the 6th Mounted Brigade brushed away opposition in +Foka and entered the village, pushing on thence towards Beitunia. The +advance was slow and hazardous; every hill had to be searched, a task +difficult of accomplishment by reason of the innumerable caves and +boulders capable of sheltering snipers. The Turk had become an adept +at sniping, and left parties in the hills to carry on by themselves. +When the 6th Brigade got within two miles of the south-west of +Beitunia they were opposed by 5000 Turks well screened by woods on the +slopes and the wadi. Both sides strove all day without gaining ground. +Divisional headquarters were only a short distance behind the 6th, and +the 8th Brigade was moved up into the same area to be ready to assist. +By two o'clock in the afternoon the 22nd Brigade got into Ain Arik and +found a strong force of the enemy holding Beitunia and the hill of +Muntar, a few hundred yards to the north of it, thus barring the way +to Ramallah and Bireh. Rain fell copiously and the wind was chilly. +After a miserable night in bivouac, the 6th Brigade was astir before +daylight on the 21st. They were fighting at dawn, and in the half +light compelled the enemy to retire to within half a mile of Beitunia. +A few prisoners were rounded up, and these told the brigadier that +3000 Turks were holding Beitunia with four batteries of field guns and +four heavy camel guns. That estimate was found to be approximately +accurate. A regiment of the 8th Brigade sent to reinforce the 6th +Brigade on their left got within 800 yards of the hill, when the guns +about Bireh and Ramallah opened on them and they were compelled to +withdraw, and a Turkish counter-attack forced our forward line back +slightly in the afternoon. The enemy had a plentiful supply of +ammunition and made a prodigal use of it. While continuing to shell +fiercely he put more infantry into his fighting line, and as we had +only 1200 rifles and four mountain guns, which the enemy's artillery +outranged, it was clear we could not dislodge him from the Beitunia +crest. The 22nd Mounted Brigade had made an attempt to get to Ramallah +from Ain Arik, but the opposition from Muntar and the high ground +to the east was much too severe. Our casualties had not been +inconsiderable, and in face of the enemy's superiority in numbers and +guns and the strength of his position it would have been dangerous and +useless to make a further attack. General Barrow therefore decided to +withdraw to Foka during the night. All horses had been sent back in +the course of the afternoon, and when the light failed the retirement +began. The wounded were first evacuated, and they, poor fellows, had +a bad time of it getting back to Foka in the dark over four miles of +rock-strewn country. It was not till two o'clock on the following +morning that all the convoys of wounded passed through Foka, but by +that time the track to Tahta had been made into passable order, and +some of these helpless men were out of the hills soon after daylight, +journeying in comparative ease in light motor ambulances over the +Plain of Ajalon. + +The arrangements for the withdrawal worked admirably. The 8th Mounted +Brigade, covering the retirement so successfully that the enemy knew +nothing about it, held on in front of Beitunia till three o'clock, +reaching Foka before dawn, while the 22nd Brigade remained covering +the northern flank till almost midnight, when it fell back to Tahta. +The Division's casualties during the day were 300 killed and wounded. +We still held the Zeitun ridge, observation was kept on Ain Arik from +El Hafy by one regiment, and troops were out on many parts north and +east of Tahta and Foka. + +On the next two days there was nothing beyond enemy shelling and +patrol encounters. On the 24th demonstrations were made against +Beitunia to support the left of the 52nd Division's attack on El Jib, +but the enemy was too strong to permit of the yeomanry proceeding +more than two miles east of Foka. The roadmakers had done an enormous +amount of navvy work on the track between Foka and Tahta. They had +laboured without cessation, breaking up rock, levering out boulders +with crowbars, and doing a sort of rough-and-ready levelling, and by +the night of the 24th the track was reported passable for guns. +The Leicester battery R.H.A. came along it next morning without +difficulty. I did not see the road till some time later and its +surface had then been considerably improved, but even then one felt +the drivers of those gun teams had achieved the almost impossible. The +Leicester battery arrived at Foka just in time to unlimber and get +into action behind a fig orchard in order to disperse a couple of +companies of enemy infantry which were working round the left flank of +the Staffordshire Yeomanry at Khurbet Meita, below the Zeitun height. +The enemy brought up reinforcements and made an attack in the late +afternoon, but this was also broken up. The Berkshire battery reached +Tahta the following day and, with the Leicester gunners, answered the +Turks' long-range shelling throughout the day and night. On the 27th +the enemy made a determined attempt to compel us to withdraw from the +Zeitun ridge, which is an isolated hill commanding the valleys on both +sides. The 6th Mounted Brigade furnished the garrison of 3 officers +and 60 men, who occupied a stone building on the summit. Against them +the enemy put 600 infantry with machine guns, and they also brought a +heavy artillery fire to bear on the building from Beitunia, 4000 yards +away. The garrison put up a most gallant defence. They were compelled +to leave the building because the enemy practically destroyed it by +gunfire and the infantry almost surrounded the hill, but they +obtained cover on the boulder-strewn sides of the hill and held their +assailants at bay. At dusk, although the garrison was reduced to 2 +officers and 26 men, they refused to give ground. They were instructed +to hold on as long as possible, and a reinforcement of 50 men was sent +up after dark--all that could be spared, as the division was holding a +series of hills ten miles long and every rifle was in the line. This +front was being threatened at several points, and the activity of +patrols at Deir Ibzia and north of it suggested that the enemy was +trying to get into the gap of five miles between the yeomanry and the +right of the 54th Division which was now at Shilta. It was an anxious +night, and No. 2 Light Armoured Car battery was kept west of Tahta +to enfilade the enemy with machine guns should he appear in the +neighbourhood of Suffa. The 7th Mounted Brigade was ordered up to +reinforce. The fresh troops arrived at dawn on the 28th, and had no +sooner got into position at Hellabi, half a mile north-west of Tahta, +than their left flank was attacked by 1000 Turks with machine guns. +The 155th Brigade of the 52nd Division was on its way through Beit +Likia to rest after its hard work in the neighbourhood of Nebi Samwil +and El Jib, and it was ordered up to assist. At midday the brigade +attacked Suffa but could not take it. The Scots, however, prevented +the Turks breaking round the left flank of the yeomanry. The post +which had held Zeitun so bravely was brought into Foka under cover of +the Leicester and Berkshire batteries' fire, and very heavy fighting +continued all day long on the Foka-Tahta-Suffa line, but though the +enemy employed 3000 infantry in his attack, and had four batteries +of 77's and four heavy camel guns, he was unsuccessful. At dusk the +attack on Tahta, which had been under shell-fire all day, was beaten +off and the enemy was compelled to withdraw one mile. Suffa was still +his, but his advanced troops on the cairn south of that place had +suffered heavily during the day at the hands of the 7th Mounted +Brigade, who several times drove them off. Some howitzers of the 52nd +Division were hauled over the hills in the afternoon and shelled +the cairn so heavily that the post sought shelter in Suffa. To the +south-east of the line of attack the Turks were doing their utmost to +secure Foka. They came again and again, and their attacks were always +met and broken with the bayonet by yeomen who were becoming fatigued +by continuous fighting, and advancing and retiring in this terrible +country. They could have held the place that night, but there was no +possibility of sending them reinforcements, and as the enemy had been +seen working round to the south of the village with machine guns it +might have been impossible to get them out in the morning. General +Barrow accordingly withdrew the Foka garrison to a new position on a +wooded ridge half-way between that place and Tahta, and the enemy made +no attempt to get beyond Foka. Late at night he got so close to Tahta +from the north that he threw bombs at our sangars, but he was driven +off. + +During the evening the Yeomanry Mounted Division received welcome +reinforcements. The 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade were placed +in support of the 6th Mounted Brigade and a battalion of the 156th +Infantry Brigade assisted the 7th Mounted Brigade. + +On the 29th the Turks made their biggest effort to break through the +important line we held, and all day they persisted with the greatest +determination in an attack on our left. At midnight they had again +occupied the cairn south of Suffa, and remained there till 8 A.M., +when the 268th Brigade Royal Field Artillery crowned the hill with a +tremendous burst of fire and drove them off. The machine-gunners +of the 7th Mounted Brigade caught the force as it was retiring and +inflicted many casualties. The Turks came back again and again, and +the cairn repeatedly changed hands, until at last it was unoccupied by +either side. Towards dusk the Turks' attacks petered out, though the +guns and snipers continued busy, and the Yeomanry Mounted Division was +relieved by the 231st Infantry Brigade of the 74th Division and the +157th Infantry Brigade of the 52nd Division, the Australian Mounted +Division ultimately taking over the left of the line which XXth Corps +troops occupied. + +The Yeomanry Mounted Division had made a grand fight against a vastly +superior force of the enemy in a country absolutely unfavourable to +the movement of mounted troops. They never had more than 1200 rifles +holding a far-flung barren and bleak line, and the fine qualities +of vigorous and swift attack, unfaltering discipline and heroic +stubbornness in defence under all conditions, get their proof in +the 499 casualties incurred by the Division in the hill fighting, +exclusive of those sustained by the 7th Mounted Brigade which +reinforced them. The Division was made up entirely of first-line +yeomanry regiments whose members had become efficient soldiers in +their spare time, when politicians were prattling about peace and +deluding parties into the belief that there was little necessity to +prepare for war. Their patriotism and example gave a tone to the +drafts sent out to replace casualties and the wastage of war, and were +a credit to the stock from which they sprang. + +While the Yeomanry Mounted Division had been fighting a great battle +alongside the infantry of the XXIst Corps in the hills, the remainder +of the troops of the Desert Mounted Corps were employed on the plain +and in the coastal sector, hammering the enemy hard and establishing +a line from the mouth of the river Auja through some rising ground +across the plain. They were busily engaged clearing the enemy out of +some of the well-ordered villages east of the sandy belt, several of +them German colonies showing signs of prosperity and more regard +for cleanliness and sanitation than other of the small centres of +population hereabouts. The village of Sarona, north of Jaffa, an +almost exclusively German settlement, was better arranged than any +others, but Wilhelma was a good second. + +The most important move was on November 24, when, with a view to +making the enemy believe an attack was intended against his right +flank, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade was sent across the +river Auja to seize the villages of Sheikh Muannis near the sea, and +Hadrah farther inland, two companies of infantry holding each of the +two crossings. The enemy became alarmed and attacked the cavalry in +force early next morning, 1000 infantry marching on Muannis. The +Hadrah force was driven back across the Auja and the two companies of +infantry covering the crossing suffered heavily, having no support +from artillery, which had been sent into bivouac. Some of the men had +to swim the river. A bridge of boats had been built at Jerisheh mill +during the night, and by this means men crossed until Muannis was +occupied by the enemy later in the morning. The cavalry crossed the +ford at the mouth of the Auja at the gallop. The 1/4th Essex held on +to Hadrah until five out of six officers and about fifty per cent. of +the men became casualties. There was a good deal of minor fighting on +this section of the front, and in a number of patrol encounters the +resource of the Australian Light Horse added to their bag of prisoners +and to the Army's store of information. Nothing further of importance +occurred in this neighbourhood until we seized the crossings of the +Auja and the high ground north of the river a week before the end of +the year. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE DELIVERANCE OF THE HOLY CITY + + +The impossibility of getting across the road north of Jerusalem by +making a wide sweep over the Judean hills caused a new plan to be put +into execution. This necessitated a direct attack on the well-prepared +system of defences on the hills protecting Jerusalem from the west, +but it did not entail any weakening of General Allenby's determination +that there should be no fighting by British troops in and about the +precincts of the Holy City. That resolve was unshaken and unshakable. +When a new scheme was prepared by the XXth Corps, the question was put +whether the Turks could be attacked at Lifta, which was part of their +system. Now Lifta is a native village on one of the hill-faces to the +west of Jerusalem, about a mile from the Holy City's walls, and, as +it is not even connected by a road with any of the various colonies +forming the suburbs of Jerusalem, could not by any stretch of +imagination be described by a Hun propaganda merchant as part +of Jerusalem. I happen to know that on the 26th November the +Commander-in-Chief sent this communication to General Chetwode: 'I +place no restriction upon you in respect of any operation which you +may consider necessary against Lifta or the enemy's lines to the south +of it, except that on no account is any risk to be run of bringing +the City of Jerusalem or its immediate environs within the area of +operations.' The spirit as well as the letter of that order was +carried out, and in the very full orders and notes on the operations +issued before the victorious attack was made, there is the most +elaborate detail regarding the different objectives of divisions and +brigades, and scrupulous care was taken that no advance should be made +against any resisting enemy within the boundaries not only of the +Holy City but of the suburbs. We shall see how thoroughly these +instructions were followed. + +When it became obvious that Jerusalem could not be secured without the +adoption of a deliberate method of attack, there were many matters +requiring the anxious consideration of the XXth Corps staff. They took +over from XXIst Corps at a time when the enemy was still very active +against the line which they had gained under very hard conditions. The +XXth Corps, beginning with the advantage of positions which the XXIst +Corps had won, had to prepare to meet the enemy with equal gun power +and more than equality in rifle strength. We had the men and the +guns in the country, but to get them into the line and to keep +them supplied was a problem of considerable magnitude. Time was an +important factor. The rains had begun. The spells of fine weather were +getting shorter, and after each period of rain the sodden state of the +country affected all movement. To bring up supplies we could only rely +on road traffic from Gaza and Deir Sineid, and the light soil had +become hopelessly cut up during the rains. The main line of railway +was not to be opened to Mejdel till December 8, and the captured +Turkish line between Deir Sineid and Junction Station had a maximum +capacity of one hundred tons of ordnance stores a day, and these had +to be moved forward again by road. An advance must slow down while +communications were improved. The XXth Corps inherited from the XXIst +Corps the track between Beit Likia and Biddu which had been prepared +with an infinity of trouble and exertion, but this and the main +Latron-Jerusalem road were the only highways available. + +General Chetwode's Corps relieved General Bulfin's Corps during +the day of November 28, and viewed in the most favourable light it +appeared that there must be at least one week's work on the roads +before it would be possible for heavy and field batteries, in +sufficient strength to support an attack, to be got into the +mountains. A new road was begun between Latron and Beit Likia, and +another from Enab to Kubeibeh, and these, even in a rough state of +completion, eased the situation very considerably. An enormous amount +of labour was devoted to the main road. The surface was in bad order +and was getting worse every hour with the passage of lorry traffic. It +became full of holes, and the available metal in the neighbourhood +was a friable limestone which, under heavy pressure during rains, was +ground into the consistency of a thick cream. Pioneer battalions were +reinforced by large parties of Egyptian labour corps, and these worked +ceaselessly, clearing off top layers of mud, carrying stones down from +the hills and breaking them, putting on a new surface and repairing +the decayed walls which held up the road in many places. The +roadmakers proved splendid fellows. They put a vast amount of energy +into their work, but when the roads were improved rain gravely +interfered with traffic, and camels were found to be most +unsatisfactory. They slipped and fell and no reliance could be placed +on a camel convoy getting to its destination in the hills. Two +thousand donkeys were pressed into service, and with them the troops +in the distant positions were kept supplied. It would not be possible +to exaggerate the value of this donkey transport. In anticipation of +the advance the Quartermaster-General's department, with the foresight +which characterised that department and all its branches throughout +the campaign, searched Egypt for the proper stamp of asses for pack +transport in the hills. The Egyptian donkey is a big fellow with +a light-grey coat, capable of carrying a substantial load, hardy, +generally docile, and less stubborn than most of the species. He is +much taller and heavier than the Palestine donkey, and our Army never +submitted him to the atrociously heavy loads which crush and break the +spirit of the local Arabs' animals. It is, perhaps, too much to hope +that the natives will learn something from the British soldier's +treatment of animals. It was one of the sights of the campaign to see +the donkey trains at work. They carried supplies which, having been +brought by the military railway from the Suez Canal to railhead, were +conveyed by motor lorries as far as the state of the road permitted +self-propelled vehicles to run, were next transhipped into limbers, +and, when horse transport could proceed no farther, were stowed on to +the backs of camels. The condition of the road presently held up the +camels, and then donkey trains took over the loads. Under a white +officer you would see a chain of some two hundred donkeys, each roped +in file of four, led by an Egyptian who knew all that was worth +knowing about the ways of the ass, winding their way up and down +hills, getting a foothold on rocks where no other animal but a goat +could stand, and surmounting all obstacles with a patient endurance +which every soldier admired. They did not like the cold, and the +rain made them look deplorably wretched, but they got rations +and drinking-water right up to the crags where our infantry were +practising mountaineering. Shell-fire did not disturb them much, +and they would nibble at any rank stuff growing on the hillsides to +supplement the rations which did not always reach their lines at +regular intervals. The Gyppy boys were excellent leaders, and to them +and the donkeys the front-line fighting men in the hill country owe +much. They were saved a good deal of exhausting labour in manhandling +stores from the point where camels had to stop, and they could +therefore concentrate their attention on the Turk. + +By December 2 the fine exertions of the troops on the line of +communications had enabled the XXth Corps Commander to make his plans +for the capture of Jerusalem, and at a conference at Enab on the +following day General Chetwode outlined his scheme, which, put in +a nutshell, was to attack with the 60th and 74th Divisions in an +easterly direction on the front Ain Karim-Beit Surik and, skirting the +western suburbs of Jerusalem, to place these two divisions astride the +Jerusalem-Nablus road, while the 53rd Division advanced from Hebron to +threaten the enemy from the south and protect the right of the 60th +Division. I will not apologise for dealing as fully as possible with +the fighting about Jerusalem, because Jerusalem was one of the great +victories of the war, and the care taken to observe the sanctity of +the place will for all time stand out as one of the brightest examples +of the honour of British arms. But before entering upon those details +I will put in chronological sequence the course of the fighting on +this front from the moment when the XXth Corps took over the +command, and show how, despite enemy vigilance and many attacks, the +preparations for the outstanding event of the campaign were carried +through. It is remarkable that in the short period of ten days +the plans could be worked out in detail and carried through to a +triumphant issue, notwithstanding the bad weather and the almost +overwhelming difficulties of supply. Only the whole-hearted +co-operation of all ranks made it possible. On the day after the +XXth Corps became responsible for this front General Chetwode had a +conference with Generals Barrow, Hill, and Girdwood, and after a full +discussion of the situation in the hills decided to abandon the plan +of getting on to the Jerusalem-Nablus road from the north in favour +of attempting to take Jerusalem from the west and south-west. The +commanders of the Yeomanry Mounted Division and the 52nd Division were +asked to suggest, from their experience of the fighting of the past +ten days, what improvement in the line was necessary to make it +certain that the new plan would not be interfered with by an enemy +counter-attack. They were in favour of taking the western portion +of the Beitunia-Zeitun ridge. Preparations were made immediately +to relieve the Yeomanry Mounted Division by the Australian Mounted +Division, and when the 10th Division arrived--it was marching up from +Gaza--the 52nd Division was to be returned to the XXIst Corps. The +hard fighting and the determined attacks of the Turks had made it +unavoidable that some portions of the divisions should be mixed, and +the reliefs were not completed till the 2nd of December. + +The Yeomanry Mounted Division troops gave over the Tahta defences to +the 157th Infantry Brigade on the night of November 29-30, and the +enemy made an attack on the new defenders at dawn, but were swiftly +beaten off. A local effort against Nebi Samwil was easily repulsed, +but the 60th Division reported that the enemy had in the past few days +continued his shelling of the Mosque, and had added to his destruction +of that sacred place by demolishing the minaret by gunfire. The 231st +Infantry Brigade with one battalion in the front line took over from +the 8th Mounted Brigade from Beit Dukku to Jufna, and while the +reliefs were in progress there was continual fighting in the Et +Tireh-Foka area. The former place was won and lost several times, and +finally the infantry consolidated on the high ground west of those +villages. Early on the 30th a detachment of the 231st Brigade took +Foka, capturing eight officers and 298 men, but as it was not possible +to hold the village the infantry retired to our original line. On +December 1 the 10th Division relieved the 52nd in the sector wadi +Zait-Tahta-Kh. Faaush, but on that day the 155th Brigade had had +another hard brush with the Turks. A regiment of the 3rd Australian +Light Horse on a hill north of El Burj in front of them was heavily +attacked at half-past one in the morning by a specially prepared +sturmtruppen battalion of the Turkish 19th Division, and a footing +was gained in our position, but with the aid of a detachment of the +Gloucester Yeomanry and the 1/4th Royal Scots Fusiliers the enemy +was driven out at daybreak and six officers and 106 unwounded and 60 +wounded Turks, wearing steel hats and equipped like German storming +troops, were taken prisoners. The attack was pressed with the greatest +determination, and the enemy, using hand grenades, got within thirty +yards of our line. During the latter part of their advance the Turks +were exposed to a heavy cross fire from machine guns and rifles of +the 9th Light Horse Regiment, and this fire and the guns of the 268th +Brigade Royal Field Artillery and the Hong Kong and Singapore battery +prevented the retirement of the enemy. The capture of the prisoners +was effected by an encircling movement round both flanks. Our +casualties were 9 killed and 47 wounded. That storming battalion left +over 100 dead about our trenches. At the same time a violent attack +was made on the Tahta defences held by the 157th Brigade; the enemy, +rushing forward in considerable strength and with great impetus, +captured a ridge overlooking Tahta--a success which, if they had +succeeded in holding the position till daylight, would have rendered +that village untenable, and would have forced our line back some +distance at an important point. It proved to be a last desperate +effort of the enemy at this vital centre. No sooner were the Scots +driven off the ridge than they re-formed and prepared to retake it. +Reinforced, they attacked with magnificent courage in face of heavy +machine-gun fire, but it was not until after a rather prolonged period +of bayonet work that the Lowland troops got the upper hand, the Turks +trying again and again to force them out. At half-past four they gave +up the attempt, and from that hour Tahta and the rocks about it were +objects of terror to them. + +Nor did the Turks permit Nebi Samwil to remain in our possession +undisputed. The Londoners holding it were thrice attacked with extreme +violence, but the defenders never flinched, and the heavy losses of +the enemy may be measured by the fact that when we took Jerusalem +and an unwonted silence hung over Nebi Samwil, our burying parties +interred more than 500 Turkish dead about the summit of that lofty +hill. Their graves are mostly on the eastern, northern, and southern +slopes. Ours lie on the west, where Scot, Londoner, West Countryman, +and Indian, all equally heroic sons of the Empire, sleep, as they +fought, side by side. + +The last heavy piece of fighting on the XXth Corps' front before the +attack on Jerusalem was on December 3, when a regiment of yeomanry, +which like a number of other yeomanry regiments had been dismounted +to form the 74th Division, covered itself with glory. The 16th (Royal +Devon Yeomanry) battalion of the Devon Regiment belonging to the 229th +Brigade was ordered to make an attack on Beit ur el Foka in the dark +hours of the morning. All the officers had made reconnaissances and +had learned the extreme difficulties of the ground. At 1 A.M. these +yeomen worked their way up the wadi Zeit to the head of that narrow +watercourse at the base of the south-western edge of the hill on which +the village stands. The attack was launched from this position, the +company on the right having the steepest face to climb. Here the +villagers, to get the most out of the soil and to prevent the winter +rains washing it off the rocks into the wadi, had built a series of +terraces, and the retaining walls, often crumbling to the touch, +offered some cover from the Turkish defenders' fire. With the +advantage of this shelter the troops on the right reached the southern +end of the village soon after 2 o'clock, but the company on the left +met with much opposition on the easier slope, and had to call in aid +the support of a machine-gun section posted in the woods on a ridge +north-west of the village. By 3 o'clock the whole battalion was in +the village, using rifle and bayonet in the road scarcely more than +a couple of yards wide, and bombing the enemy out of native mud and +stone houses and caves. Two officers and fifteen unwounded men were +taken prisoners with three machine guns, but before any consolidation +could be done the Turks began a series of counter-attacks which lasted +all day. As we had previously found, Foka was very hard to defend. +It is overlooked on the north, north-east, and east by ridges a few +hundred yards away, and by a high hill north of Ain Jeruit, 1200 yards +to the north, by another hill 1000 yards to the east, and by the +famous Zeitun ridge about 1500 yards beyond it, and attacks from these +directions could be covered very effectively by overhead machine-gun +fire. To enlarge the perimeter of defence would be to increase the +difficulties and require a much larger force than was available, and +there was no intention of going beyond Foka before the main operation +against Jerusalem was started. To hold Foka securely a force must be +in possession of the heights on the north and east, and to keep these +Beitunia itself must be gained. Before daylight arrived some work on +defences was begun, but it was interfered with by snipers and not much +could be done. Immediately the sun rose from behind the Judean hills +there was a violent outburst of fire from machine guns and rifles on +three sides, increasing in volume as the light improved. The enemy +counter-attacked with a determination fully equal to that which he had +displayed during the past fortnight's battle in the hills. He had the +advantage of cover and was supported by artillery and a hurricane of +machine-gun fire, but although he climbed the hill and got into the +small gardens outside the very houses, he was repulsed with bomb and +bayonet. At one moment there was little rifle fire, and the two sides +fought it out with bombs. The Turks retired with heavy losses, but +they soon came back again and fought with the same determination, +though equally unsuccessfully. The Devons called for artillery, and +three batteries supported them splendidly, though the gunners were +under a great disadvantage in that the ground did not permit the +effect of gunfire to be observed and it was difficult to follow the +attackers. The supplies of bombs and small-arms ammunition were +getting low, and to replenish them men had to expose themselves to a +torrent of fire, so fierce indeed that in bringing up two boxes of +rifle ammunition which four men could carry twelve casualties were +incurred. A head shown in the village instantly drew a hail of bullets +from three sides. Reinforcements were on the way up, and the Fife and +Forfar Yeomanry battalion of the Royal Highlanders were prepared to +make a flank attack from their outpost line three-quarters of a +mile south-east of Foka to relieve the Devons, but this would have +endangered the safety of the outpost line without reducing the fire +from the heights, and as the Fife and Forfar men would have had to +cross two deep wadis under enfilade fire on their way to Foka their +adventure would have been a perilous one. By this time three out of +four of the Devons' company commanders were wounded and the casualties +were increasing. The officer commanding the battalion therefore +decided, after seven hours of terrific fighting, that the village of +Foka was no longer tenable, and authority was given him to withdraw. +In their last attack the enemy put 1000 men against the village, +and it was not until the O.C. Devons had seen this strength that he +proposed the place should be evacuated. His men had put up a great +fight. The battalion went into action 762 strong; it came out 488. +Three officers were killed and nine wounded, and 49 other ranks killed +and 132 wounded. Thirteen were wounded and missing and 78 missing. In +Foka to-day you will see most of the battered houses repaired, but +progress through the streets is partially barred by the graves of +Devon yeomen who were buried where they fell. It was not possible to +hew a grave in rock, therefore earth and stone were piled up round the +bodies, so that in at least two spots you find several graves serving +as buttresses to rude dwellings. On one of these graves, beside the +identification tablet of two strong sons of Devon, you will find, on +a piece of paper inserted in a slit cut into wood torn from an +ammunition box, the words 'Grave of unknown Turk.' Friend and foe +share a common resting-place. The natives of this village are more +than usually friendly, and those graves seem safe in their keeping. + +Between the 4th and 7th December there was a reshuffling of the troops +holding the line to enable a concentration of the divisions entrusted +with the attack on the defences covering Jerusalem. The 10th Division +relieved the 229th and 230th Brigades of the 74th Division and +extended its line to cover Beit Dukku, a point near and west of Et +Tireh, to Tahta, and when the enemy retired from the immediate front +of the 10th Division's left, Hellabi and Suffa were occupied. The +Australian Mounted Division also slightly advanced its line. On the +night of December 5 the 231st Brigade relieved the 60th Division in +the Beit Izza and Nebi Samwil positions, and on December 6 the line +held by the 74th was extended to a point about a mile and a half north +of Kulonieh. The 53rd Division had passed through Hebron, and its +advance was timed to reach the Bethlehem-Beit Jala district on +December 7. The information gained by the XXth Corps led the staff to +estimate the strength of the enemy opposite them to be 13,300 rifles +and 2700 sabres, disposed as follows: east of Jerusalem the 7th +cavalry regiment, 500 sabres; the 27th Division covering Jerusalem and +extending to the Junction Station-Jerusalem railway at Bitter Station, +1200 rifles; thence to the Latron-Jerusalem road with strong points at +Ain Karim and Deir Yesin, the 53rd Turkish Division, 2000 rifles; from +the road to Nebi Samwil (Beit Iksa being very strongly held) the 26th +Turkish Division, 1800 rifles; Nebi Samwil to Beit ur el Foka, 19th +Turkish Division with the 2/61st regiment and the 158th regiment +attached, 4000 rifles; Beit ur el Foka to about Suffa, the 24th +Division, 1600 rifles; thence to the extreme left of the XXth Corps +the 3rd Cavalry Division, 1500 sabres. The 54th Turkish Division was +in reserve at Bireh with 2700 rifles. The enemy held a line covering +Bethlehem across the Hebron road to Balua, then to the hill Kibryan +south-west of Beit Jala, whence the line proceeded due north to Ain +Karim and Deir Yesin, both of which were strongly entrenched, on to +the hill overlooking the Jerusalem road above Lifta. From this +point the line crossed the road to the high ground west of Beit +Iksa--entrenchments were cut deep into the face of this hill to cover +the road from Kulonieh--thence northward again to the east of Nebi +Samwil, west of El Jib, Dreihemeh (one mile north-east of Beit Dukku) +to Foka, Kh. Aberjan, and beyond Suffa. + +During the attack the Australian Mounted Division was to protect the +left flank of the 10th Division, which with one brigade of the 74th +Division was to hold the whole of the line in the hills from Tahta +through Foka, Dukku, Beit Izza to Nebi Samwil, leaving the attack to +be conducted by two brigade groups of the 74th Division, the whole of +the 60th Division, and two brigade groups of the 53rd Division, with +the 10th regiment of Australian Light Horse watching the right flank +of the 60th Division until the left of the 53rd could join up with +it. One brigade of the 53rd Division was to advance from the +Bethlehem-Beit Jala area with its left on the line drawn from Sherafat +through Malhah to protect the 60th Division's flank, the other brigade +marching direct on Jerusalem, and to move by roads south of the +town to a position covering Jerusalem from the east and north-east, +but--and these were instructions specially impressed on this +brigade--'the City of Jerusalem will not be entered, and all movements +by troops and vehicles will be restricted to roads passing outside the +City.' The objective of the 60th and 74th Divisions was a general line +from Ras et Tawil, a hill east of the Nablus road about four miles +north of Jerusalem, to Nebi Samwil, one brigade of the 74th Division +holding Nebi Samwil and Beit Izza defences and to form the pivot of +the attack. The dividing line between the 60th and 74th Divisions was +the Enab-Jerusalem road as far as Lifta and from that place to the +wadi Beit Hannina. The form of the attack was uncertain until it was +known how the enemy would meet the advance of the 53rd Division, +which, on the 3rd December, was in a position north of Hebron within +two ten-mile marches of the point at which it would co-operate on +the right of the 60th. If the enemy increased his strength south of +Jerusalem to oppose the advance of the 53rd Division, General Chetwode +proposed that the 60th and 74th Divisions should force straight +through to the Jerusalem-Nablus road, the 60th throwing out a flank +to the south-east, so as to cut off the Turks opposing the 53rd from +either the Nablus or the Jericho road. It was not considered probable +that the enemy would risk the capture of a large body of troops south +of Jerusalem. On the other hand, should the Turks withdraw from in +front of the Welsh Division, the alternative plan provided that the +latter attack should take the form of making a direct advance on +Jerusalem and a wheel by the 60th and 74th Divisions, pivoting on +the Beit Izza and Nebi Sainwil defences, so as to drive the enemy +northwards. The operations were to be divided into four phases. The +first phase fell to the 60th and 74th Divisions, and consisted in the +capture of the whole of the south-western and western defences of +Jerusalem. + +These ran from a point near the railway south-west of Malhah round to +the west of Ain Karim, then on to the hill of Khurbet Subr, down a +cleft in the hills and up on to the high Deir Yesin ridge, thence +round the top of two other hills dominating the old and new roads to +Jerusalem from Jaffa as they pass by the village of Kulonieh. North of +the new road the enemy's line ran round the southern face of a bold +hill overlooking the village of Beit Iksa and along the tortuous +course of the wadi El Abbeideh. In the second phase the 60th Division +was to move over the Jaffa-Jerusalem road with its right almost up +to the scattered houses on the north-western fringe of Jerusalem's +suburbs, and its left was to pass the village of Lifta on the slope of +the hill rising from the wadi Beit Hannina. The objective of the 60th +Division in the third phase was the capture of a line of a track +leaving the Jerusalem-Nablus road well forward of the northern suburb +and running down to the wadi Hannina, the 74th Division advancing down +the spur running south-east from Nebi Samwil to a point about 1000 +yards south-west of Beit Hannina, the latter a prominent height with a +slope amply clothed with olive trees. The fourth phase was an advance +astride the road to Ras et Tawil. As will be seen hereafter all these +objectives were not obtained, but the first, and chief of them, was, +and the inevitable followed--Jerusalem became ours. + +Let us now picture some of the country the troops had to cross and the +defences they had to capture before the Turks could be forced out +of Jerusalem. We will first look at it from Enab, the ancient +Kir-jath-jearim, which the Somersets, Wilts, and Gurkhas had taken at +the point of the bayonet. From the top of Enab the Jaffa-Jerusalem +road winds down a deep valley, plentifully planted with olive and fig +trees and watered by the wadi Ikbala. A splendid supply of water +had been developed by Royal Engineers near the ruins of a Crusader +fortress which, if native tradition may be relied on, housed Richard +of the Lion Heart. From the wadi rises a hill on which is Kustul, +a village covering the site of an old Roman castle from which, +doubtless, its name is derived. Kustul stands out the next boldest +feature to Nebi Samwil, and from it, when the atmosphere is clear, +the red-tiled roofs of houses in the suburbs of Jerusalem are plainly +visible. A dozen villages clinging like limpets to steep hillsides are +before you, and away on your right front the tall spires of Christian +churches at Ain Karim tell you you are approaching the Holy Sites. +Looking east the road falls, with many short zigzags in its length, to +Kulonieh, crosses the wadi Surar by a substantial bridge (which the +Turks blew up), and then creeps up the hills in heavy gradients till +it is lost to view about Lifta. The wadi Surar winds round the foot of +the hill which Kustul crowns, and on the other side of the watercourse +there rises the series of hills on which the Turks intended to hold +our hands off Jerusalem. The descent from Kustul is very rapid and the +rise on the other side is almost as precipitous. On both sides of the +wadi olive trees are thickly planted, and on the terraced slopes vines +yield a plentiful harvest. Big spurs run down to the wadi, the sides +are rough even in dry weather, but when the winter rains are falling +it is difficult to keep a foothold. South-west of Kustul is Soba, a +village on another high hill, and below it and west of Ain Karim, on +lower ground, is Setaf, both having orchards and vineyards in which +the inhabitants practise the arts of husbandry by the same methods +as their remote forefathers. An aerial reconnaissance nearly a year +before we took Jerusalem showed the Turks busily making trenches on +the hills east of the wadi Surar. An inspection of the defences proved +the work to have been long and arduous, though like many things +the Turk began he did not finish them. What he did do was done +elaborately. He employed masons to chisel the stone used for +revetting, and in places the stones fit well and truly one upon the +other, while an enormous amount of rock must have been blasted to +excavate the trenches. The system adopted was to have three fire +trenches near the top of the hills, one above the other, so that were +the first two lines taken the third would still offer a difficult +obstacle, and, if the defenders were armed with bombs, it would be +hard for attackers to retain the trenches in front of them. There was +much dead ground below the entrenchments, but the defences were so +arranged that cross fire from one system swept the dead ground on the +next spur, and, if the hills were properly held, an advance up them +would have been a stupendous task. The Turk had put all his eggs into +one basket. Perhaps he considered his positions impregnable--they +would have been practically impregnable in British hands--and he made +no attempt to cut support trenches behind the crest. There was one +system only, and his failure to provide defences in depth cost him +dear. + +Looking eastwards from Kustul, the Turkish positions south of the +Jaffa-Jerusalem road, each of them on a hill, were called by us the +'Liver Redoubt' (near Lifta), the 'Heart Redoubt,' 'Deir Yesin,' and +'Khurbet Subr,' with the village of Ain Karim in a fold of the hills +and a line of trenches south-west of it running down to the railway. +Against the 74th Division's front the nature of the country was +equally difficult. From Beit Surik down to the Kulonieh road the hills +fell sharply with the ground strewn with boulders. Our men had to +advance across ravines and beds of watercourses covered with +large stones, and up the wooded slopes of hills where stone walls +constituted ready-made sangars easily capable of defence. The hardest +position they had to tackle was the hill covering Beit Iksa, due +north of the road as it issued from Kulonieh, where long semicircular +trenches had been cut to command at least half a mile of the main +road. In front of the 53rd Division was an ideal rearguard country +where enterprising cavalry could have delayed an advance by infantry +for a lengthened period. To the south of Bethlehem, around Beit Jala +and near Urtas, covering the Pools of Solomon, an invaluable water +supply, there were prepared defences, but though the Division was +much delayed by heavy rain and dense mist, the fog was used to their +advantage, for the whole of the Division's horses were watered at +Solomon's Pools one afternoon without opposition from the Urtas +garrison. + +December 8 was the date fixed for the attack. On December 7 rain +fell unceasingly. The roads, which had been drying, became a mass of +slippery mud to the west of Jerusalem, and on the Hebron side the +Welsh troops had to trudge ankle deep through a soft limy surface. It +was soon a most difficult task to move transport on the roads. Lorries +skidded, and double teams of horses could only make slow progress with +limbers. Off the road it became almost impossible to move. The ground +was a quagmire. On the sodden hills the troops bivouacked without a +stick to shelter them. The wind was strong and drove walls of water +before it, and there was not a man in the attacking force with a dry +skin. Sleep on those perishing heights was quite out of the question, +and on the day when it was hoped the men would get rest to prepare +them for the morrow's fatigue the whole Army was shivering and awake. +So bad were the conditions that the question was considered as to +whether it would not be advisable to postpone the attack, but General +Chetwode, than whom no general had a greater sympathy for his men, +decided that as the 53rd Division were within striking distance by the +enemy the attack must go forward on the date fixed. That night was +calculated to make the stoutest hearts faint. Men whose blood had been +thinned by summer heat in the desert were now called upon to endure +long hours of piercing cold, with their clothes wet through and water +oozing out of their boots as they stood, with equipment made doubly +heavy by rain, caked with mud from steel helmet to heel, and the +toughened skin of old campaigners rendered sore by rain driven against +it with the force of a gale. Groups of men huddled together in the +effort to keep warm: a vain hope. And all welcomed the order to fall +in preparatory to moving off in the darkness and mist to a battle +which, perhaps more than any other in this war, stirred the emotions +of countless millions in the Old and New Worlds. Yet their spirits +remained the same. Nearly frozen, very tired, 'fed up' with the +weather, as all of them were, they were always cheerful, and the man +who missed his footing and floundered in the mud regarded the incident +as light-heartedly as his fellows. An Army which could face the trials +of such a night with cheerfulness was unbeatable. One section of the +force did regard the prospects with rueful countenances. This was the +Divisional artillery. Tractors, those wonderfully ugly but efficient +engines which triumphed over most obstacles, had got the heavies into +position. The 96th Heavy Group, consisting of three 6-inch howitzer +batteries, one complete 60-pounder battery, and a section of another +60-pounder battery, and the Hong Kong and Singapore Mountain Battery, +were attached to and up with the 74th Division. The 10 and B 9 +Mountain Batteries were with the 60th Division waiting to try their +luck down the hills, and the 91st Heavy Battery (60-pounders) +was being hauled forward with the 53rd. The heavies could get +in long-range fire from Kustul, but what thought the 18-pounder +batteries? With the country in such a deplorable state it looked +hopeless for them to expect to be in the show, and the prospect of +remaining out of the big thing had more effect upon the gunners than +the weather. As a matter of fact but few field batteries managed to +get into action. Those which succeeded in opening fire during the +afternoon of December 8 did most gallant work for hours, with enemy +riflemen shooting at them from close range, and their work formed a +worthy part in the victory. The other field gunners could console +themselves with the fact that the difficulties which were too great +for them--and really field-gun fire on the steep slopes could not be +very effective--prevented even the mountain batteries, which can go +almost anywhere, from fully co-operating with the infantry. + +The preliminary moves for the attack were made during the night. The +179th Infantry Brigade group consisting of 2/13th London, 2/14th +London, 2/15th London, and 2/16th London with the 2/23rd London +attached, the 10th Mountain Battery and B 9 Mountain Battery, a +section of the 521st Field Coy. R.E., C company of Loyal North +Lancashire Pioneers, and the 2/4th Field Ambulance specially equipped +on an all-mule scale, moved to the wadi Surar in two columns. The +right column was preceded by an advance guard of the Kensington +battalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Pioneers, and the section of +R.E., which left the brigade bivouacs behind Soba at five o'clock +on the afternoon of the 7th to enable the pioneers and engineers to +improve a track marked on the map. For the greater part of the way the +track had evidently been unused for many years, and all traces of it +had disappeared, but in three hours' time a way had been made down the +hill to the wadi, and the brigade got over the watercourse just north +of Setaf a little after midnight. As a preliminary to the attack on +the first objective it was necessary to secure the high ground south +of Ain Karim and the trenches covering that bright and picturesque +little town. At two o'clock, when rain and mist made it so dark it was +not possible to see a wall a couple of yards ahead, the Kensingtons +advanced to gain the heights south of Ain Karim in order to enable +the 179th Brigade to be deployed. A scrambling climb brought the +Kensingtons to the top of the hill, and, after a weird fight of +an hour and a half in such blackness of night that it was hard to +distinguish between friend and foe, they captured it and beat off +several persistent counter-attacks. The 179th Brigade thus had the +ground secured for preparing to attack their section of the main +defences. The 180th Infantry Brigade, whose brigadier, Brig.-General +Watson, had the honour of being the first general in Jerusalem, the +first across the Jordan, and the first to get through the Turkish line +in September 1918 when General Allenby sprang forward through the +Turks and made the mighty march to Aleppo, was composed of the 2/17th +London, 2/18th London, 2/19th London, and 2/20th London, 519th Coy. +R.E., two platoons of pioneers, and the 2/5th Field Ambulance. It +reached its position of assembly without serious opposition, though a +detachment which went through the village of Kulonieh met some enemy +posts. These, to use the brigadier's phrase, were 'silently dealt +with.' + +It was a fine feat to get the two brigades of Londoners into their +positions of deployment well up to time. The infantry had to get from +Kustul down a precipitous slope of nearly a thousand feet into a wadi, +now a rushing torrent, and up a rocky and almost as steep hill on the +other side. Nobody could see where he was going, but direction was +kept perfectly and silence was well maintained, the loosened stones +falling into mud. The assault was launched at a quarter-past five, and +in ten minutes under two hours the two brigades (the 181st Brigade +being in reserve just south of Kustul) had penetrated the whole of the +front line of the defences. The Queen's Westminsters on the left +of the Kensingtons had cleared the Turks out of Ain Karim and then +climbed up a steep spur to attack the formidable Khurbet Subr +defences. They took the garrison completely by surprise, and those +who did not flee were either killed or taken prisoners. The Queen's +Westminsters were exposed to a heavy flanking fire at a range of about +a thousand yards from a tumulus south-east of Ain Karim, above the +road from the village to the western suburbs of Jerusalem. Turkish +riflemen were firmly dug in on this spot, and their two machine +guns poured in an annoying fire on the 179th Brigade troops which +threatened to hold up the attack. Indeed preparations were being made +to send a company to take the tumulus hill in flank, but two gallant +London Scots settled the activity of the enemy and captured the +position by themselves. Corporal C.W. Train and Corporal F.S. +Thornhill stalked the garrison. Corporal Train fired a rifle grenade +at one machine gun, which he hit and put out of action, and then shot +the whole of the gun team. Thornhill was attacking the other gun, and +he, with the assistance of Train, accounted for that crew as well. The +two guns were captured and Tumulus Hill gave no more trouble. Both +these Scots were rewarded, and Train has the unique honour of wearing +the only V.C. awarded during the capture of Jerusalem. + +At about the same time there was another very gallant piece of work +being done by two men of the Queen's Westminsters above the Khurbet +Subr ridge. When the battalion got to the first objective an enemy +battery of 77's was found in action on the reverse slope of the hill. +The guns were firing from a hollow near the Ain Karim-Jerusalem track, +some 600 yards behind the forward trenches on Subr, and were showing +an uncomfortable activity. A company was pushed forward to engage the +battery. The movement was exposed to a good deal of sniping fire, and +it was not a simple matter for riflemen to work ahead on to a knoll on +the east of the Subr position to deal with the guns. To two men may be +given the credit for capturing the battery. Lance-Corporal W.H. Whines +of the Westminsters got along quickly and brought his Lewis gun to +bear on the battery and, with an admirably directed fire, caused many +casualties. Two gun teams were wiped out, either killed or wounded, by +the corporal. At the same time Rifleman C.D. Smith, who had followed +his comrade, rushed in on another team and bombed it. Smith's rifle +had been smashed and was useless, but with his bombs he laid low all +except one man. His supply was then exhausted, but before the Turk +could use his weapons Smith got to grips and a rare wrestling +bout followed. The Turk would not surrender, and Smith gave him a +stranglehold and broke his neck. The enemy managed to get one of the +four guns away. The battery horses were near at hand, but while this +one gun was escaping at the gallop the Westminsters' fire brought +down one horse and two drivers, and I saw their bodies on the road as +evidence of how the Westminsters had developed the art of shooting at +a rapidly moving target. The two incidents I have described in detail +merely as examples of the fighting prowess, not only of one but of all +three divisions alike in the capture of Jerusalem. Perhaps it would +be fairer to say that they were examples of the spirit of General +Allenby's whole force, for English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, +Australians, New Zealanders, Indians, cavalry, infantry, and +artillery, had all, during the six weeks of the campaign, shown the +same high qualities in irresistible attack and stubborn defence. + +The position of the 179th Brigade at this time was about one mile east +of Ain Karim, where it was exposed to heavy enfilade fire from its +right and, as it was obvious that the advance of the 53rd Division had +been delayed owing to the fog and rain, the brigadier decided not to +go further during the early part of the day but to wait till he could +be supported by the mountain batteries, which the appalling state of +the ground had prevented from keeping up with him. + +Now as to the advance of the 180th Infantry Brigade. Their principal +objective was the Deir Yesin position, the hill next on the northern +side of Subr, from which it was separated by a deep though narrow +valley. The trenches cut on both sides of this gorge supported Subr +as well as Deir Yesin, and the Subr defences were also arranged to be +helpful to the Deir Yesin garrison by taking attackers in flank. The +180th Brigade's advance was a direct frontal attack on the hill, the +jumping-off place being a narrow width of flat ground thickly planted +with olive trees on the banks of the wadi Surar. The 2/19th Londons, +the right battalion of the 180th Brigade, had not got far when it +became the target of concentrated machine-gun fire and was unable to +move, with the result that a considerable gap existed between it and +the 179th Brigade. The stoppage was only temporary, for, with the +advance of the centre and right, the 19th battalion pushed forward in +series of rushes and, with the other battalions, carried the crest of +Deir Yesin at the point of the bayonet, so that the whole system of +entrenchments was in their hands by seven o'clock. The brigade at once +set about reorganising for the attack on the second objective, which, +as will be remembered, was a wheel to the left and, passing well on +the outside of the western suburbs of Jerusalem, an advance to the +rocky ground to the north-west of the city down to the wadi Beit +Hannina. The commander of the 2/18th Londons in his preparations +had pushed out a platoon in advance of his left, and these men at +half-past nine saw 200 of the enemy with pack mules retiring down a +wadi north-east of Kulonieh. The platoon held its fire until the Turks +were within close range, and then engaged them with rifles and machine +guns, completely surprising them and taking prisoners the whole of the +survivors, 5 officers and 50 men. The Turks now began to develop a +serious opposition to the 180th Brigade from a quarry behind Deir +Yesin and from a group of houses forming part of what is known as the +Syrian colony, nearly a mile from the Deir Yesin system. There were +some Germans and a number of machine guns in these houses, and by noon +they held up the advance. + +The brigade was seriously handicapped by the difficulty in moving +guns. The road during the morning had got into a desperate state. It +was next to impossible to haul field guns anywhere off the road, and +as the Turks had paid no attention to the highway for some time--or +where they had done something it was merely to dump down large stones +to fill a particularly bad hole--it had become deeply rutted and +covered with a mass of adhesive mud. The guns had to pass down from +Kustul by a series of zigzags with hairpin bends in full view of enemy +observers, and it was only by the greatest exertion and devotion to +duty that the gunners got their teams into the neighbourhood of +the wadi. The bridge over the Surar at Kulonieh having been wholly +destroyed, they had to negotiate the wadi, which was now in torrent +and carrying away the waters which had washed the face of the hills +over a wide area. The artillery made a track through a garden on the +right of the village just before the road reached the broken bridge, +and two batteries, the 301st and 302nd, got their guns and limbers +across. They went up the old track leading from Kulonieh to Jerusalem, +when first one section and then another came into action at a spot +between Deir Yesin and Heart Redoubt, where both batteries were +subjected to a close-range rifle fire. + +For several hours the artillery fought their guns with superb courage, +and remained in action until the fire from the houses was silenced by +a brilliant infantry attack. At half-past one General Watson decided +he would attack the enemy on a ridge in front of the houses of the +Syrian colony with the 18th and 19th battalions. With them were units +of other battalions of the Brigade. Soon after three o'clock they +advanced under heavy fire from guns, machine guns, and rifles, and at +a quarter to four a glorious bayonet charge, during which the London +boys went through Germans and Turks in one overwhelming