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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of With the British Army in The Holy Land, by 
+Henry Osmond Lock
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: With the British Army in The Holy Land
+
+Author: Henry Osmond Lock
+
+Release Date: November 16, 2006 [EBook #19822]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE HOLY LAND ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Irma Špehar and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+With the British Army in the Holy Land
+
+BY
+
+MAJOR H. O. LOCK
+
+THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT
+
+WITH MAPS
+
+LONDON: ROBERT SCOTT
+ROXBURGHE HOUSE
+PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.
+1919
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER I
+                                                                 PAGE
+EGYPT AND THE SUEZ CANAL                                          1
+
+Modern Egypt--Military Geography of Egypt--The Eastern Boundary--Outbreak
+of War, 1914--Invasion of Egypt by the Turks--The Dardanelles--Defence
+Problem at the Opening of 1916.
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE DESERT OF SINAI                                              10
+
+Across the Canal--The Military Railway--The Pipe-line--Kantara--Oghratina,
+Katia and Dueidar--Romani--Bir-el-Abd--El Arish--Maghdaba--Magruntein and
+Rafa--Sea-borne Supplies--Khan Yunus--The Land of Promise--Personnel.
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+MESOPOTAMIA, THE CAUCASUS, AND THE HEJAZ                         21
+
+Landing in Mesopotamia--1915
+Operations--Kut--Baghdad--Consolidation--Interdependence of Mesopotamia and
+Palestine--Caucasus--Collapse of Russia--The Yemen--Revolt of the
+Hejaz--Mecca--Medina--Maan--Arab Co-operation in Eastern Palestine.
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+PALESTINE                                                        28
+
+General Idea--A Comprehensive View--The Sea--Sand Dunes--Coastal
+Plain--Judćan Hills--Jordan Valley--Eastern
+Palestine--Armageddon--Climate--Railways--Population.
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+GAZA                                                             37
+
+History--Importance of Situation--Topography--First Battle of Gaza--Second
+Battle of Gaza--Reorganization of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+TRENCH WARFARE                                                   43
+
+Fresh Arrivals--Journey to Railhead--Acclimatization--The Turkish Line--The
+British Line--Campaigning Conditions--Flies and Dust--Morale--Humorous
+Incidents--Spies--Raiding and Shelling--Defences at the Apex--Preparations
+for the Offensive.
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+GAZA AND BEERSHEBA                                               51
+
+General Plan of the Battle--Reasons--Water--Transport--Bombardment of
+Gaza--Capture of Beersheba--Infantry Attack on Gaza--Counter-attack at
+Khuweilfeh--Attack on Sheria--Evacuation of Gaza--Retreat of the Enemy--The
+Apex--Shelling and Raids.
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+FULL CRY                                                         62
+
+Flight of the Enemy--Cavalry Pursuit--Crossing No Man's Land--Infantry
+Pursuit--Water--Arak-el-Menshiyeh Demonstration--Mesmiyeh
+Engagement--Junction Station Captured--Naaneh--Gezer--Jaffa--Summary of the
+Situation.
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+NEBY SAMWIL                                                      71
+
+Routes into the Hills--Bireh--Scheme of Operations--The Saris
+Pass--Contrast with Hill Fighting in India--Enab--Neby Samwil--The Key to
+Jerusalem--Consolidation and Reliefs.
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+JERUSALEM                                                        79
+
+The 20th Corps Movements--The New Line--Counter-attacks--Final
+Advance--Fighting round Jerusalem--The Enemy Outmanoeuvred--Surrender of
+the City--General Allenby's Entry and Proclamation.
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE HOLY CITY                                                    86
+
+Sacred to the Jew, the Christian and the Moslem--The
+Kings--Nebuchadnezzar--Nehemiah--Alexander--Ptolemy I--Antiochus--The
+Maccabees--Pompey--Herod--Christ--Titus--Hadrian--Constantine--Chosroes--
+Islam--The Crusaders--Saladin--Richard--The Kharezmians--Expulsion of the
+Crusaders--Tamerlane--The Ottomans--Napoleon--Mohammed Ali--Routes taken by
+the several Invaders.
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+JUNCTION STATION AND LUDD                                       101
+
+Chaos--Looting--Turkish Hospital--Prisoners of War--Vale of Sorek--Town
+Planning--Movements of Troops--Railway Development--Bridges--Armoured
+Train--Junction Station Superseded by Ludd--Development of Ludd--St.
+George.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE JORDAN                                                      109
+
+Attempt to Retake Jerusalem--Winter in Palestine--Jericho--Advancing the
+Line--Crossing the Jordan--Raid on Amman--Raid on Shunat Nimrin.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE WADI DEIR BALLUT                                            116
+
+Crossing the Auja--Front Line Life in
+March--Musketry--Aircraft--Flowers--Wadi Deir Ballut--Capture of Deir
+Ballut Ridge.
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE MOUNTAINS OF EPHRAIM                                        124
+
+The New Line--Turkish Reinforcements--Method of Holding the Line--A Patrol
+Incident--Capture of Ikba.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+RAFAT                                                           130
+
+Arara--Rafat--Three Bushes Hill--Collapse in France--Reorganization.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE CROWNING VICTORY                                            135
+
+Situation in September, 1918--The Terrain--Preparations--Mugheir--The Sweep
+from Rafat to the Sea--Cavalry--Deraa--The Turkish Rout--Eastern
+Palestine--Sea of Galilee--Damascus--Summary of Results.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+CONCLUSION                                                      143
+
+Pursuit--Beyrout--Aleppo--Armistices--Close of the War--Cross and
+Crescent--Résumé.
+
+
+SKETCH MAPS                              PAGE
+
+I   RAILWAYS IN 1914                      1
+
+II  GAZA AND BEERSHEBA                   51
+
+III COUNTRY ROUND JERUSALEM              79
+
+IV  RAILWAYS IN 1918                    101
+
+V   COUNTRY ROUND RAFAT                 117
+
+
+
+
+NOTE
+
+
+My aim in compiling this little book has been to provide a short account
+of the Palestine campaign, illustrated from the experiences of one who
+was present.
+
+The manuscript was written on active service, soon after the occurrence
+of the events recorded. It may, on this account, be sketchy, but, it is
+hoped, not the less interesting.
+
+My acknowledgments are due to the Official Despatches and publications,
+and also to the writings of Mr. W.T. Massey, Official Correspondent with
+the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
+
+H. O. L.
+
+
+IN THE FIELD, 1918.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE HOLY LAND
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+EGYPT AND THE SUEZ CANAL
+
+
+The Holy Land has been the scene of war since the dawn of History. Long
+before Belgium became the cock-pit of Europe, Palestine was the cock-pit
+of the known world. Here, on the high road between Asia and Africa, were
+fought the great wars of Egyptians and Assyrians, Israelites and
+Canaanites, Greeks and Romans, Saracens and Crusaders. With these few
+square miles are associated the names of the world's greatest soldiers
+no less than that of the Prince of Peace. None can fail to be interested
+in the latest campaign in this Land of Armageddon.
+
+To understand the causes and events that led up to the campaign in
+Palestine of 1917-1918, we must first summarize, as shortly as possible,
+the modern history of Egypt. That country had for many centuries formed
+an integral part of the Turkish Empire. But she had been rapidly
+slipping from the grasp of the Turk. Early in the nineteenth century
+Mohamed Ali had effectually thrown off the Turkish yoke. True, the
+Turkish suzerainty remained; but that authority was little more than
+nominal and was represented by an annual money tribute paid to the Porte
+by the Khedive out of the revenues of Egypt.
+
+Both France and England had large financial interests in Egypt,
+especially after the construction of the Suez Canal, which was opened
+for traffic in 1869.
+
+The Suez Canal, in fact, became of vital importance to Great Britain. By
+a stroke of policy the British Government acquired the shares of the
+almost bankrupt Khedive, Ismail Pasha, and thus had a holding in the
+company worth several million pounds. But far more important to Britain
+was the position of the Canal as the great artery of the British Empire,
+the most vulnerable point on the short sea route to India. Thus Britain
+became directly concerned in the affairs of Egypt, in its internal
+administration to secure peace within, and in its military defence to
+secure the country in general, and the Canal zone in particular, from
+invasion by a foreign enemy.
+
+But the affairs of Egypt were in a most unsatisfactory condition. The
+army was wholly unreliable, and extravagance in high places had brought
+the exchequer to the verge of bankruptcy. In 1882 matters reached a
+crisis. A revolution broke out, headed by Arabi Pasha, and the situation
+looked desperate. Joint naval and military action by Britain and France
+was proposed, but the French ships sailed away and left Britain with a
+free hand. The British fleet bombarded the Forts at Alexandria and a
+military force, based on the Suez Canal, was landed at Ismailia. This
+force completely defeated the army of Arabi Pasha at Tel-el-Kebir, put
+down the rebellion, and restored the government of the then Khedive,
+Tewfik Pasha. But the Khedivial government had been unable to cope with
+the rebellion single-handed; it had only been restored to power by
+British arms; it could not hope to retain that power unless continuously
+backed by the power of Britain.
+
+From this time forward, whether she liked it or not, Britain found
+herself effectually saddled with the direction of the government of
+Egypt. In this position she became more fully confirmed by the
+Anglo-Egyptian military operations against the Soudan in 1885, under
+Gordon, and in 1898, under Kitchener. Outstanding differences with
+France were dispelled on the conclusion of the Anglo-French Entente
+Cordiale, and Britain was left virtually mistress of Egypt.
+
+Let us look for a minute at the military geography of Egypt,
+particularly with regard to the security of her frontiers from invasion.
+Egypt consists, or prior to the seventies consisted, of the Nile, its
+valley and delta, and the country rendered fertile by that river. On
+either side of this fertile belt is dry, barren desert. On the north is
+the Mediterranean Sea, and on the south the tropical Soudan. Thus, in
+the hands of a power that holds the command of the sea, Egypt is well
+adapted for defence. The tropical Soudan makes a well-nigh impossible
+line of advance for a large hostile force from the south, and the routes
+of approach from the east and from the west, across the waterless
+deserts, present obstacles scarcely less formidable. Since the
+seventies, however, another important factor has entered the problem,
+namely, the Suez Canal and the area of cultivation and civilization
+which has sprung up along its banks. The large amount of fresh water
+required for the maintenance of the Canal, for the use of the towns that
+have sprung up along its banks, and for the existence of the large
+population which the Canal has attracted, is brought by a Canal known as
+the Sweet Water Canal, from the river Nile. This Sweet Water Canal, and
+the piped services which it supplied, were, in 1914, wholly upon the
+western or Egyptian side of the Suez Canal. This western side was also
+well provided with communications. Trunk railways connected Ismailia, at
+the centre of the Canal, with Cairo and Alexandria, and lateral
+railways, running along the whole length of the Canal, connected it with
+Port Said and Suez.
+
+Although, as was subsequently discovered, the problem of defending the
+Suez Canal was by no means the same as that of defending Egypt, the
+problems may, at first sight, appear identical. An enemy force moving
+from Palestine against the Suez Canal and Egypt, would have to cross a
+comparatively waterless desert for a distance of over a hundred miles.
+On coming into collision with the defenders of the Canal, such an enemy
+would be operating far from his base, with a long and vulnerable line of
+communications, and with little or no available fresh water. The
+defenders, operating along the line of the Suez Canal, would be close to
+their base, with admirable communications, both lateral and to the rear,
+and with the rich cultivated lands of Egypt on which to draw for
+supplies, whilst their supply of fresh water would be unlimited.
+
+The boundary line between Egypt and Palestine in 1914 ran from Rafa, on
+the Mediterranean, to the head of the Gulf of Akaba, the north-eastern
+arm of the Red Sea. This line runs right across the desert and is
+distant about 120 miles from the Suez Canal. At first sight the boundary
+seems ideal, and in so far as the defence of Egypt alone was concerned,
+it left little or nothing to be desired. But, as subsequent events
+proved, this line was not good enough to safeguard the defences of the
+Canal.
+
+On the outbreak of war, in August, 1914, between Germany and
+Austria-Hungary on the one hand, and Great Britain, France, Russia and
+Belgium on the other, the garrison of Egypt was augmented by troops sent
+out from England and India and from Australia. The Suez Canal, through
+which vast numbers of troops were passing, was of vital importance to
+the communications of the allies, and was strongly guarded accordingly.
+Two months later (November 5), Turkey threw in her hand with the Central
+Powers. One of the baits held out by Germany to induce the Turks to
+enter the struggle, was a promise that they should be restored to
+complete supremacy in Egypt. With the entering of Turkey into the war,
+and her open threats to invade Egypt, the protection of that country and
+of the Canal became a matter of extreme urgency.
+
+The policy of defence adopted was that of making the line of the Canal
+the line of resistance. A large portion of the low-lying desert to the
+north-east of the Canal was flooded, so as to render approach by that
+direction impossible. Warships took up stations in the Canal itself,
+while naval patrol launches took over the duty of guarding the Bitter
+Lakes. The troops detailed for the defence of the Canal itself were
+entrenched upon the western side, with reserves concentrated at points
+of tactical importance. In this way full advantage was taken of the
+lateral communications on the western side of the Canal, while it was
+thought that the difficulties of crossing the desert on the eastern side
+would make approach by the Turks well-nigh impossible.
+
+Meanwhile, the Turk was not letting the grass grow under his feet.
+Whether the Germans ever intended to pay the price for Turkish adhesion
+by sending a strong enough force to make the invasion of Egypt
+practicable is open to doubt. The Turkish rank and file were certainly
+led to believe that a serious invasion of Egypt was intended. But it is
+much more likely that the object of the Germans was to detain as large a
+British force as possible in Egypt and thus prevent their taking part in
+the fighting in France. A secondary object may have been to render the
+Suez Canal temporarily impassable. Whatever may have been the chestnuts
+that Germany hoped to get out of the fire, it was clear that Turkey was
+willing to act as catspaw, and attempt a foolhardy invasion of Egypt.
+Consequently, the construction of a new military railway in Syria was
+put in hand, and by January, 1915, the Turks had formed advanced posts
+at Auja, on the frontier, and also at Kosseima, El Arish, and Khan
+Epenus in the desert. The problem of water supply has always presented a
+difficulty to armies crossing this waterless desert. There are a certain
+number of reservoirs and cisterns which hold up water during the rains.
+In the winter time these would be full. The Turk is less particular
+about the water which he drinks than the white man, and doubtless he
+could, to some extent, be supplied from some of the brackish pools in
+the desert, with water that no one would think of offering to a British
+soldier.
+
+The light pontoons that the Turks dragged across the desert for crossing
+the Canal are said to have been used for carrying water during certain
+stages of the advance. Suffice it to say that the Turks did succeed in
+solving the water problem, and in crossing the desert with a force of
+some considerable strength.
+
+On the 3rd February, 1915, the threatened attack materialized. Before
+dawn, some of the light pontoons which the Turks had brought with them,
+were launched on the Canal. These were manned, while other Turks
+deployed along the eastern bank and opened fire to cover the crossing.
+The troops defending this portion of the Canal, mostly Indians, opened
+fire upon the pontoons, with the result that many of them were sunk. Two
+of the pontoons, however, reached the western bank, and their crews,
+numbering about twenty, surrendered. There was fighting throughout the
+day, but no further crossing of the Canal. On the next day the east bank
+was swept, with the result that a considerable party of the enemy were
+captured. After this, the Turks withdrew, and marched back to Palestine.
+This was the only time that a formed body of the enemy succeeded in
+reaching the Canal. But they had shown that it was possible for them to
+achieve the almost impossible, and thus they gave the authorities
+responsible for the defence of Egypt much food for thought.
+
+The menace to Egypt was for a time delayed, though not wholly removed,
+by the expedition against the Dardanelles.
+
+To co-operate with our Russian allies, the British Government decided,
+early in 1915, to attempt to force the passage of the Dardanelles. The
+strategic gains promised were highly attractive, and included--the
+passage of arms and munitions from the allies to Russia in exchange for
+wheat, the neutrality and possible adherence of the outstanding Balkan
+States, the severing of communications between European and Asiatic
+Turkey, the drawing off of Turkish troops from the theatres of the war,
+and the expulsion of the Turks from Constantinople, and ultimately from
+Europe. Incidentally, it was considered, on the principle that the best
+defensive is an offensive, that a thrust at the very heart of Turkey, a
+threat against Constantinople itself, would afford the best means of
+defending Egypt.
+
+The story of the Dardanelles expedition has been often told, and
+scarcely forms a part of this history, so a few words must suffice. In
+February, 1915, we started by bombarding the forts with a few old
+warships. The forts at the outer entrance were soon silenced, and early
+in March, the warships moved up to the Narrows. On the 18th, a great
+effort was made to reduce the forts about the Narrows; but it failed,
+with the loss of three battleships and more than 2,000 men. This
+demonstrated the fact that the Dardanelles could never be opened by sea
+power alone, and, accordingly, amphibious operations became necessary.
+An expeditionary force was assembled in Egypt, and Mudros was selected
+as the advanced base. On April 25, landings were effected on the extreme
+point of the Gallipoli Peninsula. In spite of heroic attempts, we did
+little more than effect a precarious lodgment. Further operations were
+necessary; additional divisions were brought out from home; and on the
+night of the 6th/7th August, another landing was effected at Suvla Bay.
+But the new plan was no more successful than the old. Within a couple of
+days this force also had settled down to a war of positions. Winter was
+approaching; our positions on the peninsula would then become no longer
+tenable. No progress could be made, and at length it was decided to
+evacuate. The Suvla Bay force was withdrawn first; and the evacuation of
+the main body of troops was completed on the 20th December. The
+withdrawal was carried out with the same brilliance that had
+characterized the various landings, and with so small a number of
+casualties that it was described as "an achievement without parallel in
+the annals of war."
+
+Many of the regiments that fought against the Turks at Gallipoli were
+withdrawn, directly or indirectly to Egypt, and subsequently met the
+Turk again during the advance into Palestine. Included among these were
+the 10th, 52nd, 53rd and 54th Divisions, besides regiments of Anzacs and
+Yeomanry. In so far as the Dardanelles operations aimed at protecting
+Egypt, they were a success; for, while they were in progress, no
+organized invasion of Egypt was attempted. But the evacuation had the
+effect of liberating a large force of Turkey's best troops for
+operations against Mesopotamia and Egypt.
+
+It would be convenient to pause here and take stock of the military
+situation in Egypt, in the light of over a year's experience of actual
+war.
+
+In the first place, the Turks had disillusioned us as to the
+impossibility of crossing the waterless desert, and had actually crossed
+it with a considerable armed and organized force. They announced that
+what they had effected had been nothing more than a reconnaissance. In
+any case, they had shown us what they could do, and that, backed by the
+resources of the Central Powers, there would be no insuperable obstacle
+to their bringing a large and fully equipped army across the desert.
+
+In the second place, we had discovered that the problems of defending
+the Suez Canal and of defending Egypt were not identical. While the
+Canal formed an admirable moat, an obstacle difficult to negotiate when
+stoutly defended, and so a capital defensive line for the protection of
+the Nile; yet this line was inadequate for the protection of the Canal
+itself or for securing the immunity of the passing shipping.
+
+And so, thirdly, we realized that some other line must be found for the
+protection of the Canal. While we were sitting on the west bank, small
+parties of Turks approached the eastern bank. On more than one occasion,
+in the summer of 1915, they succeeded in placing mines in the fairway of
+the Canal. It would, therefore, have been quite possible for them to
+have seriously interfered with the working of the Canal and the passage
+of shipping. Granted that a new line must be found, the question arises
+where such new line should be drawn. A line across the actual desert may
+be all very well in war time, though none too easy to hold, for the
+reasons that we have already discussed. But to keep a garrison on such a
+line for ever would be well-nigh intolerable. Thus, by a process of
+elimination, we find that the most suitable line for the permanent
+defence of the Suez Canal is the fertile country beyond the eastern
+desert--in other words, Palestine.
+
+Fourthly, it had been brought home to us that the worst form of defence
+is a passive defence. As, therefore, the Turk would not leave well
+alone, but insisted on attacking us in Egypt, so it became necessary for
+us to meet him on his own ground, to push a vigorous offensive, and
+eventually to carry the war into Palestine.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE DESERT OF SINAI
+
+
+In accordance with the policy of defending the Suez Canal upon a line
+further east, the construction of a new defensive line was put in hand
+during the early months of 1916. No longer were the Turks to be allowed
+to annoy us by actually reaching the Canal. A line of trenches,
+protected by barbed wire entanglements, was constructed out in the
+desert, a few miles to the east of the Canal. As may be imagined, this
+was no easy task. A large amount of excavation was necessary for a small
+amount of trench; walls had to be built up with sandbags; and other
+steps had to be taken to prevent the sides from foundering, and to
+construct a work that would withstand shell fire.
+
+Meanwhile, other preparations were put in hand for carrying the
+defensive line further to the east. The construction was commenced of a
+broad gauge of railway from Kantara eastwards across the desert. This
+railway eventually became the trunk line between Egypt and Palestine. In
+the days of trench warfare before Gaza, it transported freight trains
+heavily laden with rations and ammunitions, troop trains conveying
+officers and men in open trucks, hospital trains evacuating sick and
+wounded, and an all-sleeping-car express running nightly in each
+direction. In 1918, a swing-bridge was improvised across the Suez Canal,
+and Jerusalem and Cairo were then connected by rail without change of
+carriage being necessary. The future prospects of this railway seem
+unbounded. It will undoubtedly be continued through to Damascus and
+Aleppo, where it will connect with railways to Constantinople and to
+Baghdad and the Persian Gulf. Thus it will form part of a grand trunk
+railway system along the old caravan routes connecting the three
+continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. In its conception, it was just a
+military railway, laid, with but little preparation, across the sands of
+the desert. To this railway, however, was largely due the success of the
+campaign that we are about to consider.
+
+We have already seen that the Sinaitic Desert is almost waterless.
+Although it has often been crossed by invading armies in both
+directions, the provision of water has always presented the greatest
+difficulty. The carriage of water in tanks upon the backs of camels, a
+method used by us for locally supplying troops between water dumps and
+the headquarters of units, proved successful here thousands of years
+ago. The plan adopted by the Turks of dragging water-holding pontoons
+across the desert was not to be despised. Further progress was made when
+supplies of water were transported in tank-trucks along the railway. But
+a bolder adaptation of modern science to desert fighting was reached,
+when it was decided to lay on a piped supply of water from the Nile.
+
+We have seen that the western bank of the Suez Canal was already
+provided with a plentiful supply of fresh water by the Sweet Water
+Canal. Plant was now installed for making this water available for the
+troops. Purity had to be considered as well as adequacy of supply. A
+peculiar danger had to be guarded against. There is a disease prevalent
+in Egypt, of a particularly unpleasant character and persistent type,
+called by the medical profession Bilhaziosis, but better known to our
+men as "Bill Harris." This disease is conveyed by a parasitic worm found
+in the waters of the Nile, and affects not only those who drink the
+water, but also those who bathe in it or merely wash. Consequently,
+orders were stringent against even touching Nile water which had not
+previously been treated. This necessitated the troops east of the Canal
+being put upon a very restricted supply, and they were accordingly
+rationed at the rate of a gallon of water per head per day for all
+purposes, including washing, cooking and drinking. At the Kantara
+waterworks water was drawn in from the Sweet Water Canal, mixed with
+alum, and pumped through settling tanks into filters. When it had passed
+through these, it was pumped underneath the Suez Canal into reservoirs
+on the eastern bank. Here it was chlorinated; and hence the water, now
+fit for all purposes, was pumped forward to its destination. There being
+no gradient to assist the natural flow of the water, it had to be pumped
+forward by successive stages. The first stage was as far as Romani; when
+working at greatest length the pumping stages numbered no less than
+seventeen. At times, during the advance, the railway had to be called in
+aid; and train-loads of water for the use of advanced troops were railed
+from pipe-head up to rail-head. At some stages of the advance this
+supply could be supplemented by local water, which, though generally
+somewhat brackish, was employed for the horses, mules and camels. It was
+even found to have no ill-effect upon the troops, if used for a limited
+period, and if necessary precautions were taken. At other stages, where
+water was non-existent, or rendered wholly unapproachable by enemy
+dispositions, our force became entirely dependent upon the supply
+delivered through the pipe-line. Ultimately, when we settled down to
+protracted trench warfare before Gaza, this pipe-line was delivering a
+constant supply of water into our trenches, distant some couple of
+hundred miles from the banks of the Nile.
+
+Kantara started upon a process of development worthy of the base of such
+an expedition. Before the war, it had been little more than a small
+Canal village, comprising a few huts. It eventually grew into an
+important railway terminus with wharves and cranes, a railway ferry and
+40 miles of sidings. Miles of first-class macadamized roads were made,
+vast ordnance and supply dumps arose, and camps and depots were
+established for man and beast. The scale on which this mushroom town
+developed was stupendous.
+
+Early in 1916, the Turks, relieved from imminent danger near home by our
+evacuation of Gallipoli, came down again in force through Syria,
+Palestine and the Desert, to attack us in Egypt. Our construction gangs,
+engaged upon the new railway and upon the development of local water
+supplies, were at this time covered by escorts, mainly of cavalry,
+spread out upon a wide front. On the 23rd of April several thousand
+Turks, operating in three columns, attacked our desert posts at
+Oghratina, Katia and Dueidar respectively, the two former being about 30
+miles and the last named about 10 miles to the east of Kantara.
+Oghratina and Katia, being well out in the desert, were cavalry posts
+held by yeomanry. These two posts were rushed by a large force of the
+enemy under cover of fog, and, though a stubborn resistance was offered,
+and the fighting was severe, the posts were overwhelmed. At Dueidar, an
+infantry post, some 20 miles or so nearer our base, the Turk was less
+successful. Under cover of the same fog, about 900 Turks tried to rush
+this post at dawn. They found the garrison standing to, and were beaten
+off. Though they made three distinct attempts to break through, they
+were unsuccessful. The garrison was reinforced and the Turks were
+repulsed.
+
+In order to hamper or prevent such bodies of Turks from again crossing
+the desert and approaching the Canal, it was decided to draw off the
+local water supplies in the desert. Accordingly, these supplies, mainly
+in pools and cisterns constructed by men in a bygone age, were
+systematically pumped or drained dry. By the end of June, no water was
+left available for enemy use within easy reach of the Canal. From this
+time forward the enemy attempted no more sporadic raids. He concentrated
+instead upon a serious attack against our main positions, which attack
+materialized at Romani.