stride, sealed +the fate of the Turk in Jerusalem. That bayonet charge was within +sight of the Corps Commander, who was with General Shea at his +look-out on Kustul, and when he saw the flash of steel driven home +with unerring certainty by his magnificent men, General Chetwode may +well have felt thankful that he had been given such troops with which +to deliver Jerusalem from the Turks. The 74th Division, having taken +the whole of its first objectives early in the morning and having +throughout the day supported the left of the London Division, was +ready to commence operations against the second objective. The +dismounted yeomanry, whose condition through the wet and mud was +precisely similar to that of the 60th Division troops, for they, too, +had found the hills barren of shelter and equally cold, did extremely +well in forcing the enemy from his stronghold on the hill covering +Beit Iksa and the Kulonieh-Jerusalem road, from which, had he not been +ejected, he could have harassed the Londoners' left. The Beit Iksa +defences were carried by a most determined rush. A gallant attempt was +also made to get the El Burj ridge which runs south-east from Nebi +Samwil, but owing to strong enfilade fire from the right they could +not get on. + +There was no doubt in any minds that Jerusalem would be ours, but the +difficulties the 53rd Division were contending with had slowed down +their advance. Thus the right flank of the 60th Division was exposed +and a considerable body of Turks was known to be south of Jerusalem. +Late in the afternoon the advance was ordered to be stopped, and the +positions gained to be held. With a view to continuing the advance +next day the 181st Brigade (2/21st London, 2/22nd London, 2/23rd +London, and 2/24th London) was ordered to get into a position of +readiness to pass through the 179th Brigade and resume the attack +on the right of the 180th Brigade. On the evening of December 8 the +position of the attacking force was this. The 53rd Division (I will +deal presently with the advance of this Division) was across the +Bethlehem-Hebron road from El Keiseraniyeh, two miles south of +Bethlehem, to Ras el Balua in an east and west direction, then +north-west to the hill of Haud Kibriyan with its flank thrown south to +cover Kh. el Kuseir. The 10th Australian Light Horse were at Malhah. +The 179th and 180th Brigades of the 60th Division occupied positions +extending from Malhah through a line more than a mile east of the +captured defences west of Jerusalem to Lifta, with the 181st Brigade +in divisional reserve near Kustul. The 229th and 230th Brigades of the +74th Division held a due north and south line from the Jaffa-Jerusalem +road about midway between Kulonieh and Lifta through Beit Iksa to Nebi +Samwil. The 53rd Division had not reached their line without enormous +trouble. But for the two days' rain and fog it is quite possible that +the whole of the four objectives planned by the XXth Corps would have +been gained, and whether any substantial body of Turks could have left +the vicinity of Jerusalem by either the Nablus or Jericho roads is +doubtful. The weather proved to be the Turks' ally. The 53rd Division +battled against it. Until fog came down to prevent reconnaissance +in an extremely bad bit of country they were well up to their march +table, and in the few clear moments of the afternoon of the 7th, +General Mott, from the top of Ras esh Sherifeh, a hill 3237 feet high, +the most prominent feature south of Jerusalem, caught a glimpse of +Bethlehem and the Holy City. It was only a temporary break in the +weather, and the fog came down again so thick that neither the +positions of the Bethlehem defences nor those of Beit Jala could be +reconnoitred. + +The Division, after withstanding the repeated shocks of enemy attacks +at Khuweilfeh immediately following the taking of Beersheba, had had a +comparatively light time watching the Hebron road. They constructed +a track over the mountains to get the Division to Dharahiyeh when +it should be ordered to take part in the attack on the Jerusalem +defences, and while they were waiting at Dilbeih they did much to +improve the main road. The famous zigzag on the steep ridge between +Dharahiyeh and Dilbeih was in good condition, and you saw German +thoroughness in the gradients, in the well-banked bends, and in the +masonry walls which held up the road where it had been cut in the side +of a hill. It was the most difficult part of the road, and the +Germans had taken as much care of it as they would of a road in the +Fatherland--because it was the way by which they hoped to get to the +Suez Canal. Other portions of the road required renewing, and the +labour which the Welshmen devoted to the work helped the feeding of +the Division not only during the march to Jerusalem but for several +weeks after it had passed through it to the hills on the east and +north-east. The rations and stores for this Division were carried by +the main railway through Shellal to Karm, were thence transported by +limber to a point on the Turks' line to Beersheba, which had been +repaired but was without engines, were next hauled in trucks by mules +on the railway track, and finally placed in lorries at Beersheba +for carriage up the Hebron road. At this time the capacity of the +Latron-Jerusalem road was taxed to the utmost, and every bit of the +Welshmen's spadework was repaid a hundredfold. The 159th Brigade got +into Hebron on the night of the 5th of December, but instead of going +north of it--if they had done so an enemy cavalry patrol would have +seen them--they set to work to repair the road through the old +Biblical town, for the enemy had blown holes in the highway. Next day +the infantry had a ten-miles' march and made the wadi Arab, a brigade +being left in Hebron to watch that area, the natives of which were +reported as not being wholly favourable to us. There were many rifles +in the place, and a number of unarmed Turks were believed to be in the +rough country between the town and the Dead Sea ready to return to +take up arms. Armoured cars also remained in Hebron. The infantry and +field artillery occupied the roads during the day, and the heavy guns +came along at night and joined the infantry as the latter were about +to set off again. + +On the night of the 6th the Division got to a strong line unopposed +and saw enemy cavalry on the southern end of Sherifeh, on which the +Turks had constructed a powerful system of defences, the traverses and +breastworks of which were excellently made. In front of the hill the +road took a bend to the west, and the whole of the highway from this +point was exposed to the ground in enemy hands south of Bethlehem, and +it was necessary to make good the hills to the east before we could +control this road. Next morning the 7th Cheshires, supported by the +4th Welsh, deployed and advanced direct on Sherifeh and gained the +summit soon after dawn in time to see small parties of enemy cavalry +moving off; then the fog and rain enveloped everything. The 4th Welsh +held the hill during the night in pouring rain with no rations--pack +mules could not get up the height--and the men having no greatcoats +were perished with the cold. Colonel Pemberton, their C.O., came down +to report the men all right, and asked for no relief till the morning +when they could be brought back to their transport. The General went +beyond Solomon's Pools and was within rifle fire from the Turkish +trenches in his efforts to reconnoitre, but it was impossible to see +ahead, and instead of being able to begin his attack in the Beit +Jala-Bethlehem area on the morning of the 8th, that morning arrived +before any reconnaissance could be made. He decided to attack on the +high ground of Beit Jala (two miles north-west of Bethlehem) from the +south, to send his divisional cavalry, the Westminster Dragoons, on +the infantry's left to threaten Beit Jala from the west and to refuse +Bethlehem. + +Before developing this attack it was essential to drive the enemy off +the observation post looking down upon the main road along which the +guns and troops had to pass. The fog enabled the guns to pass up the +road, although the Turks had seven mountain guns in the gardens of a +big house south of Bethlehem and had registered the road to a yard. +They also had a heavy gun outside the town. The weather cleared at +intervals about noon, but about two o'clock a dense fog came down +again and once more the advance was held up. Late in the afternoon the +Welsh Division troops reached the high ground west and south-west of +Beit Jala, but the defences of Bethlehem on the south had still to be +taken. Advance guards were sent into Bethlehem and Beit Jala during +the night, and by early morning of the 9th it was found that the enemy +had left, and the leading brigade pressed on, reaching Mar Elias, +midway between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, by eleven o'clock, and the +southern outskirts of Jerusalem an hour later. + +Meanwhile the 60th and 74th Divisions had actively patrolled their +fronts during the night, and the Turks having tasted the quality of +British bayonets made no attempt to recover any of the lost positions. +We had outposts well up the road above Lifta, and at half-past eight +they saw a white flag approaching. The nearest officer was a commander +of the 302nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery, to whom the Mayor, the +head of the Husseiny family, descendants of the Prophet and hereditary +mayors of Jerusalem, signified his desire to surrender the City. +The Mayor was accompanied by the Chief of Police and two of the +gendarmerie, and while communications were passing between General +Shea, General Chetwode and General Headquarters, General Watson rode +as far as the Jaffa Gate of the Holy City to learn what was happening +in the town. I believe Major Montagu Cooke, one of the officers of the +302nd Artillery Brigade, was the first officer actually in the town, +and I understand that whilst he and his orderly were in the Post +Office a substantial body of Turks turned the corner outside the +building and passed down the Jericho road quite unconscious of the +near presence of a British officer. General Shea was deputed by the +Commander-in-Chief to enter Jerusalem in order to accept the surrender +of the City. It was a simple little ceremony, lasting but a minute +or two, free from any display of strength, and a fitting prelude to +General Allenby's official entry. At half-past twelve General Shea, +with his aide-de-camp and a guard of honour furnished by the 2/17th +Londons, met the Mayor, who formally surrendered the City. To the +Chief of Police General Shea gave instructions for the maintenance +of order, and guards were placed over the public buildings. Then the +commander of the 60th Division left to continue the direction of his +troops who were making the Holy City secure from Turkish attacks. I +believe the official report ran: 'Thus at 12.30 the Holy City was +surrendered for the twenty-third time, and for the first time to +British arms, and on this occasion without bloodshed among the +inhabitants or damage to the buildings in the City itself.' + +Simple as was the surrender of Jerusalem, there were scenes in the +streets during the short half-hour of General Shea's visit which +reflected the feeling of half the civilised world on receiving the +news. It was a world event. This deliverance of Jerusalem from Turkish +misgovernment was bound to stir the emotions of Christian, Jewish, and +Moslem communities in the two hemispheres. In a war in which the +moral effect of victories was only slightly less important than a +big strategical triumph, Jerusalem was one of the strongest possible +positions for the Allies to win, and it is not making too great a +claim to say that the capture of the Holy City by British arms gave +more satisfaction to countless millions of people than did the winning +back for France of any big town on the Western Front. The latter might +be more important from a military standpoint, but among the people, +especially neutrals, it would be regarded merely as a passing incident +in the ebb and flow of the tide of war. Bagdad had an important +influence on the Eastern mind; Jerusalem affected Christian, Jew, and +Moslem alike the world over. The War Cabinet regarded the taking of +Jerusalem by British Imperial troops in so important a light that +orders were given to hold up correspondents' messages and any +telegrams the military attachés might write until the announcement of +the victory had been made to the world by a Minister in the House of +Commons. This instruction was officially communicated to me before we +took Jerusalem, and I believe it was the case that the world received +the first news when the mouthpiece of the Government gave it to +the chosen representatives of the British people in the Mother of +Parliaments. + +The end of Ottoman dominion over the cradle of Christianity, a place +held in reverence by the vast majority of the peoples of the Old and +New World, made a deep and abiding impression, and as long as people +hold dearly to their faiths, sentiment will make General Allenby's +victory one of the greatest triumphs of the war. The relief of the +people of Jerusalem, as well as their confidence that we were there +to stay, manifested itself when General Shea drove into the City. The +news had gone abroad that the General was to arrive about noon, and +all Jerusalem came into the streets to welcome him. They clapped their +hands and raised shrill cries of delight in a babel of tongues. +Women threw flowers into the car and spread palm leaves on the road. +Scarcely had the Turks left, probably before they had all gone and +while the guns were still banging outside the entrances to Jerusalem, +stray pieces of bunting which had done duty on many another day were +hung out to signify the popular pleasure at the end of an old, hard, +extortionate regime and the beginning of an era of happiness and +freedom. + +After leaving Jerusalem the enemy took up a strong position on the +hills north and north-east of the City from which he had to be driven +before Jerusalem was secure from counter-attack. During the morning +General Chetwode gave orders for a general advance to the line laid +down in his original plan of attack, which may be described as the +preliminary line for the defence of Jerusalem. The 180th and 181st +Brigades were already on the move, and some of the 53rd Division had +marched by the main road outside the Holy City's walls to positions +from which they were to attempt to drive the enemy off the Mount of +Olives. The 180th Brigade, fresh and strong but still wet and muddy, +went forward rapidly over the boulders on the hills east of the wadi +Beit Hannina and occupied the rugged height of Shafat at half-past +one. Shafat is about two miles north of Jerusalem. In another +half-hour they had driven the Turks from the conical top of Tel el +Ful, that sugar-loaf hill which dominates the Nablus road, and which +before the end of the year was to be the scene of an epic struggle +between Londoner and Turk. The 181st Brigade, on debouching from +the suburbs of Jerusalem north-east of Lifta, was faced with heavy +machine-gun and rifle fire on the ridge running from the western edge +of the Mount of Olives across the Nablus road through Kh. es Salah. +On the left the 180th Brigade lent support, and at four o'clock the +2/21st and 2/24th Londons rushed the ridge with the bayonet and drove +off the Turks, who left seventy dead behind them. The London Division +that night established itself on the line from a point a thousand +yards north of Jerusalem and east of the Nablus road through Ras +Meshari to Tel el Ful, thence westwards to the wadi behind the +olive orchards south of Beit Hannina. The 74th Division reached its +objective without violent opposition, and its line ran from north of +Nebi Samwil to the height of Beit Hannina and out towards Tel el +Ful. The 53rd Division was strongly opposed when it got round the +south-east of Jerusalem on to the Jericho road in the direction of +Aziriyeh (Bethany), and it was necessary to clear the Turks from the +Mount of Olives. Troops of the Welsh Division moved round the Holy +City and drove the enemy off the Mount, following them down the +eastern spurs, and thus denied them any direct observation over +Jerusalem. The next day they pushed the enemy still farther eastwards, +and by the night of the 10th held the line from the well at Azad, 4000 +yards south-east of Jerusalem, the hill 1500 yards south of Aziriyeh, +Aziriyeh itself, to the Mount of Olives, whence our positions +continued to Ras et Tawil, north of Tel el Ful across the Nablus road +to Nebi Samwil. This was our first line of positions for the defence +of Jerusalem, and we continued to hold these strong points for some +time. They were gradually extended on the east and north-east by the +Welsh Division in order to prevent an attack from the direction of +Jericho, where we knew the Turks had received reinforcements. Indeed, +during our attack on the Jerusalem position the Turks had withdrawn a +portion of their force on the Hedjaz railway. A regiment had passed +through Jericho from the Hedjaz line at Amman and was marching up +the road to assist in Jerusalem's defence, but was 'Too late.' +The regiment was turned back when we had captured Jerusalem. Our +casualties from November 28 to December 10--these figures include the +heavy fighting about Tahta, Foka, and Nebi Samwil prior to the XXth +Corps' attack on the Jerusalem defences--were: officers, 21 killed, +64 wounded, 3 missing; other ranks, 247 killed, 1163 wounded, 169 +missing, a total of 1667. The casualties of the 60th Division during +the attack on and advance north of Jerusalem on December 8-9 are +interesting, because they were so extremely light considering the +strength of the defences captured and the difficulties of the ground, +namely: 8 officers killed and 24 wounded, 98 other ranks killed, 420 +wounded and 3 missing, a total of 553. The total for the whole of the +XXth Corps on these days was 12 officers killed, 35 wounded, and 137 +other ranks killed, 636 wounded and 7 missing--in all 47 officers and +780 other ranks. The prisoners taken from November 28 to December 10 +were: 76 officers, 1717 other ranks--total, 1793. On December 8 and 9, +68 officers and 918 other ranks--986 in all--were captured. The +booty included two 4-2 Krupp howitzers, three 77-mm. field guns and +carriages, nine heavy and three light machine guns, 137 boxes of +small-arms ammunition, and 103,000 loose rounds. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +GENERAL ALLENBY'S OFFICIAL ENTRY + + +Jerusalem became supremely happy. + +It had passed through the trials, if not the perils, of war. It had +been the headquarters and base of a Turkish Army. Great bodies +of troops were never quartered there, but staffs and depôts were +established in the City, and being in complete control, the military +paid little regard to the needs of the population. Unfortunately a not +inconsiderable section of Jerusalem's inhabitants is content to live, +not by its own handiwork, but on the gifts of charitable religious +people of all creeds. When war virtually shut off Jerusalem from the +outer world the lot of the poor became precarious. The food of the +country, just about sufficient for self-support, was to a large extent +commandeered for the troops, and while prices rose the poor could not +buy, and either their appeals did not reach the benevolent or funds +were intercepted. Deaths from starvation were numbered by the +thousand, Jews, Christians, and Moslems alike suffering, and there +were few civilians in the Holy City who were not hungry for months at +a time. + +When I reached Jerusalem the people were at the height of their +excitement over the coming of the British and they put the best face +on their condition, but the freely expressed feeling of relief that +the days of hunger torture were nearly past did not remove the signs +of want and misery, of infinite suffering by father, mother, and +child, brought about by a long period of starvation. That a people, +pale, thin, bent, whose movements had become listless under the lash +of hunger, could have been stirred into enthusiasm by the appearance +of a khaki coat, that they could throw off the lethargy which comes +of acute want, was only to be accounted for by the existence of a +profound belief that we had been sent to deliver them. Some hours +before the Official Entry I was walking in David Street when a Jewish +woman, seeing that I was English, stopped me and said: 'We have prayed +for this day. To-day I shall sing "God Save our Gracious King, Long +Live our Noble King." We have been starving, but what does that +matter? Now we are liberated and free.' She clasped her hands across +her breasts and exclaimed several times, 'Oh how thankful we are.' An +elderly man in a black robe, whose pinched pale face told of a long +period of want, caught me by the hand and said: 'God has delivered us. +Oh how happy we are.' An American worker in a Red Crescent hospital, +who had lived in Jerusalem for upwards of ten years and knew the +people well, assured me there was not one person in the Holy City who +in his heart was not devoutly thankful for our victory. He told me +that on the day we captured Nebi Samwil three wounded Arab officers +were brought to the hospital. One of them spoke English--it was +astonishing how many people could speak our mother tongue--and +while he was having his wounds dressed he exclaimed: 'I can shout +Hip-hip-hurrah for England now.' The officer was advised to be +careful, as there were many Turkish wounded in the hospital, but he +replied he did not care, and in unrestrained joy cried out, 'Hurrah +for England.' + +The deplorable lot of the people had been made harder by profiteering +officers. Those who had money had to part with it for Turkish paper. +The Turkish note was depreciated to about one-fifth of its face value. +German officers traded in the notes for gold, sent the notes +to Germany where, by a financial arrangement concluded between +Constantinople and Berlin, they were accepted at face value. The +German officer and soldier got richer the more they forced Turkish +paper down. Turkish officers bought considerable supplies of wheat and +flour from military depôts, the cost being debited against their pay +which was paid in paper. They then sold the goods for gold. That +accounted for the high prices of foodstuffs, the price in gold being +taken for the market valuation. + +In the middle of November when there was a prospect of the Turks +evacuating Jerusalem, the officers sold out their stocks of provisions +and prices became less prohibitive, but they rose again quickly when +it was decided to defend the City, and the cost of food mounted to +almost famine prices. The Turks by selling for gold that which was +bought for paper, rechanging gold for paper at their own prices, +made huge profits and caused a heavy depreciation of the note at the +expense of the population. Grain was brought from the district east of +the Dead Sea, but none of it found its way to civilian mouths except +through the extortionate channel provided by officers. Yet when we got +into Jerusalem there were people with small stocks of flour who were +willing to make flat loaves of unleavened bread for sale to our +troops. The soldiers had been living for weeks on hard biscuit and +bully beef, and many were willing to pay a shilling for a small cake +of bread. They did not know that the stock of flour in the town was +desperately low and that by buying this bread they were almost taking +it out of the mouths of the poor. Some traders were so keen on getting +good money, not paper, that they tried to do business on this footing, +looking to the British Army to come to the aid of the people. The Army +soon put a stop to this trade and the troops were prohibited +from buying bread in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. As it was, the +Quarter-master-General's branch had to send a large quantity of +foodstuffs into the towns, and this was done at a time when it was a +most anxious task to provision the troops. Those were very trying days +for the supply and transport departments, and one wonders whether +the civilian population ever realised the extent of the humanitarian +efforts of our Army staff. + +During the period when no attempt was made to alleviate the lot of the +people the Turks gave them a number of lessons in frightfulness. There +were public executions to show the severity of military law. Gallows +were erected outside the Jaffa Gate and the victims were left hanging +for hours as a warning to the population. I have seen a photograph of +six natives who suffered the penalty, with their executioners standing +at the swinging feet of their victims. Before the first battle of Gaza +the Turks brought the rich Mufti of Gaza and his son to Jerusalem, +and the Mufti was hanged in the presence of a throng compulsorily +assembled to witness the execution. The son was shot. Their only crime +was that they were believed to have expressed approval of Britain's +policy in dealing with Moslem races. Thus were the people terrorised. +They knew the Turkish ideas of justice, and dared not talk of events +happening in the town even in the seclusion of their homes. The evils +of war, as war is practised by the Turk, left a mark on Jerusalem's +population which will be indelible for this generation, despite the +wondrous change our Army has wrought in the people. + +When General Allenby had broken through the Gaza line the Turks in +Jerusalem despaired of saving the City. That all the army papers were +brought from Hebron on November 10, shows that even at that date von +Kress still imagined we would come up the Hebron road, though he had +learnt to his cost that a mighty column was moving through the coastal +sector and that our cavalry were cutting across the country to join +it. The notorious Enver reached Jerusalem from the north on November +12 and went down to Hebron. On his return it was reported that the +Turks would leave Jerusalem, the immediate sale of officers' stocks of +foodstuffs giving colour to the rumour. Undoubtedly some preparations +were made to evacuate the place, but the temptation to hold on was too +great. One can see the influence of the German mind in the Turkish +councils of war. At a moment when they were flashing the wireless news +throughout the world that their Caporetto victory meant the driving of +Italy out of the war they did not want the icy blast of Jerusalem's +fall to tell of disaster to their hopes in the East. Accordingly on +the 16th November a new decision was taken and Jerusalem was to be +defended to the last. German officers came hurrying south, lorries +were rushed down with stores until there were six hundred German lorry +drivers and mechanics in Jerusalem. Reinforcements arrived and the +houses of the German Colony were turned into nests of machine guns. +The pains the Germans were at to see their plans carried out +were reflected in the fighting when we tried to get across the +Jerusalem-Nablus road and to avoid fighting in the neighbourhood +of the Holy City. But all this effort availed them nought. Our +dispositions compelled the enemy to distribute his forces, and when +the attack was launched the Turk lacked sufficient men to man his +defences adequately. And German pretensions in the Holy Land, founded +upon years of scheming and the formation of settlements for German +colonists approved and supported by the Kaiser himself, were shattered +beyond hope of recovery, as similar pretensions had been shattered at +Bagdad by General Maude. The Turks had made their headquarters at the +Hospice of Notre Dame in Jerusalem, and, taking their cue from the +Hun, carried away all the furniture belonging to that French religious +institution. They had also deported some of the heads of religious +bodies. Falkenhayn wished that all Americans should be removed from +Jerusalem, issuing an order to that effect a fortnight before we +entered. Some members of the American colony had been running the Red +Crescent hospital, and Turkish doctors who appreciated their good work +insisted that the Americans should remain. Their protest prevailed in +most cases, but just as we arrived several Americans were carried off. + +I have asked many men who were engaged in the fight for Jerusalem what +their feelings were on getting their first glimpse of the central spot +of Christendom. Some people imagine that the hard brutalities of war +erase the softer elements of men's natures; that killing and the rough +life of campaigning, where one is familiarised with the tragedies of +life every hour of every day, where ease and comfort are forgotten +things, remove from the mind those earlier lessons of peace on earth +and goodwill toward men. That is a fallacy. Every man or officer I +spoke to declared that he was seized with emotion when, looking from +the shell-torn summit of Nebi Samwil, he saw the spires on the Mount +of Olives; or when reconnoitring from Kustul he got a peep of the red +roofs of the newer houses which surround the old City. Possibly only a +small percentage of the Army believed they were taking part in a great +mission, not a great proportion would claim to be really devout men, +but they all behaved like Christian gentlemen. One Londoner told me +he had thought the scenes of war had made him callous and that the +ruthless destruction of those things fashioned by men's hands in +prosecuting the arts of peace had prompted the feeling that there was +little in civilisation after all, if civilisation could result in so +bitter a thing as this awful fighting. Man seemed as barbaric as in +the days before the Saviour came to redeem the world, and whether +we won or lost the war all hopes of a happier state of things were +futile. So this Cockney imagined that his condition showed no +improvement on that of the savage warrior of two thousand years ago, +except in that civilisation had developed finer weapons to kill with +and be killed by. The finer instincts had been blunted by the naked +and unashamed horrors of war. But the lessons taught him before war +scourged the world came back to him on getting his first view of the +Holy City. He felt that sense of emotion which makes one wish to be +alone and think alone. He was on the ground where Sacred History was +made, perhaps stood on the rock the Saviour's foot had trod. In the +deep stirring of his emotions the rougher edges of his nature became +rounded by feelings of sympathy and a belief that good would come out +of the evil of this strife. That view of Jerusalem, and the knowledge +of what the Holy Sites stand for, made him a better man and a better +fighting man, and he had no doubt the first distant glimpse of the +Holy City had similarly affected the bulk of the Army. That bad +language is used by almost all troops in the field is notorious, +but in Jerusalem one seldom heard an oath or an indecent word. When +Jerusalem was won and small parties of our soldiers were allowed to +see the Holy City, their politeness to the inhabitants, patriarch or +priest, trader or beggar, man or woman, rebuked the thought that the +age of chivalry was past, while the reverent attitude involuntarily +adopted by every man when seeing the Sacred Places suggested that no +Crusader Army or band of pilgrims ever came to the Holy Land under a +more pious influence. Many times have I watched the troops of General +Allenby in the streets of Jerusalem. They bore themselves as soldiers +and gentlemen, and if they had been selected to go there simply to +impress the people they could not have more worthily upheld the good +fame of their nation. These soldier missionaries of the Empire left +behind them a record which will be remembered for generations. + +If it had been possible to consult the British people as to the +details to be observed at the ceremony of the Official Entry into +Jerusalem, the vast majority would surely have approved General +Allenby's programme. Americans tell us the British as a nation do +not know how to advertise. Our part in the war generally proves the +accuracy of that statement, but the Official Entry into Jerusalem will +stand out as one great exception. By omitting to make a great +parade of his victory--one may count elaborate ceremonial as +advertisement--General Allenby gave Britain her best advertisement. +The simple, dignified, and, one may also justly say, humble order of +ceremony was the creation of a truly British mind. To impress the +inhabitant of the East things must be done on a lavish ostentatious +scale, for gold and glitter and tinsel go a long way to form a +native's estimate of power. But there are times when the native is +shrewd enough to realise that pomp and circumstance do not always +indicate strength, and that dignity is more powerful than display. +Contrast the German Emperor's visit to Jerusalem with General +Allenby's Official Entry. The Kaiser brought a retinue clothed in +white and red, and blue and gold, with richly caparisoned horses, and, +like a true showman, he himself affected some articles of Arab dress. +He rode into the Holy City--where One before had walked--and a wide +breach was even made in those ancient walls for a German progress. All +this to advertise the might and power of Germany. + +In parenthesis I may state we are going to restore those walls to the +condition they were in before German hands defiled them. The General +who by capturing Jerusalem helped us so powerfully to bring Germany +to her knees and humble her before the world, entered on foot by an +ancient way, the Jaffa Gate, called by the native 'Bab-el-Khalil,' +or the Friend. In this hallowed spot there was no great pageantry of +arms, no pomp and panoply, no display of the mighty strength of a +victorious army, no thunderous salutes to acclaim a world-resounding +victory destined to take its place in the chronicles of all time. +There was no enemy flag to haul down and no flags were hoisted. There +were no soldier shouts of triumph over a defeated foe, no bells in +ancient belfrys rang, no Te Deums were sung, and no preacher mounted +the rostrum to eulogise the victors or to point the moral to the +multitude. A small, almost meagre procession, consisting of the +Commander-in-Chief and his Staff, with a guard of honour, less than +150 all told, passed through the gate unheralded by a single trumpet +note; a purely military act with a minimum of military display told +the people that the old order had changed, yielding place to new. The +native mind, keen, discerning, receptive, understood the meaning and +depth of this simplicity, and from the moment of high noon on December +11, 1917, when General Allenby went into the Mount Zion quarter of the +Holy City, the British name rested on a foundation as certain and sure +as the rock on which the Holy City stands. Right down in the hearts of +a people who cling to Jerusalem with the deepest reverence and piety +there was unfeigned delight. They realised that four centuries of +Ottoman dominion over the Holy City of Christians and Jews, and 'the +sanctuary' of Mahomedans, had ended, and that Jerusalem the Golden, +the central Site of Sacred History, was liberated for all creeds from +the blighting influence of the Turk. And while war had wrought this +beneficent change the population saw in this epoch-marking victory a +merciful guiding Hand, for it had been achieved without so much as a +stone of the City being scratched or a particle of its ancient dust +disturbed. The Sacred Monuments and everything connected with the +Great Life and its teaching were passed on untouched by our Army. +Rightly did the people rejoice. + +When General Allenby went into Jerusalem all fears had passed away. +The Official Entry was made while there was considerable fighting on +the north and east of the City, where our lines were nowhere more than +7000 yards off. The guns were firing, the sounds of bursts of musketry +were carried down on the wind, whilst droning aeroplane engines in the +deep-blue vault overhead told of our flying men denying a passage to +enemy machines. The stern voices of war were there in all their harsh +discordancy, but the people knew they were safe in the keeping of +British soldiers and came out to make holiday. General Allenby motored +into the suburbs of Jerusalem by the road from Latron which the +pioneers had got into some sort of order. The business of war was +going on, and the General's car took its place on the highway on even +terms with the lorry, which at that time when supplying the front was +the most urgent task and had priority on the roads. The people had put +on gala raiment. From the outer fringe of Jerusalem the Jaffa road was +blocked not merely with the inhabitants of the City but with people +who had followed in the Army's wake from Bethlehem. It was a +picturesque throng. There were sombre-clad Jews of all nationalities, +Armenians, Greeks, Russians, and all the peoples who make Jerusalem +the most cosmopolitan of cities. To the many styles of European dress +the brighter robes of the East gave vivid colour, and it was obvious +from the remarkably free and spontaneous expression of joy of these +people, who at the end of three years of war had such strong faith in +our fight for freedom, that they recognised freedom was permanently +won to all races and creeds by the victory at Jerusalem. The most +significant of all the signs was the attitude of Moslems. The Turks +had preached the Holy War, but they knew the hollowness of the cry, +and the natives, abandoning their natural reserve, joined in loud +expression of welcome. From flat-topped roofs, balconies, and streets +there were cries of 'Bravo!' and 'Hurrah!' uttered by men and women +who probably never spoke the words before, and quite close to the +Jaffa Gate I saw three old Mahomedans clap their hands while tears of +joy coursed down their cheeks. Their hearts were too full to utter a +word. There could be no doubt of the sincerity of this enthusiasm. The +crowd was more demonstrative than is usual with popular assemblies in +the East, but the note struck was not one of jubilation so much as +of thankfulness at the relief from an insufferable bondage of bad +government. Outside the Jaffa Gate was an Imperial guard of honour +drawn from men who had fought stoutly for the victory. In the British +Guard of fifty of all ranks were English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh +troops, steel-helmeted and carrying the kit they had an hour or two +earlier brought with them from the front line. Opposite them were +fifty dismounted men of the Australian Light Horse and New Zealand +Mounted Rifles, the Australians, under the command of Captain +Throssel, V.C., being drawn from the 10th Light Horse regiment, which +had been employed in the capture of Jerusalem on the right of the +London Division. These Colonial troops had earned their place, for +they had done the work of the vanguard in the Sinai Desert, and their +victories over the Turks on many a hard-won field in the torrid heat +of summer had paved the way for this greater triumph. A French and an +Italian guard of honour was posted inside the Jaffa Gate. As I have +previously said, the Italians had held a portion of the line in front +of Gaza with a composite brigade, but the French troops had not yet +been in action in Palestine, though their Navy had assisted with a +battleship in the Gaza bombardment. We welcomed the participation of +the representatives of our Allies in the Official Entry, as it showed +to those of their nationality in Jerusalem that we were fighting +the battle of freedom for them all. Outside the Jaffa Gate the +Commander-in-Chief was received by Major-General Borton, who had +been appointed Military Governor of the City, and a procession being +formed, General Allenby passed between the iron gates to within the +City walls. Preceded by two aides-de-camp the Commander-in-Chief +advanced with the commander of the French Palestine detachment on his +right and the commander of the Italian Palestine detachment on his +left. Four Staff officers followed. Then came Brigadier-General +Clayton, Political Officer; M. Picot, head of the French Mission; and +the French, Italian, and United States Military Attachés. The Chief +of the General Staff (Major-General Sir L.J. Bols) and the +Brigadier-General General Staff (Brigadier-General G. Dawnay) marched +slightly ahead of Lieutenant-General Sir Philip W. Chetwode, the XXth +Corps Commander, and Brigadier-General Bartholomew, who was General +Chetwode's B.G.G.S. The guard closed in behind. That was all. + +The procession came to a halt at the steps of El Kala, the Citadel, +which visitors to Jerusalem will better remember as the entrance to +David's Tower. Here the Commander-in-Chief and his Staff formed up on +the steps with the notables of the City behind them, to listen to the +reading of the Proclamation in several languages. That Proclamation, +telling the people they could pursue their lawful business without +interruption and promising that every sacred building, monument, holy +spot, shrine, traditional site, endowment, pious bequest, or customary +place of prayer of whatsoever form of three of the great religions +of mankind would be maintained and protected according to existing +customs and beliefs to those to whose faiths they are sacred, made +a deep impression on the populace. So you could judge from the +expressions on faces and the frequent murmurs of approval, and it was +interesting to note how, when the procession was being re-formed, many +Christians, Jews, and Moslems broke away from the crowd to run and +spread the good news in their respective quarters. How faithfully and +with what scrupulous care our promises have been kept the religious +communities of Jerusalem can tell. + +The procession next moved into the old Turkish barrack square less +than a hundred yards away, where General Allenby received the notables +of the City and the heads of religious communities. The Mayor of +Jerusalem, who unfortunately died of pneumonia a fortnight later, and +the Mufti, who, like the Mayor, was a member of a Mahomedan family +which traces its descent back through many centuries, were presented, +as were also the sheikhs in charge of the Mosque of Omar, 'the Tomb +of the Rock,' and the Mosque of El Aksa, and Moslems belonging to the +Khaldieh and Alamieh families. The Patriarchs of the Latin, Greek +Orthodox, and Armenian Churches and the Coptic bishop had been removed +from the Holy City by the Turks, but their representatives were +introduced to the Commander-in-Chief, and so too were the heads of +Jewish communities, the Syriac Church, the Greek Catholic Church, the +Abyssinian bishop, and the representative of the Anglican Church. A +notable presentation was the Spanish Consul, who had been in charge of +the interests of almost all countries at war, and whom General Allenby +congratulated upon being so busy a man. The presentations over, the +Commander-in-Chief returned to the Jaffa Gate and left for advanced +General Headquarters, having been in the Holy City not more than a +quarter of an hour. + +For succinctness it would be difficult to improve upon the +Commander-in-Chief's own description of his Official Entry into +Jerusalem. Cabling to London within two hours of that event, General +Allenby thus narrated the events of the day: + +(1) At noon to-day I officially entered this City with a few of my +Staff, the commanders of the French and Italian detachments, the heads +of the Picot Mission, and the Military Attachés of France, Italy, and +the United States of America. + +The procession was all on foot. + +I was received by Guards representing England, Scotland, Ireland, +Wales, Australia, India, New Zealand, France, and Italy at the Jaffa +Gate. + +(2) I was well received by the population. + +(3) The Holy Places have had Guards placed over them. + +(4) My Military Governor is in touch with the Acting Custos of Latins, +and the Greek representative has been detailed to supervise Christian +Holy Places. + +(5) The Mosque of Omar and the area round it has been placed under +Moslem control and a military cordon composed of Indian Mahomedan +officers and soldiers has been established round the Mosque. Orders +have been issued that without permission of the Military Governor +and the Moslem in charge of the Mosque no non-Moslem is to pass this +cordon. + +(6) The Proclamation has been posted on the walls, and from the steps +of the Citadel was read in my presence to the population in Arabic, +Hebrew, English, French, Italian, Greek, and Russian. + +(7) Guardians have been established at Bethlehem and on Rachel's Tomb. +The Tomb of Hebron has been placed under exclusive Moslem control. + +(8) The hereditary custodians of the Wakfs at the Gates of the Holy +Sepulchre have been requested to take up their accustomed duties in +remembrance of the magnanimous act of the Caliph Omar who protected +that Church. + +As a matter of historical interest I give in the Appendix the orders +issued on the occasion of the Official Entry into Jerusalem, the order +of General Allenby's procession into the Holy City for the reading of +the Proclamation, together with the text of that historic document, +and the special orders of the day issued by the Commander-in-Chief to +his troops after the capture of Jerusalem.[1] + +[Footnote 1: See Appendix VII.] + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +MAKING JERUSALEM SECURE + + +General Allenby within two days of capturing Jerusalem had secured a +line of high ground which formed an excellent defensive system, but +his XXth Corps Staff was busy with plans to extend the defences to +give the Holy City safety from attack. Nothing could have had so +damaging an influence on our prestige in the East, which was growing +stronger every day as the direct result of the immense success of the +operations in Palestine, as the recapture of Jerusalem by the Turks. +We thought the wire-pulling of the German High Command would have its +effect in the war councils of Turkey, and seeing that the regaining of +the prize would have such far-reaching effect on public opinion no one +was surprised that the Germans prevailed upon their ally to make the +attempt. It was a hopeless failure. The attack came at a moment when +we were ready to launch a scheme to secure a second and a third line +of defences for Jerusalem, and gallantly as the Turks fought--they +delivered thirteen powerful attacks against our line on the morning +of December 27--the venture had a disastrous ending, and instead of +reaching Jerusalem the enemy had to yield to British arms seven miles +of most valuable country and gave us, in place of one line, four +strong lines for the defence of the Holy City. By supreme judgment, +when the Turks had committed themselves to the attack on Tel el Ful, +without which they could not move a yard on the Nablus road, General +Chetwode started his operations on the left of his line with the 10th +and 74th Divisions, using his plan as it had been prepared for some +days to seize successive lines of hills, and compelled the enemy, +in order to meet this attack, to divert the fresh division held in +waiting at Bireh to throw forward into Jerusalem the moment the +storming troops should pierce our line. With the precision of +clockwork the Irish and dismounted yeomanry divisions secured their +objectives, and on the second day of the fighting we regained the +initiative and compelled the Turks to conform to our dispositions. +On the fourth day we were on the Ramallah-Bireh line and secured for +Jerusalem an impregnable defence. Prisoners told us that they had been +promised, as a reward for their hoped-for success, a day in Jerusalem +to do as they liked. We can imagine what the situation in the Holy +City would have been had our line been less true. The Londoners who +had won the City saved it. Probably only a few of the inhabitants had +any knowledge of the danger the City was in on December 27. Their +confidence in the British troops had grown and could scarcely be +stronger, but some of them were alarmed, and throughout the early +morning and day they knelt on housetops earnestly praying that our +soldiers would have strength to withstand the Turkish onslaughts. From +that day onward the sound of the guns was less violent, and as our +artillery advanced northwards the people's misgivings vanished and +they reproached themselves for their fears. + +It will be remembered how the troops of the XXth Corps were disposed. +The 53rd Division held the line south-east and east of Jerusalem from +Bir Asad through Abu Dis, Bethany, to north of the Mount of Olives, +whence the 60th Division took it up from Meshari, east of Shafat to +Tel el Ful and to Beit Hannina across the Jerusalem-Nablus road. The +74th Division carried on to Nebi Samwil, Beit Izza to Beit Dukku, with +the 10th Division on their left through Foka, Tahta to Suffa, the gap +between the XXth Corps to the right of the XXIst Corps being held +by the 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade of the Australian Mounted +Division. Against us were the 27th Turkish Division and the 7th and +27th cavalry regiments south of the Jericho road, with the 26th, 53rd, +19th, and 24th Divisions on the north of that road and to the west of +the Jerusalem-Nablus road, one division being in reserve at Bireh, the +latter a new division fresh from the Caucasus. The 6th and 8th Turkish +cavalry regiments were facing our extreme left, the estimated strength +of the enemy in the line being 14,700 rifles and 2300 sabres. Just as +it was getting dark on December 11 a party of the enemy attacked the +179th Brigade at Tel el Ful but were repulsed. There was not much +activity the following day, but the 53rd Division began a series of +minor operations by which they secured some features of tactical +importance. On the 13th the 181st Brigade made a dashing attack on Ras +el Kharrabeh and secured it, taking 43 prisoners and two machine guns, +with 31 casualties to themselves. + +It was about this time the Corps Commander framed plans for the +advance of our front north of Jerusalem. There had been a few days of +fine weather, and a great deal had been done to improve the condition +of the roads and communications. An army of Egyptian labourers had +set to work on the Enab-Jerusalem road and from the villages had come +strong reinforcements of natives, women as well as men (and the women +did quite as much work as the men), attracted by the unusual wage +payable in cash. In Jerusalem, too, the natives were sent to labour on +the roads and to clean up some of the filth that the Turks had allowed +to accumulate for years, if not for generations, inside the Holy City. +The Army not merely provided work for idle hands but enabled starving +bodies to be vitalised. Food was brought into Jerusalem, and with the +cash wages old and young labourers could get more than a sufficiency. +The native in the hills proved to be a good road repairer, and the +boys and women showed an eagerness to earn their daily rates of pay; +the men generally looked on and gave directions. It was some time +before steam rollers crushed in the surface, but even rammed-in stones +were better than mud, and the lorry drivers' tasks became lighter. + +General Chetwode's plan was to secure a line from Obeid, 9000 yards +east of Bethlehem, the hill of Zamby covering the Jericho road three +miles from Jerusalem, Anata, Hismeh, Jeba, Burkah, Beitun, El Balua, +Kh. el Burj, Deir Ibzia to Shilta. The scheme was to strike with the +53rd and 60th Divisions astride the Jerusalem-Nablus road, and at the +same time to push the 10th Division and a part of the 74th Division +eastwards from the neighbourhood of Tahta and Foka. The weather again +became bad on December 14 and the troops suffered great discomfort +from heavy rains and violent, cold winds, so that only light +operations were undertaken. On the 17th the West Kent and Sussex +battalions of the 160th Brigade stalked the high ground east of Abu +Dis at dawn, and at the cost of only 26 casualties took the ridge with +5 officers and 121 other ranks prisoners, and buried 46 enemy dead. +One battalion went up the hill on one side, while the Sussex crept up +the opposite side, the Turks being caught between two fires. The 53rd +Division also improved their position on the 21st December. As one +leaves Bethany and proceeds down the Jericho road one passes along a +steep zigzag with several hairpin bends until one reaches a guardhouse +near a well about a mile east of Bethany. The road still falls +smartly, following a straighter line close to a wadi bed, but hills +rise very steeply from the highway, and for its whole length until +it reaches the Jordan valley the road is always covered by high bare +mountains. Soon after leaving the zigzag there is a series of three +hills to the north of the road. It was important to obtain possession +of two of these hills, the first called Zamby and the second named by +the Welsh troops 'Whitehill,' from the bright limestone outcrop at the +crest. The 159th Brigade attacked and gained Zamby and then turned +nearer the Jericho road to capture Whitehill. The Turks resisted very +stoutly, and there was heavy fighting about the trenches just below +the top of the hill. By noon the brigade had driven the enemy off, but +three determined counter-attacks were delivered that day and the +next and the brigade lost 180 killed and wounded. The Turks suffered +heavily in the counter-attacks and left over 50 dead behind them; also +a few prisoners. At a later date there was further strong fighting +around this hill, and at one period it became impossible for either +side to hold it. + +By the 21st there was a readjustment of the line on the assumption +that the XXth Corps would attack the Turks on Christmas Day, the 53rd +Division taking over the line as far north as the wadi Anata, the 60th +Division extending its left to include Nebi Samwil, and the 74th going +as far west as Tahta. As a preliminary to the big movement the 180th +Brigade was directed to move on Kh. Adaseh, a hill between Tel el Ful +and Tawil, in the early hours of December 23, and the 181st Brigade +was to seize a height about half a mile north of Beit Hannina. The +latter attack succeeded, but despite the most gallant and repeated +efforts the 180th Brigade was unable to gain the summit of Adaseh, +though they got well up the hill. The weather became bad once more, +and meteorological reports indicated no improvement in the conditions +for at least twenty-four hours, and as the moving forward of artillery +and supplies was impossible in the rain, General Chetwode with the +concurrence of G.H.Q. decided that the attack should not be made on +Christmas Day. The 60th Division thereupon did not further prosecute +their attack on Adaseh. On the 24th December, while General Chetwode +was conferring with his divisional commanders, information was brought +in that the Turks were making preparations to recapture Jerusalem by +an attack on the 60th Division, and the Corps Commander decided that +the moment the enemy was found to be fully committed to this attack +the 10th Division and one brigade of the 74th Division would fall on +the enemy's right and advance over the Zeitun, Kereina, and Ibzia +ridges. How well this plan worked out was shown before the beginning +of the New Year, by which time we had secured a great depth of ground +at a cost infinitely smaller than could have been expected if the +Turks had remained on the defensive, while the Turkish losses, at a +moment when they required to preserve every fighting man, were much +greater than we could have hoped to inflict if they had not come into +the open. There was never a fear that the enemy would break through. +We had commanding positions everywhere, and the more one studied our +line on the chain of far-flung hills the more clearly one realised the +prevision and military skill of General Chetwode and the staff of the +XXth Corps in preparing the plans for its capture before the advance +on Jerusalem was started. The 'fourth objective' of December 8-9 well +and truly laid the foundations for Jerusalem's security, and relieved +the inhabitants from the accumulated burdens of more than three years +of war. We had nibbled at pieces of ground to flatten out the line +here and there, but in the main the line the Turks assaulted was that +fourth objective. The Turks put all their hopes on their last card. It +was trumped; and when we had won the trick there was not a soldier in +General Allenby's Army nor a civilian in the Holy City who had not a +profound belief in the coming downfall of the Turkish Empire. + +Troops in the line and in bivouac spent the most cheerless Christmas +Day within their memories. Not only in the storm-swept hills but on +the Plain the day was bitterly cold, and the gale carried with it +heavy rain clouds which passed over the tops of mountains and rolled +up the valleys in ceaseless succession, discharging hail and rain in +copious quantities. The wadis became roaring, tearing torrents fed by +hundreds of tributaries, and men who had sought shelter on the lee +side of rocks often found water pouring over them in cascades. The +whole country became a sea of mud, and the trials of many months of +desert sand were grateful and comforting memories. Transport columns +had an unhappy time: the Hebron road was showing many signs of +wear, and it was a long journey for lorries from Beersheba when the +retaining walls were giving way and a foot-deep layer of mud invited a +skid every yard. The Latron-Jerusalem road was better going, but the +soft metal laid down seemed to melt under the unceasing traffic in the +wet, and in peace time this highway would have been voted unfit +for traffic. The worst piece of road, however, was also the most +important. The Nablus road where it leaves Jerusalem was wanted to +supply a vital point on our front. It could not be used during the day +because it was under observation, and anything moving along it was +liberally dosed with shells. Nor could its deplorable condition be +improved by working parties. The ground was so soft on either side of +it that no gun, ammunition, or supply limber could leave the track, +and whatever was required for man, or beast, or artillery had to be +carried across the road in the pitch-black hours of night. Supplies +were only got up to the troops after infinite labour, yet no one went +hungry. Boxing Day was brighter, and there were hopes of a period of +better weather. During the morning there were indications that an +enemy offensive was not far off, and these were confirmed about noon +by information that the front north of Jerusalem would be attacked in +the night. General Chetwode thereupon ordered General Longley to start +his offensive on the left of the XXth Corps line at dawn next morning. +Shortly before midnight the Turks began their operations against the +line held by the 60th Division across the Nablus road precisely where +it had been expected. They attacked in considerable strength at Ras et +Tawil and about the quarries held by our outposts north of that hill, +and the outposts were driven in. About the same time the 24th Welsh +Regiment--dismounted yeomanry--made the enemy realise that we were on +the alert, for they assaulted and captured a hill quite close to Et +Tireh, just forestalling an attack by a Turkish storming battalion, +and beat off several determined counter-attacks, as a result of which +the enemy left seventy killed with the bayonet and also some machine +guns on the hill slopes. + +The night was dark and misty, and by half-past one the Turks had +developed a big attack against the whole of the 60th Division's front, +the strongest effort being delivered on the line in front of Tel el +Ful, though there was also very violent fighting on the west of the +wadi Ed Dunn, north of Beit Hannina. The Turks fought with desperate +bravery. They had had no food for two days, and the commander of one +regiment told his men: 'There are no English in front of you. I have +been watching the enemy lines for a long time; they are held by +Egyptians, and I tell you there are no English there. You have only to +capture two hills and you can go straight into Jerusalem and get food. +It is our last chance of getting Jerusalem, and if we fail we shall +have to go back.' This officer gave emphatic orders that British +wounded were not to be mutilated. Between half-past one and eight A.M. +the Turks