+
+By July, 1916, our railway had reached the village of Romani, which is
+some 25 miles from Kantara, and is in the neighbourhood of Oghratina
+and Katia, where the enemy had secured his success in April. The Turkish
+force had been stiffened with Germans and Austrians, and was under the
+command of the German General Von Kressenstein. It moved from the
+Turkish railroad at Auja on the frontier, and advanced by way of
+Maghdaba and the Wadi El Arish to El Arish, and thence westward along
+the caravan route towards Egypt. This force had been well equipped and
+trained for this class of warfare, and it succeeded in dragging heavy
+guns across the desert byroads which it improvised for the purpose.
+Making his advanced base at Bir-el-Abd, the enemy first occupied and
+fortified a line about Mageiba. On the morning of the 3rd August, he
+made a general advance, and took up a line fronting our position at
+Romani. Here our left flank rested on the sea; the left of the line was
+held by the 52nd Division, while the 53rd Division was on the right. The
+East Lancashire Division was in reserve. The right flank comprised a
+chain of posts, behind which were a force of cavalry. The weak point
+was, therefore, our right flank, for a little force working round by the
+south would threaten our communications and might possibly cut us off
+from our reinforcements down the line and from our base at Kantara.
+Accordingly, on the night of the 3rd/4th, one Light Horse Brigade moved
+out to hold a three-miles line from our infantry post on the right,
+sending out patrols a considerable distance in front. About midnight,
+the enemy were found to be advancing in this direction. Before light
+next morning this Brigade were heavily engaged, holding up the advance
+of a considerable body of the enemy. Gradually the Brigade were pressed
+back by weight of numbers, until, at about five o'clock in the morning,
+the timely arrival of reinforcements secured the complete arrest of the
+enemy advance in this direction. Soon after daylight the enemy swung
+round his left flank and established himself upon Mount Royston. This
+enforced upon us a further retirement; but he had reached the limit of
+his success. Towards the sea, the enemy attacks against the 52nd
+Division were beaten off, and here he could make no progress. At about
+5.30 in the afternoon, a counter-attack was launched against Mount
+Royston, and this position was recaptured. Early on the following
+morning, the 5th, before daylight, the 52nd Division recaptured
+Wellington Ridge, the last of our lost positions remaining in the hands
+of the Turk. The tide had now turned definitely in our favour and the
+Turk was in full retreat. An attempt was made to encircle his southern
+flank and to cut him off with our cavalry, but his rearguard actions
+were fought stubbornly, and the pursuing cavalry had to be withdrawn.
+During the night of the 5th/6th, the enemy evacuated Katia, which was
+occupied by us on the following morning. By the 8th, he had abandoned
+Oghratina, and had fallen back to his advanced base at Bir-el-Abd. From
+this base he now proceeded to evacuate camps and stores, but he was not
+allowed to do so unmolested. He was followed up by the whole of our
+cavalry and effectually shelled by our horse artillery. On the afternoon
+and evening of this day (the 8th) the Turk counter-attacked our cavalry,
+who were clearly outnumbered. Nevertheless the Turk considered it more
+prudent to burn the remainder of his stores. He completed the evacuation
+of Abd by the 12th, and it remained in our hands from this time forward.
+This abortive advance against Romani marked the last determined attempt
+of the Turks to invade the Suez Canal and Egypt. Henceforth the efforts
+of the Turks were confined to opposing the storm which their misguided
+cupidity had raised up against them.
+
+After the battle of Romani, our mounted troops held a line about Abd.
+The enemy now consolidated a position at Mazar, a little more than 20
+miles further to the east. In the middle of September, a cavalry column
+moved out to Mazar and attacked the Turkish positions. Neither side was
+anxious to bring on a general engagement at that time. However, the
+losses which the Turk suffered in this operation caused him sufficient
+uneasiness to induce him to withdraw altogether from Mazar. He therefore
+withdrew his troops to a position close to El Arish.
+
+The Turkish garrison at El Arish consisted of some 1,600 infantry in
+all, in a strong entrenched position. In the second week of December
+increased activity was shown by the Turks, and aerial reconnaissance of
+their camps behind their front line showed evidence of the proximity of
+reinforcements. Our preparations for a forward move were pressed on
+strenuously, and, though they were somewhat delayed through lack of
+water, we were ready to move by the 20th December. The enemy realized
+that the swiftness of our final preparations had been too much for him.
+Knowing that his reinforcements could not arrive in time, he hurriedly
+withdrew his troops from El Arish. This retirement was reported by the
+R.F.C. on the 20th December, and our mounted troops, supported by
+infantry, were ordered to move on El Arish the same night. The town was
+found to be evacuated. Aircraft reports showed that about 1,600 of the
+enemy were on the march, in two columns, in the neighbourhood of
+Maghdaba and Abu Aweigila, while Sheikh Zowaid and Rafa appeared to be
+clear. The enemy were evidently not retreating by the caravan route
+towards Gaza, but were falling back southwards by the Wadi El Arish (the
+Biblical "River of Egypt") upon their rail-head at Auja.
+
+This evidence went to show that the garrison which had recently
+evacuated El Arish were at Maghdaba, and it seemed likely that this
+force were preparing to hold Maghdaba as a rearguard. A flying column of
+cavalry was immediately despatched against them from El Arish. This
+column found the enemy strongly posted and entrenched on both banks of
+the Wadi El Arish. An attack was set in motion on the morning of the
+23rd December, and lasted for the greater part of the day. By half-past
+four that afternoon, however, all organized resistance was over, and the
+enemy were surrendering everywhere. No further advance was attempted
+along the enemy's line of communications towards Auja, and the troops,
+being but a flying column, retired at once to El Arish.
+
+Within a few days after the destruction at Maghdaba of the rearguard, or
+garrison withdrawing from El Arish, another body of the enemy started to
+entrench a position at Magruntein near Rafa. This was obviously intended
+to bar our progress eastwards along the coastal route, the old caravan
+route to Gaza. Rafa is the frontier town upon the Turco-Egyptian
+frontier. The operation to which we are about to refer was, therefore,
+the last engagement that took place upon Egyptian territory. It was not
+possible at the end of December for the British force to push on and
+occupy Rafa permanently, owing to difficulties of supply. But since the
+enemy had again placed a small detached garrison within striking
+distance of our mounted troops, the temptation was held out for a
+repetition of the Maghdaba success at Magruntein. Accordingly, a flying
+column, composed wholly of mounted troops and artillery, moved out from
+El Arish on the evening of the 8th/9th January, 1917. The enemy was
+taken completely by surprise, and by dawn on the 9th January his
+position was almost entirely surrounded. The position, however, was a
+formidable one, with ground in front entirely open and devoid of cover.
+The main attack was timed for ten o'clock a.m., and was delivered from
+the east and south-east. The town of Rafa was soon occupied, and, in the
+course of the morning, our attack against the Turkish system of defences
+developed on every side. The enemy's works were dominated by a central
+redoubt or keep, and orders were given for a concerted attack to be
+developed against this at 3.30 p.m. Meanwhile the enemy had despatched a
+relieving force from Shellal, which is about twenty miles to the
+south-east of Rafa and mid-way between that town and the nearest Turkish
+railway. This relieving force was detected by our aircraft, who
+frequently attacked it with bombs and machine gun fire. Orders were at
+once given for the attack on the redoubt to be pressed with vigour, and,
+before five o'clock, the redoubt was captured. With this position in our
+hands, the remaining works soon fell, and by 5.30 p.m. all organized
+resistance was over, and the enemy position, with all its garrison, was
+captured. The relieving force were driven off without much difficulty,
+and withdrew, presumably, to Shellal, which thereafter became the
+enemy's next point of concentration. Our column, taking with them all
+prisoners, animals and captured material, withdrew again to El Arish.
+
+From the time of our occupation of El Arish on the 22nd December, that
+town developed apace. Mine-sweeping operations were at once commenced in
+the roadstead, a pier was erected, and, on the 24th, the supply ships
+from Port Said began unloading stores and supplies. The lie of the land
+gives unlimited opportunity to a power having the command of the sea to
+supplement his other means of bringing forward supplies by landing
+sea-borne goods upon the open beach. Repeatedly, in the subsequent
+history of this war, we availed ourselves of this means of supply, as
+our army moved northwards in Palestine. The landing of stores at El
+Arish, however, was not wholly successful, owing to the strong currents,
+a shelving and shifting beach, and heavy surf. In winter, the sea is apt
+to be stormy here, and then such landing may become impossible. Supplies
+were also hastened to El Arish by camel convoy, and dumps were
+accumulated. The railway was pushed on with and, before the end of
+January, the railway station at El Arish was completed; during the
+following month the railway was pushed further out along the coast
+preparatory to another advance.
+
+After the destruction of their post at Rafa, the Turks immediately began
+to concentrate their forces near Shellal. West of this place they
+prepared a strong defensive position near Weli Sheikh Nuran, with the
+object of covering their lines of communication both along the Beersheba
+railway and along the Jerusalem-Hebron-Beersheba road. They also
+established themselves at Khan Yunus, on the coastal road a few miles to
+the east of Rafa. On the 23rd February, a reconnaissance was carried out
+against Khan Yunus. The column, arriving at dawn, found the position
+strongly held, and, after manoeuvring the enemy out of his front line
+of defence and capturing prisoners, withdrew without difficulty.
+Continuous pressure maintained by our troops in this neighbourhood,
+however, induced the enemy to withdraw the garrison of Khan Yunus, which
+place was entered by our cavalry without opposition on the 28th
+February. The enemy also evacuated without firing a shot the position
+which he had prepared near Weli Sheikh Nuran.
+
+Our troops had crossed the desert with success attending them at every
+stage. And now at last they had set foot in the Promised Land. Many of
+them must have felt, what a soldier was afterwards heard to express,
+"This may be the land of promise; it's certainly not the land of
+fulfilment." History repeats itself. As the Israelites had much trial
+and suffering to endure after reaching this stage of their journey from
+Egypt, before they were permitted to "go in and possess the land," so
+had our lads many a fierce and bloody battle to fight before they, too,
+might set foot within the Holy City.
+
+A few words as to personnel may not be out of place before we leave the
+subject of this Desert campaign. Throughout this time the
+Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force was General Sir
+Archibald Murray, G.C.M.G., K.C.B. A reorganization of the force took
+place in October, 1917, in consequence of which General Murray moved his
+headquarters back from Ismailia to Cairo. At the same time, the new
+headquarters of the Eastern Force came into existence at Ismailia under
+the command of Lieut.-General Sir Charles Dobell, K.C.B., C.M.G.,
+D.S.O., under whose direction thus came more immediately the operations
+in the eastern desert.
+
+Amongst the troops employed were the Australians and New Zealanders and
+several regiments of English Yeomanry, and, included among the infantry,
+were the 52nd (Lowland), the 53rd (Welsh and Home Counties), the 54th
+(East Anglian) and the 74th (Dismounted Yeomanry) Divisions.
+
+This review of the advance across the desert has of necessity been
+superficial. Strictly speaking, the Desert campaign is outside the scope
+of this book. But a summarized history of the advance forms a necessary
+introduction to our subject. Here, on the threshold of Palestine, we
+must leave this army for a short space, while we review some other
+operations, and while we take a glance at the nature of the country in
+which this army was about to operate.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+MESOPOTAMIA, THE CAUCASUS, AND THE HEJAZ
+
+
+Having taken a hurried glance at the campaign in Sinai, which directly
+led up to that in Palestine, we will take a yet more hurried glance at
+three other campaigns in Asiatic Turkey which had their bearing, direct
+or indirect, upon the Palestine operations.
+
+Most important among these was the expedition to Mesopotamia. In 1914,
+when Turkey came into the war against us, a British Indian Brigade was
+landed at the mouth of the Shatt-el-Arab, the common estuary by which
+the Tigris and the Euphrates reach the Persian Gulf. The objects of this
+expedition were to secure the oil-fields of Persia in which Britain was
+largely interested; to neutralize German ascendancy, which was rapidly
+developing in this part of the world through her interests in the
+Baghdad Railway; and to embarrass Turkey by attacking her at a point
+where facilities of manoeuvre and supply seemed to hold out a
+reasonable promise of success.
+
+Throughout 1915 this expedition met with uninterrupted success. The
+British Indian forces engaged were increased in number and strength,
+and, in spite of appalling conditions of climate, and notwithstanding
+more than one narrow escape from disaster, the British flag was pushed
+further and further forward into this flat alluvial country. In the
+autumn of 1915, we held all the country up to Nasiriyeh on the Euphrates
+and to Kut el Amara on the Tigris. Then that ill-fated decision was
+arrived at which sent General Townshend, with the inadequate force at
+his command, up the Tigris to capture Baghdad. This force went
+heroically forward, and, just short of that city, defeated the Turks at
+the battle of Ctesiphon. But General Townshend's casualties were heavy,
+and his available reinforcements were neither sufficiently numerous nor
+at hand. The pick of the Turkish army released by our withdrawal from
+Gallipoli, had poured down to reinforce the enemy, and General Townshend
+had no alternative but to beat a hasty retreat. Accordingly, he fell
+back to Kut el Amara. Partly from inability to get his war-worn forces
+further away, and partly from a disinclination to abandon this important
+tactical point to the enemy, he consolidated here and prepared to
+withstand a siege. The history of that siege will live as one of the
+noblest in the annals of the British army. But the stars in their
+courses fought against us. Strong enemy positions, inadequate supplies
+and transport arrangements, floods, and appalling conditions of country
+and weather, proved overwhelming. In spite of the unremitting efforts of
+the relieving army, which fought battle after battle without stint of
+labour or loss, the garrison of Kut found themselves, at the beginning
+of May, 1916, left with no alternative but to capitulate. Almost the
+whole of the garrison were removed into Asia Minor, to a captivity which
+few were destined to survive. Naturally the Turks were much elated by
+this success, following upon their successes in Gallipoli, and were
+persuaded that the might of the British arm was nothing which they need
+fear.
+
+Leaving a sufficient force to check any further British advance into
+Mesopotamia, the Turk withdrew the bulk of his forces to operate against
+the Russians and, perhaps wisely, made no great effort to dislodge us
+from the territory which we already occupied. The opposing forces sat
+down and watched each other for many months in the entrenched positions
+below Kut. In March of the following year, 1917, General Maude, on whom
+had fallen the command of the British army in Mesopotamia, won a
+decisive victory at Kut; and, pursuing the remnants of the routed enemy,
+entered Baghdad. The Turks withdrew to the higher country north and
+north-east of the city, whither they were pursued. After these
+operations, the British were in occupation of the completed section of
+the Baghdad railway, which was then open from Baghdad as far north as
+Samarra. They also effected a junction with the Russian troops operating
+in Persia. In the following September, engagements were fought at Ramadi
+and elsewhere on the Euphrates, with the result that the Turkish
+garrisons were rounded up, and but few Turkish troops were left to
+oppose the British forces in Mesopotamia. Nevertheless, an immediate
+advance was not made up to Mosul and the upper territories of
+Mesopotamia. Owing to the collapse of Russia, it became necessary for us
+to take over some of the country in Persia, which had previously been
+occupied by Russian troops, and an expedition was also sent to assist
+the Armenians at Baku on the Caspian Sea. Other troops which could be
+spared from Mesopotamia were sent round, in the spring of 1918, to take
+part in the operations in Palestine, and the forces that remained were
+devoted to the garrisoning and consolidation of the territory already
+occupied.
+
+A glance at the map of Turkey in Asia will show that the provinces of
+Mesopotamia and Syria consist of long narrow strips of fertile country
+bordered by desert, and resemble two legs which fork at Aleppo.
+
+As far as Aleppo, troops and supplies from Europe passed over one common
+route. From the Turkish point of view, therefore, the campaigns in these
+two countries were to some extent interdependent. This enabled the Turks
+to concentrate a reserve at Aleppo, ready to be moved down into either
+theatre of war as the exigencies of the situation might demand.
+Conversely, therefore, a British offensive in Mesopotamia might draw off
+troops destined for Palestine, or an offensive in Palestine might
+attract troops otherwise intended for operations in Mesopotamia. There
+is strong evidence that a Turco-German offensive was contemplated in
+Mesopotamia for 1918. In the spring of that year, however, a British
+offensive was undertaken in Palestine, which had the immediate effect of
+drawing to that country strong Turkish and German reinforcements from
+Aleppo. Nothing more was heard of the offensive in Mesopotamia, and, by
+the autumn of 1918, there was scarcely a fighting Turk to be found in
+that country. Just as our expedition against the Dardanelles, by
+engaging the enemy at a vital spot near home, had materially assisted
+the defence of Egypt, so did our offensives in Palestine materially
+assist the defence of Mesopotamia.
+
+Turning to another corner of the map of Turkey, where Europe and Asia
+meet in the mountains of the Caucasus, we see that the Turkish frontier
+here marches with that of Russia. In the earlier days of the war, the
+Russians carried out an important and successful advance in this
+neighbourhood, and, early in 1916, occupied the cities of Trebizond and
+Erzerum. Thus, at the time when the campaign in Palestine was embarked
+upon, the armies of the allies were closing in upon Eastern Turkey
+simultaneously from three directions, the Russian Caucasus army from the
+north-east, the British Mesopotamian army from the south-east, and the
+Egyptian Expeditionary Force from the south. Strategically, the
+situation seemed full of promise. But, in the winter of 1917-18,
+followed the disastrous collapse of Russia, and the setting free of many
+Turkish soldiers of good quality from all the Russian fronts for service
+elsewhere. We had hoped that our offensive in Syria might have been
+supported by the co-operation of the Russians. Instead, we felt the
+pinch of their defection in the stiffening of enemy resistance on our
+front by the transfer of good troops from the Caucasus to Palestine.
+
+There is yet another theatre of warfare in Asiatic Turkey, the
+operations in which exerted considerable influence on those in
+Palestine. The whole of the eastern shores of the Red Sea formed part
+of the Ottoman Empire. The southernmost sector, known as the Yemen, was
+the farthest outpost of that Empire. Here a few Turks and Arabs
+conducted a sporadic warfare against our garrison at Aden, more
+calculated to cause annoyance and to detain a British force of some
+strength than to exercise much influence upon the war as a whole.
+
+Farther to the north, on this Red Sea littoral, is a province of much
+more importance, the Hejaz, in which are situate the most holy of cities
+in the Moslem world, Mecca and Medina. To Christians, the Hejaz is
+forbidden ground. To Mahomedans, it is the focus of pilgrimage from all
+parts of the world. The Sultan of Turkey, as the ruler of Mecca, is
+looked up to by the Sunni or orthodox Mahomedans in all lands as the
+spiritual head of their Church. Though rulers of the Hejaz, the Turks
+were not at one with the local population. These are Arabs, and to them
+the Turkish rule was as unpopular as to most other non-Turkish subjects
+of that decaying Empire. Profiting by Turkey's embarrassments in other
+parts, the Arabs rose in the summer of 1916, resolved on ridding
+themselves of the hated Turkish yoke. Sheikh Hussein of Mecca was
+proclaimed King of the Hejaz.
+
+At this time there were garrisons of Turkish troops stationed at Mecca,
+Medina and at the port of Jiddah. Their communication with Turkey was by
+the recently opened railway to Damascus and Aleppo. This railway, south
+of Damascus, ran along the high plateau on the eastern side of the Dead
+Sea, through Maan, and along the desert to Medina. The intention was to
+carry the line ultimately through to Mecca, but at this time it was only
+open for traffic as far as Medina. The revolt broke out on the 5th June,
+1916, at which date a cordon was spread round Medina. Jiddah was
+attacked on the 9th, and capitulated after holding out for only a week.
+The bulk of the Mecca garrison were at this time at Taif. Accordingly,
+the town of Mecca passed into the hands of the Emir, with the exception
+of the ports. These put up a small fight, but had all surrendered by the
+middle of July. The force at Taif were blockaded, and, on the 23rd
+September, this force also surrendered. By this time, all the outlying
+garrisons had been disposed of, and the Hejaz generally cleared of
+Turks.
+
+Meanwhile, Medina had not only held out, but had been reinforced, and
+the fighting strength brought up to some 14,000. Late in September, the
+Turks sallied out and established a cordon of posts at a distance of
+some 30 to 40 miles from the city. They also pushed further afield; but,
+Arab armies moving up from the south, the Turks withdrew, at the end of
+the year, behind the cordon of posts which they had established. For the
+next six months, the railway to the north of Medina was frequently
+raided by the Arabs, but the town was effectually cut off from its
+communications with Turkey.
+
+In July, 1917, Akaba, at the head of the gulf of that name, the
+north-eastern arm of the Red Sea, was captured. This is at no great
+distance from Maan, an important depot on the Hejaz Railway, the last
+outpost of Syria at the edge of the desert of North Arabia. From Akaba,
+the railway was now attacked at Maan, with serious results to Medina;
+nevertheless, that city continued to hold out, and was probably never
+very closely invested.
+
+In October and November, 1917, about the time of the third battle of
+Gaza, the Turks were still in Maan, and tried to assume the offensive
+against the Arabs, but proved too weak to succeed. After the fall of
+Jerusalem, the Turks withdrew to some extent, and the Arabs advanced
+towards the lands east of the Dead Sea.
+
+From this period forward, the history of the Hejaz revolt merges in that
+of the Palestine campaign. The Arab forces east of the Dead Sea afforded
+a safeguard against any possible Turkish attempt to move round our right
+flank and raid our line of communications. In February and in March,
+1918, Turkish expeditions moving against the Arab forces of the King of
+the Hejaz southward from Kerak, near the south-eastern corner of the
+Dead Sea, met with failure. The former expedition ended in disaster, and
+the latter was forced to withdraw, owing to the imminence of a British
+crossing of the Jordan in its rear. Arab activity on the railway now
+definitely isolated Medina. Although the Arabs were never strong enough
+to push a powerful force up through Eastern Palestine, yet the presence
+of a friendly force operating in that country exercised considerable
+influence upon the later stages of the Palestine campaign. The
+assistance which the Arabs gave in the ultimate destruction of the
+Turkish army was invaluable.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+PALESTINE
+
+
+The story of a campaign is more interesting if we have a general idea of
+the topography of the country in which it is conducted. Our time will,
+therefore, not be wasted if we leave the British Army on the frontiers
+of the Holy Land for a few minutes longer and form a mental picture of
+the terrain over which they are about to operate.
+
+Picture a country, about the size of Wales, divided into parallel strips
+running north and south, zones of alternate elevation and depression.
+This will give a rough idea of the conformation of Southern Palestine.
+On the west is the Mediterranean Sea. Skirting the sea are a series of
+sand dunes, beyond which comes the Coastal Plain. Together, these form
+the first depressed strip, averaging about 15 miles in width.
+Northwards, it tapers to a point where the mountains reach the sea at
+Cape Carmel. Beyond the Coastal Plain is the range of mountains on which
+stands Jerusalem, the mountains of Samaria and of Judća, rising to a
+height of about 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. On the eastern
+side of these mountains is a steep drop to the Valley of the Jordan and
+the Dead Sea, the level of the latter being nearly 1,300 feet below the
+level of the Mediterranean, and more than 4,000 feet below the summit of
+the adjoining Mount of Olives. Beyond the Jordan valley the country
+rises again abruptly into the hills of Moab or Eastern Palestine. Beyond
+lies the waterless desert.
+
+Before entering into details, let us imagine ourselves to be standing
+on one of the mountains round about Jerusalem.[1] Away to the north,
+Mount Carmel rises abruptly from the sea. Thence the chain of Carmel
+runs S.S.E. for some 20 miles, dividing the Coastal Plain from the Plain
+of Esdraelon. About Dothan and Tul Keram it merges in the range
+comprising the mountains of Samaria and Judća, which range runs north
+and south through the land like the backbone of a fish, with steep
+spurs, like ribs, thrown out on either side towards the Coastal Plain
+and the Jordan Valley. Westwards, we look down upon the cultivated
+plain, and across it to the golden belt of sand dunes, tapering like the
+waist of an hour-glass where the olive plain touches the sea at Jaffa;
+beyond, lies the deep blue of the Mediterranean. Eastwards is a sheer
+abyss falling into the Jordan Valley, where that river, like a silver
+thread, winds its way along until it falls into the Dead Sea. Beyond, as
+if across a fifteen-mile moat, rise abruptly the mountains of Moab. The
+map of Palestine might be aptly compared to a bridge marker. The
+horizontal line is the plain of Esdraelon. In vertical columns "below
+the line" lie the strips of the country which we have just described.
+"Above the line" are the mountains of Lebanon, Tabor and Hermon, Galilee
+and the Sea of Tiberias, and the valleys and rivers of Damascus.
+
+Let us consider these zones in greater detail, more especially with
+regard to their influence on war. The sea, which skirts Palestine
+throughout its length, confers a twofold advantage upon her mistress. In
+the first place, it provides a supplementary line of communication. We
+have already seen that, during the advance across the Desert, sea-borne
+supplies from Port Said were landed at El Arish. This method was
+continued throughout our advance in Palestine, and landing places were
+improvised at various convenient stages. There is no good harbour along
+this coast; and landing, which has to be done by beach boats, is
+difficult, especially in a westerly wind. Nevertheless, considerable
+supplies were thus landed, chiefly of fuel and fodder, which would be
+little liable to damage by immersion. In the second place, help can be
+given during actual military operations by the Navy. Our ships
+frequently lay off the coast and bombarded the enemy's positions. Of
+necessity, each side had a flank resting on the sea. To the British,
+this was a feature of strength; to the Turk, it was one of weakness. He
+was compelled therefore at all times to draw back or "refuse" his
+coastal flank, while the British flank was constantly thrown forward
+menacing the flank of the enemy.
+
+There is little to be said about the Sand Dunes, though, being on the
+flank, they were often the scene of operations. The sand here is soft
+and the going bad. Recourse in these operations was therefore had to
+camel transport. To the field engineer, difficulties were presented much
+as in the desert. During the trench warfare before Gaza, when a raid was
+carried out on Beach Post, no attempt was made to cut the enemy wire
+with our artillery, but the wire was simply pulled up by hand with the
+standards, for which the soft sand had provided no firm foundations.
+
+The Coastal Plain comprises, towards the north, the Biblical Plain of
+Sharon, and, towards the south, the land of Philistia. By this plain,
+and not through Judća, lies the road from the Nile to the Euphrates.
+Along this plain have marched the invading armies of all the ages.
+Though generally a flat country, the flatness is relieved by a few
+rolling hills, of no great height. It is very fertile and has a good
+supply of water, contained in wells. It thus presents many advantages,
+and but few disadvantages, to an army operating in the field. Roads are
+good or are easily improvised, while such obstacles to an invader's
+advance do not exist here as in the hills. Our successes in the campaign
+under consideration were generally attained by first pushing forward
+along the plain and then turning right-handed into the hills.
+
+From the plain, the country rises, in places through the intermediate
+foot hills of the Shephelah, in places more abruptly and directly into
+the mountains of Judća. These mountains are of limestone formation,
+terraced, where possible, for cultivation, and often wooded with olive
+trees or tilled as corn patches or vineyards. The scenery is rugged and
+pretty, the hill-sides generally steep, sometimes precipitous. This is
+the Palestine of the picture books. Deep gorges have been cut out by
+water action; but, as no rain falls throughout the summer months, these
+are, for the most part, but dry watercourses. There are a few good
+springs to be found in the valleys; the villagers upon the hills are,
+however, mainly dependent upon cisterns constructed in the rock, in
+which they catch as much water as possible during the winter rains.
+These mountains formed the stronghold of the Israelites, who never
+maintained sway for any length of time over the lower surrounding
+country. The mountains abound in ruins and are rich in caves, such as
+may have been the Caves of En-gedi and Adullam. One of the caves
+witnessed a lurid scene in our mountain fighting. A party of the enemy
+had established themselves in a cave with machine guns. Ghurkhas
+attacked, and the enemy, after inflicting casualties, thought to make
+good their escape by a back exit. But outside there were other Ghurkhas
+lying in wait, and, as the enemy emerged, they killed them all.
+
+We have seen that the general formation of this range of mountains is
+like the backbone of a fish. We should therefore expect to find
+communications from north to south easy enough along the "spine" or
+ridge, but difficult on either side, where there would be a succession
+of "ribs" or spurs to be crossed. This is the case. There is only one
+first-class road from north to south through this hill-country, namely,
+that which runs along the ridge from Samaria through Nablus, Jerusalem,
+Bethlehem and Hebron to Beersheba. Communications from east to west are,
+however, more easy along the spurs and intervening valleys. To attempt
+an advance northwards, from spur to spur, is tedious work; after a
+comparatively short push a pause is necessary to enable roads to be
+constructed for bringing forward guns and supplies. We had an
+illustration of this in March, 1918, when a forward move of this
+character met at first with but moderate opposition. A pause of a few
+weeks was necessary to enable fresh roads to be made. In the meantime,
+the enemy had been heavily reinforced, and, when the next advance was
+attempted, stout resistance was encountered. This hill-country lent
+itself readily to defence. Mutually supporting heights could be held. A
+hill, when captured thus, became a focus for fire concentrated from all
+the hills around. So when the Turks attacked us in these hills they met
+with much less success than in the Jordan Valley; and, on the other
+hand, they were able to offer a stouter resistance to our attacks in
+these hills than they could on the Coastal Plain.
+
+The Jordan Valley, as we have already seen, is more than a thousand feet
+below the level of the Mediterranean, that is, below what we speak of as
+"sea level." In this respect it is unique in the geography of the world.
+In winter time the climate is equable; in summer it is unbearable. In
+peace time, even the Bedouin forsake it in summer. The district is
+pestilential to a degree, and, in no sense of the word, a white man's
+country. It possesses a feature of considerable importance in the river
+Jordan itself, almost the only river in Palestine with a perennial flow.
+The river is tortuous and rapid and not adapted to navigation. These
+features indicate this area as a difficult one in which to hold a
+fighting line, and a no less difficult one across which to maintain
+communications. In the summer of 1918, our line ran along the river
+valley, and the troops in this sector suffered much from diseases.
+
+East of this strong natural boundary formed by the deep trough of the
+Jordan, we find a very different country. It rises abruptly from the
+Jordan Valley, and is in itself a plateau. It is at first fertile, but,
+at distances ranging from 40 to 60 miles inland, it merges into steppe
+and then into sheer desert. Thus it is a country apart, difficult of
+access from Jerusalem and Western Palestine, more easy of access from
+Damascus or from Arabia. Through it, from north to south, runs the Hejaz
+railway, on its way from Damascus to Medina. And so it proved an area in
+which the Turks, based on Damascus, and the Arabs, operating from Hejaz,
+were at greater advantage than our columns based on Jerusalem.
+
+We have now glanced at those portions of Palestine in which took place
+the principal fighting in this campaign. Our review would still be
+incomplete if we omitted all reference to the Plain of Esdraelon.
+Starting from the sea coast immediately north of Cape Carmel, at the
+ports of Haifa and Acre, this Plain runs east south-east across the
+country to the Jordan Valley. Rising slightly at first, it forms the
+watershed of "that ancient river, the river Kishon." After the watershed
+is crossed, there is a drop towards the Jordan Valley; this latter
+portion of the Plain constitutes the Vale of Jezreel. This Plain of
+Esdraelon is Armageddon. Here Barak overthrew Sisera, Gideon defeated
+the Midianites, and Saul and Jonathan met disaster and death at the
+hands of the Philistines. Here Josiah was defeated and slain by Pharaoh
+Necho. Near here, the Christians were defeated and their kingdom
+overthrown by the Saracens. On this Plain Napoleon won his final and
+crushing victory over the Turks.
+
+No battle, beyond a few cavalry engagements, took place here during the
+campaign which we are to consider. The Turks had been totally defeated
+before ever this line was reached. But this Plain has still for us a
+military interest. It may well be that here, where the mountains of
+Samaria overlook and command all approaches from the north, is to be
+found the best strategic line for the defence of the Suez Canal.
+
+In a country like Palestine, where levels and characteristics are so
+divergent, diversities of climate are to be expected. We have seen that
+the summer climate of the Lower Jordan Valley is pestilential. Parts of
+the Coastal Plain also are very malarious, particularly from north of
+Jaffa to Mount Carmel. With these exceptions, the climate is by no means
+unpleasant nor unsuitable for the conduct of military operations. Far
+enough south to enjoy plenty of bright sunshine, it is still some
+distance north of the tropics. Pleasant and regular breezes from the sea
+mitigate the discomfort which might otherwise prevail in a country
+almost surrounded by desert. The whole of the rainfall comes in the
+winter months. From about April to October, though dews are heavy, rain
+is unknown. But in the winter months, especially December and January,
+and to some extent February, the rainfall is intense, and the country on
+the Plains and lower lying districts is reduced to a sea of mud
+well-nigh impassable. Thus military operations in summer are liable to
+be prejudiced by a shortage of water; in winter by an excess. The ideal
+season for operations is therefore in the spring, when there is an
+abundance of water and a plentiful feed; and, next to this, the autumn,
+when the heat of the summer has passed its height and the rains of
+winter have not yet made the country impassable.
+
+The importance of good railways in modern war is immense. We have
+already traced the construction of the broad gauge line from Egypt which
+followed close behind the British in their advance across the Desert and
+into Southern Palestine. The Turks in Western Palestine were at a
+perpetual disadvantage through the inferiority of the railway service;
+but, in Eastern Palestine, i.e. across the Jordan, the position was
+reversed. Before the war, Syria had been connected with Asia Minor by a
+broad gauge line from Aleppo to Rayak, where it effected a junction with
+a narrow gauge line from Beyrout to Damascus. The broad gauge line was
+part of the Baghdad railway scheme. But at this time, that railway, even
+between Constantinople and Aleppo, was only partially completed. The
+tunnelling of the Taurus Mountains was yet unfinished. Thus troops or
+supplies, coming from Constantinople to Damascus, had to break the
+journey at the Taurus Mountains and again at Rayak. These two
+interruptions provided admirable opportunities for delay and confusion,
+which the dilatory Turk embraced. The tunnelling of the Taurus was
+pushed on with during the war, and in 1918 rumours reached us that these
+mountains had been pierced, so that trains could then run through from
+Constantinople (Haida Pasha) to Rayak. The installation of more
+business-like Germans at the latter station went far towards minimising
+the delays and confusion due to the break of gauge.
+
+From Damascus, the Hejaz railway, constructed nominally for Mecca
+pilgrims, runs due south, and, passing along the high plateau of Eastern
+Palestine, had already reached Medina. A branch from this line, starting
+from a junction at Deraa, ran westwards along the Plain of Esdraelon to
+Haifa. Another line, almost parallel to the Hejaz railway, ran from
+Damascus due south to Mezerib; this line was removed by the Turks after
+the commencement of the war, as the materials were required for railway
+construction elsewhere. Unconnected with any of these railways, a French
+line ran from Jaffa to Jerusalem; this also the Turks removed, as
+between Jaffa and Ludd, while, for the remainder of its length, they
+altered the gauge so as to adapt it to the rolling stock of the Hejaz
+Railway. All these railways south of Damascus were narrow-gauge lines,
+without much rolling stock available, so that their carrying capacity
+was limited.
+
+On the outbreak of war, the Turks, acting under the guidance of the
+Germans, embarked upon a considerable programme of railway construction.
+Starting from a point on the Plain of Esdraelon, El Apele, they
+constructed a new line which crossed the mountains about Samaria and
+reached the Plain of Sharon at Tul Keram. Thence it ran down the length
+of the Coastal Plain to Beersheba, and, ultimately, to Auja in the
+Desert. This railway was constructed in 1915 for the invasion of Egypt.
+Into this railway was incorporated portions of the old Jaffa-Jerusalem
+line, as between Ludd and "Junction Station." This was the none too
+distinctive name given to the important station which was constructed at
+the point where the older railway left the Plain; this now became the
+junction for Jerusalem. At a later date, the Turks withdrew from Auja to
+Beersheba, the line south of the latter place was removed and a new line
+was constructed from near Junction Station to points just north of Gaza.
+
+Roads in the coastal sector are good, though difficult for heavy motor
+traffic after rain. In the hills, the only first-class roads were the
+road running north and south along the ridge from Nablus through
+Jerusalem to Beersheba, and the road west and east from Jaffa to
+Jerusalem, continued eastwards through Jericho and across the Jordan to
+Es Salt and Amman Station on the Hejaz Railway.
+
+The population of Palestine is very mixed, comprising Moslems,
+Christians and Jews with their various subdivisions and sects. The
+Moslem inhabitants, Arabs and Syrians, have little in common with the
+Turks except their religion. The Jews and the Christians groaned under
+Turkish oppression. Both Jews and Christians welcomed the advent of the
+British, while the Moslems accepted the situation, if not with pleasure,
+at least with equanimity. The Turks themselves form no part of the
+regular population. They are alien rulers, speaking a language unknown
+to the people, and incapable of understanding the language of the
+country. Although Palestine has been governed by Moslems for upwards of
+a thousand years, it has only been annexed to the Ottoman Empire for
+four centuries. More than once during that period it would have been
+torn away but for the aid of the British. The government of Syria by the
+Ottoman Turk had been oppressive and corrupt and marked by the
+discouragement of all progress and enterprise. It was high time that it
+should cease.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: The point chosen is imaginary. The view described combines
+those obtainable from two or three points in this neighbourhood.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+GAZA
+
+
+Gaza! What pictures this name conjures up in our imagination. From
+childhood the city has been familiar to us for its dramatic associations
+with Samson. It was here that he removed the city gates and carried them
+to the summit of Ali Muntar, "to the top of an hill that is before
+Hebron," and it was here that he took hold of the two middle pillars,
+and, bowing himself with all his might, destroyed the temple of Dagon
+with the thousands of Philistines that were his tormentors. The whole
+history of Gaza is steeped in blood. It is the outpost of Africa, the
+gate of Asia. Throughout the ages its strategic importance has been
+immense. Scarcely an invading army has passed here without fighting a
+battle. It figured in the wars of the Eastern invaders, was totally
+destroyed by Alexander the Great, was the scene of one of Napoleon's
+battles, and, during our campaign, saw six months of trench warfare and
+no less than three distinct and sanguinary engagements. In the course of
+its history, Gaza is said to have been taken and destroyed in war
+between forty and fifty times. No city in the world has been destroyed
+more often. Happy, indeed is the city that has no history!
+
+Prior to this war, Gaza was a town of some 40,000 inhabitants, mostly
+Moslems, to whom the city is sacred. It owed its importance in modern
+times to being the junction of the caravan routes from Egypt to Syria
+and from Arabia to the Mediterranean. The town itself stands back some
+couple of miles from the sea, from which it is separated by sand dunes.
+It is surrounded by gardens and plantations; most of these are bordered
+by thick cactus hedges, which played a prominent part in the days of
+trench warfare. The surrounding country is by no means level, but
+consists of rolling arable land with low ridges and some hills. The most
+prominent feature is the hill, Ali Muntar, a commanding height
+south-east of the town. When we first approached it, the hill was clad
+with trees and surrounded by a tomb; but six months' persistent
+bombardment soon removed the trees and tomb and altered the conformation
+of the hill. There are other ridges lying about the town, which were
+afterwards incorporated in the defensive schemes of the Turks and of
+ourselves. The geographical feature of principal military importance in
+this neighbourhood is the Wadi Ghuzzeh. This wadi is a watercourse,
+which, in times of rain, carries off the water from the hills between
+Beersheba and the Dead Sea. It runs, approximately, from south-east to
+north-west, at right angles to the coast line, and passes Gaza at a
+distance of about 4 miles from the south-western or Egyptian side of the
+town. During the greater part of the year this watercourse is dry,
+though the sides are steep, and wheeled traffic can only cross at
+properly constructed crossings. On either side of this wadi, distant a
+mile or so from its bed, are ridges which run approximately parallel to
+the wadi. That on the right bank is known as Mansura Ridge, that on the
+left bank as In Seirat. The latter is a relatively high ridge and
+affords cover for troops beyond. On the other side of this ridge,
+protected by it, and distant some nine or ten miles from Gaza, is a
+small village with a good supply of water. This village is known as Deir
+el Belah, or, more frequently, merely as Belah. It formed our advanced
+base during the later operations against Gaza.
+
+We have seen that, at the end of February, 1917, General Dobell's force
+had reached El Arish, while portions of it had crossed the border at
+Rafa, and his cavalry had occupied Khan Yunus. The Turks had withdrawn
+to Gaza, where they now took up a position. They had one force at Gaza
+and another in the neighbourhood of Beersheba, with other troops
+between. In March, it was decided to attack the enemy at Gaza. The
+British force was concentrated at Rafa, whence it marched up secretly by
+night. On the night of the 25th March, it moved forward from Belah
+against the first objective, the In Seirat Ridge. This was secured
+without serious opposition. There was a dense fog on the morning of the
+26th, and, as the troops were moving through standing crops, finding the
+way was none too easy. However, the Wadi Ghuzzeh was crossed, and the
+high ground at Mansura Ridge was secured. From there, an attack was
+delivered across the open against Ali Muntar and Gaza. The main attack
+was made by the 53rd Division, plus one Brigade of the the 54th, while
+the 52nd Division were in reserve. Our troops captured, and established
+themselves on Ali Muntar, and also on the hill beyond, known as
+Australia Hill. From these points they looked down upon and dominated
+the town of Gaza. Meanwhile, the cavalry had been ordered to go round by
+the right, and to cut off the enemy when he should retreat. The cavalry
+not only got round, but succeeded in entering the town itself, where
+they captured some of the Turkish staff. The Turks believed that the
+game was up, and were now preparing to surrender. It was the opinion of
+many who took part in the battle, that, had we held on for a short time
+longer, we should have captured the town and the whole of this force,
+and that we should have then been in a position to meet and to defeat
+the enemy reinforcements, since the 52nd Division in reserve had not yet
+been brought into action. However, Turkish reinforcements were now
+reported to be coming up from the direction of Beersheba, and to be
+threatening our right flank. Accordingly, a withdrawal was ordered, and
+our troops fell back on the Mansura Ridge, the New Zealanders coming
+right through the town of Gaza itself. That night, orders were given
+for an immediate retirement, and our forces recrossed the Wadi Ghuzzeh.
+The bulk of the force retired to Belah, while outposts held the In
+Seirat Ridge. After a two days' battle, wherein complete success had
+been almost within our grasp, we had but little to show save casualties.
+
+From the summit of In Seirat Ridge, a commanding view is obtained over
+the whole country from Gaza to Beersheba. From this point of vantage the
+Turks could be seen, throughout the first fortnight in April, busily
+digging themselves in and wiring their positions. We, on our side, were
+no less assiduous in preparations for another battle. Patrols were sent
+out to reconnoitre the country, and working parties went out into No
+Man's Land to construct ramparts and make all preparations for getting
+guns across the Wadi Ghuzzeh. The 74th Division were brought up to
+Belah. A few of the newly invented "tanks" arrived from England, and
+aroused great expectations.
+
+The day of the second battle of Gaza arrived. On the 16th April, the
+force moved out from Belah and crossed the Wadi Ghuzzeh by night. On
+this occasion, the first objective was Mansura Ridge, which was captured
+without much difficulty. The second, and principal objective, was the
+strong line of Turkish positions to the south and south-east of Gaza,
+and fronting the Gaza-Beersheba road. The troops detailed for the attack
+were the 52nd, the 53rd and the 54th Divisions, the 54th to move forward
+from Mansura, the 52nd on their left and the 53rd close to the sea. It
+was contemplated that most of our difficulties would be obviated by a
+long artillery preparation and by the newly arrived tanks which had
+acquired a high reputation in France. Accordingly, the enemy positions
+were shelled for two hours, and then the infantry advanced, preceded by
+these tanks. But, alas, the tanks were few in number; some were soon put
+out of action, or caught fire; and the hopes that they had raised were
+disappointed. The infantry advanced over some 3,000 yards of perfectly
+open plain, until they reached the enemy's uncut wire; here they were
+mown down by the enemy's machine guns. That night, those that were able
+to do so, crept back under cover of darkness to Mansura Ridge. The dead
+lay where they fell, a gruesome spectacle, for over six months, until
+buried by our own parties after the third battle of Gaza. Those that
+returned were collected and reorganized at Mansura Ridge, and at once
+commenced to dig in at this position. This was the night of the 19th
+April. Next morning, the Turks came pouring out of their positions to
+gloat over their success. By this time we had done little more than
+scratch the surface; had the Turks closed to deliver a determined
+counter-attack, they might have made matters distinctly uncomfortable.
+As it was, they came out merely as spectators. Our guns opened upon them
+and they withdrew. After this, our digging proceeded apace, and we soon
+had a satisfactory position entrenched from Mansura to the sea.
+
+There is a saying in the East that the British always come back, meaning
+that reverses only make them more determined to try again and to
+succeed. Thus did the British come back into the Soudan, and into the
+Transvaal. Thus was the surrender of Kut wiped out by the capture of
+Baghdad. And so were our losses at Gaza in this spring avenged by our
+victory on these same battlefields in the following autumn. For the time
+being, however, both sides settled down to the routine life of modern
+trench warfare.
+
+Now followed a complete reorganization of our army in Egypt. On the 28th
+June, 1917, the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary
+Force was taken over by General Sir Edmund Allenby, G.C.M.G., K.C.B. The
+organization into an Eastern Force under a subordinate commander, which
+had been instituted in the summer of 1916, was abolished, and the force
+was organized in Corps. The strength of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force
+was augmented, much artillery being added, besides three divisions of
+infantry. The 10th (Irish) and the 60th (London) Divisions were brought
+across from Salonica. The 75th Division was organized in the country and
+consisted of four battalions of Indian troops, taken from the Suez Canal
+Zone defences, and nine battalions of West of England Territorials, that
+had been in the East since the beginning of the war, and had, for the
+most part, been garrisoning India.
+
+When this reorganization was complete, this army was constituted as
+follows: The 20th Corps, comprising the 10th (Irish), the 53rd (Welsh),
+the 60th (London) and the 74th (Dismounted Yeomanry) Divisions. The 21st
+Corps, comprising the 52nd (Scottish Lowland), the 54th (East Anglian)
+and the 75th (Wessex and Indian) Divisions. The Desert Mounted Corps,
+comprising the Australian Mounted Division, the Anzac Mounted Division
+and the Yeomanry Division. General Allenby had, as his Chief-of-Staff,
+Major-General L. J. Bols, C.B., D.S.O. In addition to the above troops,
+there was, on this front, a composite brigade, consisting of French and
+Italians, familiarly known as the "Mixed Vermouth" Brigade. Other
+regiments were represented, such as Indian Imperial troops, and
+battalions of the British West India Regiment, while representative
+units of the Egyptian Army did duty upon the Lines of Communication.
+
+Although each Division was associated with some particular portion of
+Great Britain, from which it took its name, the association was not
+exclusive. Thus, the 52nd Lowland Division had at least one Highland
+Battalion, the 53rd Welsh had more battalions from England than from
+Wales, and the 54th East Anglian contained one battalion from London and
+one from the South of England. It will be best, therefore, if, in our
+future pages, we refer to divisions only by number.
+
+An interesting feature about General Allenby's army was that, from this
+time forward, the greater portion consisted of Territorials.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+TRENCH WARFARE
+
+
+It was in the late summer of 1917 that the regiment with which I was
+serving joined the Expeditionary Force. Coming from India, we landed at
+Suez and were railed through at once to Kantara. This place we found a
+hive of industry, as befitted the military base of so important an
+expedition. Like other units similarly arriving from India, we were kept
+here for a fortnight. This time was devoted to the equipping of the
+battalion on the scale applicable to this country, with transport,
+draught and riding animals, Lewis guns and such other equipment as we
+required for the operations on which we were to embark.
+
+Immediately we were ready to move, we were railed up to the Front, to
+Belah, which, at that time, was railhead. This was our first experience
+of travelling on the Kantara Military Railway, and is not likely to be
+forgotten. The shortage of rolling stock available did not permit of
+troops, or, at that time, even of officers accompanying troops,
+travelling in passenger coaches. On the contrary, a number of open
+trucks were adapted for troop traffic, being roofed over with a covering
+affording protection from the sun but with sides left open. These trucks
+had neither continuous brakes nor screw couplings. Our journey,
+therefore, was enlivened by the frequent successful attempts of our
+truck to overtake the truck ahead, followed by a difference of opinion
+with the truck behind, a wavering between two opinions, and then another
+mad plunge into the darkness in pursuit of the truck ahead, and the
+next check brought about a repetition of this pleasing diversion from
+sleep. If the writer of a recent popular song really believed that the
+Sands of the Desert never grow cold, let him try travelling across them
+by night in an open truck. The train was not furnished with that luxury
+of modern travel, steam heating. For the men, a substitute was found by
+adopting the method by which sheep are kept cosy on similar occasions,
+that is, by packing into each truck a few more than it can accommodate.
+The officers rolled themselves up in their valises, bruised every
+protruding bone in their bodies, "and wished for the day."
+
+On arrival at the Front, we moved first into a position in reserve near
+the Wadi Ghuzzeh. As we crossed the summit of In Seirat Ridge, what a
+view unfolded itself before our eyes! Before us lay the Plain of
+Philistia, spreading from the sea to the Judćan Hills, to our left front
+lay the white buildings of the town of Gaza, while, ever and anon, were
+heard and seen the booming of cannon and the bursting of shell.
+
+We were now put through a gradual process of acclimatization. Ensconced
+in one of the offshoots of the Wadi Ghuzzeh well behind the front line,
+we enjoyed safety from shelling. We were, however, sufficiently in the
+picture to have guns constantly firing around us and aeroplanes flying
+overhead, and could watch our friends being shelled in the front line
+and the daily anti-aeroplane shoots, both by our own and by the enemy's
+"Archies." Here we were able to carry out a certain amount of training,
+and to organize the battalion upon the lines of the new "normal
+formation," giving the platoon commander control over each kind of
+weapon with which the infantry are armed--rifle, bayonet, bomb,
+rifle-bomb and Lewis gun. Gas masks were issued, and all ranks were
+instructed in their use. In a couple of weeks this training, or rather
+adaptation of our previous training to the conditions of trench warfare
+upon this front, had so far progressed that we could enter upon the next
+stage of our acclimatization. Individual companies were now sent up
+into the front line "for instruction." This consisted of their being
+attached to other units that were garrisoning the front line. Our men
+were posted in the trenches with men of such other units; and some of
+the officers and men accompanied patrols into "No Man's Land." After
+three weeks of acclimatization, we moved up to the front line and
+ourselves took over a section of the defences. And here we remained
+until after the Fall of Gaza.
+
+The Turkish army at this time, as we have seen, held a strong position
+from the sea at Gaza, roughly along the main Gaza-Beersheba road to
+Beersheba. His force was on a wide front, the distance from Gaza to
+Beersheba being about 30 miles. Gaza itself had been made into a strong
+modern fortress, heavily entrenched and wired, offering every facility
+for protracted defence. The civilian population had been evacuated. The
+remainder of the enemy's line consisted originally of a series of strong
+localities, which were known as the Sihan group of works, the Atawinah
+group, the Baha group, the Abu Hareira-Arab el Teeaha trench system, and
+finally, the works covering Beersheba. During the period from July to
+October, the defences had been considerably strengthened, and these
+strong localities had, by the end of October, been joined up to form a
+practically continuous line from the sea to a point south of Sheria,
+except for a gap of some 1,500 to 2,000 yards between Ali Muntar and the
+Sihan group. The defensive works round Beersheba remained a detached
+system, but had been improved and extended. A new railway had been made
+from El Tine, just south of Junction Station on the Damascus-Beersheba
+railway to Beit Hanun, just north of Gaza, with a subsidiary branch to
+Huj, the latter intended to supply the centre of the defensive line. It
+was evident, therefore, that the enemy was determined to make every
+effort to maintain his position on the Gaza-Beersheba line.
+
+The British force was extended on a front of 22 miles from the sea
+opposite Gaza to Gamli. About 6 miles inland, the Wadi Ghuzzeh is joined
+by a short tributary wadi, on the right bank, known as the Wadi
+Nukhabir. The point at which this wadi commenced was about a mile or so
+nearer to the enemy than the line of our positions opposite Gaza. Its
+head-waters (to use an expression scarcely appropriate to a dry
+watercourse) were within the apex of a =V=-shaped escarpment, the point of
+the =V= protruding towards the enemy. The feature might be compared to a
+heel-mark in soft ground. On the convex side were slight ridges with
+gentle forward slopes; on the concave were steep escarpments. The ridges
+of the =V= were known as Mansura and Sheikh Abbas Ridges respectively; the
+point was merely known as "The Apex." Our trench system here ran along
+the forward slopes of these ridges, a hundred yards or so below the
+crest, whence the country fell towards the enemy in a gentle glacis
+slope devoid of cover. Our reserves and our day positions were behind
+the escarpment, where was excellent cover from hostile shelling. The
+portion of the enemy's works in front of this sector was the Sihan
+group, a strongly prepared position distant about a mile. The apex
+itself formed a salient, necessary to hold since its Ridges would
+otherwise have dominated our positions; but, though a salient, the
+position was undoubtedly strong. The situation and the conformation of
+the Apex, therefore, both invited attack and assisted defence. From the
+sea to the Apex we had a continuous line of trenches. Beyond Sheikh
+Abbas our defences consisted of a series of redoubts, our right flank
+being to some extent in the air. Here, however, was a waterless desert,
+so difficult to cross that this flank could be sufficiently protected by
+cavalry patrols.