attacked in front of Tel el Ful eight times, each attack +being stronger than the last. Tel el Ful is a conical hill covered +with huge boulders, and on the top is a mass of rough stones and +ruined masonry. The Turks had registered well and severely shelled our +position before making an assault, and they covered the advance +with machine guns. In one attack made just after daybreak the enemy +succeeded in getting into a short length of line, but men of the +2/15th Londons promptly organised a counter-attack and, advancing +with fine gallantry, though their ranks were thinned by a tremendous +enfilade fire from artillery and machine guns, they regained the +sangars. For several hours after eight o'clock this portion of the +line was quieter, but the Turk was reorganising for a last effort. A +very brilliant defence had been made during the night of Beit Hannina +by the 2/24th Londons, which battalion was commanded by a captain, the +colonel and the majors being on the sick list. The two companies +in the line were attacked four times by superior numbers, the last +assault being delivered by more than five hundred men, but the +defenders stood like rocks, and though they had fifty per cent, +of their number killed or wounded, and the Turks got close to the +trenches, the enemy were crushingly defeated. + +The morning lull was welcome. Our troops got some rest though their +vigilance was unrelaxed, and few imagined that the Turks had yet given +up the attempt to reach Jerusalem. We were ready to meet a fresh +effort, but the strength with which it was delivered surprised +everybody. The Turk, it seemed, was prepared to stake everything on +his last throw. He knew quite early on that morning that his Caucasus +Division could not carry out the role assigned to it. General Chetwode +had countered him by smashing in with his left with a beautiful +weighty stroke precisely at the moment when the Turk had compromised +himself elsewhere, and instead of being able to put in his reserves to +support his main attack the enemy had to divert them to stave off an +advance which, if unhindered, would threaten the vital communications +of the attackers north of Jerusalem. + +It was a remarkable situation, but all the finesse in the art of war +was on one side. Every message the Turkish Commander received from his +right must have reported progress against him. Each signal from the +Jerusalem front must have been equally bitter, summing up want of +progress and heavy losses. With us, Time was a secondary factor; with +the Turk, Time was the whole essence of the business, so he pledged +his all on one tremendous final effort. It was almost one o'clock when +it started, and it was made against the whole front of our XXth Corps. +It was certainly made in unexpected strength and with a courage +beyond praise. The Turk threw himself forward to the assault with the +violence of despair, and his impetuous onrush enabled him to get into +some small elements of our front line; but counter-attacks immediately +organised drove him out. Over the greater portion of the front the +advance was stopped dead, but in some places the enemy tried a +whirlwind rush and used bomb against bomb. He had met his match. + +The 60th Division which bore the brunt of the onslaught, as it was +bound to do from its position astride the main road, was absolutely +unbreakable, and at Tel el Ful there lay a dead Turk for every yard +of its front. The enemy drew off, but to save the remnants of his +storming troops kept our positions from near Ras et Tawil, Tel el Ful +to the wadi Beit Hannina under heavy gunfire for the rest of the day. +The Turk was hopelessly beaten, his defeat irretrievable. He had +delivered thirteen costly attacks, and his sole gains were the exposed +outpost positions at the Tawil and the quarries. All his reserves had +been vigorously engaged, while at two o'clock in the afternoon General +Chetwode had in reserve nineteen battalions less one company still +unused, and the care exercised in keeping this large body of troops +fresh for following up the Turkish defeat undoubtedly contributed +to the great success of the advances on the next three days. +Simultaneously with their attack on the 60th Division positions the +Turks put in a weighty effort to oust the 53rd Division from the +positions they held north and south of the Jericho road. Whether in +their wildest dreams they imagined they could enter Jerusalem by this +route is doubtful, but if they had succeeded in driving in our line on +the north they would have put the 53rd Division in a perilous position +on the east with only one avenue of escape. The Turks concentrated +their efforts on Whitehill and Zamby. A great fight raged round the +former height and we were driven off it, but the divisional artillery +so sprinkled the crest with shell that the Turk could not occupy it, +and it became No Man's Land until the early evening when the 7th Royal +Welsh Fusiliers recaptured and held it. The contest for Zamby lasted +all day, and for a long time it was a battle of bombs and machine +guns, so closely together were the fighting men, but the Turks never +got up to our sangars and were finally driven off with heavy loss, +over 100 dead being left on the hill. The Turkish ambulances were seen +hard at work on the Jericho road throughout the day. There was a stout +defence of a detached post at Ibn Obeid. A company of the 2/10th +Middlesex Regiment had been sent on to Obeid, about five miles east +of Bethlehem, to watch for the enemy moving about the rough tracks +in that bare and broken country which falls away in jagged hills and +sinuous valleys to the Dead Sea. The little garrison, whose sole +shelter was a ruined monastic building on the hill, were attacked at +dawn by 700 Turkish cavalry supported by mountain guns. The garrison +stood fast all day though practically surrounded, and every attack was +beaten off. The Turks tried again and again to secure the hill, which +commands a track to Bethlehem, but, although they fired 400 shells +at the position, they could not enter it, and a battalion sent up to +relieve the Middlesex men next morning found that the company had +driven the enemy off, its casualties having amounted to only 2 killed +and 17 wounded. Thus did the 'Die Hards' live up to the traditions of +the regiment. + +Having dealt with the failure of the Turkish attacks against the 60th +and 53rd Divisions in front of Jerusalem, let us change our view point +and focus attention on the left sector of XXth Corps, where the enemy +was feeling the full power of the Corps at a time when he most wished +to avoid it. General Longley had organised his attacking columns in +three groups. On the right the 229th Brigade of the 74th Division was +set the task of moving from the wadi Imeish to secure the high ground +of Bir esh Shafa overlooking Beitunia; the 31st Brigade, starting from +near Tahta, attacked north of the wadi Sunt, to drive the enemy from a +line from Jeriut through Hafy to the west of the olive orchards +near Ain Arik; while the left group, composed of the 29th and 30th +Brigades, aimed at getting Shabuny across the wadi Sad, and Sheikh +Abdallah where they would have the Australian Mounted Division on +their left. The advance started from the left of the line. The +29th Brigade leading, with the 30th Brigade in support, left their +positions of deployment at six o'clock, by which time the Turk had had +more than he had bargained for north and east of Jerusalem. The 1st +Leinsters and 5th Connaught Rangers found the enemy in a stubborn mood +west of Deir Ibzia, but they broke down the opposition in the proper +Irish style and rapidly reached their objectives. The centre group +started one hour after the left and got their line without much +difficulty. The right group was hotly opposed. Beginning their advance +at eight o'clock the 229th Brigade had reached the western edge of the +famous Zeitun ridge in an hour, but from this time onwards they were +exposed to incessant artillery and machine-gun fire, and the forward +movement became very slow. In five hours small parties had worked +along the ridge for about half its length, fighting every yard, and it +was not until the approach of dusk that we once more got control of +the whole ridge. It was appropriate that dismounted yeomen should gain +this important tactical point which several weeks previously had been +won and lost by their comrades of the Yeomanry Mounted Division. +Descending from the ridge the brigade gave the Turk little chance to +stand, and with a bayonet charge they reached the day's objective +in the dark. At two o'clock, when the Turks' final effort against +Jerusalem had just failed, the 60th and 74th Divisions both sent +in the good news that the Turkish commander was moving his reserve +division from Bireh westwards to meet the attack from our left. Airmen +confirmed this immediately, and it was now obvious that General +Chetwode's tactics had compelled the enemy to conform to his movements +and that we had regained the initiative. At about ten o'clock the 24th +Royal Welsh Fusiliers of the 231st Brigade captured Kh. ed Dreihemeh +on the old Roman road a mile east of Tireh, and at eleven o'clock +advanced to the assault of hill 2450, a little farther eastward. They +gained the crest, but the enemy had a big force in the neighbourhood +and counter-attacked, forcing the Welshmen to withdraw some distance +down the western slope. They held this ground till 4.30 when our guns +heavily bombarded the summit, under cover of which fire the infantry +made another attack. This was also unsuccessful owing to the intense +volume of fire from machine guns. The hill was won, however, next +morning. + +The night of December 27-28 was without incident. The Turk had staked +and lost, and he spent the night in making new dispositions to meet +what he must have realised was being prepared for him on the following +day. + +It is doubtful whether there was a more successful day for our Army in +the Palestine campaign than December 27. The portion of our line which +was on the defensive had stood an absolutely unmovable wall, against +which the enemy had battered himself to pieces. Our left, or attacking +sector, had gained all their objectives against strong opposition in +a most difficult country, and had drawn against them the very troops +held in reserve for the main attack on Jerusalem. The physical powers +of some of our attacking troops were tried highly. One position +captured by the 229th Brigade was a particularly bad hill. The +slope up which the infantry had to advance was a series of almost +perpendicular terraces, and the riflemen could only make the ascent by +climbing up each others' backs. When dismounted yeomen secured another +hill some men carrying up supplies took two hours to walk from the +base of the hill to the summit. The trials of the infantry were shared +by the artillery. What surprises every one who has been over the route +taken by the 10th and 74th Divisions is that any guns except those +with the mountain batteries were able to get into action. The road +work of engineers and the 5th Royal Irish Regiment (Pioneers) was +magnificent, and they made a way where none seemed possible; but +though these roadmakers put their backs into their tasks, it was only +by the untiring energies of the gunners and drivers that artillery was +got up to support the infantry. The guns were brought into action well +ahead of the roads, and were man-hauled for considerable distances. +Two howitzers and one field gun were kept up with the infantry on the +first day of the advance where no horses could get a foothold, and the +manner in which the gunners hauled the guns through deep ravines +and up seemingly unclimbable hills constituted a wonderful physical +achievement. The artillery were called upon to continue their arduous +work on the 28th and 29th under conditions of ground which were even +more appalling than those met with on the 27th. The whole country was +devoid of any road better than a goat track, and the ravines became +deeper and the hills more precipitous. In some places, particularly +on the 10th Division front, the infantry went forward at a remarkable +pace; but guns moved up with them, and by keeping down the fire of +machine guns dotted about on every hill, performed services which +earned the riflemen's warm praise. The 9th and 10th Mountain Batteries +were attached to the 10th Division, but field and howitzer batteries +were also well up. On the 28th the 53rd Division bit farther into the +enemy's line in order to cover the right of the 60th Division, which +was to continue its advance up the Nablus road towards Bireh. The +158th Brigade captured Anata, and after fighting all day the 1/7th +Royal Welsh Fusiliers secured Ras Urkub es Suffa, a forbidding-looking +height towering above the storm-rent sides of the wadi Ruabeh. The +1/1st Herefords after dark took Kh. Almit. + +In front of the 60th Division the Turks were still holding some strong +positions from which they should have been able seriously to delay +the Londoners' advance had it not been for the threat to their +communications by the pressure by the 10th and 74th Divisions. The +Londoners had previously tested the strength of Adaseh, and had found +it an extremely troublesome hill. They went for it again--the 179th +Brigade this time--and after a several hours' struggle took it at +dusk. Meanwhile the 181st Brigade had taken the lofty villages of Bir +Nebala and El Jib, and after Adaseh became ours the Division went +ahead in the dark and got to the line across the Nablus road from Er +Ram to Rafat, capturing some prisoners. The 74th Division also made +splendid progress. In the early hours the Division, with the 24th +Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the 24th Welsh Regiment attached, secured +Jufeir and resumed their main advance in the afternoon, the 230th and +231st Brigades cooperating with the 229th Brigade which was under the +orders of the 10th Division. Before dark they had advanced their line +from the left of the 60th Division in Rafat past the east of Beitunia +to the hill east of Abu el Ainein, and this strong line of hills +once secured, everybody was satisfied that the Turks' possession of +Ramallah and Bireh was only a question of hours. Part of this line had +been won by the 10th Division, which began its advance before noon in +the same battle formation as on the 27th. Soon after the three groups +started the heavy artillery put down a fierce fire on the final +objectives, and before three o'clock the Turks were seen to be +evacuating Kefr Skyan, Ainein, and Rubin. The enemy put up a stout +fight at Beitunia and on a hill several hundred yards north-west of +the village, but the 229th Brigade had good artillery and machine-gun +assistance, and got both places before four o'clock, capturing seventy +prisoners, including the commander of the garrison, and a number of +machine guns. The left group was hotly opposed from a hill a mile west +of Rubin and from a high position south-west of Ainein. The nature of +the ground was entirely favourable to defence and for a time the Turk +took full advantage of it, but our artillery soon made him lose his +stomach for fighting, and doubtless the sound of many shell-bursts +beyond Ramallah made him think that his rock sangars and the deep +ravines in front of him were not protection against a foe who fought +Nature with as much determination as he fought the Turkish soldier. +Six-inch howitzers of the 378th Siege Battery had been brought up to +Foka in the early hours, and all the afternoon and evening they +were plastering the road from Ramallah along which the enemy were +retreating. The left group defied the nests of machine guns hidden +among the rocks and broke down the defence. The centre group had been +delayed by the opposition encountered by the left, but they took Skyan +at six o'clock and all of the objectives for one day were in our hands +by the early evening. An advance along the whole front was ordered to +begin at six o'clock on December 29. On his right flank the enemy was +willing to concede ground, and the 159th Brigade occupied Hismeh, +Jeba, and the ridges to the north-west to protect the flank of the +60th Division. The 53rd Division buried 271 enemy dead on their front +as the result of three days' fighting. The 181st Brigade made a rapid +advance up the Nablus road until they were close to Bireh and Tahunah, +a high rocky hill just to the north-west of the village. The Turks had +many machine guns and a strong force of riflemen in these places, and +it was impossible for infantry to advance against them over exposed +ground without artillery support. The 303rd Field Artillery Brigade +was supporting the brigade, and they were to move up a track from +Kullundia while the foot-sloggers used the high road, but the track +was found impassable for wheels and the guns had to be brought to the +road. The attack was postponed till the guns were in position. The +gunners came into action at half-past two, and infantry moved to the +left to get on to the Ramallah-Bireh metalled road which runs at right +angles to the trunk road between Nablus and Jerusalem. The 2/22nd +and the 2/23rd Londons, working across the road, reached the Tahunah +ridge, and after a heavy bombardment dashed into the Turkish +positions, which were defended most stubbornly to the end, and thus +won the last remaining hill which commanded our advance up the Nablus +road as far as Bireh. On the eastern side of the main highway the +180th Brigade had once more done sterling service. There is a bold +eminence called Shab Saleh, a mile due south of Bireh. It rises almost +sheer from a piece of comparatively flat ground, and the enemy held it +in strength. The 2/19th and the 2/20th Londons attacked this feature, +and displaying great gallantry in face of much machine-gun fire seized +it at half-past three. Once again the gunners supported the infantry +admirably. The 2/17th and 2/18th Londons pushed past Saleh in a +north-easterly direction and, leaving Bireh on their left, got into +extremely bad country and took the Turks by surprise on a wooded ridge +at Sheikh Sheiban. The two brigades rested and refreshed for a couple +of hours and then advanced once more, and by midnight they had routed +the Turks out of another series of hills and were in firm possession +of the line from Beitin, across the Nablus road north of the Balua +Lake, to the ridge of El Burj, having carried through everything which +had been planned for the Division. + +Ramallah had been taken at nine o'clock in the morning without +opposition by the 230th and 229th Brigades, and at night the 74th +Division held a strong line north of the picturesque village as far as +Et Tireh. The 10th Division also occupied the Tireh ridge quite +early in the day, and one of their field batteries and both mountain +batteries got within long range of the Nablus road, and not only +assisted in shelling the enemy in Bireh but harassed with a hot fire +any bodies of men or transport seen retreating northwards. The Flying +Corps, too, caused the Turks many losses on the road. The airmen +bombed the enemy from a low altitude and also machine-gunned them, and +moreover by their timely information gave great assistance during +the operations. By the 30th December all organised resistance to our +advance had ceased and the XXth Corps consolidated its line, the 60th +Division going forward slightly to improve its position and the other +divisions rearranging their own. The consolidation of the line was not +an easy matter. It had to be very thoroughly and rapidly done. The +supply difficulty compelled the holding of the line with as few troops +as possible, and when it had been won it was necessary to put it in a +proper order in a minimum of time, and to bring back a considerable +number of the troops who had been engaged in the fighting to hold +the grand defensive chain which made Jerusalem absolutely safe. The +standard gauge railway was still a long way from Ramleh, and the +railway construction parties had to fight against bad weather and +washouts. The Turkish line from Ramleh to Jerusalem was in bad order; +a number of bridges were down, so that it was not likely the railway +could be working for several weeks. Lorries could supply the troops in +the neighbourhood of the Nablus road, though the highway was +getting into bad condition, but in the right centre of the line the +difficulties of terrain were appalling. The enemy had had a painful +experience of it and was not likely to wish to fight in that country +again; consequently it was decided to hold this part of the line with +light forces. + +In this description of the operations I have made little mention of +the work of the Australian Mounted Division which covered the gap +between XXth and XXIst Corps. These Australian horsemen and yeomanry +guarded an extended front in inaccessible country, and every man in +the Division will long remember the troubles of supply in the hills. +They had some stiff fighting against a wily enemy, and not for a +minute could they relax their vigilance. When, with the Turks' fatal +effort to retake Jerusalem, the 10th Division changed their front +and attacked in a north-easterly direction, the Australian Mounted +Division moved with it, and they found the country as they progressed +become more rugged and bleak and extremely difficult for mounted +troops. The Division was in the fighting line for the whole month of +December, and when they handed over the new positions they had reached +to the infantry on the last day of the year, their horses fully needed +the lengthened period of rest allotted to them. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A GREAT FEAT OF WAR + + +From the story of how Jerusalem was made secure (for we may hope the +clamour of war has echoed for the last time about her Holy Shrines and +venerable walls) we may turn back to the coastal sector and see how +the XXIst Corps improved a rather dangerous situation and laid the +foundations for the biggest break-through of the world struggle. For +it was the preparations in this area which made possible General +Allenby's tremendous gallop through Northern Palestine and Syria, +and gave the Allies Haifa, Beyrout, and Tripoli on the seaboard, and +Nazareth, Damascus, and Aleppo in the interior. The foundations were +soundly laid when the XXIst Corps crossed the Auja before Christmas +1917, and the superstructure of the victory which put Turkey as +well as Bulgaria and Austria out of the war was built up with many +difficulties from the sure base provided by the XXIst Corps line. The +crossing of the Auja was a great feat of war, and this is the first +time I am able to mention the names of those to whom the credit of the +operation is due. It was one of the strange regulations of the Army +Council in connection with the censorship that no names of the +commanders of army corps, divisions, brigades, or battalions should be +mentioned by correspondents. Nor indeed was I permitted to identify +in my despatches any particular division, yet the divisions +concerned--the 52nd, 53rd, 54th, 60th, and so on--had often been +mentioned in official despatches; the enemy not only knew they were in +Palestine but were fully aware of their positions in the line; their +commanders and brigadiers were known by name to the Turks. On the +other hand, in describing a certain battle I was allowed to speak of +divisions of Lowland troops, Welshmen and Londoners, allusions which +would convey (if there were anything to give away) precisely as much +information to the dull old Turk and his sharper Hun companion in +arms as though the 52nd, 53rd, and 60th Divisions had been explicitly +designated. This practice seemed in effect to be designed more with +the object of keeping our people at home in the dark, of forbidding +them glory in the deeds of their children and brothers, than of +preventing information reaching the enemy. Some gentleman enthroned in +the authority of an official armchair said 'No,' and there was an +end of it. You could not get beyond him. His decision was final, +complete--and silly--and the correspondent was bound hand and foot by +it. Doubtless he would have liked one to plead on the knee for some +little relaxation of his decision. Then he would have answered 'No' +in a louder tone. Let me give one example from a number entered in +my notebooks of how officers at home exercised their authority. +In January 1917 the military railway from the Suez Canal had been +constructed across the Sinai Desert and the first train was run into +El Arish, about ninety miles from the Canal. I was asked by General +Headquarters to send a cablegram to London announcing the fact that +railhead was at El Arish, the town having been captured a fortnight +previously after a fine night march. That message was never published, +and I knew it was a waste of time to ask the reason. I happened to be +in London for a few days in the following August and my duties took me +to the War Office. A Colonel in the Intelligence Branch heard I was +there and sent for me to tell me I had sent home information of value +to the enemy. I reminded him there was a G.H.Q. censorship in Egypt +which dealt with my cablegrams, and asked the nature of the valuable +information which should have been concealed. 'You sent a telegram +that the railway had reached El Arish when the Turks did not know it +was beyond Bir el Abd.' Abd is fifty miles nearer the Suez Canal than +El Arish. What did this officer care about a request made by G.H.Q. to +transmit information to the British public? He knew better than G.H.Q. +what the British public should know, and he was certain the enemy +thought we were hauling supplies through those fifty miles of sand +to our troops at El Arish, an absolutely physical impossibility, for +there were not enough camels in the East to do it. But he did not +know, and he should have known, being an Intelligence officer, that +the Turks were so far aware of where our railhead was that they were +frequently bombing it from the air. I had been in these bombing raids +and knew how accurately the German airmen dropped their eggs, and had +this Intelligence officer taken the trouble to inquire he would have +found that between thirty and forty casualties were inflicted by one +bomb at El Arish itself when railhead was being constructed. This +critic imagined that the Turk knew only what the English papers told +him. If the Turks' knowledge had been confined to what the War Office +Intelligence Branch gave him credit for he would have been in a +parlous state. While this ruling of the authorities at home prevailed +it was impossible for me to give the names of officers or to mention +divisions or units which were doing exceptionally meritorious work. +Unfortunately the bureaucratic interdict continued till within a +few days of the end of the campaign, when I was told that, 'having +frequently referred to the work of the Australians, which was +deserved,' the mention of British and Indian units would be welcomed. +We had to wait until within a month of the end of the world war before +the War Office would unbend and realise the value of the best kind +of propaganda. No wonder our American friends consider us the worst +national advertisers in the world. + +The officer who was mainly responsible for the success of the Auja +crossing was Major-General J. Hill, D.S.O., A.D.C., commanding the +52nd Division. His plan was agreed to by General Bulfin, although the +Corps Commander had doubts about the possibility of its success, and +had his own scheme ready to be put into instant operation if General +Hill's failed. In the state of the weather General Hill's own +brigadiers were not sanguine, and they were the most loyal and devoted +officers a divisional commander ever had. But despite the most +unfavourable conditions, calling for heroic measures on the part of +officers and men alike to gain their objectives through mud and water +and over ground that was as bad as it could be, the movements of the +troops worked to the clock. One brigade's movements synchronised with +those of another, and the river was crossed, commanding positions were +seized, and bridges were built with an astoundingly small loss to +ourselves. The Lowland Scots worked as if at sport, and they could not +have worked longer or stronger if the whole honour of Scotland had +depended upon their efforts. At a later date, when digging at Arsuf, +these Scots came across some marble columns which had graced a hall +when Apollonia was in its heyday. The glory of Apollonia has long +vanished, but if in that age of warriors there had been a belief +that those marble columns would some day be raised as monuments to +commemorate a great operation of war the ancients would have had a +special veneration for them. Three of the columns marked the spots +where the Scots spanned the river, and it is a pity they cannot tell +the full story to succeeding generations. + +The river Auja is a perennial stream emptying itself into the blue +Mediterranean waters four miles north of Jaffa. Its average width is +forty yards and its depth ten feet, with a current running at about +three miles an hour. Till we crossed it the river was the boundary +between the British and Turkish armies in this sector, and all the +advantage of observation was on the northern bank. From it the town of +Jaffa and its port were in danger, and the main road between Jaffa and +Ramleh was observed and under fire. The village of Sheikh Muannis, +about two miles inland, stood on a high mound commanding the ground +south of the river, and from Hadrah you could keep the river in sight +in its whole winding course to the sea. All this high ground concealed +an entrenched enemy; on the southern side of the river the Turks were +on Bald Hill, and held a line of trenches covering the Jewish colony +of Mulebbis and Fejja. A bridge and a mill dam having been destroyed +during winter the only means of crossing was by a ford three feet deep +at the mouth, an uncertain passage because the sand bar over which one +could walk shifted after heavy rain when the stream was swollen with +flood water. Reconnaissances at the river mouth were carried out with +great daring. As I said, all the southern approaches to the