+
+Considering that there was a war on, campaigning life on this front was
+by no means uncomfortable. Those who had seen service in France bemoaned
+the lack of comforts and amusements behind the line, and the absence of
+home leave, those who had come from Salonica were congratulating
+themselves on the exchange; while those of us who had been in
+Mesopotamia during the bad times of 1916, considered ourselves in the
+lap of luxury. Rations were good and plentiful and canteen well stocked.
+The Turkish rations, on the other hand, were scanty and poor, with the
+result that morale was low, discomfort rife, and desertions frequent. On
+one occasion, when the enemy were making a raid upon our trenches, a
+couple of Turks got into an empty bag where one of our men had left his
+pack. The manner in which they pursued their advantage was by helping
+themselves to his tin of bully beef and getting away with all speed. A
+Turkish officer, who was subsequently taken prisoner, said, "If the
+Turkish rations had been as good as yours, you would never have captured
+Gaza."
+
+The health of our troops, on the whole, was good. In so far as there was
+sickness it consisted of a certain amount of dysentery, almost
+unavoidable in an army in the Field, septic sores, which are unusually
+rife, and a slight epidemic of sandfly fever. Foremost among the
+inconveniences to be tolerated were the flies, which made it difficult
+for the men to sleep by day, the time when they most need rest after
+manning the trenches all night. Next to the flies came the dust. The
+country, in which for the time we were making our home, consisted of
+arable ground devoid of crops, and thoroughly cut up by the passing of
+transport. A breeze, that blew daily without fail, served to raise a
+fine impalpable dust that permeated everything. This powder dust made
+marching difficult, but wise forethought caused galvanized iron netting
+to be laid along all the principal routes, forming "wire roads" for the
+use of light motor-cars and "foot-sloggers." If we grumbled at the dust,
+we had, at this time at least, no cause to complain, like our brethren
+in Flanders, of the mud. Taken all together, the morale was good and the
+men distinctly happy.
+
+Life in these days was not without its diversions and touches of humour.
+A nice Roman tessellated pavement was unearthed near the Wadi Ghuzzeh,
+at the place called Umm Jerar, which is associated with Abraham. Going
+one day to look for it, I found a military policeman on duty within half
+a mile of the spot. I said to him, "Can you tell me the way to the
+tessellated pavement?" He looked at me vacantly for a minute and then
+replied: "Is it the wire road that you happen to mean, sir?" On one
+occasion, the General was going round the front line accompanied by the
+Intelligence Officer (who is the Officer that selects the pass-word
+which is changed daily) and by the C.O. of the unit in this sector.
+Staying out rather later than they had intended, it was dusk or dark
+when they approached one of the posts. The sentry challenged,
+"Halt--hands up." Up went the General's hands in prompt compliance.
+"Advance one, and give the countersign," continued the sentry. The
+General turned to the Intelligence Officer, "What is the countersign
+to-day?" said he. "Really I am afraid I have forgotten," replied the
+Intelligence Officer, and both referred to the Colonel. "When I left my
+headquarters, it had not yet come through," was his reply. The sentry
+remained obdurate. Then followed explanations, and, after some parley
+and identifications, the party were allowed to proceed. As they were
+leaving, the General hurried again to the sentry, saying, "Well, my man,
+you might just tell us now what the pass-word is." "I am sorry, sir,"
+was his reply, "but I haven't the least idea."
+
+About this time the spy peril was rather rife. We had orders not to
+leave our lines without revolvers, for protection against assassination
+by spies. To one particular "hush-hush" spot rode up a General with his
+Staff Officer, both faultlessly attired, accompanied by the usual
+Orderly. The General asked to be shown round, and his request was
+conceded with the thoroughness and courtesy due to his high rank. His
+inspection completed, the General expressed his thanks, and the party
+rode away, never to be heard of again,--at least not in that capacity.
+Shortly afterwards, a notorious spy was seen working as a coolie in the
+Egyptian Labour Corps. Perhaps he was the General.
+
+The monotony of trench life was varied by occasional raids into the
+enemy trenches. Some very successful raids were carried out on the
+enemy's defences near the sea, especially at Beach Post, and other
+successful raids were made from the Apex upon the advanced trenches of
+the Sihan group of works. Mutual bombardments frequently enlivened the
+proceedings, the supremacy in which undoubtedly lay with our artillery.
+These never allowed a day to pass without doing some firing, and they
+had sniping guns ever ready to fire on any movement that might be seen
+in enemy territory. The enemy guns, largely manned by Austrians,
+reserved their fire for concentrated bombardments; evidently they were
+less able to replenish their supplies of ammunition.
+
+The sector of the front line which fell to our lot to hold was a portion
+of the Apex. Our front line companies manned a continuous system of
+trenches, while the reserve company and headquarters occupied dug-outs
+dug into, or constructed with sand bags upon, the steep slopes of the
+escarpment. There were deep tunnel dug-outs, extending into the bowels
+of the earth, in the support area, but these were never used. In the
+front line there were no such dug-outs, except for such purposes as
+signal office and platoon head-quarters. In case of intense shelling,
+the front line garrison, except sentries, could obtain fair cover behind
+the traverses in the narrow trenches which connected up the wider and
+more exposed fire bays. It is a debatable question whether deep dug-outs
+in or near the front line are advisable. When the enemy shells
+intensively, if he means business, his barrage is closely followed by
+his infantry. When the barrage lifts, therefore, it is of vital
+importance to man the fire-step immediately. It is not easy to turn a
+large number of men quickly out of deep dug-outs which may thus prove
+only a Fool's Paradise. In one of the raids made near the sea, our
+infantry, following closely up to the barrage, caught the enemy taking
+refuge in dug-outs, and had no difficulty in capturing or accounting for
+the whole garrison of the raided trench. At the Apex we were three times
+bombarded and raided. On each occasion the garrison merely took refuge
+behind the traverses. Although they endured it, the bombardment was much
+more uncomfortable here than if the men had been in good dug-outs; yet
+they were able to man the trenches so quickly that in no case could the
+enemy effect a lodgment, and in only one case did he even reach the
+trench.
+
+When we took over the Apex, the days of sporadic raids by us were past,
+and all thought was concentrated on preparations for the great day that
+was then imminent. On the other hand, there was great patrolling
+activity. Our officers' patrols went out nightly into No Man's Land, and
+brought back information as to enemy works in progress and activity in
+their trenches. These patrols had many exciting experiences, and, in the
+dark, frequently encountered patrols sent out by the enemy. Much useful
+information was brought in by these patrols to the battalions holding
+this sector of the line, especially during the first few days after the
+commencement of the great offensive which resulted in the capture of
+Gaza and Beersheba.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+GAZA AND BEERSHEBA
+
+
+The plan by which General Allenby defeated the Turks and captured their
+Gaza-Beersheba line, involved three distinct operations. It will be
+remembered that the enemy defences consisted of a substantially
+continuous line from the sea at Gaza to Arab el Teeaha, where the left
+flank was bent back or "refused" at or about Sheria. Some 4-1/2 miles
+farther on were the detached works covering Beersheba, which thus
+constituted a strong outwork protecting the left flank of the main
+position. The decisive blow was to be struck against the left flank of
+the main Turkish position at Hareira and Sheria. Before this blow could
+be struck, it was necessary to clear away the obstacle presented by
+Beersheba. It was also necessary to keep the enemy in doubt as to where
+the decisive blow was to fall; so another operation, on as large a scale
+as the available force would permit, and calculated both to mystify the
+enemy and to draw off a portion of his reserves, was undertaken on the
+immediate sea front at Gaza. Thus we get, firstly, the capture of
+Beersheba; secondly, the attack on the Gaza coastal defences; and,
+thirdly, the main attack delivered against Sheria.
+
+"This plan of operations was chosen for the following reasons. The
+enemy's works in the Hareira-Sheria sector were less formidable than
+elsewhere, and they were easier of approach than other parts of the
+enemy's defences. The capture of Beersheba was a necessary preliminary
+to the main operation, in order to secure the water supply at that
+place, and to give room for the deployment of the attacking force on
+the high ground to the north and north-west of Beersheba, from which
+direction the main attack was to be developed. When Beersheba was in our
+hands, we should have an open flank against which to operate, and full
+use could be made of our superiority in mounted troops. Moreover, a
+success here offered prospects of pursuing our advantage, and forcing
+the enemy to abandon the rest of his fortified positions, which no other
+line of attack would afford."
+
+The difficulties to be overcome in the operations against Beersheba and
+the Hareira-Sheria line were considerable. Foremost among them were our
+old friend, the shortage of water, and, scarcely less formidable, the
+difficulty of transport.
+
+With regard to water, no supply existed in the area over which
+operations were to take place. "An ample supply of water was known to
+exist at Beersheba, but it was uncertain how quickly it could be
+developed or to what extent the enemy would have damaged the wells
+before we succeeded in occupying the town. Except at Beersheba, no large
+supply of water would be found till Sheria and Hareira had been
+captured. Arrangements had therefore to be made to ensure that the
+troops could be kept supplied with water, while operating at
+considerable distances from their original water base, for a period
+which might amount to a week or more." This was to some extent met by
+developing the water supplies at Ecani, Khalassa and Asluj, all places
+in No Man's Land some miles beyond our right flank.
+
+The transport problem was no less difficult. Beersheba, itself some
+thousand feet above the sea level, lies in a recess on the western
+slopes of the Judćan Hills. In the bed of this recess runs the Wadi Es
+Saba. Towards the north-east a good metalled road leads gradually to the
+summit of the hills and on through Hebron to Jerusalem. North-west a
+good road led along the enemy's front to Gaza. The railway line,
+avoiding the heights, for the first ten or twelve miles follows
+approximately the direction of the Gaza road, and then turns northwards
+along the Plain or Foothills. But south of the Gaza-Beersheba line there
+were no good roads, "and no reliance could therefore be placed on the
+use of motor transport." Owing to the steep banks of many of the wadis
+which intersected the area of operations, the routes passable by wheeled
+transport were limited, and, in many places, the going was heavy and
+difficult.
+
+Practically the whole of the transport available in the force, including
+30,000 pack camels, had to be allotted to one portion of the eastern
+force, to enable it to be kept supplied with food, water and ammunition,
+at a distance of 15 to 20 miles in advance of railhead.
+
+There already existed a branch from the Kantara military railway; which
+branch, leaving the main line at Rafa, ran to Shellal and Gamli,
+supplying the right of our line. Arrangements were made for this
+railhead to be pushed forward as rapidly as possible from Shellal
+towards Karm (some 7 miles to the east-south-east of Shellal), and for a
+line to be laid from Gamli towards Beersheba for the transport of
+ammunition. No Man's Land being some 10 or 12 miles wide in this sector,
+railway construction was carried on in front of our front line under
+cover of yeomanry outposts.
+
+This line of outposts was attacked on the morning of the 27th October by
+a strong reconnoitring party that the Turks sent out from the direction
+of Kauwukah to make a reconnaissance towards Karm. On a Division of our
+infantry coming up, the Turks withdrew.
+
+By the end of October all our preparations were ready. The bombardment
+of the Gaza defences commenced on the 27th and continued nightly. On the
+30th, warships of the Royal Navy, assisted by a French battleship, began
+co-operating in this bombardment. The actual infantry attack on Gaza was
+not intended to take place, however, until after the capture of
+Beersheba, and was delayed accordingly.
+
+The date fixed for the attack on Beersheba was the 31st October. The
+plan was to attack with two divisions the hostile works between the
+Khalassa Road and the Wadi Saba, that is, the sector to the south-west
+of the town. The works north of the Wadi Saba were to be masked with the
+Imperial Camel Corps and some infantry, while a portion of the 53rd
+Division further north covered the left of the Corps. The right of the
+attack was covered by a cavalry regiment. Further east, mounted troops
+took up a line opposite the southern defences of Beersheba. A mounted
+force, starting from Khalassa and Asluj, beyond our original right
+flank, were detailed to make a wide flanking movement and attack
+Beersheba from the east and north-east.
+
+The units detailed for the attack moved by a night march, and were in
+their appointed positions by dawn of the 31st. As a preliminary to the
+main attack, in order to enable field guns to be brought within
+effective range for wire-cutting, an attack was made upon the enemy's
+advanced works on the high ground about a couple of miles south-west of
+the town, at Hill 1070. This had been successfully accomplished by 8.45
+a.m., and the cutting of the wire proceeded satisfactorily, though
+pauses had to be made to allow the dust to clear. The assault was
+ordered for 12.15 p.m., and proved successful. By about 10 p.m., the
+whole of the works between the Khalassa Road and the Wadi Saba were in
+our hands.
+
+"Meanwhile the mounted troops, after a night march of, for a portion of
+the force, some 35 miles, arrived early on this same morning, the 31st,
+at about Khasim Zanna, in the hills, some 5 miles east of Beersheba.
+From the hills, the advance into Beersheba from the east and north-east
+lies over an open and almost flat plain, commanded by the rising ground
+north of the town and flanked by an underfeature in the Wadi Saba,
+called Tel el Saba.
+
+"A force was sent north to secure Bir es Sakaly, on the Hebron Road, and
+protect the right flank. This force met with some opposition, and was
+engaged with hostile cavalry at Bir es Sakaly and to the north during
+the day. Tel el Saba was found strongly held by the enemy, and was not
+captured till late in the afternoon.
+
+"Meanwhile, attempts to advance in small parties across the plain
+towards the town made slow progress. In the evening, however, a mounted
+attack by Australian Light Horse, who rode straight at the town from the
+East, proved completely successful. They galloped over two deep trenches
+held by the enemy just outside the town, and entered the town at about 7
+p.m., capturing numerous prisoners.
+
+"A very strong position was thus taken with slight loss, and the Turkish
+detachment at Beersheba almost completely put out of action. This
+success laid open the left flank of the main Turkish position for a
+decisive blow."
+
+The actual date of the attack at Gaza had been left open till the result
+of the attack at Beersheba was known, as it was intended that the attack
+on Gaza, which was designed to draw hostile reserves towards that
+sector, should take place a day or two before the attack on the Sheria
+position. After the complete success of the Beersheba operations, it was
+decided that the attack on Gaza should take place on the morning of the
+2nd November.
+
+"The objectives of this attack were the hostile works from Umbrella Hill
+(2,000 yards south-west of the town) to Sheikh Hasan, on the sea (about
+2,500 yards north-west of the town). The front of the attack was about
+6,000 yards, and Sheikh Hasan, the farthest objective, was over 3,000
+yards from our front line. The ground over which the attack took place
+consisted of sand dunes, rising in places up to 150 feet in height. This
+sand is very deep and heavy going. The enemy's defences consisted of
+several lines of strongly built trenches and redoubts.
+
+"As Umbrella Hill flanked the advance against the Turkish works farther
+west, it was decided to capture it by a preliminary operation, to take
+place four hours previous to the main attack. It was accordingly
+attacked and captured at 11.0 p.m. on the 1st November by a portion of
+the 52nd Division. This attack drew a heavy bombardment of Umbrella Hill
+itself and our front lines, which lasted for two hours, but ceased in
+time to allow the main attack, which was timed for 3.0 a.m., to form up
+without interference."
+
+This attack partook of the nature of a modern trench to trench advance,
+as seen on the battlefields of France, with the co-operation of tanks
+and the accompaniment of other products of modern science. It was
+successful in reaching most of its objectives. The enemy losses were
+heavy, especially from the preliminary bombardment.
+
+"Subsequent reports from prisoners stated that one of the Divisions
+holding the Gaza Sector was withdrawn on account of casualties, a
+Division from the general reserve being drawn into this Sector to
+replace it. The attack thus succeeded in its primary object, which was
+to prevent any units being withdrawn from the Gaza defences to meet the
+threat to the Turkish left flank and to draw into Gaza as large a
+proportion as possible of the available Turkish reserves. Further, the
+capture of Sheikh Hasan and the south-western defences constituted a
+very direct threat to the whole of the Gaza position, which could be
+developed on any sign of a withdrawal on the part of the enemy."
+
+Here the force attacking Gaza stayed its hand, merely holding on to the
+positions already captured, while the main attack was being developed on
+the right.
+
+Having captured Beersheba on the 31st October, a force was pushed out
+early on the following day, the 1st November, into the hills north of
+Beersheba, with the object of securing the flank of the attack on
+Sheria, while mounted troops were sent north along the Hebron road.
+Accordingly, the 53rd Division took up a position from Towal Abu Jerwal
+(6 miles north of Beersheba) to Muweileh (3-1/2 miles farther west) and
+the 10th Division occupied Abu Irgeig, on the railway, 6 miles from
+Beersheba.
+
+Next day, the 2nd, our mounted troops found and engaged considerable
+enemy forces to the north of Towal Abu Jerwal. Accordingly, on the 3rd,
+we advanced in that direction towards Ain Kohleh and Khuweilfeh, where
+the enemy were found to be holding a strong position with considerable
+and increasing forces. It will be borne in mind that this was only the
+right flank-guard; our main attack, which was to be delivered against
+Sheria, was not timed to commence until two or three days later.
+However, the enemy elected to employ the whole of his available reserves
+in an immediate counter-attack. During the 4th and 5th he made several
+determined attacks on the mounted troops in this locality. These attacks
+were repulsed; and the enemy's action was not allowed to make any
+essential modification to the original plan, which it had been decided
+to carry out at dawn on November 6th. It was this exhausting of the
+Turkish reserves, so early in the operations and so far away to the East
+as Khuweilfeh, that paved the way for the success of our attack on
+Sheria.
+
+At dawn, on the 6th, the force detailed for the main attack had taken up
+positions of readiness to the south-east of the Kauwukah system of
+trenches. The yeomanry opened the ball by assaulting the group of works
+forming the extreme left of the enemy's defensive system, following this
+up by an advance due west up the railway, capturing the line of detached
+works which lay east of the railway line. Meanwhile, London and Irish
+troops moved towards the Kauwukah system, bringing forward their guns to
+within wire-cutting range. Soon after noon, these troops commenced their
+attack upon the south-eastern face of the Kauwukah system. This was
+completely successful in capturing all its objectives. Sheria station
+was also reported as captured before dark. On this same day the right
+flank-guard, the 53rd Division, had successfully attacked Khuweilfeh.
+The position at nightfall, then, was that our right flank-guard were at
+Kauweilfeh, the yeomanry had reached the line of the Sheria to Wadi
+Union, and the troops on the left were close to Hareira Redoubt which
+was still occupied by the enemy.
+
+Next day, the 7th, the situation remained practically unchanged on our
+extreme right, the enemy maintaining his positions opposite our right
+flank-guard. In the Sheria-Hareira locality, the Hareira Tepe Redoubt
+was captured at dawn. Tel el Sheria was captured at 4.0 a.m. and the
+line was pushed forward about a mile to the north of Tel el Sheria. That
+night the enemy withdrew.
+
+Meanwhile, on our extreme left, the bombardment of Gaza had continued.
+Another attack was ordered to take place on the night of the 6th/7th. An
+attack was made at 11.30 p.m. that night against Outpost Hill and
+Middlesex Hill, south of the town, which met with little opposition. "As
+soon, after they had been taken, as patrols could be pushed forward, the
+enemy was found to be gone. Early in the morning, the main enemy force
+occupied the northern and eastern defences of Gaza. Rearguards were
+still occupying Beit Hanun and the Atawinah and Tank System (part of the
+Sihan group of works), from whence Turkish artillery continued to fire
+on Gaza and Ali Muntar until dusk."
+
+"As soon as it was seen that the Turks had evacuated Gaza, on the
+morning of the 7th, a part of the force pushed along the coast to the
+mouth of the Wadi Hesi, some 8 miles north of Gaza, so as to turn the
+Wadi Hesi line and prevent the enemy making any stand there. This force
+reached the Wadi Hesi by evening, and succeeded in establishing itself
+on the north bank in the face of considerable opposition from a Turkish
+rearguard. Cavalry had already pushed on round the north of Gaza and
+become engaged at Beit Hanun with an enemy rearguard which maintained
+its position till night-fall." This brings our history down to the night
+of November 7th/8th. By the morning of the 8th the enemy were in
+retreat all along the line.
+
+Meanwhile, what had been happening to our own party in the Apex? The
+general plan of attack did not contemplate any advance from here.
+Nevertheless, it was necessary that this portion of the line should be
+firmly held, and it was more than likely that the enemy would try to
+create a diversion by raiding this inviting salient. By the end of
+October "liveliness" was increasing all round, and mutual bombardments
+were growing more intense. Fortunately, a large number of the shells
+fired by the enemy were "duds." We were puzzled at the time to know why
+duds figured so largely in this and following bombardments; subsequent
+inspection of the enemy trenches afforded an explanation. Great dumps of
+ammunition had been formed by the enemy close to the guns, and these,
+for safety and concealment, had been placed in deep dug-outs. On the
+evening of the 27th October, a great thunderstorm burst over Gaza,
+causing the enemy considerable damage, flooding the dug-outs, and
+presumably damping the fuses and ruining their ammunition.
+
+On the evening of the 3rd November, the enemy tried to create a
+diversion by raiding the Apex. On this evening we were sitting quietly
+having dinner in our headquarters dug-out, when sharp rifle fire was
+heard from the front line of the battalion on our right. We walked out,
+and saw a veritable Brock's Benefit display of Verey lights. A telephone
+message from our front line informed us that a considerable party of the
+enemy had crept quietly up, and were now prowling round our wire and
+trying to pick a way through. A hot fire from rifles, Lewis guns and
+machine guns, soon convinced the enemy of the uselessness of attempting,
+without artillery preparation, a raid against an alert enemy well
+entrenched with wire intact. They were beaten off, and withdrew to a
+fold in the ground a couple of hundred yards out in No Man's Land, where
+they were fired upon by our trench mortars. Nevertheless they managed
+to rally, and came forward again to the attack. This time their
+reception was no more encouraging than before; our artillery got into
+them with a barrage and they withdrew. Now they sent up a red Verey
+light signal, whereupon a hostile barrage came down upon our trenches,
+under cover of which they not only withdrew themselves, but also removed
+their killed and wounded. It is a part of their religion to spare no
+pains in removing their dead and giving them a decent burial. A couple
+of deserters crept into our lines towards the morning, from whom we were
+able to gather something about their side of the operations. Desertion
+was fairly common among the Turks about this time, partly because
+rations were poor, but mainly because they had no stomach for the fight
+that they knew to be imminent. In so far as this raid affected us, our
+trenches were badly smashed by the artillery, but our casualties were
+insignificant.
+
+The next evening we sent a small patrol across No Man's Land, which,
+being boldly and pluckily led, crept right up to the enemy's trenches.
+Here they heard the sound of much traffic on the Gaza-Beersheba road,
+token doubtless of the impending withdrawal. More important from our
+immediate point of view, the patrol heard sounds of an enemy
+concentration in their front trenches, in apparent preparation for
+another raid on the Apex. Our artillery put salvoes at once upon those
+trenches; and the raid of that night proved a damp squib. About midnight
+we were wakened from our slumbers by a thunderstorm, the thunder,
+lightning and hail being provided by a deluge of bursting shells,
+splinters and shrapnel bullets. When the barrage lifted, glimpses were
+caught of the enemy moving along our front wire; but this raid never
+succeeded in forcing an entrance to our trenches.
+
+We had every reason to "remember the fifth of November." It came in with
+a display of fireworks; it went out like an inferno. Profiting by his
+previous experience, the enemy shelled a portion of our front
+deliberately from early evening until dark, with the obvious intention
+of cutting the wire on a portion of our sector. At ten o'clock that
+night, down came another intensive bombardment, which lasted for an
+hour. Under cover of the darkness, the enemy even brought trench mortars
+on camels up to our wire to assist in the bombardment. Next morning the
+ground looked like a veritable sea beach after a wreck; the litter
+consisted of splinters and duds of all sizes and descriptions, largely
+5.9" H.Es. This hostile barrage made a really satisfactory job of the
+wire cutting. As soon as it lifted, the enemy's infantry made a
+determined effort to penetrate our line. During the bombardment our
+fellows had taken shelter in the narrow passage ways behind the
+traverses, and so lost no time, immediately the barrage lifted, in
+manning the fire-step. They at once got busy with rifles, Lewis guns and
+machine-guns, and gave the Turk, as he crossed the ruins of our wire, a
+distinctly warm reception. This proved more than enough for most of the
+enemy; but a few brave spirits succeeded in entering our trench and
+throwing bombs. They were not supported by their fellows, and were soon
+disposed of. At length, up went the now familiar red light, down came
+the closing barrage, the enemy drew off and we were left in peace.
+
+After these three abortive raids the Apex was left unmolested, except
+for occasional shelling on the 6th and 7th. On the 8th, we were relieved
+at the Apex by Lines of Communication troops, in order that we might
+take part in the pursuit of the enemy who were now in full retreat.
+
+     The quotations in this and the three following chapters, are from
+     General Allenby's Despatch, dated the 16th December, 1917.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+FULL CRY
+
+
+We have seen that during the night of the 7th/8th November, the enemy
+had retreated all along the line. The enemy opposite our right
+flank-guard withdrew towards Hebron, that is, north-east into the Judćan
+Hills. He was pursued for a short distance by the yeomanry, and some
+prisoners and camels were captured. The yeomanry were then recalled to
+rejoin the main body of the mounted troops for the more important work
+of the pursuit of the enemy's main body. The enemy force that thus
+escaped into the hills there reorganized, and later descended to the
+Plain on the flank of our pursuing force with a view to creating a
+diversion; but of this, more anon.
+
+On the afternoon of the 7th, when it was seen that our Sheria operations
+in the centre had been successful, the cavalry were ordered to push
+forward from there in the direction of Huj, which was the terminus of
+the enemy's branch railway line from Deir Sineid. Had this force of
+cavalry been able to push forward and join up with the cavalry that had
+worked round by the sea and were engaging the enemy rearguard at Beit
+Hanun, the bulk of the Turkish force engaged upon this front might have
+been surrounded and captured. The mounted troops on the right moved
+towards Huj, but met with considerable opposition from hostile
+rearguards. On this account, and through difficulty in watering horses,
+the consummation devoutly to be desired was not attained.
+
+It will be remembered that the Gaza operations had the effect of almost
+turning the enemy's right flank as long ago as November 2nd, and that,
+by the evening of the 7th, the force advancing along the coast had
+already established itself on the north bank of the Wadi Hesi, some 6
+miles or so behind the enemy's defensive line.
+
+Throughout the 7th, Turkish rearguards clung to Beit Hanun and to the
+Atawineh and Tank systems to the east of Ali Muntar. The effect of this
+was, that, when our troops eventually got under way in pursuit of the
+retreating Turks, those near the sea had several miles' start of those
+further inland. This feature, a pursuit in echelon with the left flank
+advanced, continued throughout these operations. And so we shall see
+that Jaffa fell into our hands some weeks before the capture of
+Jerusalem had even been attempted.
+
+The bulk of the Turkish army retreated northwards along the Coastal
+Plain. Here ran their railway, their main line of communications, and
+also an excellent road from Gaza to Jerusalem. Little or no opportunity
+was afforded of catching the disorganized enemy in narrow defiles, as
+happened in the rout of the following autumn, but the open Plain offered
+ample opportunities for a hasty retreat, of which the enemy fully
+availed themselves.
+
+"During the 8th, then, the advance was continued, and interest was
+chiefly centred in an attempt to cut off, if possible, the Turkish
+rearguard which had held the Tank and Atawineh systems. Considerable
+captures of prisoners, guns, ammunition and other stores were made,
+especially at Huj and Deir Sineid, but no large formed body of the enemy
+was cut off. The Turkish rearguards fought stubbornly and offered
+considerable opposition." At this time the brunt of the work was being
+borne by the cavalry and the Royal Flying Corps, the infantry not having
+yet been ordered forward. "Near Huj, a fine charge by some squadrons of
+the Worcester and Warwick Yeomanry captured twelve guns, and broke the
+resistance of a hostile rearguard."
+
+"It soon became obvious from the reports of the Royal Flying Corps, who
+throughout the 7th and 8th attacked the retreating columns with bombs
+and machine-gun fire, and from other evidence, that the enemy was
+retiring in considerable disorganization, and could offer no very
+serious resistance if pressed with determination.
+
+"Instructions were accordingly issued on the morning of the 9th to the
+mounted troops, directing them on to the line El Tine-Beit Duras, that
+is, on to a line a little to the south-west of Junction Station, with
+orders to press the enemy relentlessly. A portion of the infantry was
+ordered forward in support.
+
+"By the 9th, therefore, operations had reached the stage of a direct
+pursuit by as many troops as could be supplied so far in front of the
+railhead."
+
+The 54th Division had hitherto been principally engaged between Gaza and
+the sea. The 52nd Division, therefore, passed through the 54th and took
+up the pursuit along the coast, the pursuit along the Gaza-Jerusalem
+road falling to the lot of the 75th.
+
+On the night of the 8th, our regiment was relieved in the trenches at
+the Apex, and, on the 9th, the 75th Division concentrated behind the
+line, ready to take its part in the pursuit. Next day we all went
+forward in column of route. We crossed No Man's Land along the enemy's
+old front line trenches by Ali Muntar. Having looked out upon this scene
+for months through glasses, telescopes and periscopes, it was
+interesting now to obtain a close view of these fortress defences.
+
+But there were other sights that met our eyes, sad and gruesome, that
+can be better imagined than described. Portions of the enemy's wire, and
+of the gentle slopes in front, were littered with the remains of brave
+lads that had fallen in the sad days of March and April. It was strange
+that, in their own interests, the Turks had not buried these bodies.
+Instead they had left them lying there for months, beneath an almost
+tropical sun, and had actually fixed up their new wire entanglements
+over the unburied bodies. In some cases death had evidently been
+instantaneous. In others, where death had come more slowly, lads were to
+be found grasping open testaments or letters from home. It seemed so sad
+that these poor fellows, who had endured the hardships of the Desert and
+marched victoriously across Sinai, should, like Moses, have been
+privileged to see, but not to enter, the Promised Land.
+
+After crossing No Man's Land, we marched along past pleasanter sights,
+great stacks of ammunition, gas cylinders, and other interesting
+captures. We enjoyed glimpses of how the enemy here had made himself
+comfortable; still more did we enjoy glimpses of how we here had made
+the enemy uncomfortable. Huge craters there were, made by naval guns
+shelling from the sea. These guns had bombarded the enemy communications
+behind his front line, and had obtained direct hits on the track and
+rolling stock, causing a train or two, valuable booty, to fall into our
+possession. Bomb holes were to be seen, made by our aircraft in their
+efforts to destroy the bridges on the enemy's line of retreat.
+
+We bivouacked on the night of the 10th at Deir Sineid. For the next two
+days we marched forward, close upon the heels of the pursuing cavalry,
+but not close enough yet to come into action or to deploy from column of
+route. All along our route lay evidences of the enemy's rout. At one
+time, we were passing a convoy of prisoners being shepherded along by a
+few cavalry; at another, a party of refugees hurrying back with their
+worldly possessions to those homes to which they knew they could now
+return in safety. Here and there lay the body of some unfortunate Turk;
+while all along the line lay the wreckage of vehicles and the carcases
+of transport animals.
+
+Throughout these days the troops suffered considerably from thirst. A
+hot exhausting wind was blowing, and the men were heavily laden for
+long-distance route marching in a semi-tropical country. Water was the
+ever-recurring trouble. A little for the men to carry on with was
+generally procurable, but the difficulty of watering the animals at
+times became acute. The usual tidings were, that there was plenty of
+water at the next village. When the next village was reached the tidings
+proved to be true, but so long was the queue of animals already waiting
+to be watered, that fresh arrivals stood but little chance. At many
+places the water was insufficient; and "even when water was found in
+sufficient quantities, it was usually in wells and not on the surface;
+consequently, if the machinery for working the wells was damaged, or a
+sufficient supply of troughs was not available, the process of watering
+a large quantity of animals was slow and difficult."
+
+Meanwhile, how were our cavalry progressing? A glance at the map will
+show that, after the fall of Gaza, the next point of tactical importance
+in Palestine was Junction Station. With this in our hands, Jerusalem
+would be cut off from railway communication with the outer world, and
+quantities of rolling stock, supplies, war material and possibly
+prisoners, should fall into our hands. While still pursuing the
+retreating enemy, therefore, the cavalry had been directed to make
+Junction Station their next objective.
+
+The portion of the enemy's force that had withdrawn into the hills
+towards Hebron now made a descent from the hills to the Plain. Their
+object was to threaten the flank of our pursuing cavalry, create a
+diversion, and thus relieve the pressure from their main body. From
+Hebron, a couple of difficult tracks wind down the mountains to the
+village of Beit Jibrin, where they join a road coming from Bethlehem and
+Jerusalem. This latter road reaches the Plain and Beersheba railway at
+Arak el Menshiyeh. This was the spot, then, towards which the
+counter-attack, or demonstration from the hills, was organized.
+
+"It was obvious that the Hebron force, which was believed to be short
+of transport and ammunition, to have lost heavily, and to be in a
+generally disorganized state, could make no effective diversion, and
+that this threat could practically be disregarded. The Imperial Camel
+Corps, however, was ordered to move to the neighbourhood of Tel el
+Nejile, where it would be on the flank of any counterstroke from the
+hills; while orders were issued for the main pursuit to be pressed so
+that Junction Station might be reached with all speed. The Hebron group
+made an ineffective demonstration in the direction of Arak el Menshiyeh
+on the 10th, and then retired north-east so as to prolong the enemy's
+line towards Beit Jibrin."
+
+Close to the sea, the advance-guard of the 52nd Division pushed on as
+far as Burkah on the 11th, and, on the 12th, the yeomanry pushed north
+and seized Tel el Murreh, on the right or northern bank of the Nahr
+Sukereir and close to its mouth.
+
+"The operations of these days showed a stiffening of the enemy's
+resistance on the general line of the Wadi Sukereir, with centre about
+El Kustineh. Reports from the R.F.C. indicated the total hostile forces
+opposed to us on this line at about 15,000; and this increased
+resistance, coupled with the capture of prisoners from almost every unit
+of the Turkish force, tended to show that we were no longer opposed to
+rearguards, but that all the remainder of the Turkish Army, which could
+be induced to fight, was making a last effort to arrest our pursuit
+south of the important Junction Station.
+
+"On the morning of the 13th November, the situation was, that the enemy
+had strung out his force on a front of 20 miles from El Kubeibeh on the
+north to about Beit Jibrin to the south. The right half of his line ran
+roughly parallel to, and only about five miles in front of, the railway
+to the north of Junction Station, which was the main line of supply from
+the north."
+
+We have seen that our pursuit along the sea coast had a considerable
+start of that further to the right, and the rapidity of this pursuit had
+dictated to the enemy this rather unsatisfactory position which he was
+forced to take up. His right flank was already almost turned. In so far
+as he could do so, he held a strong position on the line of heights
+running north and south near the right flank of his position, on which
+heights stand the villages of Katrah and El Mughar.
+
+The 12th was a day of preparation. On the 13th, an attack was delivered
+against the enemy's position by the 75th Division on the right and the
+52nd on the left, the extreme right of the attack being protected by the
+Australian Mounted Troops, who had pressed forward towards Balin
+Berkussie and Tel es Safi. The country over which the attack took place
+is open and rolling. It is dotted with small villages surrounded by mud
+walls, with plantations of trees and thick cactus hedges outside the
+walls. These hedges afforded admirable opportunities for the concealment
+of machine guns. In spite of heavy machine gun fire, the 75th attacked
+and captured the village of El Mesmiye. A turning movement was directed
+against the enemy's right flank. There was a dashing charge of mounted
+troops, who galloped across the Plain under heavy fire and turned the
+enemy's position from the north. The Kahan El Mughar position,
+protecting the enemy's right flank, fell to the 52nd Division. After
+this, the enemy resistance weakened, and by the evening his forces were
+in retreat. Early the following morning we occupied Junction Station.
+
+The enemy's flight from Junction Station was precipitate. Two trains
+escaped shortly before our occupation, one of which was believed to have
+contained Von Kressenstein himself. Nevertheless our captures of rolling
+stock and material were considerable. The enemy's army had now been
+broken into two separate parts, which retired eastwards towards
+Jerusalem and northwards through Ramleh towards Tul Keram.
+
+Throughout the 14th our mounted troops pressed on toward Ramleh and
+Ludd. On the right, Naaneh, on the railway to Ramleh, was attacked and
+captured in the morning. On the left, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles had
+a smart engagement at Ayun Kara, 6 miles south of Jaffa, where the Turks
+made a determined counter-attack, and were only repulsed at the point of
+the bayonet.
+
+On the morning of the 15th our mounted troops dislodged a hostile
+rearguard, which had taken up a position on the high ground, flanking
+the railway north of Junction Station, and covering the main road from
+Jaffa to Jerusalem. This is the site of Gezer, one of the most ancient
+of the Canaanitish cities in Palestine, and one of the first objects of
+interest sought by the eye of the tourist on his journey up from Jaffa
+to Jerusalem. Thus, commanding both the railway and the main Jerusalem
+road, this position might have considerably delayed our advance had it
+been held with determination. As it was, our mounted troops were able to
+occupy Ramleh and Ludd that evening and to push forward patrols to
+within a short distance of Jaffa.
+
+Jaffa, the ancient port of Jerusalem, was occupied without further
+opposition on the evening of the 16th.
+
+"The situation was now as follows. The enemy's army, cut in two by our
+capture of Junction Station, had retired partly east into the mountains
+towards Jerusalem, and partly north along the Plain. The nearest line on
+which these two portions could reunite was the line Tul Keram-Nablus."
+Although Jerusalem itself could still be supplied along the road
+connecting it with Nablus, or along the road across the Jordan to Ammam
+Station on the Hejaz Railway, yet "reports from the R.F.C. indicated
+that it was the probable intention of the enemy to evacuate Jerusalem
+and withdraw to organize on the line Tul Keram-Nablus.
+
+"On our side, the mounted troops had been marching and fighting
+continuously since October 31st, and had advanced a distance of 75 miles
+measured in a straight line from Asluj to Jaffa. The infantry, after
+their last fighting at Gaza, had advanced, in nine days, distances of
+from 40 to 70 miles, with two severe engagements and continual
+advanced-guard fighting. The railway was being pushed forward as rapidly
+as possible, and every opportunity was taken of landing stores at points
+along the coast; but the landing of stores was dependent on a
+continuance of favourable weather, and might at any moment be stopped
+for several days together.
+
+"A pause was therefore necessary to await the progress of railway
+construction. But before our position in the Plain could be considered
+secure, it was essential to push forward into the hills, and to obtain a
+hold of the one good road which traverses the Judćan range from north to
+south, from Nablus to Jerusalem."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+NEBY SAMWIL
+
+
+Our advance had hitherto been northwards along the low country, and had
+already reached a point on the Maritime Plain some miles north of the
+parallel of Jerusalem. It now wheeled to the right and struck into the
+Hills, with the object of getting astride the Jerusalem-Nablus road and
+of thus capturing the Holy City.
+
+It will be remembered, from our survey of the geography of Palestine,
+that the ridge of the Judćan Hills runs approximately north and south,
+and that along the top of this ridge runs a first-class metalled road
+connecting Nablus with Jerusalem. From this ridge spurs run east and
+west down towards the Maritime Plain. These spurs are steep, bare and
+stony, and in places, precipitous, and are separated from one another by
+narrow valleys. Between such spurs, a few miles to the north-west of
+Jerusalem, sweeps down the Valley of Ajalon, with the villages of
+Beit-ur el-Foka (Beth-horon the Upper) and Beit-ur el-Tahta (Beth-horon
+the Lower), where Joshua won his memorable victory over the five kings
+of the Amorites. It was here that the routed hosts of the Amorites were
+pursued in panic, and near here that the sun and moon "stood still" at
+the bidding of Joshua. Further to the south, another gorge, or pass,
+roughly parallel to the Valley of Ajalon, leads down to the Plain, and
+along this pass runs the metalled road through Kurzet-el-Enab
+(Kirjath-Jearim), Saris and Bab-el-Wad, to Ramleh and Jaffa; this is the
+road followed by the Pilgrims. Other paths were shown upon the map, but
+these were found to be mere tracks on the hillside or up the stony beds
+of wadis, and, without considerable improvement, were impracticable for
+wheeled guns or transport. The only routes along which guns, other than
+mountain artillery, could be moved, were the two first-class roads
+running northwards and westwards out of Jerusalem.
+
+Ten miles north of Jerusalem, along the Nablus road, at a height of
+nearly 3,000 feet above sea level, is the village of Bireh. This
+commanding position overlooks the Jordan Valley and all the surrounding
+country. This was the point which General Allenby decided to make his
+next objective. Reports had indicated that it was the probable intention
+of the enemy to evacuate Jerusalem, and in the known or suspected state
+of the demoralisation of the enemy, it was felt that considerable risks
+could be taken. Thus a bold and immediate dash for Bireh seemed to be
+indicated. Furthermore, an advance on this objective would take our
+forces well clear of Jerusalem itself. And so this plan best conformed
+with the determination that had previously been arrived at, that
+fighting should be within five miles of the Holy City.
+
+The general idea of the operation was, that our troops should move up
+into the hills, some going by the Valley of Ajalon, and some by the main
+Jaffa-Jerusalem road as far as Enab, and thence by the "Roman road"
+running north-east. Although it was thought likely that the Turks,
+reinforced from Damascus, and perhaps from Aleppo, would come down and
+attack our new line, yet it was hoped that Bireh would be reached before
+serious opposition was encountered. The enemy, however, changed his
+mind. Having, early in November, decided to withdraw from Jerusalem, he
+now determined to hold it till the bitter end. Turkish resistance
+stiffened immensely. Pushed far into the hills, as were our advanced
+troops, and without much artillery support, it was found impossible for
+them to reach Bireh in the first stride; and further operations upon a
+more elaborate scale had to be undertaken before Jerusalem could be
+captured.
+
+But we anticipate. Let us, then, return to the middle of November, at
+which time our forces had captured, and were holding, positions covering
+Jaffa, Ramleh and Junction Station. On the 17th November, the yeomanry
+commenced to move from Ramleh through the hills direct on Bireh, viâ the
+valley of Ajalon and Lower Beth-horon; and, by the evening of the 18th,
+one portion of the yeomanry had reached Lower Beth-horon, while another
+portion had occupied Shilta.
+
+On the 19th, the infantry commenced its advance. Latron and Anwas were
+captured in the morning. For nearly 4 miles, between Bab el Wad (2-1/2
+miles east of Latron) and Saris, the Jaffa-Jerusalem road passes through
+a narrow gorge or defile. The remainder of the day was spent in clearing
+this defile up to Saris. "These narrow passes from the plain to the
+plateau of the Judćan range have seldom been forced, and have been fatal
+to many invading armies." The natural facilities for defence in this
+pass were undoubtedly very strong. "Had the attempt not been made at
+once, or had it been pressed with less determination, the enemy would
+have had time to reorganize his defences here, and the conquest of the
+plateau would then have been slow, costly and precarious."
+
+The character of the fighting now changed, and more nearly resembled the
+mountain warfare of the north-west frontier of India. The bulk of this
+hill fighting fell upon the 75th Division, whose Indian experience
+proved invaluable. It was interesting to note the points of resemblance
+and of distinction between hill fighting here and on the Indian
+frontier.
+
+In India, frontier warfare is usually conducted against ill-organized
+semi-savages, unarmed with artillery or machine guns, but furnished with
+the instincts and cunning of beasts of prey. Here the conditions were
+reversed. The enemy were well provided with artillery and machine guns,
+both of which they had had abundant opportunity to post advantageously
+and use effectually; whereas we had difficulties in getting forward our
+guns and bringing them into action, and were at times without artillery
+assistance. On the other hand, our troops surpassed the enemy in their
+familiarity with mountain fighting.
+
+Here, as in all mountain fighting, the cardinal principle was piquetting
+the heights--that is to say, the necessity of sending up piquets from
+the advanced-guard, who deny to the enemy all commanding eminences,
+before the main body and transport move up the defile which those
+eminences command. Our piquets had frequently to fight their way up to
+the heights, and to be prepared, on reaching the summit, to withstand a
+shelling or repulse a counter-attack. They had, therefore, to be
+stronger than is usually necessary in India, but had to be particularly
+careful not to concentrate too much upon the summit. In India, where the
+enemy generally fight a guerilla warfare, hanging on to rearguards and
+cutting off stragglers, the stiffest part of the fighting is to be
+expected during the subsequent withdrawal of the piquets from the
+heights. Here, the fighting was done by the advanced-guard, and during
+the taking of the heights, subsequent withdrawal being generally
+unmolested. Quickness in the attack was found to be of great value. In
+some cases the garrisons of heights were surprised and captured before
+they could get away; more than once the advanced-guard, pushing rapidly
+up the road, were able to cut off such garrisons as they were coming
+down the reverse slopes of their hills.
+
+With regard to armament, our field artillery were able to assist with
+their 4.2 inch howitzers, but the 18-pounder field guns, with their flat
+projectory, were, at this stage, found to be of little use. During later
+stages of this mountain warfare, the 18-pounder came again into its own;
+but that was when suitable positions could be chosen deliberately, and
+when, through the length of the range or the use of reduced charges,
+they were able to drop their shells with a steep angle of descent. A
+high velocity gun, with a flat projectory, like our 18-pounder, has two
+disadvantages in mountain warfare. When the gun is firing from behind a
+steep hill, the shell, on leaving the gun, is liable to strike the hill
+in front instead of clearing the crest. When the projectile reaches the
+distant ridge (behind which the enemy are presumably taking cover), the
+angle of descent is not sufficiently steep to cause damage. More
+satisfactory results were obtainable with howitzers, whose high angle
+fire could both clear the forward crests and search the reverse slopes.
+Unfortunately, at this time, we had little or no mountain artillery up
+forward, while the wheeled guns were often badly handicapped for want of
+good roads. We had marched away from Gaza well enough supplied with
+artillery for normal or plain country fighting, but scarcely so for this
+very different fighting in the mountains.
+
+Another disadvantage under which we laboured, through this abrupt
+merging from trench into mountain warfare, was the overloading of the
+men. For the latter class of warfare men must be lightly equipped; in
+India, even the men's great-coats are carried for them on pack-mules.
+Here, the men were, of necessity, loaded up as for trench fighting, and
+were carrying gas masks and extra bandoliers (50 rounds) of ammunition,
+making a total of 170 rounds per man.
+
+The key to success in modern mountain fighting proved to be the rapidity
+with which roads could be constructed for bringing forward artillery.
+
+The defile up to Saris having been piquetted and cleared on the 19th,
+Enab was captured on the 20th in the face of organized opposition. Other
+infantry had moved from the plain along the more northern track (the
+Ajalon Valley route) by Berfilja and Beit Likia, and, on this same 20th,
+they captured Beit Dukka. On the same day the yeomanry got to within 4
+miles of the Nablus-Jerusalem road, but were stopped by strong
+opposition about Beihesnia, 3 or 4 miles west-south-west of Bireh.
+
+In this night it rained, as only in tropical and semi-tropical
+countries it knows how. The men, clad in their Indian drill, were soaked
+immediately, and lay down on the road or in the streets of Enab, or
+slept where they stood, the picture of misery. An isolated Turk rushed
+down the road, determined to sell his life dearly. But he could find
+nobody enthusiastic enough to fight, or even to take sufficient interest
+in him to accept his surrender; until at last he found a military
+policeman, who, this being his job, had no alternative but to take him
+prisoner. At length dawn broke; and it then became clear that Enab was
+under Turkish observation. So a cold night of rain was followed by a hot
+morn of fire.
+
+From Enab, a "Roman road" leaves the main Jaffa-Jerusalem road and
+strikes away north-east to Biddu, and thence towards Bireh. In Roman
+days, this may have been an important road, but now it was found to be a
+mere rocky track, impassable for wheels, or for anything except infantry
+and pack animals. On the morning of the 21st, a portion of the 75th
+Division moved forward by this track, while another portion of the
+Division was left at Enab to cover the flank and demonstrate along the
+main Jerusalem road. The latter body drove hostile parties from Kushel,
+2-1/2 miles east of Enab, and secured this ridge. Meanwhile, progress
+along the "Roman road" was slow. The track was under hostile shell-fire,
+and it was found impossible to bring up guns to support the advance of
+the infantry. The advanced guard, pushing on towards Bireh, had got as
+far as Biddu, when it was held up there by intensive hostile shelling.
+The remainder of the leading brigade thereupon captured a commanding
+position about a couple of miles to the east of Biddu, and 2-1/2 miles
+short of the Jerusalem-Nablus road. This commanding position was Neby
+Samwil.
+
+Neby Samwil, one of the most prominent heights round Jerusalem, must
+always have been a place of considerable importance. It is identified
+with Mizpeh, one of the cities built by King Asa. Ecclesiastical
+tradition connects this place with Ramah, the birth and burial place of
+the prophet Samuel, whose tomb is said to lie under the Crusading
+Church, the ruins of which still exist here. To the honour of this
+prophet, the Moslems had erected a fine mosque upon this spot, which was
+a landmark for miles round. As subsequent events proved, Neby Samwil was
+the key to Jerusalem.
+
+The question has been often asked: Who was the first to capture Neby
+Samwil? The honour has sometimes been claimed for the 60th Division. No
+doubt that Division fought here, and fought well. But at least two other
+divisions, the 52nd and the 75th, had been fighting on this hill for a
+day or so before the arrival of the 60th. As a matter of fact, this
+hill, the "key" to Jerusalem, was first captured by a brigade of the
+75th Division, in honour of which a "key" was thereafter adopted as the
+proud distinguishing mark of this Division.
+
+On Neby Samwil occurred some of the bitterest fighting in the Palestine
+campaign. Both sides realized the vital importance of the position. All
+the first night the hill was distinctly unhealthy. The trees were
+infested with snipers who picked off our men in the bright moonlight.
+Some refuge from the sniping was procurable inside the Mosque, but the
+Turkish artillery had no compunction in shelling the building and
+bringing it down in ruins. As the night progressed, more troops were
+poured on to the hill. The snipers were hunted down and summarily dealt
+with. Machine guns were established in the ruined Mosque and other
+appropriate positions, and preparations made to hold the hill at all
+costs. Towards the morning the Turks delivered a determined
+counter-attack. During the 22nd, the enemy made two counter-attacks on
+the Neby Samwil Ridge, which we repulsed. In one case, the Ghurkhas,
+having run out of ammunition, hurled down rocks and boulders upon the
+heads of the ascending enemy. At one time the Mosque was deserted by all
+except one machine-gun officer, who continued to work his gun
+single-handed. By this time the 52nd Division had come up and were, in
+some cases relieving, in some fighting side by side with, the 75th.
+
+On the 23rd and on the 24th, determined and gallant attacks were made on
+the strong positions to the west of the Nablus road held by the enemy,
+who had brought up reinforcements and numerous machine guns, and could
+support his infantry by artillery fire from guns placed in position
+along the main road. Our artillery, from lack of roads, could not be
+brought up to give adequate support to our infantry, and both attacks
+failed. The yeomanry, who by the afternoon of the 21st had got to within
+a couple of miles of the Nablus road, were heavily counter-attacked, and
+fell back, after bitter fighting, on Beit-ur el-Foka (Upper Beth-horon).
+
+This fighting had been taking place over classical and sacred ground.
+Troops fighting on Neby Samwil looked down upon the Holy City, still in
+the hands of the Turk. Our advanced dressing station was established in
+the beautiful monastery on the traditional site of Emmaus; here the men
+were dying on the very spot that the risen Christ had been made known to
+His disciples in the breaking of bread.
+
+"The positions reached on the evening of the 21st practically marked the
+limit of the progress in this first attempt to gain the Nablus road.
+Positions had been won from which our final attack could be prepared and
+delivered with good prospects of success. Nevertheless, it was evident
+that a period of preparation and organization would be necessary before
+an attack could be delivered in sufficient strength to drive the enemy
+from his positions."