river were +commanded by the Turks on the northern bank, who were always alert, +and the movement of one man in the Auja valley was generally the +signal for artillery activity. So often did the Turkish gunners salute +the appearance of a single British soldier that the Scots talked of +the enemy 'sniping' with guns. To reconnoitre the enemy's positions +by daylight was hazardous work, and the Scots had to obtain their +first-hand knowledge of the river and the approaches to it in the dark +hours. + +An officers' patrol swam the river one night, saw what the enemy was +doing, and returned unobserved. A few nights afterwards two officers +swam out to sea across the river mouth and crept up the right bank of +the stream within the enemy's lines to ascertain the locality of the +ford and its exact width and depth. They also learnt that there were +no obstacles placed across the ford, which was three feet deep in +normal times and five feet under water after rains. It was obvious +that bridges would be required, and it was decided to force the +passage of the river in the dark hours by putting covering troops +across to the northern bank, and by capturing the enemy's positions to +form a bridgehead while pontoon bridges were being constructed for the +use of guns and the remainder of the Division. + +Time was all-important. December and January are the wettest months +of the season at Jaffa, and after heavy rains the Auja valley becomes +little better than a marsh, so that a small amount of traffic will cut +up the boggy land into an almost impassable condition. + +The XXIst Corps' plan was as follows: At dawn on December 21 a heavy +bombardment was to open on all the enemy's trenches covering the +crossings, the fire of heavy guns to be concentrated on enemy +batteries and strong positions in the rear, while ships of the Royal +Navy bombarded two strong artillery positions at Tel el Rekket and El +Jelil, near the coast. When darkness fell covering troops were to be +ferried across the river, and then light bridges would be constructed +for the passage of larger units charged with the task of getting the +Turks out of their line from Hadrah, through El Mukras to Tel el +Rekket. After these positions had been gained the engineers were to +build pontoon bridges to carry the remainder of the Division and guns +on the night of the 22nd-23rd December, in time to advance at daylight +on the 23rd to secure a defensive line from Tel el Mukhmar through +Sheikh el Ballatar to Jelil. On the right of the 52nd Division the +54th Division was to attack Bald Hill on the night of 21st-22nd +December, and on the following morning assault the trench system +covering Mulebbis and Fejja; then later in the day to advance to +Rantieh, while the 75th Division farther east was to attack Bireh and +Beida. This plan was given to divisional commanders at a conference in +Jaffa on December 12. Two days later General Hill submitted another +scheme which provided for a surprise attack by night with no naval +or land artillery bombardment, such a demonstration being likely to +attract attention. General Hill submitted his proposals in detail. +General Bulfin gave the plan most careful consideration, but decided +that to base so important an operation on the success of a surprise +attack was too hazardous, and he adhered to his scheme of a deliberate +operation to be carried through systematically. He, however, gave +General Hill permission to carry out his surprise attack on the +night of December 20, but insisted that the bombardment should begin +according to programme at daylight on the 21st unless the surprise +scheme was successful. + +A brigade of the 54th Division and the 1st Australian Light Horse +Brigade relieved the Scots in the trenches for three nights before the +attempt. Every man in the Lowland Division entered upon the work of +preparation with whole-hearted enthusiasm. There was much to be done +and materials were none too plentiful. Pontoons were wired for and +reached Jaffa on the 16th. There was little wood available, and some +old houses in Jaffa were pulled down to supply the Army's needs. The +material was collected in the orange groves around the German colony +at Sarona, a northern suburb of Jaffa, and every man who could use a +tool was set to work to build a framework of rectangular boats to a +standard design, and on this framework of wood tarpaulins and canvas +were stretched. These boats were light in structure, and were so +designed that working parties would be capable of transferring them +from their place of manufacture to the river bank. Each boat was to +carry twenty men fully armed and equipped over the river. They became +so heavy with rain that they in fact only carried sixteen men. The +boat builders worked where enemy airmen could not see them, and +when the craft were completed the troops were practised at night in +embarking and ferrying across a waterway--for this purpose the craft +were put on a big pond--and in cutting a path through thick cactus +hedges in the dark. During these preparations the artillery was also +active. They took their guns up to forward positions during the night, +and before the date of the attack there was a bombardment group of +eight 6-inch howitzers and a counter battery group of ten 60-pounders +and one 6-inch Mark VII. gun in concealed positions, and the artillery +dumps had been filled with 400 rounds for each heavy gun and 700 +rounds for each field piece. The weather on the 18th, 19th, and 20th +December was most unfavourable. Rain was continuous and the valley of +the Auja became a morass. The luck of the weather was almost always +against General Allenby's Army, and the troops had become accustomed +to fighting the elements as well as the Turks, but here was a +situation where rain might have made all the difference between +success and failure. General Bulfin saw General Hill and his +brigadiers on the afternoon of the 20th. The brigadiers were depressed +owing to the floods and the state of the ground, because it was then +clear that causeways would have to be made through the mud to the +river banks. General Hill remained enthusiastic and hopeful and, the +Corps Commander supporting him, it was decided to proceed with the +operation. For several nights, with the object of giving the enemy +the impression of a nightly strafe, there had been artillery and +machine-gun demonstrations occurring about the same time and lasting +as long as those planned for the night of the crossing. After dusk on +December 20 there was a big movement behind our lines. The ferrying +and bridging parties got on the move, each by their particular road, +and though the wind was searchingly cold and every officer and man +became thoroughly drenched, there was not a sick heart in the force. +The 157th Brigade proceeded to the ford at the mouth of the Auja, the +156th Brigade advanced towards the river just below Muannis, and the +155th Brigade moved up to the mill and dam at Jerisheh, where it was +to secure the crossing and then swing to the right to capture Hadrah. +The advance was slow, but that the Scots were able to move at all is +the highest tribute to their determination. The rain-soaked canvas +of the boats had so greatly added to their weight that the parties +detailed to carry them from the Sarona orange orchards found the task +almost beyond their powers. The bridge rafts for one of the crossings +could not be got up to the river bank because the men were continually +slipping in the mud under the heavy load, and the attacking battalion +at this spot was ferried over in coracles. On another route a section +carrying a raft lost one of its number, who was afterwards found sunk +in mud up to his outstretched arms. The tracks were almost impassable, +and a Lancashire pioneer battalion was called up to assist in +improving them. The men became caked with mud from steel helmet to +boots, and the field guns which had to be hauled by double teams +were so bespattered that there was no need for camouflage. In those +strenuous hours of darkness the weather continued vile, and the storm +wind flung the frequent heavy showers with cutting force against the +struggling men. The covering party which was to cross at the ford +found the bar had shifted under the pressure of flood water and that +the marks put down to direct the column had been washed away. The +commanding officer reconnoitred, getting up to his neck in water, and +found the ford considerably out of position and deeper than he had +hoped, but he brought his men together in fours and, ordering each +section to link arms to prevent the swirling waters carrying them out +to sea, led them across without a casualty. In the other places +the covering parties of brigades began to be ferried over at eight +o'clock. The first raft-loads were paddled across with muffled oars. +A line was towed behind the boats, and this being made fast on either +side of the river the rafts crossed and recrossed by haulage on the +rope, in order that no disturbance on the surface by oars on even such +a wild night should cause an alarm. As soon as the covering parties +were over, light bridges to carry infantry in file were constructed by +lashing the rafts together and placing planks on them. One of these +bridges was burst by the strength of the current, but the delay thus +caused mattered little as the surprise was complete. When the bridges +of rafts had been swung and anchored, blankets and carpets were laid +upon them to deaden the fall of marching feet, and during that silent +tramp across the rolling bridges many a keen-witted Scot found it +difficult to restrain a laugh as he trod on carpets richer by far than +any that had lain in his best parlour at home. He could not see the +patterns, but rightly guessed that they were picked out in the bright +colours of the East, and the muddy marks of war-travelled men were +left on them without regret, for the carpets had come from +German houses in Sarona. How perfectly the operation was +conducted--noiselessly, swiftly, absolutely according to +time-table--may be gathered from the fact that two officers and +sixteen Turks were awakened in their trench dug-outs at the ford +by the river mouth two hours after we had taken the trenches. The +officers resisted and had to be killed. Two miles behind the river the +Lowlanders captured the whole garrison of a post near the sea, none +of whom had the slightest idea that the river had been crossed. An +officer commanding a battalion at Muannis was taken in his bed, whilst +another commanding officer had the surprise of his life on being +invited to put his hands up in his own house. He looked as if he had +just awakened from a nightmare. In one place some Turks on being +attacked with the bayonet shouted an alarm and one of the crossings +was shelled, but its position was immediately changed and the passage +of the river continued without interruption. The whole of the Turkish +system covering the river, trenches well concealed in the river +banks and in patches of cultivated land, were rushed in silence and +captured. Muannis was taken at the point of the bayonet, the strong +position at Hadrah was also carried in absolute silence, and at +daylight the whole line the Scots had set out to gain was won and the +assailants were digging themselves in. And the price of their victory? +The Scots had 8 officers and 93 other ranks casualties. They buried +over 100 Turkish dead and took 11 officers and 296 other ranks +prisoners, besides capturing ten machine guns. + +The forcing of the passage of the Auja was a magnificent achievement, +planned with great ability by General Hill and carried out with that +skill and energy which the brigadiers, staff, and all ranks of the +Division showed throughout the campaign. One significant fact serves +to illustrate the Scots' discipline. Orders were that not a shot was +to be fired except by the guns and machine guns making their nightly +strafe. Death was to be dealt out with the bayonet, and though the +Lowlanders were engaged in a life and death struggle with the Turks, +not a single round of rifle ammunition was used by them till daylight +came, when, as a keen marksman said, they had some grand running-man +practice. During the day some batteries got to the north bank by way +of the ford, and two heavy pontoon bridges were constructed and a +barrel bridge, which had been put together in a wadi flowing into the +Auja, was floated down and placed in position. There was a good deal +of shelling by the Turks, but they fired at our new positions and +interfered but little with the bridge construction. + +On the night of the 21st-22nd December the 54th Division assaulted +Bald Hill, a prominent mound south of the Auja from which a +magnificent view of the country was gained. Stiff fighting resulted, +but the enemy was driven off with a loss of 4 officers and 48 other +ranks killed, and 3 officers and 41 men taken prisoners. At dawn the +Division reported that the enemy was retiring from Mulebbis and Fejja, +and those places were soon in our hands. H.M.S. _Grafton_, with +Admiral T. Jackson, the monitors M29, M31, and M32, and the destroyers +_Lapwing_ and _Lizard_, arrived off the coast and shelled Jelil and +Arsuf, and the 52nd Division, advancing on a broad front, occupied the +whole of their objectives by five o'clock in the afternoon. The 157th +Brigade got all the high ground about Arsuf, and thus prevented the +enemy from obtaining a long-range view of Jaffa. A few rounds of shell +fired by a naval gun at a range of nearly twenty miles fell in Jaffa +some months afterwards, but with this exception Jaffa was quite free +from the enemy's attentions. The brilliant operation on the Auja had +saved the town and its people many anxious days. By the end of the +year there were three strong bridges across the river, and three +others substantial enough to bear the weight of tractors and their +loads were under construction. The troops received their winter +clothing; bivouac shelters and tents were beginning to arrive. Baths +and laundries were in operation, and the rigours of the campaign began +to be eased. But the XXIst Corps could congratulate itself that, +notwithstanding two months of open warfare, often fifty to sixty miles +from railhead, men's rations had never been reduced. Horses and mules +had had short allowances, but they could pick up a little in the +country. The men were in good health, despite the hardships in the +hills and rapid change from summer to winter, and their spirit could +not be surpassed. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +BY THE BANKS OF THE JORDAN + + +We have seen how impregnable the defences of Jerusalem had become as +the result of the big advance northwards at the end of December. +As far as any military forecast could be made we were now in an +impenetrable position whatever force the Turk, with his poor +communications, could employ against us either from the direction of +Nablus or from the east of the Jordan. There seemed to be no risk +whatever, so long as we chose to hold the line XXth Corps had won, +of the Turks again approaching Jerusalem, but the Commander-in-Chief +determined to make the situation absolutely safe by advancing +eastwards to capture Jericho and the crossings of the Jordan. This was +not solely a measure of precaution. It certainly did provide a means +for preventing the foe from operating in the stern, forbidding, +desolate, and awe-inspiring region which has been known as the +Wilderness since Biblical days, and doubtless before. In that rough +country it would be extremely difficult to stop small bands of +enterprising troops getting through a line and creating diversions +which, while of small military consequence, would have been +troublesome, and might have had the effect of unsettling the natives. +A foothold in the Jordan valley would have the great advantage of +enabling us to threaten the Hedjaz railway, the Turks' sole means +of communication with Medina, where their garrison was holding out +staunchly against the troops of the King of the Hedjaz, and any +assistance we could give the King's army would have a far-reaching +effect on neutral Arabs. It would also stop the grain trade on the +Dead Sea, on which the enemy set store, and would divert traffic in +foodstuffs to natives in Lower Palestine, who at this time were to a +considerable extent dependent on supplies furnished by our Army. The +Quartermaster-General carried many responsibilities on his shoulders. +Time was not the important factor, and as General Allenby was anxious +to avoid an operation which might involve heavy losses, it was at +first proposed that the enemy should be forced to leave Jericho by the +gradually closing in on the town from north and south. The Turks had +got an immensely strong position about Talat ed Dumm, the 'Mound of +Blood,' where stands a ruined castle of the Crusaders, the Chastel +Rouge. One can see it with the naked eye from the Mount of Olives, +and weeks before the operation started I stood in the garden of the +Kaiserin Augusta Victoria hospice and, looking over one of the most +inhospitable regions of the world, could easily make out the Turks +walking on the road near the Khan, which has been called the Good +Samaritan Inn. The country has indeed been rightly named. Gaunt, bare +mountains of limestone with scarcely a patch of green to relieve the +nakedness of the land make a wilderness indeed, and one sees a drop +of some four thousand feet in a distance of about fifteen miles. The +hills rise in continuous succession, great ramparts of the Judean +range, and instead of valleys between them there are huge clefts in +the rock, hundreds of feet deep, which carry away the winter torrents +to the Jordan and Dead Sea. Over beyond the edge of hills are the +green wooded banks of the Sacred River, then a patch or two of stunted +trees, and finally the dark walls of the mountains of Moab shutting +out the view of the land which still holds fascinating remains of +Greek civilisation. + +But there was no promise of an early peep at such historic sights, and +the problem of getting at the nearer land was hard enough for present +deliberation. It was at first proposed that the whole of the +XXth Corps and a force of cavalry should carry out operations +simultaneously on the north and east of the Corps front which should +give us possession of the roads from Mar Saba and Muntar, and also +from Taiyibeh and the old Roman road to Jericho, thus allowing two +cavalry forces supported by infantry columns to converge on Jericho +from the north and south. However, by the second week of February +there had been bad weather, and the difficulties of supplying a line +forty miles from the railway on roads which, notwithstanding a +vast amount of labour, were still far from good, were practically +insuperable, and it was apparent that a northerly and easterly advance +at the same time would involve a delay of three weeks. + +New circumstances came to light after the advance was first arranged, +and these demanded that the enemy should be driven across the Jordan +as soon as possible. General Allenby decided that the operations +should be carried out in two phases. The first was an easterly advance +to thrust the enemy from his position covering Jericho, to force him +across the Jordan, and to obtain control of the country west of the +river. The northerly advance to secure the line of the wadi Aujah was +to follow. This river Aujah which flows into the Jordan must not be +confused with the Auja on the coast already described. + +The period of wet weather was prolonged, and the accumulation of +supplies of rations and ammunition did not permit of operations +commencing before February 19. That they started so early is an +eloquent tribute to the hard work of the Army, for the weather by the +date of the attack had improved but little, and the task of getting +up stores could only be completed by extraordinary exertions. General +Chetwode ordered a brigade of the 60th Division to capture Mukhmas +as a preliminary to a concentration at that place. On the 19th the +Division occupied a front of about fourteen miles from near Muntar, +close to which the ancient road from Bethlehem to Jericho passes, +through Ras Umm Deisis, across the Jerusalem-Jericho road to Arak +Ibrahim, over the great chasm of the wadi Farah which has cliff-like +sides hundreds of feet deep, to the brown knob of Ras et Tawil. The +line was not gained without fighting. The Turks did not oppose us at +Muntar--the spot where the Jews released the Scapegoat--but there +was a short contest for Ibrahim, and a longer fight lasting till the +afternoon for an entrenched position a mile north of it; Ras et Tawil +was ours by nine in the morning. Tawil overlooks a track which has +been trodden from time immemorial. It leads from the Jordan valley +north-west of Jericho, and passes beneath the frowning height of Jebel +Kuruntul with its bare face relieved by a monastery built into the +rock about half-way up, and a walled garden on top to mark the Mount +of Temptation, as the pious monks believe it to be. The track then +proceeds westwards, winding in and out of the tremendous slits in +rock, to Mukhmas, and it was probably along this rough line that +the Israelites marched from their camp at Gilgal to overthrow the +Philistines. On the right of the Londoners were two brigades of the +Anzac Mounted Division, working through the most desolate hills and +wadis down to the Dead Sea with a view to pushing up by Nebi Musa, +which tradition has ascribed as the burial place of Moses, and thence +into the Jordan valley. Northward of the 60th Division the 53rd was +extending its flank eastwards to command the Taiyibeh-Jericho road, +and the Welsh troops occupied Rummon, a huge mount of chalk giving a +good view of the Wilderness. This was the position on the night of +19th February. + +At dawn on the 20th the Londoners were to attack the Turks in three +columns. The right column was to march from El Muntar to Ekteif, the +centre column to proceed along the Jerusalem-Jericho road between the +highway and the wadi Farah, and the left column was to go forward by +the Tawil-Jebel Kuruntul track. The 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade +and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade were, if possible, to make +Nebi Musa. + +The infantry attack was as fine as anything done in the campaign. I +had the advantage of witnessing the centre column carry out the whole +of its task and of seeing the right column complete as gallant an +effort as any troops could make, and as one saw them scale frowning +heights and clamber up and down the roughest of torrent beds, one +realised that more than three months' fighting had not removed the +'bloom' from these Cockney warriors, and that their physique and +courage were proof against long and heavy trials of campaigning. The +chief objective of the centre column was Talat ed Dumm which, lying on +the Jericho road just before the junction of the old and the new road +to the Jordan valley, was the key to Jericho. It is hard to imagine a +better defensive position. To the north of the road is the wadi Farah, +a great crack in the rocks which can only be crossed in a few places, +and which a few riflemen could cover. Likewise a platoon distributed +behind rocks on the many hills could command the approaches from all +directions, while the hill of Talat ed Dumm, by the Good Samaritan +Inn, and the height whereon the Crusader ruins stand, dominated a +broad flat across which our troops must move. This position the 180th +Brigade attacked at dawn. The guns opened before the sun appeared +above the black crest line of the mountains of Moab, and well before +long shadows were cast across the Jordan valley the batteries were +tearing to pieces the stone walls and rocky eyries sheltering +machine-gunners and infantry. This preliminary bombardment, if short, +was wonderfully effective. From where I stood I saw the heavies +pouring an unerring fire on to the Crusader Castle, huge spurts of +black smoke, and the dislocation of big stones which had withstood +the disintegrating effect of many centuries of sun power, telling the +Forward Observing Officer that his gunners were well on the target and +that to live in that havoc the Turks must seek the shelter of vaults +cut deep down in the rock by masons of old. No enemy could delay +our progress from that shell-torn spot. Lighter guns searched other +positions and whiffs of shrapnel kept Turks from their business. There +are green patches on the western side of Talat ed Dumm in the early +months of the year before the sun has burned up the country. Over +these the infantry advanced as laid down in the book. The whirring +rap-rap of machine guns at present unlocated did not stop them, and +as our machine-gun sections, ever on the alert to keep down rival +automatic guns, found out and sprayed the nests, the enemy was seen +to be anxious about his line of retreat. One large party, harried by +shrapnel and machine-gun fire, left its positions and rushed towards +a defile, but rallied and came back, though when it reoccupied its +former line the Londoners had reached a point to enfilade it, and it +suffered heavily. We soon got this position, and then our troops, +ascending some spurs, poured a destructive fire into the defile and so +harassed the Turks re-forming for a counterattack as to render feeble +their efforts to regain what they had lost. + +By eight o'clock we had taken the whole of the Talat ed Dumm position, +and long-range sniping throughout the day did not disturb our secure +possession of it. Immediately the heights were occupied the guns went +ahead to new points, and armoured cars left the road to try to find a +way to the south-east to protect the flank of the right column. They +had a troublesome journey. Some of the crews walked well ahead of the +cars to reconnoitre the tracks, and it speaks well for the efficiency +of the cars as well as for the pluck and cleverness of the drivers +that in crossing a mile or two of that terribly broken mountainous +country no car was overturned and all got back to the road without +mishap. + +Throughout the night and during the greater part of the day of +February 20 the right column were fighting under many difficulties. In +their march from the hill of Muntar they had to travel over ground so +cracked and strewn with boulders that in many parts the brigade could +only proceed in single file. In some places the track chosen had a +huge cleft in the mountain on one side and a cliff face on the other. +It was a continual succession of watercourses and mountains, of uphill +and downhill travel over the most uneven surface in the blackness of +night, and it took nearly eight hours to march three miles. The nature +of the country was a very serious obstacle and the column was late in +deploying for attack. But bad as was the route the men had followed +during the night, it was easy as compared with the position they had +set out to carry. This was Jebel Ekteif, the southern end of the range +of hills of which Talat ed Dumm was the northern. Ekteif presented to +this column a face as precipitous as Gibraltar and perhaps half as +high. There was a ledge running round it about three-quarters of the +way from the top, and for hours one could see the Turks lying flat on +this rude path trying to pick off the intrepid climbers attempting a +precarious ascent. Some mountain guns suddenly ranged on the enemy on +this ledge, and, picking up the range with remarkable rapidity, forced +the Turks into more comfortable positions. The enemy, too, had some +well-served guns, and they plastered the spurs leading to the crest +from the west, but our infantry's audacity never faltered, and +after we had got into the first lines on the hill our men proceeded +methodically to rout out the machine guns from their nooks and +crannies. This was a somewhat lengthy process, but small parties +working in support of each other gradually crushed opposition, and +the huge rocky rampart was ours by three o'clock in the afternoon. +Meanwhile two brigades of the Anzac Mounted Division were moving +eastwards from Muntar over the hills and wadis down to the Dead Sea, +whence turning northwards they marched towards Nebi Musa to try to +get on to the Jordan valley flats to threaten the Turks in rear. The +terrain was appallingly bad and horses had to be led, the troops +frequently proceeding in Indian file. No guns could be got over the +hills to support the Anzacs, and when they tried to pass through a +narrow defile south of Nebi Musa it was found that the enemy covered +the approach with machine guns, and progress was stopped dead +until, during the early hours of the following morning, some of the +Londoners' artillery managed by a superhuman effort to get a few guns +over the mountains to support the cavalry. By this time the Turks +had had enough of it, and while it was dark they were busy trekking +through Jericho towards the Ghoraniyeh bridge over the river, covered +by a force on the Jebel Kuruntul track which prevented the left column +from reaching the cliffs overlooking the Jordan valley. By dawn on the +21st Nebi Musa was made good, the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade +and the New Zealand Brigade were in Jericho by eight o'clock and +had cleared the Jordan valley as far north as the river Aujah, the +Londoners holding the line of cliffs which absolutely prevented any +possibility of the enemy ever again threatening Jerusalem or Bethlehem +from the east. This successful operation also put an end to the Turks' +Dead Sea grain traffic. They had given up hope of keeping their +landing place on the northern shores of the Dead Sea when we took +Talat ed Dumm, and one hour after our infantry had planted themselves +on the Hill of Blood we saw the enemy burning his boats, wharves, and +storehouses at Rujm el Bahr, where he had expended a good deal of +labour to put up buildings to store grain wanted for his army. +Subsequently we had some naval men operating motor boats from this +point, and these sailors achieved a record on that melancholy waterway +at a level far below that at which any submarine, British or German, +ever rested. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE TOUCH OF THE CIVILISING HAND + + +It is doubtful whether the population of any city within the zones of +war profited so much at the hands of the conqueror as Jerusalem. In +a little more than half a year a wondrous change was effected in the +condition of the people, and if it had been possible to search the +Oriental mind and to get a free and frank expression of opinion, +one would probably have found a universal thankfulness for General +Allenby's deliverance of the Holy City from the hands of the Turks. +And with good reason. The scourge of war so far as the British Army +was concerned left Jerusalem the Golden untouched. For the 50,000 +people in the City the skilfully applied military pressure which +put an end to Turkish misgovernment was the beginning of an era +of happiness and contentment of which they had hitherto had no +conception. Justice was administered in accordance with British +ideals, every man enjoyed the profits of his industry, traders no +longer ran the gauntlet of extortionate officials, the old time +corruption was a thing of the past, public health was organised as far +as it could be on Western lines, and though in matters of sanitation +and personal cleanliness the inhabitants still had much to learn, the +appearance of the Holy City and its population vastly improved under +the touch of a civilising hand. Sights that offended more than one of +the senses on the day when General Allenby made his official entry had +disappeared, and peace and order reigned where previously had been but +misery, poverty, disease, and squalor. + +One of the biggest blots upon the Turkish government of the City was +the total failure to provide an adequate water supply. What they +could not, or would not, do in their rule of four hundred years His +Majesty's Royal Engineers accomplished in a little more than two +months, and now for the first time in history every civilian in +Jerusalem can obtain as much pure mountain spring water as he wishes, +and for this water, as fresh and bright as any bubbling out of Welsh +hills, not a penny is charged. The picturesque, though usually +unclean, water carrier is passing into the limbo of forgotten things, +and his energies are being diverted into other channels. The germs +that swarmed in his leathern water bags will no longer endanger the +lives of the citizens, and the deadly perils of stagnant cistern water +have been to a large extent removed. + +For its water Jerusalem used to rely mainly upon the winter rainfall +to fill its cisterns. Practically every house has its underground +reservoir, and it is estimated that if all were full they would +contain about 360,000,000 gallons. But many had fallen into disrepair +and most, if not the whole of them, required thorough cleansing. One +which was inspected by our sanitary department had not been emptied +for nineteen years. To supplement the cistern supply the Mosque of +Omar reservoir halved with Bethlehem the water which flowed from near +Solomon's Pools down an aqueduct constructed by Roman engineers under +Herod before the Saviour was born. This was not nearly sufficient, nor +was it so constant a supply as that provided by our Army engineers. +They went farther afield. They found a group of spring-heads in an +absolutely clean gathering ground on the hills yielding some 14,000 +gallons an hour, and this water which was running to waste is lifted +to the top of a hill from which it flows by gravity through a long +pipe-line to Jerusalem, where a reservoir has been built on a high +point on the outskirts of the city. Supplies of this beautiful water +run direct to the hospitals, and at standpipes all over the city the +inhabitants take as much as they desire. The water consumption of the +people became ten times what it was in the previous year, and this +fact alone told how the boon was appreciated. + +The scheme did not stop at putting up standpipes for those who fetched +the water. A portion of the contents of the cisterns was taken for +watering troop horses in the spring--troops were not allowed to drink +it. The water level of these cisterns became very low, and as they +got emptied the authorities arranged for refilling them on the one +condition that they were first thoroughly cleansed and put in order. +The British administration would not be parties to the perpetuation +of a system which permitted the fouling of good crystal water. A +householder had merely to apply to the Military Governor for water, +and a sanitary officer inspected the cistern, ordered it to be +cleansed, and saw that this was done; then the Department of Public +Health gave its certificate, and the engineers ran a pipe to the +cistern and filled it, no matter what its capacity. Two cisterns were +replenished with between 60,000 and 70,000 gallons of sparkling water +from the hills in place of water heavily charged with the accumulation +of summer dust on roofs, and the dust of Jerusalem roads, as we had +sampled it, is not as clean as desert sand. + +The installation of the supply was a triumph for the Royal Engineers. +In peace times the work would have taken from one to two years to +complete. A preliminary investigation and survey of the ground was +made on February 14, and a scheme was submitted four days later. Owing +to the shortage of transport and abnormally bad weather work could not +be commenced till April 12. Many miles of pipe line had to be laid and +a powerful pumping plant erected, but water was being delivered to the +people of Jerusalem on the 18th of June. Other military works have +done much for the common good in Palestine, but none of them were of +greater utility than this. Mahomedans seeing bright water flow into +Jerusalem regarded it as one of the wonders of all time. It is +interesting to note that the American Red Cross Society, which sent a +large and capable staff to the Holy Land after America came into the +war, knew of the lack of an adequate water supply for Jerusalem, and +with that foresight which Americans show, forwarded to Egypt for +transportation to Jerusalem some thousand tons of water mains to +provide a water service. When the American Red Cross workers reached +the Holy City they found the Army's plans almost completed, and +they were the first to pay a tribute to what they described as the +'civilising march of the British Army.' + +Those who watched the ceaseless activities of the Public Health +Administration were not surprised at the remarkable improvement in the +sick and death rates, not only of Jerusalem but of all the towns and +districts. The new water supply will unquestionably help to lower the +figures still further. A medical authority recently told me that +the health of the community was wonderfully good and there was no +suspicion of cholera, outbreaks of which were frequent under the +Turkish regime. Government hospitals were established in all large +centres. In this country where small-pox takes a heavy toll the +'conscientious objector' was unknown, and many thousands of natives +in a few months came forward of their own free will to be vaccinated. +Typhus and relapsing fever, both lice-borne diseases, used to claim +many victims, but the figures fell very rapidly, due largely, no +doubt, to the full use to which disinfecting plants were put in all +areas of the occupied territory. The virtues of bodily cleanliness +were taught, and the people were given that personal attention which +was entirely lacking under Turkish rule. It is not easy to overcome +the prejudices and cure the habits of thousands of years, but progress +is being made surely if slowly, and already there is a gratifying +improvement in the condition of the people which is patent to any +observer. + +In Jerusalem an infants' welfare bureau was instituted, where +mothers were seen before and after childbirth, infants' clinics were +established, a body of health was formed, and a kitchen was opened to +provide food for babies and the poor. The nurses were mainly local +subjects who had to undergo an adequate training, and there was no one +who did not confidently predict a rapid fall in the infant mortality +rate which, to the shame of the Turkish administration, was fully a +dozen times that of the highest of English towns. The spadework +was all done by the medical staff of the Occupied Enemy Territory +Administration. The call was urgent, and though labouring under +war-time difficulties they got things going quickly and smoothly. Some +voluntary societies were assisting, and the enthusiasm of the American +Red Cross units enabled all to carry on a great and beneficent work. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +OUR CONQUERING AIRMEN + + +The airmen who were the eyes of the Army in Sinai and Palestine +can look back on their record as a great achievement. Enormous +difficulties were faced with stout hearts, and the Royal Flying Corps +spirit surmounted them. It was one long test of courage, endurance, +and efficiency, and so triumphantly did the airmen come through the +ordeal that General Allenby's Army may truthfully be said to have +secured as complete a mastery of the air as it did of the plains +and hills of Southern Palestine. Those of us who watched the airmen +'carrying on,' from the time when their aeroplanes were inferior to +those of the Germans in speed, climbing capacity, and other qualities +which go to make up first-class fighting machines, till the position +during the great advance when few enemy aviators dared cross our +lines, can well testify to the wonderful work our airmen performed. + +With comparatively few opportunities for combat because the enemy knew +his inferiority and declined to fight unless forced, the pilots and +observers from the moment our attack was about to start were always +aggressive, and though the number of their victims may seem small +compared with aerial victories on the Western Front they were +substantial and important. In the month of January 1917 the flying men +accounted for eleven aeroplanes, five of these falling victims to +one pilot. The last of these victories I myself witnessed. In a +single-seater the pilot engaged two two-seater aeroplanes of a late +type, driving down one machine within our line, the pilot killed by +eleven bullets and the observer wounded. He then chased the other +plane, whose pilot soon lost his taste for fighting, dropped into a +heavy cloud bank, and got away. No odds were too great for our airmen. +I have seen one aeroplane swoop down out of the blue to attack a +formation of six enemy machines, sending one crashing to earth and +dispersing the remainder. In one brief fight another pilot drove down +three German planes. The airman does not talk of his work, and we knew +that what we saw and heard of were but fragments in the silent records +of great things done. Much that was accomplished was far behind our +visual range, high up over the bleak hills of Judea, above even the +rain clouds driven across the heights by the fury of a winter gale, or +skimming over the dull surface of the Dead Sea, flying some hundreds +of feet below sea level to interrupt the passage of foodstuffs of +which the Turk stood in need. + +All through the Army's rapid march northwards from the crushed +Gaza-Beersheba line the airmen's untiring work was of infinite value. +When the Turkish retreat began the enemy was bombed and machine-gunned +for a full week, the railway, aerodromes, troops on the march, +artillery, and transport being hit time and again, and five smashed +aeroplanes and a large quantity of aircraft stores of every +description were found at Menshiye alone. The raid on that aerodrome +was so successful that at night the Germans burnt the whole of the +equipment not destroyed by bombs. Three machines were also destroyed +by us at Et Tineh, five at Ramleh and one at Ludd, and the country +was covered with the debris of a well-bombed and beaten army. After +Jerusalem came under the safe protection of our arms airmen harassed +the retiring enemy with bombs and machine guns. The wind was strong, +but defying treacherous eddies, the pilots came through the valleys +between steep-sloped hills and caught the Turks on the Nablus road, +emptying their bomb racks at a height of a few hundred feet, and +giving the scattered troops machine-gun fire on the return journey. + +A glance at the list of honours bestowed on officers and other ranks +of the R.F.C. serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in 1917 +is sufficient to give an idea of the efficiency of the service of our +airmen. It must be remembered that the Palestine Wing was small, if +thoroughly representative of the Flying Corps; its numbers were few +but the quality was there. Indeed I heard the Australian squadron of +flying men which formed part of the Wing described by the highest +possible authority as probably the finest squadron in the whole of the +British service. This following list of honours is, perhaps, the most +eloquent testimony to the airmen's work in Palestine: + + Victoria Cross . . . . . 1 + Distinguished Service Order . . . 4 + Military Cross . . . . . 34 + Croix de Guerre . . . . 2 + Military Medal . . . . . 1 + Meritorious Service Medal . . . 14 + Order of the Nile . . . . 2 + +The sum total of the R.F.C. work was not to be calculated merely from +death and damage caused to the enemy from the air. Strategical and +tactical reconnaissances formed a large part of the daily round, +and the reports brought in always added to our Army's store of +information. In Palestine, possibly to a greater extent than in any +other theatre of war, our map-makers had to rely on aerial photographs +to supply them with the details required for military maps. The best +maps we had of Palestine were those prepared by Lieutenant H.H. +Kitchener, R.E., and Lieutenant Conder in 1881 for the Palestine +Exploration Fund. They were still remarkably accurate so far as they +went, but 'roads,' to give the tracks a description to which they were +not entitled, had altered, and villages had disappeared, and newer and +additional information had to be supplied. The Royal Flying Corps--it +had not yet become the Royal Air Force--furnished it, and all +important details of hundreds of square miles of country which survey +parties could not reach were registered with wonderful accuracy by +aerial photographers. + +The work began for the battle of Rafa, and the enemy positions on the +Magruntein hill were all set out before General Chetwode when the +Desert Column attacked and scored an important victory. Then when +12,000 Turks were fortifying the Weli Sheikh Nuran country covering +the wadi Ghuzze and the Shellal springs, not a redoubt or trench but +was recorded with absolute fidelity on photographic prints, and long +before the Turks abandoned the place and gave us a fine supply of +water we had excellent maps of the position. In time the whole +Gaza-Beersheba line was completely photographed and maps were +continually revised, and if any portion of the Turkish system of +defences was changed or added to the commander in the district +concerned was notified at once. To such perfection did the R.F.C. +photographic branch attain, that maps showing full details of new or +altered trenches were in the hands of generals within four hours +of the taking of the photographs. Later on the work of the branch +increased enormously, and the results fully repaid the infinite care +and labour bestowed upon it. + +The R.F.C. made long flights in this theatre of war, and some of them +were exceptionally difficult and dangerous. A French battleship when +bombarding a Turkish port of military importance had two of our +machines to spot the effect of her gunfire. To be with the ship when +the action opened the airmen had to fly in darkness for an hour and a +half from a distant aerodrome, and they both reached the rendezvous +within five minutes of the appointed time. The Turks on their lines of +communication with the Hedjaz have an unpleasant recollection of being +bombed at Maan. That was a noteworthy expedition. Three machines set +out from an aerodrome over 150 miles away in a straight line, the +pilots having to steer a course above country with no prominent +landmarks. They went over a waterless desert so rough that it would +have been impossible to come down without seriously damaging a plane, +and if a pilot had been forced to land his chance of getting back to +our country would have been almost nil. Water bottles and rations +were carried in the machines, but they were not needed, for the three +pilots came home together after hitting the station buildings at Maan +and destroying considerable material and supplies. + +The aeroplane has been put to many uses in war and, it may be, there +are instances on other fronts of it being used, in emergencies, as an +ambulance. When a little mobile force rounded up the Turkish post at +Hassana, on the eastern side of the Sinai Peninsula, one of our men +received so severe a wound that an immediate operation was necessary. +An airman at once volunteered to carry the wounded man to the nearest +hospital, forty-four miles away across the desert, and by his action a +life was saved. + + + +APPENDICES + + +I + + +The following telegram was sent by Enver Pasha to Field-Marshal von +Hindenburg, at Supreme Army Command Headquarters, from Constantinople +on August 23, 1917: + + The news of the despatch of strong enemy forces to Egypt, + together with the nomination of General Allenby as Commander-in-Chief + on our Syrian Front, indicates that the + British contemplate an offensive on the Syrian Front, and + very probably before the middle of November. + + The preservation of the Sinai Front is a primary condition + to the success of the Yilderim undertaking. + + After a further conversation with the Commander of + the IVth Army (Jemal Pasha) I consider it necessary to + strengthen this front by one of the infantry divisions intended + for Yilderim, and to despatch this division immediately + from Aleppo. + + With this reinforcement the defence of the Sinai Front + by the IVth Army is assured. + + General von Falkenhayn takes up the position that he + does not consider the defence assured, and that the further + reduction of Yilderim forces is to be deprecated under any + circumstances. + + He consequently recommends that we on our side should + attack the British, and as far as possible surprise them, + before they are strengthened. He wishes to carry out this + attack with four infantry divisions, and the 'Asia' Corps. + Two of the four infantry divisions have still to be despatched + to the front. + + I cannot yet decide to support the proposal, nor need + I do so, as the transport of an infantry division from Aleppo + to Bayak requires twenty days. During this period the + situation as regards the enemy will become clear, and one + will become better able to estimate the chance of success + of an attack. + + I must, however, in any case be able to dispose of more + forces than at present, either for the completion of Yilderim, + or for the replacement of the very heavy losses which will + certainly occur in the Syrian attack. + + I must consequently reiterate, to my deep regret, my + request for the return of the VIth Army Corps (which was + operating at that time in the Dobrudja) and for the despatch + of this Corps, together with the 20th Infantry Division, + commencing with the 15th Infantry Division. + + In my opinion the Army Corps could be replaced by + Bulgarians, whose task is unquestionably being lightened + through the despatch of troops (British) to Egypt. + + Should this not be the case, I would be ready to exchange + two divisions from the Vth Army for the two infantry divisions + of the VIth Army Corps, as the former are only suited + for a war of position, and would have to be made mobile + by the allotment of transport and equipment. + + If these two infantry divisions were given up, the Vth + Army would have only five infantry divisions of no great + fighting value, a condition of things which is perhaps not + very desirable. + + For the moment my decision is: Defence of Syria by + strengthening that front by one infantry division, and + prosecution of the Yilderim scheme. + + Should good prospects offer of beating the British decisively + in Syria before they have been reinforced I will take + up General von Falkenhayn's proposal again, as far as it + appears possible to carry it out, having in view the question + of transport and rationing, which still has to be settled in + some respects.--Turkish Main Headquarters, ENVER. + + + +II + + +Von Falkenhayn despatched the following telegram from Constantinople +on August 25, 1917, to German General Headquarters: + + The possibility of a British attack in Syria has had to + be taken into consideration from the beginning. Its repercussion + on the Irak undertaking was obvious. On that + account I had already settled in my conversations in Constantinople + during May that, if the centre of gravity of + operations were transferred to the Sinai Front, command + should be given me there too. The news now to hand--reinforcement + of the British troops in Egypt, taking over + of command by Allenby, the demands of the British Press + daily becoming louder--makes the preparation of a British + attack in Syria probable. + + Jemal Pasha wishes to meet it with a defensive. To + that end he demands the divisions and war material which + were being collected about Aleppo for Yilderim. The + natural result of granting this request will be that true + safety will never be attained on the Sinai Front by a pure + defensive, and that the Irak undertaking will certainly + fritter away owing to want of driving power or to delays. + + I had consequently proposed to the Turkish Higher + Command to send two divisions and the 'Asia' Corps as + quickly as possible to Southern Syria, so as to carry out + a surprise attack on the British by means of an encircling + movement before the arrival of their reinforcements. Railways + allow of the assembly of these forces (inclusive of heavy + artillery, material and technical stores) in the neighbourhood + of Beersheba by the end of October. The disposable parts + of the IVth Army (two to three divisions) would be added + to it. + + In a discussion between Enver, Jemal, and myself, Enver + decided first of all to strengthen the IVth Army by the + inclusion of one division from the Army Group. This + division would suffice to ward off attack. The Irak undertaking + could be carried through at the same time. Judging + from all former experiences I am firmly convinced as soon + as it comes to a question of the expected attack on the + Sinai Front, or even if the IVth Army only feels itself seriously + threatened, further troops, munitions, and material will be + withdrawn from the Army Group, and Turkey's forces will + be shattered. + + Then nothing decisive can be undertaken in either theatre + of war. The sacrifice of men, money, and material which + Germany is offering at the present moment will be in vain. + + The treatment of the question is rendered all the more + difficult because I cannot rid myself of the impression that + the decision of the Turkish Higher Command is based far + less on military exigencies than on personal motives. It + is dictated with one eye on the mighty Jemal, who deprecates + a definite decision, but yet on the other hand opposes the + slightest diminution of the area of his command. + + Consequently as the position now stands, I consider the + Irak undertaking practicable only if it is given the necessary + freedom for retirement through the removal of the danger + on the Syrian Front. The removal of this danger I regard + as only possible through attack. V. FALKENHAYN. + + + +III + + +Here is another German estimate of the position created by our +War Cabinet's decision to take the offensive in Palestine, and in +considering the view of the German Staff and the prospect of success +any Turkish attack would have, it must be borne in mind that under +the most favourable circumstances the enemy could not have been in +position for taking an offensive before the end of October. Von +Falkenhayn wished to attack the British 'before the arrival of their +reinforcements.' Not only had our reinforcements arrived before the +end of October, but they were all in position and the battle had +commenced. Beersheba was taken on October 31. This appreciation was +written by Major von Papen of Yilderim headquarters on August 28, +1917: + + Enver's objections, the improbability of attaining a + decisive result on the Sinai Front with two divisions plus + the 'Asia Corps' and the difficulty of the Aleppo-Rayak + transport question, hold good. + + The execution of the offensive with stronger forces is + desirable, but is not practicable, as, in consequence of the + beginning of the rainy weather in the middle of November, + the British offensive may be expected at the latest during + the latter half of October; ours therefore should take place + during the first part of that month. + + The transport question precludes the assembly of stronger + forces by that date. + + Should the idea of an offensive be abandoned altogether + on that account? + + On the assumption that General Allenby--after the two + unsuccessful British attacks--will attack only with a marked + superiority of men and munitions, a passive defence on a + thirty-five kilometre front with an exposed flank does not + appear to offer any great chance of success. + + The conditions on the Western Front (defensive zone, + attack divisions) are only partially applicable here, since + the mobility of the artillery and the correct tactical handling + of the attack division are not assured. The intended passive + defensive will not be improved by the theatrical attack with + one division suggested by General von Kress. + + On the contrary this attack would be without result, as + it would be carried out too obliquely to the front, and would + only mean a sacrifice of men and material. + + The attack proposed by His Excellency for the envelopment + of the enemy's flank--if carried out during the first + half of October with four divisions plus the 'Asia Corps'--will + perhaps have no definite result, but will at all events + result in this: that the Gaza Front flanked by the sea + will tie down considerable forces and defer the continuation + of British operations in the wet season, during which, in + the opinion of General von Kress, they cannot be carried + on with any prospect of success. + + The situation on the Sinai Front will then be clear. Naturally + it is possible that the position here may demand the + inclusion of further effectives and the Yilderim operation + consequently become impracticable. This, however, will + only prove that the determining factor of the decisive operation + for Turkey during the winter of 1917-1918 lies in Palestine + and not in Mesopotamia. An offensive on the Sinai + Front is therefore--even with reduced forces and a limited + objective--the correct solution. + + PAPEN. + + + +IV + + +_Letter from General Kress von Kressenstein to Yilderim headquarters, +dated September_ 29, 1917, _on moral of Turkish troops_. + +A question which urgently needs regulating is that of deserters. +According to my experience their number will increase still more with +the setting in of the bad weather and the deterioration of rations. + +Civil administration and the gendarmerie fail entirely; they often +have a secret understanding with the population and are open to +bribery. + +The cordon drawn by me is too weak to prevent desertion. I am also +too short of troops to have the necessary raids undertaken in the +hinterland. It is necessary that the hunt for deserters in the area +between the front and the line Jerusalem-Ramleh-Jaffa be formally +organised under energetic management, that one or two squadrons +exclusively for this service be detailed, and that a definite reward +be paid for bringing in each deserter. But above all it is necessary +that punishment should follow in consequence, and that the +unfortunately very frequent amnesties of His Majesty the Sultan be +discontinued, at least for some time. + +The question of rationing has not been settled. We are living +continually from hand to mouth. Despite the binding promises of +the Headquarters IVth Army, the Vali of Damascus, the Lines of +Communication, Major Bathmann and others, that from now on 150 tons of +rations should arrive regularly each day, from the 24th to the 27th of +this month, for example a total of 229 tons or only 75 tons per diem +have arrived. + +I cannot fix the blame for these irregularities. The Headquarters IVth +Army has received the highly gratifying order that, at least up to the +imminent decisive battle, the bread ration is raised to 100 grammes. +This urgently necessary improvement of the men's rations remains +illusory, if a correspondingly larger quantity of flour (about one +wagon per day) is not supplied to us. So far the improvement exists +only on paper. The condition of the animals particularly gives +cause for anxiety. Not only are we about 6000 animals short of +establishment, but as a result of exhaustion a considerable number of +animals are ruined daily. The majority of divisions are incapable +of operating on account of this shortage of animals. The ammunition +supply too is gradually coming into question on account of the +deficiency in animals. The menacing danger can only be met by a +regular supply of sufficient fodder. The stock of straw in the area of +operations is exhausted. With gold some barley can still be bought in +the country. + +Every year during the rainy season the railway is interrupted again +and again for periods of from eight to fourteen days. There are also +days and weeks in which the motor-lorry traffic has to be suspended. +Finally we must calculate on the possibility of an interruption of our +rear communications by the enemy. I therefore consider it absolutely +necessary that at least a fourteen days' reserve of rations be +deposited in the depôts at the front as early as possible. + +The increase of troops on the Sinai Front necessitates a very +considerable increase on the supply of meat from the Line of +Communication area, Damascus district. + + + +V + + +The troops of General Allenby's Army before the attack on Beersheba +were distributed as follows: + + XXTH CORPS. + + 10th Division. + + _29th Brigade. 