+
+Orders were accordingly issued to consolidate the position gained and
+prepare for relief. The 60th Division had been lent to the 21st Corps,
+and had already taken their place in the fighting on Neby Samwil. Now
+the 21st Corps were gradually relieved and moved over to the left; while
+the operations about Jerusalem were taken over by the 20th Corps.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+JERUSALEM
+
+
+Let us trace the fortunes of the 20th Corps, whom we last saw engaged in
+the fighting about Beersheba. After the fall of Gaza and Beersheba, most
+of the mounted troops went forward in pursuit of the enemy along the
+Maritime Plain. These were closely followed up and supported by the 21st
+Corps, i.e. the 52nd and 75th Divisions, with the 54th following close
+upon their heels. It was impossible at this time to supply more than a
+limited number of troops far forward of railhead. So the Divisions of
+the 20th Corps after their successful operations at Beersheba and
+Sheria, were first moved backwards to rest and re-equip, before going
+forward again into the field zone. Of these 20th Corps Divisions, the
+60th were the first to go forward. Following along the main
+Gaza-Junction Station road, in the footsteps of the 75th and 54th
+Divisions, the 60th arrived at Junction Station on the 22nd November, on
+which date the head-quarters of the 20th Corps also moved up to, and
+opened at, Junction Station. The 60th Division were now lent to the 21st
+Corps. They moved forward next day, following along the Jerusalem road
+to Enab, and about the 24th or 25th began to take their place in the
+fighting on the Neby Samwil ridge. Shortly after the 60th came forward
+the 74th. By the time that they got sufficiently far forward, the 20th
+Corps were taking over from, and relieving, the 21st, and the 74th
+Division soon found itself in the zone of operations to the west and
+north-west of Jerusalem. The 10th Division remained in the
+neighbourhood of Gaza for a few weeks, until the possibilities of supply
+permitted their also going forward. The 53rd Division did not go forward
+by the Maritime Plain at all. They remained about Beersheba until the
+4th December. Then they moved forward, without meeting with opposition,
+along the higher road, that is, through Hebron towards Bethlehem; and
+subsequently arrived in the hills at such time and place as their
+presence was required for manoeuvring the enemy out of Jerusalem.
+
+While these reliefs were in progress, several determined counter-attacks
+were delivered by the enemy in their attempt to dislodge us from the
+positions of advantage that we had already gained. At this time our line
+was, of necessity, somewhat thinly held, especially towards the sea. The
+Imperial Camel Corps, whom we last saw protecting the right flank of the
+pursuit from the threat near Beit Jibrin, had been moved across to the
+extreme left, where they and cavalry held positions on the north bank of
+the River Auja, protecting Jaffa. Further to the right, the line was
+carried on by the 54th Division, who thus linked up, along the ridge
+north of the Valley of Ajalon, with the 52nd and 75th Divisions then
+fighting in the neighbourhood of Neby Samwil. "On the 25th November our
+advanced posts north of the River Auja were driven back across the
+river. An attack on the night of the 29th succeeded in penetrating our
+outpost line north-east of Jaffa; but next morning the whole hostile
+detachment, numbering 150, was surrounded and captured by the Australian
+Light Horse. Attacks were also delivered against the left flank of our
+position in the hills from Beit-ur el-Foka to El Burj and the Neby
+Samwil ridge. One such attack was delivered on the 30th near El Burj,
+when a counter-attack by Australian Light Horse took 200 prisoners and
+practically destroyed the attacking battalion. There was particularly
+heavy fighting between El Burj and Beit-ur el-Foka, but all these
+attacks were successfully resisted and severe losses were inflicted on
+the enemy. All efforts by the enemy to drive us off the Neby Samwil
+ridge were completely repulsed.
+
+"These attacks in no way affected our positions nor impeded the progress
+of our preparations. Favoured by a continuance of fine weather,
+preparations for a fresh advance against the Turkish positions west and
+south of Jerusalem proceeded rapidly. Existing roads and tracks were
+improved and new ones constructed to enable heavy and field artillery to
+be placed in position and ammunition and supplies brought up. The water
+supply was also developed. By December 4th all reliefs were complete." A
+line was then held from Kushel, about 5 miles to the west of Jerusalem,
+along the ridge that runs north-east some 3 or 4 miles to Neby Samwil.
+From this point, the line bent back at a right angle, and ran along the
+northern ridge of the Valley of Ajalon through Beit Izza and Beit Dukka
+to Beit-ur el-Tahta (Beth-horon the Lower), from which point it was
+carried west and north-west to the sea.
+
+The enemy held a line approximately facing our Kushel-Neby Samwil line,
+protecting Jerusalem from attack from the west or north-west, his front
+line being distant about three miles from the city, and artillery and
+machine guns being posted in the outskirts of the city itself. He had
+two good lines of supply or retreat, namely the north road from Nablus
+and the eastern road through Jericho and across the Jordan to Amman
+Station on the Hejaz Railway. It will be remembered that, in the words
+of the Psalmist, "The Hills stand round about Jerusalem." The Turks were
+able to select positions of considerable natural strength in these
+surrounding hills. In fact, the country is one continual succession of
+hills and valleys, the hillsides steep and rocky, the valleys deep and
+strewn with boulders. These positions of natural strength the enemy had
+improved by the construction of trenches and strong points and other
+devices of modern field engineering.
+
+The general idea of the operations for the capture of Jerusalem was the
+simultaneous pressure of three Divisions, whereby the enemy should be
+driven off his main roads, and the city be isolated, and so forced to
+surrender. The 60th and 74th Divisions had already arrived in the
+fighting zone and were occupying positions in the line, the 60th on the
+right, about Kushel, and the 74th about Neby Samwil. On December 4th,
+the 53rd Division commenced their march from Beersheba up the
+Hebron-Jerusalem Road. No opposition was met, and, by the evening of the
+6th, the head of this column was ten miles north of Hebron. The infantry
+were directed to reach the Bethlehem area by the 7th, and a line about
+three miles south of Jerusalem by dawn on the 8th. The 8th was the date
+fixed for the commencement of the renewed operations against Jerusalem.
+
+"On the 7th the weather broke, and for three days rain was almost
+continuous. The hills were covered with mist at frequent intervals
+throughout the fighting, rendering observation from the air and visual
+signalling impossible." Great was the discomfort caused to the men by
+this rain, fog and mud. The cold was intense, and soldiers who had borne
+the brunt of a long day's fighting could not sleep, but just lay huddled
+together longing for the dawn. An even more serious effect of the rain
+was to jeopardise the supply arrangements, by converting the roads into
+seas of liquid mud, rendering them almost impassable, in places quite
+impassable for camels and mechanical transport.
+
+By dawn on the 8th, all the troops were in their allotted positions,
+except the 53rd Division. It had been recognized that these troops on
+the extreme right might be delayed and fail to reach the positions
+assigned to them by dawn on the 8th, and arrangements had accordingly
+been made for the protection of our right flank west of Jerusalem in
+case of such delay occurring. This contingency did occur. The 53rd
+Division was held up by mud and fog, and by roads blown up by the enemy,
+so that, by the morning of the 8th, it was still some distance south of
+Jerusalem; on that day it exercised little or no influence on the
+fighting.
+
+During the darkness of the night of the 7th/8th December, and in weather
+such as we have described, portions of the 60th Division clambered down
+the mountain side, crossed the deep wadi bed in front of the right of
+our line, and crept up the steep terraced sides of the opposite ridge
+where ran a portion of the Turkish line. One brigade was to make a
+frontal attack, while another was to turn the left flank of the enemy's
+position, by scaling a spur to the south-west of the village of Ain
+Karim. These two brigades stormed the main line of works before daylight
+and captured the western defences of Jerusalem. Considerable rifle and
+artillery fire was experienced from the outskirts of Jerusalem, so that
+it was necessary for our troops to throw back their right and form a
+defensive flank facing eastwards towards the city. Artillery support
+from our own guns soon became difficult, owing to the length of the
+advance and the difficulty of moving guns forward. It thus became
+difficult for these troops to attain their subsequent objectives in the
+direction of the Nablus road north of Jerusalem. Accordingly, it was
+decided, early in the afternoon, to consolidate the line gained and
+resume the advance next day, when the right column (the 53rd Division)
+would be in a position to exert its pressure.
+
+Meanwhile, the task of the 74th Division was to swing forward, with
+their left resting and pivoting on Neby Samwil, to capture Beit Iksa
+village and works, and so to swing forward to the Nablus road. They each
+captured their first objective, and we were preparing for a further
+advance. But the delay on the right made it desirable to check for the
+time the advance on the left, and to consolidate the positions already
+attained.
+
+By nightfall, our line ran from Neby Samwil to the east of Beit Iksa,
+through Lifta, to a point of about 1-1/2 miles west of Jerusalem, whence
+it was thrown back facing east. Thus, our main line had swung forward,
+circling on its pivot at Neby Samwil, with its extreme right flank
+refused. The refused right flank afforded protection against the fire
+coming from the city. The main directions of our advance, however, now
+menaced, not so much Jerusalem itself, as the main Nablus road a few
+miles to the north of the city. All the enemy's prepared defences west
+and north-west of Jerusalem had been captured, and our troops were
+within a short distance of the Nablus-Jerusalem Road.
+
+That night the Turks withdrew. On the following morning, the 9th
+December, the 74th and 60th Divisions, driving back rearguards, occupied
+a line across the Nablus-Jerusalem road 4 miles north of Jerusalem.
+
+In the meantime, the 53rd Division had arrived on the scene of
+operations to the south of Jerusalem. They bore right-handed, cleared
+the Mount of Olives, which commands Jerusalem from the east, drove the
+enemy away eastwards, and occupied a position east of Jerusalem across
+the Jericho road.
+
+These operations isolated Jerusalem. At about noon on the 9th December,
+1918, the city was surrendered.
+
+Two days later General Allenby made his official entry into Jerusalem.
+It was a simple ceremony. The General entered the city on foot, preceded
+by his aides-de-camp, and accompanied by the commanders of the French
+and Italian detachments, by the French, Italian and American military
+attachés, and by a few members of the General Staff. Outside the Jaffa
+Gate he was received by the Military Governor, and a guard of honour
+composed of representatives of troops from the various portions of the
+British Empire, which had taken part in the recent operations; while,
+inside the walls, were small parties from the French and Italian
+detachments which those countries had sent to assist us in Palestine.
+Inside the city, at the base of the Tower of David, the ceremony was
+concluded by the reading of the Proclamation. Its terms promised that
+every person could pursue his lawful business without interruption, and
+that every sacred building, monument, holy spot, shrine, traditional
+site, endowment, pious bequest, or customary place of prayer of
+whatsoever form of the great religions of mankind, would be maintained
+and protected according to the existing customs and beliefs of those to
+whose faiths they were sacred.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE HOLY CITY[2]
+
+
+It is beyond the scope of this book to attempt a detailed history of
+Jerusalem. It cannot, however, fail to interest those readers who have
+followed us thus far, if we glance at a few incidents in the history of
+this sacred spot.
+
+Of little importance, perhaps non-existent, in the days of the
+Patriarchs, and still in the hands of the Jebusites through the days of
+Joshua, the Judges, and Samuel, it first sprang into fame about a
+thousand years before Christ when it was captured by King David, who
+made it his capital. Solomon built his temple on Mount Moriah, and
+prayed to Jehovah that He would especially hear the prayers of His
+people when they prayed toward the city which He had chosen and the
+House which Solomon had built for His name. Then did this city become,
+and has ever since remained, the sacred city of the Jews.
+
+With the advent of Christ, born within a few miles of its walls, Who
+here preached and healed, instituted His Holy Sacrament, suffered under
+Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried and the third day rose
+again from the dead, Who here laid the foundations of the most beautiful
+religion that the world has ever seen, Jerusalem became and has ever
+since remained, the sacred city of the Christian.
+
+And then, six hundred years later, came the rise of Islam. The great
+prophet Mahomet, in evolving his religion, based his teaching upon the
+principles of Judaism and Christianity, the prophets of which were to be
+honoured, including "the prophet David" and "the Prophet Christ." So, in
+accordance with the prayer of Solomon, and until the antagonism between
+Judaism and Islam led to the substitution of Mecca, it was towards
+Jerusalem that devout Moslems were required to turn when they prayed.
+From Mount Moriah did Mahomet, as his followers believe, miraculously
+ascend to heaven. And so did Jerusalem become, and has ever since
+remained, no less a sacred city of the Mahomedan.
+
+Thus it will be seen that Jerusalem, the sacred city of three mighty
+religions, became the most holy city in the world, the poetical
+prototype of heaven.
+
+Jerusalem, situate away on the hills and far from the main trading and
+military route, was of but little commercial or strategical importance.
+Yet we readily understand how its religious value caused it so often to
+become the goal and prize of contending creeds and armies. Sometimes the
+motive was religious antagonism, as with Antiochus Epiphanes and Titus;
+sometimes it was religious devotion, as with the Maccabees and
+Crusaders. Pitiful though it be, yet, throughout the ages, the City of
+the Prince of Peace has been associated with the most terrible scenes,
+the most savage excesses, in the whole dreadful drama of war.
+
+Not once nor twice in the reigns of the Kings of Judah and Israel, did
+Jerusalem resound with the clash of arms. Although, after the fall of
+the northern kingdom, it was delivered by divine intervention from the
+invasion of Sennacherib, yet its submersion by the rising tide of
+Babylon could not long be averted. The evil day had only been postponed
+and, in 607 B.C., Jerusalem fell before Nebuchadnezzar, before that
+power which, like Turkey of yesterday, dominated the whole stretch of
+country from the Persian Gulf to the border of Egypt. Twenty years
+later, Jerusalem, with the Temple of Solomon, was destroyed, the city,
+palaces and temple being levelled in one, and the population were put to
+death or led away captive to Babylon.
+
+When, some years later, the capital of the Babylonians was captured by
+the Persians and their empire annexed, the Jews were permitted to return
+to Jerusalem. In the sixth and fifth centuries B.C. the temple and walls
+were rebuilt under Ezra and Nehemiah, and Jerusalem took a fresh lease
+of life as a Jewish city.
+
+In the fourth century B.C., when Alexander the Great marched southwards
+through Syria to Egypt, securing the Mediterranean littoral before
+embarking on his expedition into Asia, overthrowing Tyre in his march
+and totally destroying Gaza, the Jews no doubt made their submission,
+and their city thus escaped destruction.
+
+After the death of Alexander, Judća did not escape the anarchy which
+ensued during the internecine warfare waged by his generals and
+successors. In 321 B.C., Ptolemy I, King of Egypt, advanced against
+Jerusalem, and, assaulting it on the Sabbath, the Jew's day of rest, met
+with no resistance. He is said to have carried away 100,000 captives,
+whom he settled in Alexandria and Cyrene. The founding of a Syro-Grecian
+kingdom in Northern Syria brought Judća again into the unfortunate
+situation of a buffer state. Jerusalem seemed doomed to be among the
+prizes of an interminable warfare between the Ptolemies of Egypt and the
+Seleucidć of Syria and in turns vassal to each.
+
+At the commencement of the second century B.C. Judća passed into the
+hands of the Syrian King Antiochus the Great, who at once proceeded to
+ingratiate himself with the whole nation. It was not the tyranny of
+foreign sovereigns, but the unprincipled ambition of their own native
+rulers, that led to calamities little less dreadful than the Babylonian
+captivity. Jason, the High Priest, had been dispossessed by his brother
+Menelaus, by double dealing with the Syrian King, who at this time was
+Antiochus Epiphanes. A rumour of the King's death having reached
+Palestine in 170 B.C., Jason seized the opportunity and revolted against
+his brother Menelaus. But the rumour was false.
+
+"The intelligence of the insurrection, magnified into a deliberate
+revolt of the whole nation, reached Antiochus. He marched without delay
+against Jerusalem, put to death in three days' time 40,000 of the
+inhabitants, and seized as many more to be sold as slaves. He entered
+every court of the Temple, pillaged the treasury, and seized all the
+sacred utensils. He then commanded a great sow to be sacrificed on the
+altar of burnt offerings, part of the flesh to be boiled, and the liquor
+from the unclean animal to be sprinkled over every part of the Temple;
+and thus desecrated with the most odious defilement the sacred place
+which the Jews had considered for centuries the one holy spot in all the
+Universe."[3]
+
+Two years afterwards, Antiochus determined to exterminate the Hebrew
+race from the face of the earth. This produced the revolt of the Jews
+under Mattathias, whose illustrious son, Judas Maccabćus, founded the
+Maccabćan dynasty. By 128 B.C., the Jews, under John Hyrcanus, recovered
+their complete independence, which they maintained until compelled to
+acknowledge the dominion of Rome.
+
+But the native rulers could not govern for long without dissension. Soon
+were two more competitors, Aristobulus and Hyrcanus, quarrelling about
+the succession to the Jewish throne. The republic of Rome, having
+trampled under foot the pride and strength of the great Asiatic
+monarchies, assumed a right of interfering in the affairs of every
+independent kingdom. The ambassadors of Aristobulus and Hyrcanus
+appeared before Pompey, who was then in Syria and was at the zenith of
+his power. After subjugating Arabia, Pompey, in 63 B.C., marched
+directly into Judća. Espousing the candidature of Hyrcanus, Pompey
+marched against Jerusalem, within the walls of which he was admitted by
+the party of Hyrcanus. Aristobulus and his supporters, with the
+priesthood, withdrew to the Temple and prepared for an obstinate
+defence. At the end of three months, and after great loss of life, the
+Romans made themselves masters of the Temple. "The conduct of the Roman
+General excited at once the horror and the admiration of the Jews. He
+entered the Temple, and even penetrated and profaned with his heathen
+presence the Holy of Holies. All the riches he left untouched, and the
+Temple he commanded to be purified from the carnage of his soldiers."[4]
+He stipulated the tribute which the country was to pay, demolished the
+walls of the city, and nominated Hyrcanus to the priesthood, though
+without the royal diadem. The magnanimity of Pompey, in respecting the
+Treasures of the Temple, could not obliterate the deeper impression of
+Jewish hatred excited by his profanation of the sacred precincts.
+
+From this time forward Judća becomes more and more under the shadow of
+Rome. The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by Antipater, and later, the
+Temple, which had become much dilapidated, was demolished, and rebuilt
+in great magnificence by Herod the Great. He was the last King of Judća
+with any semblance of autonomy, and, in the year A.D. 6, Palestine was
+annexed to the Roman Empire.
+
+We pass over the incidents in the Life and death of our Lord, which, at
+the time, could have but little affected current events, but which were
+destined to influence so deeply the subsequent history, not merely of
+Palestine but of the whole world. And we come to the cataclysm of which
+Our Lord had been the sorrowful yet unerring Prophet.
+
+Blinded by religious fanaticism, and convinced that God must fight upon
+their side and give victory to His chosen people, be their conduct never
+so cruel and their bearing never so arrogant, the Jewish race, though a
+mere handful of men, offered war to the mistress of the world. With
+little military organization or training, divided by factions and torn
+asunder by internal dissensions, they yet dared to defy the mighty power
+of Rome. They defeated the ill-starred expedition of Cestius Gallus, and
+inflicted upon the Roman arms the most terrible disgrace they had ever
+endured in the East. But the triumph was short-lived; a terrible revenge
+was at hand. It was in this year, A.D. 70, that Titus laid siege to the
+city. At the time, its population was swollen ten or twenty-fold by the
+pilgrims attending the Passover. The reserves of food were destroyed in
+faction fights even before the Romans arrived outside the city walls.
+"Of all wretched and bloody sieges in the world's history, few, if any,
+have been more wretched or more bloody than the siege of Jerusalem by
+Titus. Fierce and bloody as was the fighting, the deaths from sickness
+and famine were yet more terrible. Dead bodies were thrown out into the
+valleys, where they lay rotting, a loathsome mass. The number of those
+who died in the siege were estimated at 600,000. At night, miserable,
+starving wretches would steal into the ravines to gather roots for food;
+here they were pounced upon by ambushed Romans and crucified by hundreds
+next morning in full view of the battlements."[5] Gradually the
+assaulting Romans got possession of portions of the city, yet the
+portions still uncaptured refused to surrender, their defenders still
+hoping against hope for a divine intervention, as in the days of
+Sennacherib. At length the city fell. The Romans, pouring in, began by
+slaying indiscriminately. Tiring of butchery, they turned their thoughts
+to plunder, but stood aghast at the houses filled with dead and
+putrefying corpses. The Temple of Herod was burnt, the city was
+desolate, while those whose miseries had not been relieved by death,
+were carried away into yet more miserable slavery or to a death more
+ignominious at Rome. As a Jewish city, Jerusalem had perished for ever.
+
+Sixty years later, Jerusalem was rebuilt by the Emperor Hadrian. He
+resolved to suppress altogether the troublesome and turbulent Judaism.
+The measures which he took caused the Jews to rise against him under
+Barcochebas. This was the wildest and the most bloodthirsty of all the
+Jewish revolts; but it was the last. Jerusalem having been recaptured,
+Hadrian converted it into a Roman colony, forbade Jews to approach, and
+built a temple of Jupiter on the site of the Temple.
+
+It was when the Roman Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity, and his
+mother Helena discovered the true Cross and the Holy Places, that
+Jerusalem came again into prominence. Thereafter, churches and
+monasteries sprung up throughout Palestine, which thus, for a time,
+became thoroughly Christianized, under the Christian Emperors of Rome
+and Byzantium. But the seventh century saw the fall of the Christian
+ascendancy in Syria. In A.D. 614, the Persians, under Chosroes, swept
+through the land, massacring the Christians wholesale, and destroying
+most of their churches, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The
+withdrawal of the Persians was followed by a brief return of Christian
+ascendancy lasting but eight years, under the Emperor Heraclius. And
+then, in 637, Jerusalem fell to the growing power of Islam. It was this
+new religion, with a calendar only dating from A.D. 622, which was to
+control the future destinies of the Holy City.
+
+Islam arose at Mecca and Medina in barren and uninviting Arabia. When it
+started on that expansion, whereby it overspread half of the known
+world, Syria, from its situation, was naturally the first country to
+tempt its restless and devoted Arab warriors. Within ten years of the
+Hegira, or commencement of the Mahomedan era, we find the followers of
+the Prophet already in Syria. The Byzantine army was overwhelmed at the
+battle of the Yarmuk, and the Arabs laid siege to Jerusalem. The city
+capitulated to Omar, who granted terms of comparative magnanimity. His
+terms gave to the Christians security of person and property, safety of
+their churches, and non-interference on the part of Mahomedans with
+their religious exercises, houses or institutions. Upon the site of the
+Temple, which had been systematically defiled by the Christians out of
+abhorrence for the Jews, but which was honoured by the Moslems as the
+spot from which Mahomed ascended to heaven, was now erected the Mosque
+of Omar. This site became to the Mussulman, the most venerated spot in
+Jerusalem, as was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the Christian.
+When, in after years, pilgrimages to Mecca were temporarily interrupted,
+devout Mahomedans made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem instead.
+
+For the next few centuries Christian and Muslim lived together upon a
+fairly workable basis of toleration. Massacres of Christians and
+destruction of their churches occurred periodically, either in revenge
+for Christian successes elsewhere, or in connexion with other Mussulman
+disorders when mutual assassination was popular. But, on the whole,
+pilgrims, who at this time swarmed from all over Europe to visit the
+Holy Places at Jerusalem, were allowed to do so comparatively
+unmolested--that is, they were probably not robbed more in Palestine
+than in other professedly Christian countries through which they had to
+pass along their road. Had the Arab Mussulman remained master of
+Jerusalem, the Christians of Europe would probably have remained content
+with the situation.
+
+A change came in the year 1077. Jerusalem was then taken by the Turks,
+who had conquered all Asia Minor and were already threatening the
+Byzantine Empire in Europe. The treatment which the Christian pilgrims
+now received at Jerusalem aroused intense indignation in Europe, chiefly
+stimulated by the preaching of Peter the Hermit. Other motives there
+were, such as the protection of the Byzantine Empire from the menaces of
+the Turk, the desire of the Latin Church to prevail over the Byzantine,
+and the temptations always offered in a holy war of loot upon earth and
+salvation in heaven. Nevertheless, there undoubtedly spread, throughout
+Western Europe, a mighty wave of religious enthusiasm which was sincere.
+
+The first Crusade was mainly recruited in France. Great were the
+vicissitudes through which the Crusaders passed on their pilgrimage
+through Europe and Asia Minor, largely through quarrels with their
+fellow-Christians before the Turks had even been encountered or their
+country entered. Having defeated the Turks at Antioch, the army marched
+south along the coast and at length reached and besieged Jerusalem. Of
+the numbers that set out from Western Europe, probably not less than a
+million, only a remnant of twenty thousand fighting men, with an equal
+number of followers, had reached the Holy City. Though thus decimated
+and war weary, the Crusaders were ecstatic with religious fervour; St.
+George was said to have appeared to them clad in shining armour; the
+Saracens gave way, and Jerusalem was taken by assault. The usual
+massacre of the inhabitants followed, and estimates of the slain vary
+from forty to a hundred thousand. In 1099 was established the Christian
+kingdom of Jerusalem, the kingdom of the Crusaders, Latin in creed,
+French in nationality, feudal in character and precarious in existence.
+The state of affairs seems now rather to have resembled the relationship
+which formerly existed between the Hebrews and the Philistines, or, even
+more analogously, that between the Italian city-states of the Middle
+Ages. Most of the cities of Palestine were gradually annexed by the
+Christians, but some, notably Askalon, did not pass out of the hands of
+the Saracens for many decades. Accordingly, wars became matters of
+almost annual occurrence, and "never, during the whole eighty years of
+its existence, was the kingdom of Jerusalem free from war and war's
+alarms."[6] The bulk of the original Crusaders left alive soon returned
+to their homes in Europe. There was little or no native Christian
+population on which to draw, and the kingdom became dependent for the
+support of its army, both as to men and money, on the pilgrims that
+swarmed from Europe to Jerusalem; naval assistance was given by Genoese
+and by Venetians, more, alas, from motives of commerce than of piety.
+Religious enthusiasm had been capable of conquering and establishing
+this kingdom, but it proved quite unequal to the tasks of sustenance or
+protection. And so, after eighty years of romance and trouble, of love
+and war, of lust and murder, often inflicted, more often endured, this
+kingdom fell, because it had no sure foundation.
+
+The decline and fall of the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem forms a sordid
+story of jealousy, and intrigue, of futile ambition and divided
+counsels, of perjury and perfidy. The Crusaders intermarried with the
+women of the country, and, except so far as it was constantly recruited
+from Europe, the race rapidly degenerated. With no resources at their
+back, except the charity of Europe, the Crusaders yet had dreams of
+worldly aggrandisement, which included in their ken the whole of Egypt
+and Syria. The Second Crusade of 1146-9 came, not to conquer, but to
+support and defend this already tottering kingdom. It did that kingdom
+more harm than good, for it drained Europe of its potential pilgrims,
+anticipating and exhausting the natural flow of men and money on which
+the kingdom had come to rely, and dissipated them on a futile attempt to
+annex Damascus.
+
+The Knights Templars, the feudal barons of the country, built castles
+throughout the land, and lived at constant variance with the King and
+central government. Every baron fought for his own land and for his own
+aggrandisement. The kingdom of Jerusalem was fast tottering to its fall.
+
+It was in 1187 that Saladin, having made himself master of Egypt and of
+Damascus, attacked Tiberias, as a first step towards overthrowing the
+kingdom of Jerusalem. The Crusaders moved against him from Seffuriyeh.
+It was July, and the Crusaders were absolutely without water; the
+Saracens, with Lake Tiberias at their back, had abundance. The
+Crusaders, suffering terribly from thirst, nevertheless attacked. The
+result of the battle was a foregone conclusion. Here, at the Horns of
+Hattin, the Mount of Beatitudes, was the Crusaders' army destroyed and
+the power of the Christian completely crushed. Jerusalem itself, after a
+short, fierce struggle, fell in the following October. The inhabitants
+were not put to the sword. Huge ransoms were paid and the Christian
+population allowed to disperse throughout Syria. Jerusalem had passed
+again (it seemed as if for ever) into the hands of the Mahomedan.
+
+"The news of the fall of Jerusalem was received in Europe with a thrill
+of horror and indignation."[7] Thereupon set forth the Third Crusade,
+that which is identified with Richard I of England. Travelling by sea,
+these Crusaders avoided the horrible sufferings inevitable to the
+crossing of Asia Minor. Acre was captured in 1190, by the Crusaders,
+after a siege lasting for two years. Thence they marched southwards,
+through Cćsarea to Jaffa, fighting on their way the great battle of
+Assur, when Saladin was defeated. But Richard, instead of marching upon
+Jerusalem, which lay in his grasp, vacillated and negotiated. At length
+he decided to go up against Jerusalem. Some twenty miles from the city
+he stopped. Again he vacillated. Dissensions broke out between the Duke
+of Burgundy and King Richard. The design of besieging Jerusalem was
+given up, and the army slowly and sadly returned to Jaffa. Thereupon, in
+1192, a peace was concluded, whereby the sea coast, from Jaffa to Acre,
+was ceded to the Franks, but Jerusalem still remained in the hands of
+the Saracens.
+
+There were several more Crusades. None of them (unless we except the
+treaty of the excommunicated Frederick in 1229) ever reached Jerusalem.
+Some of them never even reached Palestine, being shamefully diverted to
+other purposes. Saddest of all was the Children's Crusade, when fifty
+thousand poor misguided children followed the Cross (like the Pied Piper
+of Hamelin) to slavery, dishonour, or death. But these form no part of
+the history of Jerusalem.
+
+In 1244, we find Christian and Saracen making common cause in Palestine
+against the Kharezmians. These Mongols, who only appeared on the stage
+of history for a brief period of four years, swept through the country,
+captured Jerusalem, massacred all on whom they could lay hands, Moslem
+and Christian alike, and destroyed such sacred relics as they could
+find. Then, defeated by the Egyptians, they perished out of history as
+suddenly as they had appeared.
+
+In 1291, the Christians, by this time reduced to their last stronghold
+of Acre, were finally expelled by the Moslems from Palestine--and that
+was the end of the Crusades. Europe became reconciled to the fact that
+the Kingdom of Christ is a Kingdom, not of the sword but of the soul.
+And so, the watchword by which the Crusades were inspired now became the
+consolation of their end--"Dieu le veut."
+
+In 1400, Syria and Palestine fell under another Mongol invasion by
+Timoor the Tartar (Tamerlane). In 1517, Palestine was annexed to the
+Ottoman Empire under Selim I, of which Empire it has since formed an
+integral part. At the close of the eighteenth century, Napoleon marched
+through the country, defeating the Turks at Gaza and on the Plain of
+Esdraelon, but was forced to withdraw. In 1832, Mohammad Ali, having
+thrown off the Turkish yoke in Egypt, conquered Syria, but nine years
+later, through the action of the European Powers, the country was
+restored again to the Ottoman Porte.
+
+In so far as any principles can be deduced from this history, they seem
+to show that Jerusalem, situated as it is, could never become the
+capital of a great Empire. On the other hand, this city, coveted by so
+many races and creeds, must be safeguarded by the arms and resources of
+some great Empire, or it can never remain at peace.
+
+It may be of interest to close this résumé of the history of Jerusalem
+by comparing the route taken by General Allenby with those taken by
+previous soldiers in their conquests of Judća. The routes taken by the
+British have already been fully described. In only one known case, that
+of the First Crusade, had Judća been successfully invaded before by an
+invader who had not previously made himself master of at least three of
+her borders.[8] The attempt at a swift rush across one border made by
+Cestius Gallus, ended in a failure, which was only wiped out four years
+later after the Romans, under Vespasian and Titus, had first overrun
+Galilee and Samaria and mastered the strongholds round the Judćan
+borders. This was the policy followed, a thousand years later, by
+Saladin.
+
+The upland of Judća has almost never been invaded from the barren
+waterless south.[8] David, operating from Hebron, must have approached
+Jerusalem from the south, but he was already in possession of the Judćan
+plateau. The original attempt of the Israelites to enter the country
+from the south was checked, and they subsequently crossed the Jordan and
+entered Judća through Jericho from the east. The Philistines must have
+come up by the passes from the west. Sennacherib did not approach
+Jerusalem himself, but it was whilst warring against Egypt at Lachish
+(Tel el Hesi on the Maritime Plain) that he sent his arrogant message to
+Jerusalem; and it was on the Plain that his victorious army, infected by
+the plague from Egypt, melted away as by a miracle. Egypt was his
+objective, not Judća. Nebuchadnezzar may have invaded Judća from the
+north, but it is more probable that he also came up from the west, after
+first making himself master of the Maritime Plain. Pompey was returning
+from his expedition in Arabia when he invaded, so he entered from the
+east, ascending the Judćan plateau by way of Jericho and Bethel. Herod
+invaded from the north.
+
+In the Christian era, Cestius Gallus made his disastrous expedition by
+the Valley of Ajalon, Beth-horon and Gibeon. Titus, after the
+surrounding country had been subjugated, moved his army up to Jerusalem
+by Gophna (Jufna) and Bethel, and so through Bireh, from the north-west
+and north. The Moslems, in 637, first captured Damascus; subsequently
+they approached Jerusalem across the Jordan. The First Crusaders came
+through Asia Minor and won a decisive victory at Antioch; thence they
+came southward along the coast, through Ramleh, and up the Valley of
+Ajalon, their advance through the mountains being unopposed. Saladin, by
+the decisive battle of Hattin, near Tiberias, made himself master of the
+surrounding country before closing in upon Jerusalem, which he
+eventually did from Hebron (south), from Askalon (west), and from the
+north. In the Third Crusade, Richard and his Crusaders came oversea to
+Acre; after marching to Ramleh, they tried first to reach the Holy City
+up the Valley of Ajalon, and afterwards by the Vale of Elah, the Wady es
+Sunt, further to the south, but both attempts failed.
+
+Many of the invading armies that have swept through Palestine have
+confined themselves to the great inter-continental road along the
+Maritime Plain, and have passed by Jerusalem, secure upon its plateau.
+We have seen that this was so with Sennacherib. This was probably the
+case with Alexander the Great, and was undoubtedly so with Napoleon. The
+latter defeated the Turks at Gaza and again on the Plain of Esdraelon.
+His objective was Syria, but he was foiled by the action of the British
+in the siege of Acre. This distraction also prevented him from making
+any attempt to reach Jerusalem.
+
+Prior to the arrival of the British, it was seven centuries since a
+Christian conqueror had set foot in Jerusalem. But there was now no
+gloating of the Cross over the Crescent. On the contrary, guards of
+Moslem troops from our Indian army were placed upon every building
+sacred to Islam, while Christian guards were mounted over those sacred
+to Christianity. Never before had Jerusalem fallen into the hands of
+conquerors so zealous for the safety of its populace or so concerned for
+the preservation of the city and all that it contained.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 2: Much of the material in this Chapter is derived from
+Milman's _History of the Jews_, W. Besant and E. H. Palmer's
+_Jerusalem_, and George Adam Smith's _Historical Geography of the Holy
+Land_, to which my acknowledgments are accordingly due.]
+
+[Footnote 3: Milman.]
+
+[Footnote 4: Milman.]
+
+[Footnote 5: Milman.]
+
+[Footnote 6: Besant & Palmer.]
+
+[Footnote 7: Besant & Palmer.]
+
+[Footnote 8: G. A. Smith.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+JUNCTION STATION AND LUDD
+
+
+An interesting task fell to my lot, in the reduction to order of the
+chaos existing at Junction Station. This place had been an important
+rest camp on the enemy's line of communications. That the Germans
+thought they had come to stay was manifested by the style in which the
+station and other buildings had been erected, as well as by the plans
+which they had left behind them for intended future development. Most of
+the buildings, including an up-to-date flour mill fitted with modern
+machinery, had been substantially built with stone. The erection of many
+additional houses was clearly contemplated, while the work had already
+been put in hand of planting fruit orchards.
+
+The disgusting state in which these premises were left was
+indescribable. Rotting carcases of beasts lay all about the place, while
+other filth almost surpassed them in stench. The buildings were infested
+with flies by day and mosquitoes by night, while other forms of vermin
+carried on the good work throughout the whole twenty-four hours.
+
+A large amount of stores had been left behind and had fallen into our
+hands, consisting mainly of grain, flour, and fodder (tibbin). The enemy
+had destroyed some of the buildings, smashed up the mill machinery, and
+set on fire as much of the corn as possible. This fire lasted for days,
+until at length it burned itself out, for it was useless attempting to
+salve any portion of the grain composing the bonfire.
+
+Before we had so much as taken possession, swarms of Bedouin came
+through the premises to loot. Thieving with them is instinctive. They
+could not understand why they had not a right to help themselves to what
+the Turks had abandoned. However, a strong guard was posted at once;
+those Bedouin who had taken up their abode on the premises were evicted;
+and preparations were made to face a somewhat stormy night. All that
+night through the crack of rifles resounded. Although the bag next
+morning proved to be small, yet, for days afterwards, Bedouin kept
+dropping in at our hospitals with bullet wounds to be dressed, as to the
+cause of which they could offer no satisfactory explanation. After this
+the looting fell off considerably. Nevertheless, a certain number of
+looters, averaging about a dozen a day, were caught and put into the
+Guard Room. We were glad of their assistance, as there was much filthy
+cleaning up to be done, so, fools that came to loot, remained to
+scavenge. Once we had an awkward predicament, for the sergeant of the
+guard, having confined in the same lock-up some looters, whose detention
+should be for twenty-four hours, and some prisoners, whose detention
+should be for the duration of the war, could not subsequently tell them
+apart.
+
+The enemy left here intact an entire Turkish hospital. It was one of the
+most picturesque of Eastern sights that anybody could wish to see.
+Crowded together in one huge ward were men of every shade, in variegated
+costumes, lying on beds with coverlets rivalling Joseph's coat of many
+colours. Unfortunately, the hospital was infected, or suspected of
+infection, with typhus. Therefore, as soon as the patients and staff had
+been evacuated, it was set on fire, and the whole hospital, woodwork,
+tents and all that they contained, ascended to heaven in a great column
+of smoke. Among the contents was a nice new camp bedstead. Pending the
+decision as to the competent military authority in whose custody this
+should be placed, I gave orders for it to be transferred to my quarters.
+But, strangely enough, each senior officer that arrived considered that
+the competent military authority to take charge of this bedstead was
+himself. It must have had at least a dozen owners by the time that it
+ascended in smoke. This hospital also contained one case of sardines. It
+was wonderful how widely spread became the fame of those sardines. Every
+British officer in Palestine seems to have licked his lips and looked
+forward to a meal of sardines when he should pass through Junction
+Station. Unfortunately, nobody could find those sardines. But a week
+later, when the rush of officers had gone, it was discovered that they
+had been appropriated as medical comforts by the R.A.M.C. Now, it so
+happened, that none of the patients then arriving were on a sardine
+diet, so other measures had to be taken to ensure that the sardines were
+not wasted.
+
+As the army went forward, they sent back large numbers of Turkish
+prisoners of war. These were collected at Junction Station, where a
+compound was formed. Such as were required for labour were temporarily
+detained, while the others were marched back under guard to railhead.
+
+During this sojourn, the prisoners were usefully employed in clearing up
+the messes which had been left behind, particularly in burying carcases.
+At one place we found half-a-dozen dead buffaloes lying half submerged.
+Before they could be got at and cleared away it was necessary to drain
+off the water. A party of the prisoners were detailed for this task; a
+few hours later they were found seriously trying to drain this water
+away up-hill. Among the prisoners were a few officers. In default of
+other suitable accommodation, one of them was allowed to live in a room
+at the Commandant's house. He displayed great anxiety lest somebody
+should touch the disused telephone or other wires, fire a booby trap
+possibly left behind by his kind friends, and so blow him to eternity.
+
+There was not much time to spare for contemplation. Nevertheless, in
+this, the Vale of Sorek, I often thought of Samson and Delilah, and
+"Mon coeur s'ouvre ŕ ton voix"; or, pictured the Ark of the Covenant
+wend its way past my very door, on a cart drawn by two milch kine, on
+that wonderful journey from Ekron to Beth-Shemesh.
+
+There was plenty of work to be done, in reducing chaos to order, in
+protecting much valuable property, in meeting the requirements of
+thousands of passing troops, and in spreading, as it were, the spawn for
+this mushroom town. It had been an important place under Turkish
+administration. It promised, under the British régime, to become the
+most important railway centre in Palestine. Consequently, schemes of
+water supply, sanitation, and town planning had to be evolved and
+installed immediately, hospitals opened in the most appropriate
+buildings, spaces set apart for camping grounds for all classes of
+troops and animals, huge dumps and supply dumps respectively, railway
+sidings laid down and cemeteries opened both for Christians and for
+Mahomedans, while roads had to be improved and sign-boards set up in all
+directions.
+
+Many and diverse were the arrivals and departures in the course of one
+busy week. Foremost came the fighting troops of the 21st Corps, the 75th
+and 54th Divisions, followed later by those of the 20th Corps, the 60th
+and 74th Divisions. With them arrived field ambulances, which took
+possession of the best of the buildings and converted them into
+hospitals. Companies of Royal Engineers arrived, and travelling
+workshops staffs of the Ordnance Department, and both of these lost no
+time in opening their workshops. Enormous supply dumps were formed and
+camel convoys, miles long, arrived with supplies. The camels were
+specially inconsiderate, and would select awkward spots, like
+cross-roads, at which to lie down and die. They were welcome to die, if
+only they could and would have first made adequate arrangements for
+their own obsequies. A battalion of British West Indians that arrived,
+aroused both sympathy and amusement. They had marched through
+torrential rain and arrived soaked to the skin. In spite of a warning as
+to what they might expect, they rushed for shelter into some of the
+buildings which had not yet been disinfected; but their exit was even
+faster than their entrance, and they preferred the wet and cheerless
+exterior to being eaten alive within. Scarcely a day's march behind the
+fighting troops, arrived a thousand or more of the Egyptian Labour
+Corps. These were immediately set to work on the roads, and such good
+work did they do that the roads were soon in an excellent condition for
+mechanical transport. Full of irony was the arrival of several guards
+and a staff of military police _en route_ for Jerusalem. It was
+believed, at this time, that the fall of Jerusalem was imminent. That
+Britain's fair name might not be sullied by any foolish misbehaviour, or
+any still more foolish collection of souvenirs, it was decided that
+guards should at once be mounted upon the Holy Places in Jerusalem.
+These guards, Christian and Moslem, collected at Junction Station, ready
+to march straight into the city; but, when its fall was postponed _sine
+die_, they had sadly but surely to return to their own regiments. The
+intention had been to surround Jerusalem with a cordon of British
+sentries; an order, accordingly, was published that any British soldier
+found within 5 miles of Jerusalem would be liable to be shot. Our
+unfortunate British soldiers fighting on Neby Samwil, which was within
+the prescribed distance, readily endorsed that sentiment, though
+scarcely in the sense implied by the authorities.
+
+Of all activities at this time of industry, none were greater than those
+of the railway development companies of the Royal Engineers. The Turkish
+line had been destroyed in several places and the rolling stock much
+damaged. Nevertheless, repairs were put in hand immediately, leaky
+engines were made water-tight, damaged trucks and coaches were made fit
+to travel, and, within a very short space of time, there was a train
+running each way between Junction Station and Deir Sineid. As being the
+services of primary importance, the first trains were confined to the
+bringing up of ammunition and the taking down of wounded. The captured
+rolling stock was limited, and so the number of trains was painfully
+restricted. Fortunately, this narrow gauge line was of similar gauge to
+certain light railways in Egypt, and rolling stock from those lines was
+brought up with all convenient speed. Moreover, two quite new engines,
+said to have been originally destined for this line but captured at sea
+during the early days of the war, were hurried up and put into
+commission. New constructional work was also put in hand at once,
+including an embankment for continuing the line northwards across the
+bed of the Wadi Surar (Sorek), the original steel girder bridge having
+unfortunately been destroyed. The fate of the bridges here was similarly
+unfortunate. The railway bridge, which should have been blown up before,
+so as to prevent the escape of the Turkish trains, was only destroyed
+after they had got away; and so the destruction of this bridge proved of
+great hindrance to us, but caused no inconvenience whatever to the
+enemy. The other bridge across the wadi was a timber bridge, which
+carried the road. As this bridge was insecure and required
+strengthening, a party of military police were posted upon it to stop
+all traffic from crossing it through the night. Seized with a brain
+wave, they lit a fire upon the centre of the bridge. This expedient
+proved so successful, that it not only stopped the traffic for that
+night, but for all time. When morning came, it was discovered that they
+had burnt away the bridge itself, and a new bridge had to be
+constructed.
+
+An armoured train was improvised from such trucks as were available, the
+sides being sandbagged and a Lewis gun mounted in front. With this, the
+railway line was patrolled towards Jerusalem for some miles, until
+destroyed bridges made further progress impossible. The result of this
+reconnaissance showed that trains could run for some distance along
+this line, and ammunition trains were pushed forward accordingly.
+
+When I left Junction Station to rejoin the fighting troops, it was well
+on the high road to importance and fame. This, however, never matured.
+It was to the policy of railway construction that this place owed its
+primary existence; it was to an extension of that policy that it looked
+for its future development; it was through a change in that policy that
+its glory soon afterwards departed.
+
+The original intention had been to adapt to our use the Turkish railway
+system, merely broadening the gauge. In that case, our own broad gauge
+line from Kantara, which, immediately on the fall of Gaza, had been
+brought through to Deir Sineid, would have been continued along the
+route of the Turkish line from Deir Sineid to Junction Station. The
+first months of working this Turkish line, still in its narrow gauge
+condition as captured, did not afford a promising outlook. These were
+months of torrential and persistent rain. The country became a quagmire.
+Landslips along the permanent way, and the washing away of culverts,
+became of such frequent occurrence, that it was decided to abandon this
+portion of this line altogether. Committed, therefore, to no
+predetermined route, the engineers were left with the whole country open
+to them to choose a course for their new trunk railway to the north.
+They chose a line much nearer the coast, and approximately followed the
+border line between the fertile plain and the sand dunes from Deir
+Sineid as far north as Yebna, thence bearing north-east towards Ramleh
+and Ludd. This had the effect of making the future railhead at Ludd.
+
+Situate at the cross-roads where the Valley of Ajalon debouches upon the
+Plain, and the ancient route from Jerusalem to Jaffa crosses the yet
+more ancient route from Egypt and Gaza to Acre and Damascus, the
+neighbourhood of Ramleh and Ludd has for many centuries been the site of
+an important town. In Biblical days it was Ludd; in Crusading days it
+was Ramleh. The towns are but a couple of miles apart. And so it came
+about that now, once again, this spot became the great traffic junction
+of Palestine.
+
+As time passed on, and as, through the spring and summer of 1918, we
+held a line across Palestine to the north of and covering Jerusalem and
+Jaffa, railway development proceeded apace, being focussed on Ludd. In
+spite of the difficulties of railway engineering in the mountains, the
+broad gauge line was carried from Ludd through Junction Station right up
+to Jerusalem. Well-constructed narrow gauge lines were laid down between
+Ludd and Jaffa, and between railhead and various distributing centres
+close behind the front line. The line from Junction Station to Beersheba
+was changed from narrow to broad gauge and extended to Rafa. Thereafter
+the line was double from Kantara to Rafa. From Rafa, one single line
+went forward, by Belah, Gaza and Yebna, to Ludd, while another single
+line went forward to Ludd by way of Beersheba and Junction Station. The
+advantages of a double line system north of Rafa were thus secured at
+times of pressure by working the full freight trains forward to Ludd viâ
+Gaza and Yebna, and working the trains of returned empties back again by
+way of Beersheba.
+
+Ludd developed apace. Soon were seen all the evidences and activities of
+a great advanced base and distributing centre. Huge ordnance and supply
+dumps arose, workshops and depots were to be seen on all sides, a great
+bakery was installed and even a mineral-water factory. The importance of
+Ludd far eclipsed the quondam glory of Belah, and came nearer to
+rivalling that of Kantara.
+
+To an Englishman, the chief interest of Ludd lies in its being the place
+of martyrdom and burial of St. George. Was it not appropriate that the
+victorious British armies in Palestine should have been provided and fed
+from beside the very tomb of their own Patron Saint?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE JORDAN
+
+
+Jerusalem having surrendered on the 9th December, the enemy lay round
+about in an encircling line on the north and east. The first thing to be
+done was to make good our hold upon the city. Accordingly, a series of
+minor operations took place, with the object of clearing the enemy from
+any points of vantage that he held and driving him further from the
+city.
+
+On the night of the 26/27th December, determined counter-attacks were
+delivered by the Turks. They attacked the 53rd Division at points east
+of Jerusalem, and the 60th to the north, their principal objective being
+Tel el Ful, a conspicuous hill 3 miles east of Neby Samwil, from which
+Jerusalem and the intervening ground could be overlooked. On the morning
+of the 28th, a lull occurred in the fighting, followed by an attack of
+unexpected strength against the whole front. The successes gained by
+this attack were short-lived. A counter-attack by the 74th and 10th
+Divisions, further to the left, now made itself felt. This was launched
+against the enemy's reserves, and thus deprived the enemy of the
+initiative. The Turkish attack being spent, a general advance northward,
+took place, not, however, without further heavy fighting. Pursuing our
+advantage, we further advanced our line on the 30th, and occupied a line
+from Beitior (Bethel), 2 miles north-east of Bireh, to Janieh and Ras
+Kerker, 7 miles west, north-west of Bireh. Bireh, which had been our
+objective in November, was, at last, securely in our possession. The
+Turkish attempt to recapture Jerusalem had ended in crushing defeat.
+
+Throughout the winter months the weather was miserably wet, and the
+troops in Palestine, whether engaged in active operations or merely
+holding the line, suffered intense discomfort. The mails brought us
+letters from our friends at home, saying how much they envied us who
+were spending Christmas in the Holy Land. But those who were up the line
+spent Christmas Day soaked to the skin in a gale of wind and rain, while
+their Christmas dinner consisted of half-rations of bully beef and
+biscuit. They were wishing themselves anywhere else upon this earth. The
+appalling weather conditions made it impossible to get more than the
+bare necessities of life forward from railhead, and tons of Christmas
+luxuries sent from England through Egypt lay soaked and rotting in dumps
+at Deir Sineid.
+
+January was much too wet for operations in this country. In February,
+however, General Allenby determined on the capture of Jericho. The
+country from round Jerusalem slopes down, as we have seen, very abruptly
+to Jericho and the Jordan Valley. Precipitous slopes, rocky ridges and
+narrow ledges, confined the advance to definite lines on which the enemy
+could concentrate fire. The advance began on the 19th, and, by the
+evening of the 20th, the 60th Division had reached a line 4 miles west
+of the cliffs overlooking Jericho. In the meantime, the mounted troops
+were working on the right or south of the infantry, towards the
+commanding position of Neby Musa, near the north-west corner of the Dead
+Sea. This advance was held up at the last wadi which was directly
+overlooked by, and subjected to, a heavy fire from Neby Musa. Other
+mounted troops, further to the right, discovered a way down to the
+Jordan Plain, where they were firmly established by dusk. That night the
+Turks withdrew, and our mounted troops, moving up the Plain, entered
+Jericho on the morning of the 21st.
+
+There are two or three routes between Jericho and the summit of the
+Judćan plateau. That by which the British had now come down was not the
+route followed by Joshua and the Israelites. They, on the other hand,
+ascended by a route farther north, through Mukhmas (Michmash) and Beitin
+(Bethel), thus reaching the summit near Bireh. The route followed by the
+pilgrims was that of the main road, which hereafter became the main line
+of supply of the forces operating in this direction.
+
+Having secured Jericho and the low country beyond as far as the Jordan,
+operations were now commenced with the object of pushing the enemy
+northwards, and clearing him from another substantial portion of
+Palestine. This would, at the same time, broaden the base for future
+operations which were contemplated across the River Jordan.
+
+Operations on a large scale were commenced on March 9th. Both the 20th
+and 21st Corps were engaged. We will, however, consider here only the
+operations of the 20th Corps, leaving those of the 21st until a
+subsequent chapter. The reader is already familiar with the type of
+country, which resembled that between Jerusalem and Jericho. The
+downward slopes were exceptionally steep, in places precipitous. The
+slopes were swept by machine-gun and rifle fire, and the beds of the
+wadis were enfiladed. The ascent on the far side was steeply terraced.
+Men had alternately to hoist and pull each other up under fire, and
+finally to expel the enemy from the summits in hand-to-hand fighting.
+Under these conditions no rapid advance could be looked for.
+
+The 60th Division, by night, crossed the Wadi el Auja, north of Jericho
+(not to be confused with the wadi of the same name to the north of
+Jaffa). This Division seized a position astride the Beisan-Jericho road.
+The 53rd Division captured Tel-Asur, a conspicuous landmark among a mass
+of high hills, which mountain the enemy tried repeatedly, but in vain,
+to recover. Farther to the left, a counter-attack was repulsed by the
+10th Division. At the conclusion of the operations, the high ground
+covering the approaches to the Jordan by the Jericho-Beisan Road had
+been secured, and also, farther west, linking up with the 21st Corps,
+the high ground stretching across the hills of Mount Ephraim.