30th Brigade. 31st Brigade_. + +6th R. Irish Rifles. 1st R. Irish Regt. 5th R. Inniskillings. +5th Con. Rangers. 6th R. Munst. Fus. 6th R. Inniskillings. +6th Leinsters. 6th R. Dublin Fus. 2nd R. Irish Fus. +1st Leinsters 7th R. Dublin Fus. 5th R. Irish Rifles. + + + 53rd Division. + + _158th Brigade. 159th Brigade. 160th Brigade._ + +1/5th R. Welsh Fus. 1/4th Cheshires. 1/4th R. Sussex. +1/6th " 1/7th " 2/4th R. West Surrey. +1/7th " 1/4th Welsh 2/4th R. West Kent. +1/1st Hereford. 1/5th " 2/10th Middlesex. + + + 60th Division. + + _179th Brigade. 180th Brigade. 181st Brigade_. + +2/13th London. 2/17th London. 2/21st London. +2/14th " 2/18th " 2/22nd " +2/15th " 2/19th " 2/23rd " +2/16th " 2/20th " 2/24th " + + + 74th Division. + + _229th Brigade. 230th Brigade. 231st Brigade_. + +16th Devons (1st 10th E. Kent (R.E. 10th Shrop. (Shrop. + Devon & R.N. Kent & W. Kent & Cheshire Yeo.). + Devon Yeo.). Yeo.). +12th Somerset L.I. 16th R. Sussex 24th R. Welsh Fus. + (Yeo.). (Yeo.). (Denbigh Yeo.). +14th R. Highrs.(Fife 15th Suffolk (Yeo.) 25th R. Welsh Fus. + & Forfar Yeo.). (Montgomery Yeo. + & Welsh Horse). +12th R. Scots Fus. 12th Norfolk (Yeo.) 24th Welsh Regt. + (Ayr & Lanark (Pembroke & Glanmorgan + Yeo.). Yeo.). + + + XXIst CORPS. + + 52nd (Lowland) Division. + + _155th Brigade. 156th Brigade. 157th Brigade._ + +l/4th R. Scots Fus. 1/4th Royal Scots. 1/5th H.L.I. +l/5th R. Scots Fus. 1/7th Royal Scots. 1/6th H.L.I. +l/4th K.O.S.B. 1/7th Scot. Rifles. 1/7th H.L.I. +l/5th K.O.S.B. 1/8th Scot. Rifles. 1/5th A. & S. Highrs. + + + 54th (East Anglian) Division. + + _161th Brigade. 162th Brigade. 163th Brigade._ + +l/4th Essex. 1/5th Bedfords. 1/4th Norfolk. +l/5th Essex. 1/4th Northants. 1/5th Norfolk. +l/6th Essex. 1/10th London. 1/5th Suffolk. +l/7th Essex. 1/11th London. 1/8th Hampshire. + + + 75th Division. + + _232th Brigade. 233th Brigade. 234th Brigade._ + +1/5th Devon. 1/5th Somersets. 1/4th D.C.L.I. +2/5th Hampshire. 1/4th Wilts. 2/4th Dorsets. +2/4th Somersets. 2/4th Hampshire. 123rd Rifles. +2/3rd Gurkhas. 3/3rd Gurkhas. 58th Rifles. + + + DESERT MOUNTED CORPS. + + Anzac Mounted Division. + + _1st A.L.H. Bde. 2nd A.L.H. Bde. N.Z. Mtd. Rifles Bde._ + +1st A.L.H. Regt. 5th A.L.H. Regt. Auckland M. Rifles. +2nd A.L.H. Regt. 6th A.L.H. Regt. Canterbury M. Rifles. +3rd A.L.H. Regt. 7th A.L.H. Regt. Wellington M. Rifles. + + + Australian Mounted Division. + + _3rd L.H. Brigade. 4th L.H. Brigade. 5th Mtd. Brigade._. +8th A.L.H. Regt. 4th A.L.H. Regt. 1/1st Warwick Yeo. +9th " 11th " 1/1st Gloucester Yeo. +10th " 12th " 1/1st Worcester Yeo. + + + Yoemanry Mounted Division + + _6th Mtd. Brigade. 8th Mtd. Brigade. 22nd Mtd. Brigade_. +1/1st Bucks Hussars. 1/1st City of London 1/1st Lincolnshire +Yeo. Yeo. +1/1st Berkshire Yeo. 1/1st Co. of London 1/1st Staffordshire +Yeo. Yeo. +1/1st Dorset Yeo. l/3rd Co. of London 1/1st E. Riding +Yeo. Yeo. + + + 7th Mounted Brigade (attached Desert Corps). + + 1/1st Sherwood Rangers. 1/1st South Notts Hussars. + + + Imperial Camel Brigade. + + + +VI + + +There can be no better illustration of how one battle worked out +'according to plan' than the quotation of the following Force Order: + + + FORCE ORDER + + + GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, + _22nd October_ 1917. + + It is the intention of the Commander-in-Chief to take the + offensive against the enemy at Gaza and at Beersheba, and + when Beersheba is in our hands to make an enveloping + attack on the enemy's left flank in the direction of Sheria + and Hareira. + + On Zero day XXth Corps with the 10th Division and + Imperial Camel Brigade attached and the Desert Mounted + Corps less one Mounted Division and the Imperial Camel + Brigade will attack the enemy at Beersheba with the object + of gaining possession of that place by nightfall. + + As soon as Beersheba is in our hands and the necessary + arrangements have been made for the restoration of the + Beersheba water supply, XXth Corps and Desert Mounted + Corps complete will move rapidly forward to attack the + left of the enemy's main position with the object of driving + him out of Sheria and Hareira and enveloping the left flank + of his army. XXth Corps will move against the enemy's + defences south of Sheria, first of all against the Kauwukah + line and then against Sheria and the Hareira defences. + Desert Mounted Corps calling up the Mounted Division left + in general reserve during the Beersheba operation will move + north of the XXth Corps to gain possession of Nejile and of + any water supplies between that place and the right of + XXth Corps and will be prepared to operate vigorously + against and round the enemy's left flank if he should throw + it back to oppose the advance of the XXth Corps. + + On a date to be subsequently determined and which will + probably be after the occupation of Beersheba and 24 to + 48 hours before the attack of XXth Corps on the Kauwukah + line, the XXIst Corps will attack the south-west defences + of Gaza with the object of capturing the enemy's front-line + system from Umbrella Hill to Sheikh Hasan, both inclusive. + + The Royal Navy will co-operate with the XXIst Corps + in the attack on Gaza and in any subsequent operations + that may be undertaken by XXIst Corps. + + On Z--4 day the G.O.C. XXIst Corps will open a systematic + bombardment of the Gaza defences, increasing in volume + from Z--1 day to Zx2 day and to be continued until Zx4 + day at the least. + + The Royal Navy will co-operate as follows: On Z--1 and + Zero days two 6-inch monitors will be available for bombardment + from the sea, special objective Sheikh Hasan. + On Zero day a third 6-inch monitor will be available so that + two of these ships may be constantly in action while one + replenishes ammunition. On Zxl day 6-inch monitors will + discontinue their bombardment which they will reopen + on Zx2 day. From Zxl day the French battleship _Requin_ + and H.M.S. _Raglan_ will bombard Deir Sineid station and + junction for Huj, the roads and railway bridges and camps + on the wadi Hesi and the neighbourhood. The _Requin_ and + _Raglan_ will be assisted by a seaplane carrier. + + From Zero day one 92 monitor will be available from + dawn, special objective Sheikh Redwan. + + From Z--1 day inclusive demands for naval co-operation + will be conveyed direct from G.O.C. XXIst Corps to the + Senior Naval Officer, Marine View, who will arrange for + the transmission of the demands so made. + + XXth Corps will move into position during the night of + Z-l=Zero day so as to attack the enemy at Beersheba on + Zero day south of the wadi Saba with two divisions while + covering his flank and the construction of the railway + east of Shellal with one division on the high ground overlooking + the wadis El Sufi and Hanafish. The objective of XXth Corps + will be the enemy's works west and south-west + of Beersheba as far as the Khalasa-Beersheba road + inclusive. + + Desert Mounted Corps will move on the night of Z-1=Zero + day from the area of concentration about Khalasa and + Asluj so as to co-operate with XXth Corps by attacking + Beersheba with two divisions and one mounted brigade. + The objective of Desert Mounted Corps will be the enemy's + defences from south-east to the north-east of Beersheba + and the town of Beersheba itself. + + The G.O.C. Desert Mounted Corps will endeavour to turn + the enemy's left with a view to breaking down his + resistance at Beersheba as quickly as possible. With this + in view the main weight of his force will be directed against + Beersheba from the east and north-east. As soon as the + enemy's resistance shows signs of weakening the G.O.C. + Desert Mounted Corps will be prepared to act with the utmost + vigour against his retreating troops so as to prevent their + escape, or at least to drive them well beyond the high ground + immediately overlooking the town from the north. He + will also be prepared to push troops rapidly into Beersheba + in order to protect from danger any wells and plant connected + with the water supply not damaged by the enemy before + Beersheba is entered. + + The Yeomanry Mounted Division will pass from the + command of the G.O.C. XXth Corps at five on Zero day + and will come directly under General Headquarters as part + of the general reserve in the hands of the Commander-in-Chief. + + When Beersheba has been taken the G.O.C. XXth Corps + will push forward covering troops to the high ground north + of the town to protect it from any counter movement on + the part of the enemy. He will also put in hand the restoration + of the water supply in Beersheba. The G.O.C. Desert + Mounted Corps will be responsible for the protection of + the town from the north-east and east. + + As soon as possible after the taking of Beersheba the + G.O.C. Desert Mounted Corps will report to G.H.Q. on the + water supplies in the wells and wadis east of Beersheba and + especially along the wadi Saba and the Beersheba-Tel-el-Nulah + road. If insufficient water is found to exist in this + area G.O.C. Desert Mounted Corps will send back such of + his troops as may be necessary to watering places from which + he started or which may be found in the country east of + the Khalasa-Beersheba road during the operations. + + A preliminary survey having been made, the G.O.C. XXth + Corps will report by wire to G.H.Q. on the condition of the + wells and water supply generally in Beersheba and on any + water supplies found west and north-west of that place. + He will telegraph an estimate as soon as it can be made + of the time required to place the Beersheba water supply + in working order. + + When the situation as regards water at Beersheba has + become clear so that the movement of XXth Corps and + Desert Mounted Corps against the left flank of the enemy's + main position can be arranged, the G.O.C. XXIst Corps + will be ordered to attack the enemy's defences south-west + of Gaza in time for this operation to be carried out prior + to the attack of XXth Corps on the Kauwukah line of works. + The objective of XXIst Corps will be the defences of Gaza + from Umbrella Hill inclusive to the sea about Sheikh Hasan. + + Instructions in regard to the following have been issued + separate to all corps: + + Amount of corps artillery allotted. + + Amount of ammunition put on corps charge prior to operations. + + Amount of ammunition per gun that will be delivered daily + at respective railheads and the day of commencement. + + Amount of transport allotted for forward supply from + railheads. + + The general average for one day's firing has been calculated + on the following basis: + + Field and mountain guns and + mountain howitzers ...150 rounds per gun. + 4.5-inch howitzers....120 rounds per gun. + 60-pounders and 6-inch howitzers. 90 rounds per gun. + 8-inch howitzers and 6-inch Mark VII. 60 rounds per gun. + + This average expenditure will only be possible in the + XXIst Corps up to Zx16 day and for the Desert Mounted + Corps and XXth Corps to Zx13. After these dates if the + average has been expended the daily average will have to + drop to the basis of 100 rounds per 18-pounder per day and + other natures in proportion. + + AIRCRAFT, ARMY WING.--Strategical reconnaissance including + the reconnaissance of areas beyond the tactical zone + and in which the enemy's main reserves are located, also + distant photography and aerial offensive, will be carried out + by an Army squadron under instructions issued direct from + G.H.Q. Protection from hostile aircraft will be the main + duty of the Army fighting squadron. A bombing squadron + will be held in readiness for any aerial offensive which the + situation may render desirable. + + CORPS SQUADRONS.--Two Corps squadrons will undertake + artillery co-operation, contact patrols, and tactical reconnaissance + for the Corps to which they are attached. In the + case of the Desert Mounted Corps one flight from the Corps + squadron attached to XXth Corps will be responsible for + the above work. Photography of trench areas will normally + be carried out daily by the Army Wing. + + +VII + + +ORDERS FOR THE OFFICIAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM + +1. The Commander-in-Chief will enter Jerusalem by the Bab-el-Khalil +(Jaffa Gate) at 12 noon, 11th December 1917. The order of procession +is shown below: + + Two Aides-de-camp. + (Twenty paces.) +O.C. Italian Palestine Commander-in-Chief. O.C. French Palestine +Contingent(Col. Contingent +Dagostino). (Col. Piepape). +Staff Officer. Two Staff Officers. Staff Officer. + (Ten paces.) + M. Picot (Head of French Mission). +French Mil. Brig.-Gen. Italian Mil. Att. American +Att. (Capt. Clayton. (Major Caccia). Mil. Att. +St. Quentin). (Col. Davis). + (Five paces.) + Chief of General Staff (Maj.-Gen. Sir L.J. Bols). + Brig.-General General Staff (Brig.-Gen. G. Dawnay). + (Five paces.) + G.O.C. XXth Corps, Lieut.-Gen. Sir Philip W. Chetwode, + Bart., D.S.O. + Staff Officer. Brig.-Gen. Bartholomew. + (Ten paces.) + British Guard. + Australian and New Zealand Guard. + French Guard. + Italian Guard. + +2. GUARDS.--The following guards will be found by XXth Corps: + + Outside the Gate-- + + British Guard: Fifty of all ranks, including English, Scottish, + Irish, and Welsh troops. + + Australian and New Zealand Guard: Fifty of all ranks, including + twenty New Zealand troops. + + These guards will be drawn up facing each other, the right + flank of the British guard and the left flank Australian guard + resting on the City Wall. The O.C. British guard will be in + command of both guards and will give the words of command. + + Inside the Gate-- + + French Guard: Twenty of all ranks. + Italian Guard: Twenty of all ranks. + + These guards will be drawn up facing each other, the left flank + of the French guard and the right flank of the Italian guard + resting on the City Wall. + +3. SALUTE.--On the approach of the Commander-in-Chief, guards will +come to the Salute and present arms. + +4. The Military Governor of the City will meet the Commander-in-Chief +at the Gate at 12 noon. + +5. ROUTE.--The procession will proceed _via_ Sueikat Allah and El +Maukaf Streets to the steps of El Kala (Citadel), where the notables +of the City under the guidance of a Staff Officer of the Governor will +meet the Commander-in-Chief and the Proclamation will be read to the +citizens. The British, Australian and New Zealand, French and Italian +guards will, when the procession has passed them, take their place in +column of fours in the rear of the procession in that order. + +On arrival at El Kala the guards will form up facing steps on the +opposite (_i.e._ east) side of El Maukaf Street, the British guard +being thus on the left, Italian guard on the right of the line, and +remain at the slope. The British and Italian guards will bring up +their left and right flanks respectively across the street south and +north of El Kala. + +On leaving the Citadel the procession will proceed in the same order +as before to the Barrack Square, where the Commander-in-Chief will +confer with the notables of the City. On entering the Barrack Square +the guards will wheel to the left and, keeping the left-hand man of +each section of fours next the side of the Barrack Square, march round +until the rear of the Italian guard has entered the Square, when the +guards will halt, right turn (so as to face the centre of the Square), +and remain at the slope. + +The procession will leave the City by the same route as it entered and +in the same order. + +As the Commander-in-Chief and procession move off to leave the Barrack +Square the guards will present arms, and then move off and resume +their places in the procession, the British guard leading. + +On arrival at the Jaffa Gate the guards will take up their original +positions, and on the Commander-in-Chief's departure will be marched +away under the orders of the G.O.C. XXth Corps. + +6. POLICE, etc.--The Military Governor of the City will arrange for +policing the route of the procession and for the searching of houses +on either side of the route. He will also arrange for civil officials +to read the Proclamation at El Kala. + + + +VIII + + +The Proclamation read from the steps of David's Tower on the occasion +of the Commander-in-Chief's Official Entry into Jerusalem was in these +terms: + + To the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Blessed and the people dwelling + in its vicinity: + + The defeat inflicted upon the Turks by the troops under + my command has resulted in the occupation of your City + by my forces. I therefore here and now proclaim it to be + under martial law, under which form of administration it + will remain as long as military considerations make it + necessary. + + However, lest any of you should be alarmed by reason of + your experiences at the hands of the enemy who has retired, + I hereby inform you that it is my desire that every person + should pursue his lawful business without fear of interruption. + Furthermore, since your City is regarded with affection by + the adherents of three of the great religions of mankind, and + its soil has been consecrated by the prayers and pilgrimages + of multitudes of devout people of those three religions for + many centuries, therefore do I make it known to you that + every sacred building, monument, holy spot, shrine, traditional + site, endowment, pious bequest, or customary place + of prayer, of whatsoever form of the three religions, will be + maintained and protected according to the existing customs + and beliefs of those to whose faiths they are sacred. + + + +IX + + +No story of the capture of Jerusalem would be complete without the +tribute paid by General Allenby to his gallant troops of all arms. The +Commander-in-Chief's thanks, which were conveyed to the troops in a +Special Order of the Day, were highly appreciated by all ranks. The +document ran as follows: + + SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY + + G.H.Q., E.E.P., + + _15th December_ 1917. + + With the capture of Jerusalem another phase of the + operations of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force has been + victoriously concluded. + + The Commander-in-Chief desires to thank all ranks of all + the units and services in the Force for the magnificent work + which has been accomplished. + + In forty days many strong Turkish positions have been + captured and the Force has advanced some sixty miles on a + front of thirty miles. + + The skill, gallantry, and determination of all ranks have + led to this result. + + 1. The approach marches of the Desert Mounted Corps + and the XXth Corps (10th, 53rd, 60th, and 74th Divisions), + followed by the dashing attacks of the 60th and 74th Divisions + and the rapid turning movement of the Desert Mounted + Corps, ending in the fine charge of the 4th Australian Light + Horse Brigade, resulted in the capture of Beersheba with + many prisoners and guns. + + 2. The stubborn resistance of the 53rd Division, units of + the Desert Mounted Corps and Imperial Camel Brigade in + the difficult country north-east of Beersheba enabled the + preparations of the XXth Corps to be completed without + interference, and enabled the Commander-in-Chief to carry + out his plan without diverting more than the intended + number of troops to protect the right flank, despite the many + and strong attacks of the enemy. + + 3. The attack of the XXth Corps (10th, 60th, and 74th + Divisions), prepared with great skill by the Corps and Divisional + Commanders and carried out with such dash and + courage by the troops, resulted in the turning of the Turkish + left flank and in an advance to the depth of nine miles through + an entrenched position defended by strong forces. + + In this operation the Desert Mounted Corps, covering the + right flank and threatening the Turkish rear, forced the + Turks to begin a general retreat of their left flank. + + 4. The artillery attack of the XXIst Corps and of the + ships of the Royal Navy, skilfully arranged and carried out + with great accuracy, caused heavy loss to the enemy in the + Gaza sector of his defences. The success of this bombardment + was due to the loyal co-operation of the Rear-Admiral + S.N.O. Egypt and Red Sea, and the officers of the Royal + Navy, the careful preparation of plans by the Rear-Admiral + and the G.O.C. XXIst Corps, and the good shooting of the + Royal Navy, and of the heavy, siege, and field artillery of + the XXIst Corps. + + 5. The two attacks on the strong defences of Gaza, carried + out by the 52nd and 54th Divisions, were each completely + successful, thanks to the skill with which they were thought + out and prepared by the G.O.C. XXIst Corps, the Divisional + Commanders and the Brigade Commanders, and the great + gallantry displayed by the troops who carried out these + attacks. + + 6. The second attack resulted in the evacuation of Gaza + by the enemy and the turning of his right flank. The 52nd + and 75th Divisions at once began a pursuit which carried + them in three weeks from Gaza to within a few miles of + Jerusalem. + + 7. This pursuit, carried out by the Desert Mounted Corps + and these two Divisions of the XXIst Corps, first over the + sandhills of the coast, then over the Plains of Palestine and + the foothills, and finally in the rocky mountains of Judea, + required from all commanders rapid decisions and powers + to adapt their tactics to varying conditions of ground. The + troops were called upon to carry out very long marches in + great heat without water, to make attacks on stubborn + rearguards without time for reconnaissance, and finally to + suffer cold and privation in the mountains. + + In these great operations Commanders carried out their + plans with boldness and determination, and the troops of all + arms and services responded with a devotion and gallantry + beyond praise. + + 8. The final operations of the XXth Corps which resulted + in the surrender of Jerusalem were a fitting climax to the + efforts of all ranks. + + The attack skilfully prepared by the G.O.C. XXth Corps + and carried out with precision, endurance, and gallantry + by the troops of the 53rd, 60th, and 74th Divisions, over + country of extreme difficulty in wet weather, showed skill + in leading and gallantry and determination of a very high + order. + + 9. Throughout the operations the Royal Flying Corps + have rendered valuable assistance to all arms and have + obtained complete mastery of the air. The information + obtained from contact and reconnaissance patrols has at + all times enabled Commanders to keep in close touch with + the situation. In the pursuit they have inflicted severe + loss on the enemy, and their artillery co-operation has contributed + in no small measure to our victory. + + 10. The organisation in rear of the fighting forces enabled + these forces to be supplied throughout. All supply and + ammunition services and engineer services were called upon + for great exertions. The response everywhere showed great + devotion and high military spirit. + + 11. The thorough organisation of the lines of communication, + and the energy and skill with which all the services + adapted themselves to the varying conditions of the operations, + ensured the constant mobility of the fighting + troops. + + 12. The Commander-in-Chief appreciates the admirable + conduct of all the transport services, and particularly the + endurance and loyal service of the Camel Transport Corps. + + 13. The skill and energy by which the Signal Service was + maintained under all conditions reflects the greatest credit + on all concerned. + + 14. The Medical Service was able to adapt itself to all + the difficulties of the situation, with the result the evacuation + of wounded and sick was carried out with the least possible + hardship or discomfort. + + 15. The Veterinary Service worked well throughout; the + wastage in animals was consequently small considering the + distances traversed. + + 16. The Ordnance Service never failed to meet all demands. + + 17. The work of the Egyptian Labour Corps has been of + the greatest value in contributing to the rapid advance of + the troops and in overcoming the difficulties of the communications. + + 18. The Commander-in-Chief desires that his thanks and + appreciation of their services be conveyed to all officers and + men of the force which he has the honour to command. + + G. DAWNAY, B.G.G.S., + + for Major-General, Chief of the General Staff, E.E.F. + + + +X + + +The men of units forming the XXth Corps were deeply gratified to +receive this commendation from their gallant Corps Commander: + + + SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY + + BY + + LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR PHILIP W. CHETWODE, BT., + K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O., _commanding XXth Corps_ + + HEADQUARTERS, XXTH CORPS, + _13th December_ 1917. + + Now that the efforts of General Sir E.H.H. Allenby's + Army have been crowned by the capture of Jerusalem, I + wish to express to all ranks, services, and departments of the + XXth Army Corps my personal thanks and my admiration + for the soldierly qualities they have displayed. + + I have served as a regimental officer in two campaigns, + and no one knows better than I do what the shortness of + food, the fatigue of operating among high mountains, and + the cold and wet has meant to the fighting troops. But in + spite of it all, and at the moment when the weather was + at its worst, they responded to my call and drove the + enemy in one rush through his last defences and beyond + Jerusalem. + + A fine performance, and I am intensely proud of having + had the honour of commanding such a body of men. + + I wish to give special praise to the Divisional Ammunition + Columns, Divisional Trains A.S.C., Supply Services, Mechanical + Transport personnel, Camel Transport personnel, and to + the Royal Army Medical Corps and all services whose continuous + labour, day and night, almost without rest, alone + enabled the fighting troops to do what they did. + + + SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY + + HEADQUARTERS, XXTH CORPS, + 31_st December_ 1917. + + I have again to thank the XXth Corps and to express to + them my admiration of their bravery and endurance during + the three days' fighting on December 27, 28, and 29. + + The enemy made a determined attempt with two corps + to retake Jerusalem, and while their finest assault troops + melted away before the staunch defence of the 53rd and + 60th Divisions, the 10th and 74th were pressing forward + over the most precipitous country, brushing aside all opposition + in order to relieve the pressure on our right. + + Their efforts were quickly successful, and by the evening + of the 27th we had definitely regained the initiative, and + I was able to order a general advance. + + The final result of the three days' fighting was a gain to + us of many miles and extremely heavy losses to the enemy. + + A fine three days' work. + + + +INDEX + + +ABU SHUSHE. +Adaseh. +Ain Ari. +--Karim. +Air Force honours. +Akir. +Allenby, General. +--administration. +American Red Cross Society. +Arsuf. +Askalon. +Auja, River. + +BAKER, Colonel Sir Randolf. +Bald Hill. +Barrow, Major-General G. de S. +Bartholomew, Brigadier-General. +Bayley, Colonel. +Beersheba, Anzac march on. +--battle of +--German preparations +Beit Hannina. +--Iksa. +--Izza. +--Jala. +--ur el Foka. +--ur et Tahta. +Beitunia. +Bethany. +Beth-horons. +Bethlehem. +Biblical battlefields. +Biddu. +Bireh. +Bols, Major-General. +Borton, Major-General. +Bulfin, Lieutenant-General. +Bulteel, Captain. +Burkah. +Butler, Brigadier-General. + +CHAUVEL, Lieutenant-General. +Chaytor, Major-General. +Cheape, Lieutenant-Colonel H. +Chetwode, Lieutenant-General Sir. +--thanks to XXth Corps troops. +Clayton, Brigadier-General +Colston, Brigadier-General. +Cox, Brigadier-General +Cripps, Colonel Hon. F. + +DAMMERS, Captain. +Dawnay, Brigadier-General. +Deir Sineid. +--Yesin. +de Rothschild, Major. +Desert railways. +--pipeline. +Dukku. + +EKTEIF. +El Jib. +El Kala. +Enver. + +FARAH, wadi. +Force Order, General Allenby's thanks to troops. +Ful, Tel el. + +GAZA, plan of attack on. +--Ali Muntar. +--defences. +--El Arish redoubt. +--Great Mosque. +--naval gunnery. +--Outpost Hill. +--Sea Post. +Gaza, Sheikh Hasan. +--Umbrella Hill. +German Hospice. +Gilgal. +Girdwood, Major-General. +Godwin, Brigadier-General. +Good Samaritan Inn. +Grant, Brigadier-General. + +Hadrah. +Hanafish, action on wadi. +Hebron. +Hill 1070. +Hill, Major-General J. +Hodgson, Major-General. +Hong Kong and Singapore battery. +Huj. + +Ibn Obeid. +Imperial Service cavalry. + +Jackson, Admiral T. +Jaffa. +--Gate. +Jebel Kuruntul. +Jelil. +Jericho. +Jerisheh. +Jerusalem, battle of. +--civil administration +--Memorial to Army +--Official Entry +--order of procession +--Proclamation to people +--water supply +Jordan. +Jezar. +Junction Station. + +Katrah. +Kantara. +Kanwukah. +Khurbet Subr. +Khuweilfeh. +Kressenstein, von. +Kulonieh. +Kuryet el Enab. +Kustul. + +Latron. +Lawson, Captain. +Lifta. +Longley, Major-General. +Ludd. + +M'Call, Brigadier-General Pollak. +Maclean, Brigadier-General. +Mejdel. +Meldrum, Brigadier-General. +Mott, Major-General. +Mount of Olives. +Mughar. +Mukhmas. +Mulebbis. + +Nablus Road. +Nebi Musa. +Nebi Samwil. +Nejile. + +O'Brien, Colonel. + +Palestine Army, composition of. +Palin, Major-General. +Patron, Captain. +Pemberton, Colonel. +Perkins, Lieutenant. +Primrose, Captain Hon. Neil. + +Ramallah. +Ramleh. +Raratongas. +Ras et Tawil. +Rushdi trenches. +Ryrie, Brigadier-General. + +Saba, Tel el. +Sakaty, Tel el. +Saris. +Sarona. +Shea, Major-General H. +Sheikh Muannis. +Sheria. +Sherifeh. +Shilta. +Smith, Rifleman. +Soba. +Solomon's Pools. +Strategy in Palestine. +--the German view. +Suffa. +Supplying the front. +Surar, wadi. +Sukereir, wadi. + +TALAT ED DUMM. +Temperley. +Thornhill, Corporal. +Train, Corporal, V.C. +Turkish line of communications. +--moral. + +WATSON, Brigadier-General. +Whines, Corporal. +Whitehill. +Wingfield-Digby, Captain. +Wire roads. + +YEBNAH. +Yilderim undertaking. +--von Falkenhayn's doubts. + +ZAMBY. +Zeitun ridge. + + +Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty at the +Edinburgh University Press + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of How Jerusalem Was Won, by W.T. Massey + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10098 *** |