+
+We come now to the passage of the River Jordan and the operations in
+Eastern Palestine. It will be remembered, from what has already been
+written,[9] that active operations were in progress about this time
+between the Turks south-east of the Dead Sea and our Arab allies, the
+troops of the King of the Hejaz. The Turkish line of communications ran
+down the Hejaz Railway through eastern Palestine, temptingly near our
+forces at Jericho. It will also be remembered,[10] that the Jordan
+Valley, and ascent therefrom into the hills of Eastern Palestine are
+unique. It would therefore have been difficult or impossible to cut the
+Turks' Hejaz communications by maintaining a permanent garrison astride
+the railway, such garrison being based on Jericho with an extremely
+vulnerable line of communications across the valley. It was thought,
+however, that much useful service might be rendered to the Arabs if a
+raiding force were to cross the Jordan and destroy the railway in the
+neighbourhood of Amman.
+
+The country between the Jordan and Amman offered many obstacles to our
+advance. There were the marshes of the Jordan Valley to be crossed,
+ridges of clay to be surmounted, scrub to be negotiated, followed by an
+ascent of 3,500 feet. The metalled road to Amman crosses the Jordan at
+the Ghoraniyeh Bridge, and reaches the hills at Shunet Nimrin. It then
+winds up a wadi to Es Salt, whence it strikes due eastward to Amman.
+
+The operations commenced in the latter part of March. No serious
+obstacle was encountered until the crossings of the Jordan were reached.
+A small party was sent in motor-boats across the Dead Sea to dispose of
+any enemy who might be in the district to the north-east of the Dead
+Sea, but they met with few traces of the enemy. The enemy had destroyed
+the bridge at Ghoraniyeh early in the month. Other means had therefore
+to be devised for effecting a crossing. "Jordan overfloweth all his
+banks all the time of harvest." On the 28th March, owing to heavy rain,
+the river rose 9 feet. Floods had, therefore, to be contended with. The
+current is at all times rapid, and the banks, on account of the floods,
+are boggy and difficult for the approach of transport. On the night of
+the 21st/22nd March, the main crossings of the river were attempted,
+both at Ghoraniyeh, and a few miles further south at Hajlah, where the
+Pilgrim Road from Jerusalem reaches the Jordan. At the former point
+three attempts to swim the river were made, under fire, by men with
+ropes attached to their bodies, but in each case the swimmers were
+carried away by the strong current and found it impossible to reach the
+opposite bank. Then a punt was launched, but this was no sooner launched
+than it was swept away. The attempt was commenced in the bright
+moonlight, but was much hampered by enemy fire. It was renewed after the
+moon had gone down, but then it was impossible to find the easiest route
+or to negotiate the current in the dark. Farther down stream, however,
+the efforts met with better fortune. A small party succeeded in swimming
+across in the dark and landing on the left bank. These towed a rope
+behind them, by which, after landing, they hauled across light rafts.
+The crossing by the raft-loads of men had to be carried out in the face
+of some hostile fire. Portions of the scrub had been set on fire by the
+enemy, and these fires to some extent lit up the rafts as they were
+being pulled across. By daylight, 300 men had been got across, and a
+small bridge-head established. A barrel bridge was without delay
+constructed by the Engineers. Very little progress could be made that
+day as the scrub was infested with enemy machine guns. On the following
+night, however, a rush was made, and the bridge-head enlarged to a width
+of 1,500 yards. That night the Engineers constructed a steel pontoon
+bridge, and an entire cavalry regiment was passed over by dawn. The
+cavalry soon cleared away the enemy, not only from Hajlah, but also from
+in front of Ghoraniyeh. Bridges were built now at Ghoraniyeh and the
+passage of the river assured.
+
+Having successfully crossed the Jordan, the force pushed on eastwards
+across the low country, meeting with some opposition. Eventually we
+reached Shunat Nimrin. The enemy retreating up the Es Salt road were
+bombed and machine-gunned by our aircraft. Part of our force, following
+on their heels, entered Es Salt on the 25th, while, on the 26th, our
+mounted troops occupied Amman. The railway to the south of the station
+was successfully cut, but north of Amman the cutting was not complete.
+Consequently, the enemy were able to receive considerable
+reinforcements. Before Amman could be attacked in strength some 4,000
+Turks were in position covering the viaduct and tunnel, while 2,000 more
+were moving on Es Salt from the north. Five miles of railway line were
+however, destroyed, while much other damage was done to the railway
+line. But, in view of the strength of the enemy and the difficulties of
+our communications (we had only been able to bring forward
+mountain-artillery), our force withdrew.
+
+The raid had not entirely fulfilled its object, but much good work had
+been done, and it had materially assisted Sherif Faisal with his Hejaz
+troops in his operations further south against Maan.
+
+Our force returning from Eastern Palestine did not abandon the
+hardly-won eastern bank of the Jordan. Bridge-heads were retained. The
+Turks, however, became aggressive, and, on the 11th April, attacked our
+bridge-head at Ghoraniyeh. They were repulsed from here and driven back
+to Shunet Nimrin, which they strongly garrisoned.
+
+On the 30th April another raid was made across the Jordan. This time our
+infantry attacked the Shunet Nimrin position, while the cavalry,
+intending to cut off the garrison, moved round the flank and reached Es
+Salt. But a strong Turkish force, crossing the Jordan from the Nablus
+area at Jisr ed Damieh, drove back the cavalry, who lost nine guns in
+their retirement. This raid had been planned to co-operate with the Beni
+Sakr Arabs. Their promised assistance did not materialize, and the whole
+force was brought back to the crossings of the Jordan.
+
+Thenceforth, until the sweep of the following September the Jordan river
+and bridge-heads remained our front line.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 9: See before Chapter III.]
+
+[Footnote 10: See before Chapter IV.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE WADI DEIR BALLUT
+
+
+In the last chapter we saw how, after the capture of Jerusalem, the 20th
+Corps proceeded to improve the line on the right. We will now follow the
+operations of the 21st Corps on the left.
+
+The first operation of importance was that carried out by the 52nd
+Division on the extreme left. On the night of the 20th/21st December,
+1917, crossings, partly by fording and partly by rafts, were effected
+over the Wadi Auja, a few miles to the north of Jaffa. The high ground
+overlooking the wadi from the north was rushed before dawn, and a line
+was consolidated which effectually deprived the enemy of all observation
+from the north over the Valley of the Wadi Auja. Incidentally, the
+distance between the enemy and Jaffa was increased from 3 to 8 miles.
+This safeguarded Jaffa and its harbour, and the main Jaffa-Jerusalem
+road. Further adjustments of the line were made, including the capture
+of Rantieh on the railway and El Tine and Bornat to the right, which
+gave commanding views over the forward country and increased elbow room
+to the troops covering Ludd and Ramleh.
+
+As the result of these operations the line ran, at the beginning of
+March, approximately as follows. The 60th Division on the right had
+reached the Jordan, our line running along that river as far north as
+the Wadi Auja and then bending westwards. On their left came the 53rd
+Division, a little to the north of Bireh, and on their left again the
+10th Division completed the front of the 20th Corps. They joined up the
+75th Division, whose frontage ran from Midieh (the Modin of the
+Maccabees) through Kibbiah to the foot-hills at Et Tireh; from here the
+54th Division extended across the Plain; while the 52nd Division held
+the sector close to the sea, a little to the north of the other Wadi
+Auja.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Except for occasional rains, our soldiering in the 75th Division sector,
+throughout February and the early part of March, was campaigning _de
+luxe_. The enemy had gone right back to the line of the Wadi Deir
+Ballut, leaving a No Man's Land in front of us about 4 miles across. He
+held advanced posts a mile or two in front of our line, but his guns had
+been taken well back out of range. We therefore enjoyed immunity both
+from sniping and shelling, and could move about in front of our line
+without anxiety, even in broad daylight. The observation posts that we
+occupied commanded extensive views across No Man's Land, and we should
+have had early intimation had there been any considerable hostile
+movement.
+
+We thus had opportunities for training, and preparing ourselves for the
+next forward push. The whole battalion was put through a course of
+musketry. The forward slopes of our position provided an admirable field
+firing range, with all No Man's Land for the stray bullets to spend
+themselves upon. How it must have made the Turk itch to see men lying
+about in platoons in the open before his very eyes, and how he must have
+longed to have had a gun within range, and to have dispersed us with a
+few rounds of shrapnel. We also instituted a very successful
+shooting-gallery. In the front line beer was seldom procurable, though
+much appreciated. Such as we were able to obtain from the canteen was
+taken to the rifle range. An empty bottle was set up 200 yards in front
+of the firer and a full one behind him. If he hit the former he became
+entitled to the contents of the latter. Each man was entitled to one
+free shot, and as many more as he liked at a cost of a penny each. The
+result was, that, at a very nominal cost to the canteen funds, the
+individual shooting of the battalion considerably improved.
+
+Aerial activity was interesting. We soon became accustomed to the
+distinctive hum of the Hun machines flying high above us, followed by
+the barking of our "Archies." Then we could trace the track of the
+planes across the sky by the line of white smoke puffs left by our
+bursting archy shells. Archy seldom reckons to get a direct hit on a
+plane, but, by the expenditure of quantities of ammunition, he makes the
+Hun fly too high to see anything of value or to drop bombs with much
+hope of success. More tangible results were obtained by our fighting
+planes, which engaged the Hun in the air. A pretty little fight took
+place a thousand feet or so above our heads, between two of our planes
+and a couple of Huns. After preliminary circling and manoeuvring for
+place, during which one Hun machine discreetly went all out for home,
+one of our planes swooped straight on to the remaining Hun, pouring a
+burst of Lewis gun fire into the pilot and observer at short range.
+Badly wounded, the Hun pilot turned his machine full speed for home. But
+our other plane, which had retained its altitude, hovered over him,
+headed him off from home, and shepherded him down on to the Plain, where
+he was forced to land and was captured. On another occasion, we were
+puzzled to see a Hun plane, returning from our lines, pitch in enemy
+territory, and, though unattacked, go up in smoke and flame. Subsequent
+reports furnished an explanation. The Hun pilot had descended without
+being very sure of his whereabouts. The Turks, mistaking him for a
+Britisher, opened fire upon him with a machine gun. Thereupon, believing
+himself to be in hostile territory, the pilot burnt his machine and
+surrendered--to his own friends!
+
+Campaigning _de luxe_! The wild flowers did all that lay in their power
+to add to the luxury. The warm sun of February and March, following the
+drenching rain of the winter, produces in Palestine a profusion of
+beautiful flowers that is probably surpassed nowhere. The country-side
+was literally carpeted with choice flowers of sweet smell and varied
+colour. To mention but a few--there were red, white, and blue anemones;
+cyclamen, white, pink and mauve; aromatic herbs; poppies and
+corn-flowers; scarlet tulips; pink phlox; blue irises, velvety arum
+lilies, black and crimson, tall, stately hollyhocks. And the catalogue
+is scarce begun. Truly a floral Paradise!
+
+Early in March came rumours of a forward move. The nominal pretext was
+an improvement of our line. Other motives may possibly have been
+influencing the higher authorities, such as keeping the initiative in
+our hands, fostering an aggressive spirit, and feeling the strength of
+the enemy with a view to subsequent operations on a larger scale.
+
+Almost opposite Jaffa the central range of Judćan hills is cleft by a
+great gorge. Starting at a point on the edge of, and almost overlooking
+the Jordan Valley, it runs approximately due east and west, with many
+turns and even hairpin bends, until it debouches on the Plain at Mejdel
+Yaba, thence forming a main tributary of the River Auja. In the days of
+the Maccabees this gorge formed the frontier between the Jews and the
+Samaritans. This gorge is the Wadi Deir Ballut. The sides of this wadi
+are at all points steep, at some precipitous, presenting in places an
+almost sheer drop of several hundred feet. The bed of the wadi is from a
+hundred to a couple of hundred yards wide and the surface level. Thus
+the Wadi Ballut formed an admirable defensive line for the Turk; after
+it had passed into our hands, it provided us with an admirable line of
+communication.
+
+The Turk, at this time, held the line of the Wadi Ballut with such
+advanced posts as could deny to our patrols all access to the wadi.
+Available information about the wadi was thus restricted to reports and
+maps, and was none too ample or reliable. The intermediate country
+consisted of approximately flat "merjs," intersected with wadis, and
+dotted about with hills, villages, and other features of tactical
+importance. At this time of the year it somewhat resembled the general
+appearance of Exmoor. For several days prior to the advance patrols were
+sent out into No Man's Land, that as much as possible might be
+ascertained about, and as many as possible be made familiar with, the
+terrain over which we had to operate.
+
+On the 12th March, the whole 75th Division, in co-operation with the
+Divisions on its flanks, moved forward. The operations of this day were
+perhaps little more than minor operations, certainly not one of the
+decisive battles of the war, although their effect in drawing
+reinforcements to Palestine may have had far-reaching results in other
+zones such as Mesopotamia. Nevertheless, as they formed such a pretty
+field day, so like our manoeuvres at home, I venture upon a short
+description, in the hope that it may be of interest to those whose
+soldiering experience has been confined to the home front. There was no
+horrid barbed wire to contend with, nor gas. There were not even
+trenches, for the Turks' defence work here consisted only of stone
+walls, technically known as sangars. During the commencing stages we
+were not even shelled.
+
+Shortly after dawn, our heavy artillery opened the ball by shelling the
+advanced posts of the enemy. At seven o'clock the whole line moved
+forward. Our first objective, a prominent knoll, was 4,000 yards away,
+and no previous opposition was expected. Having assumed the appropriate
+formation before crossing the crest, we moved forward in "artillery"
+formation, that is to say, in lines of platoons in file. For the
+non-military reader, it should be explained that this is the formation
+in which troops are considered least vulnerable against artillery or
+distant rifle and machine-gun fire. Great care was taken to ensure that
+direction was maintained, an officer with compass being specially
+detailed for this purpose, and that touch was not lost with the units on
+either flank. A battery of field artillery had been detailed to support
+the advance of this battalion; the forward observation officer went
+forward with the infantry; the battery, less one section temporarily
+left behind, moved forward close behind us to a previously selected
+position from which the Deir Ballut Ridge would be within easy range. A
+section of machine gunners moved forward close behind the leading
+companies. In a fold of the ground, some 1,400 yards short of the first
+objective, the infantry shook out into lines of skirmishers. They
+continued their advance, and occupied the knoll which was their first
+objective without opposition.
+
+Meanwhile, after a concentrated bombardment on the left, the first and
+second of the enemy's forward posts were captured without serious
+opposition; it appeared probable that these had been occupied mainly for
+observation and that his principal resistance was to be offered upon the
+Ballut Ridge.
+
+After a short halt on the first objective, to conform to the time-table,
+we moved forward again in the same formation against our second
+objective, a ridge which seemed to overlook the Wadi Deir Ballut. We
+still met with no opposition, until we put our heads up over the ridge,
+when we were greeted with a torrent of bullets from machine guns posted
+on the opposite side of the wadi. This wadi, it will be remembered, was
+to us _terra incognita_. The first thing to be done therefore was to
+make a hurried reconnaissance, and decide on the best method of getting
+down and across. It was found that the descent was almost a sheer
+precipice, and that we had not one but two wadis to cross; a smaller
+tributary wadi, scarcely marked on the map, forming, in fact, a rather
+serious obstacle. Carrying out such a reconnaissance, upon a forward
+slope, under machine gun fire from across the wadi, was none too easy.
+It had been intended that the leading company, which took the ridge,
+should at once open covering fire across the wadi, whilst the company
+following should pass through them and cross the wadi under cover of
+their fire. However, the difficulty of taking up suitable positions for
+seeing the target, and the extremity of the range (about 1,500 yards),
+made it inadvisable for the infantry to fire. But the machine gunners
+attached to us soon brought their machine guns into action, while our
+artillery f.o.o. took up a position on the ridge from which he could
+fire his guns to good effect.
+
+About this time, away to our left, developed the attack on Mejdel Yaba.
+This village occupies a commanding position overlooking the Plain, and,
+in Crusading days, was a fortress. That phase of the battle proved an
+artillery action pure and simple. The whole artillery of a Division,
+with several heavies added, was concentrated on that luckless spot. It
+afforded a spectacle not soon to be forgotten. When the infantry
+arrived, they found the work all over; the Turks had all been killed by
+the bombardment or fled from the village, most of the latter having been
+cut off and killed by our machine guns. Before leaving, the Turks had
+taken the precaution of interviewing the headman of the village and
+cutting his throat.
+
+To return to our own corner of the picture, under cover of the fire of
+our own artillery and machine guns the first company went forward.
+Slipping down that mountain side was a veritable case of running the
+gauntlet. But, once the bottom of the first wadi was reached, some cover
+was afforded for a breather. Almost in front of us, on the far ridge,
+lay the village of Deir Ballut, on which the enemy evidently intended to
+base their strongest resistance. On our left, the infantry were making a
+good pace; on the right they were held up, but, seeing us going forward,
+they pushed forward too, so that pressure might be maintained all along
+the line. The enemy had organized his defences and placed his machine
+guns with great skill. The slopes of the wadi were too steep for good
+shooting straight down the slope. So he had taken full advantage of the
+curves and hairpin bends of the wadi to place his machine guns in
+position sweeping the spurs and giving each other mutual support. Our
+leading company lost no time in getting to work. They dumped their packs
+and set out at once to storm the ridge. Meanwhile, our infantry
+advancing on the left, had taken some of the enemy machine guns in
+flank, forcing them to withdraw, which materially assisted the advance
+of the leading company. And so the leading company, closely followed by
+companies in support, established itself on the Ridge.
+
+The fiercest of the fighting, however, was yet to come. A great burst of
+machine-gun fire caused the leading platoon to take cover under one of
+the terraces. Hence they were at once led forward again. The Turks now
+delivered a strong counter-attack. Seeing this, the leading platoon
+dashed forward with their bayonets, led by the company cook, and the
+Turks were put to flight. The Lewis-gunners caught them as they were
+getting away and effectually quenched all desire to renew the
+counter-attack. Then the company pushed forward, and, ignoring the
+village of Deir Ballut, with its machine guns tried to get across the
+line of retreat from the village. Seeing this, the Turks evacuated Deir
+Ballut, and, under cover of machine guns posted on the further ridges,
+those left alive made good their escape. That evening found us in
+undisputed possession of Deir Ballut Ridge from beyond the village of
+Deir Ballut down to the Plain at Mejdel Yaba.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE MOUNTAINS OF EPHRAIM
+
+
+We now found ourselves well established in the Mountains of Ephraim, and
+at no great distance from the enemy. After the taking of Ballut Ridge he
+had dropped back, and was soon seen to be entrenching and sangaring a
+new line from 2,000 to 4,000 yards further north. Ballut Ridge had been
+fixed as our final objective. Had there been possible roads by which
+guns and supplies could have been brought forward, an immediate pursuit
+or attack of the enemy might have proved successful; but, with such
+hopeless communications, deliberate action was a necessity.
+
+After the Ridge had been captured, the enemy were pursued with all the
+fire from rifles, machine guns and artillery that could be brought to
+bear. Cavalry, or even infantry pursuit across these mountains was out
+of the question. An outpost line was established and the troops settled
+down to a wet and somewhat cheerless night. The mountain sides had been
+so steep that it had been impossible to bring up any comforts, and even
+the camels bearing the reserve supply of ammunition could only be got
+forward with extreme difficulty. Except for shelling, we were left
+unmolested during the night and next morning, which gave us the
+opportunity of constructing sangars, making tracks for the pack
+transport animals, and generally making ourselves more comfortable.
+Patrols were sent forward, and it was ascertained that the country to
+our immediate front was clear of the enemy.
+
+The effect of this advance was to draw down reinforcements into this
+sector, and to divert into Palestine reserves of Turkish troops; these
+came largely from the Caucasus, where the total collapse of Russia had
+set many good Turkish troops at liberty. There was evidence that these
+troops had been intended for an offensive campaign in Mesopotamia. It is
+probable, therefore, that this advance, indirectly, yet substantially,
+contributed to the defence of Mesopotamia, for the Turkish offensive in
+that area never materialized. Two or three German Divisions came down to
+stiffen up the Turks, and from this time forward the resistance which we
+had to face became unmistakeably hardened. The days of campaigning _de
+luxe_ had gone for ever. Before our "archies" could get forward, the Hun
+aeroplanes had very much their own way, and, flying low, dropped bombs
+and machine-gunned us in a manner that was most uncomfortable. Enemy
+artillery shelled any movements on the forward slope, and brought a
+searching fire to bear, in the hope of damaging our bivouac areas behind
+the crest. The manner in which the front line was held in the mountains
+by the Turks as well as by ourselves, was as follows. Strong sangars
+were constituted on the forward slope of a hill or ridge. By day these
+were occupied only by a small and well-protected observation party, at
+times supplemented with a Lewis gun team; and the remainder of the
+garrison were withdrawn behind the crest to bivouac areas on the reverse
+slope. At dusk, the garrison moved forward and manned the front line,
+being withdrawn again during the half-light of dawn. Thus the hostile
+artillery could never see a target upon which to fire. Searching a steep
+reverse slope with guns is almost impossible while, even with howitzers,
+unless observation can be obtained, an enormous amount of ammunition has
+to be fired to secure any result.
+
+Meanwhile, preparations proceeded apace. With a genius little short of
+that which has made roads across the Himalayas and the Alps, roads were
+soon engineered down and up the steep sides of the Wadi, so that within
+two or three weeks it was possible to bring guns across the Wadi and
+over the Ballut Ridge. Water supplies, of which excellent springs were
+discovered in the bed of the wadi, were developed; later, the cisterns
+on the hills were closed down to prevent mosquito breeding and malaria.
+
+On the 14th March, the enemy moved forward to counter-attack the Ballut
+Ridge line, but were caught in close formation by our artillery and the
+counter-attack never developed. On the 19th, a slight advance was made
+on our right, which brought the village of Beit Rima (possibly the
+Ramathaim of the Maccabees) within our line. Another forward move was
+evidently in the wind and patrolling activity increased all along our
+line.
+
+A detailed account of one of these patrol incidents may be instructive
+as affording an example of how such a patrol should be handled. The
+patrol commander was an experienced soldier who had seen service with
+almost every battalion of the regiment and in most of the theatres of
+this war; his sleeve was covered with wound stripes, and hostile snipers
+only made him angry.
+
+The orders which he received were to patrol as far as Ikba, and to
+protect some senior officers, who wished to make a reconnaissance and
+for whose safety he was responsible. He had under his command one
+platoon, consisting of three sections of riflemen and one of Lewis
+gunners; also one other officer to assist.
+
+A glance at the sketch map will show Ballut Ridge, which formed our
+front line, and Three Bushes Hill, the most forward position held by the
+enemy. Ikba, or to give it its full name, Khurbet Umm el Ikba, thus lay
+in No Man's Land at no great distance from the enemy. Though standing on
+a hill and commanding an admirable view of the surrounding country, it
+is overlooked at a range of a mile from Three Bushes Hill, and also at
+shorter distances within effective rifle range from the points marked A,
+B and C, and, to some extent, from the point marked E. F is a lower
+knoll, commanded from Ikba. Both E and F are commanded from A.
+
+Moving forward before dawn, the patrol commander led his patrol forward
+down the Wadi Ikba. Each section was kept apart, and moved forward in
+single file under its own commander. To each section commander were
+given precise orders as to the position which he was to occupy, what he
+was to do, and when he was to withdraw. One section moved down the ridge
+on the right of the wadi, and took up a position at the point B. One
+section, with the junior officer, moved first along the wadi bed, and
+then, while it was still only half light, ascended the left-hand spur
+and took up a position at A. The Lewis-gun team occupied the hill at C.
+The remaining section, which had been kept in reserve at the hills about
+D, now moved forward and occupied Ikba. All being reported clear, the
+senior officers moved forward, arriving at Ikba just as the daylight
+became strong enough for them to obtain the forward view of the enemy
+country which they desired.
+
+An even better view of the country seemed probable from the spur at A.
+So across there went the officers, including the patrol commander. By
+the time they arrived, rifle reports were cracking, and the situation
+was becoming interesting. The reconnaissance finished, the patrol
+commander gave the senior officers five minutes in which to withdraw,
+before the expiration of which he would not begin to withdraw his
+patrol.
+
+Meanwhile, the enemy upon Three Bushes Hill, had espied the party in
+Ikba, and set out to capture the patrol. Creeping along under cover,
+they established themselves at the point E. Thence they started to move
+on to the point F, but came under fire from the section on point A. It
+became a case of running the gauntlet, but the section were shooting
+well and dropped their men. The section at Ikba was withdrawing; the
+enemy, failing to realize that the spur A was occupied, rushed across to
+A intending to shoot up the wadi at the section withdrawing from Ikba.
+They were greeted with a warm reception from the section already at A
+and beat a hasty retreat. The section at A now withdrew up the wadi,
+covered by the fire of the section still in position at B and by the
+Lewis gunners at C. The reserve section from Ikba, who had been the
+first to withdraw, had meanwhile taken up another section in rear, and,
+under their protection, the section at B and the Lewis-gunners from C
+withdrew up the wadi. The enemy had apparently had enough of it, for the
+pursuit was not pressed. A few rounds of shrapnel were fired at us as a
+parting present, but no casualties were sustained. This patrol commander
+had paid attention to, and illustrated the soundness of, the cardinal
+principles of mountain fighting, namely, the necessity for seizing and
+piquetting the commanding heights, and the support of the movement of
+one party of troops by the fire of other parties already in position.
+The plan of using the Lewis gun as a reserve of fire, kept well back to
+cover the retirement of the remainder, was undoubtedly sound. Had the
+commanding heights not been first secured, it is difficult to see how
+the patrol could have withdrawn in the face of the enemy without
+confusion and without casualty.
+
+On the 27th March the whole line moved forward. The advance was only
+intended to be for a depth of about a mile, in order to secure a better
+tactical line for defence. None of the objectives were believed to be
+held by the enemy. Accordingly, the advance was carried out by night. A
+full moon, giving light throughout the night, facilitated the operation.
+As soon as daylight was gone, the whole line crept noiselessly forward,
+with bayonets fixed ready to meet any possible opposition with cold
+steel. Away to our right, the enemy detected movement, and put down a
+barrage. But their firing was somewhat wild; the barrage came down
+behind the advancing troops and caused no casualties. On our front the
+enemy had not awakened to what was taking place, and our objectives were
+attained without molestation. It was realized that our new positions
+would be overlooked from the enemy's observation posts on Three Bushes
+Hill and on Arara, and that, when they saw us by daylight occupying the
+nearer ridges, they would shell us unmercifully. Accordingly, the
+remainder of the night was not devoted to sleep, but to the intensive
+building of sangars on the new defensive line, and the preparations of
+bivouac areas in such few spots as might be under cover from view and
+from fire. When morning came, the enemy commenced to shell, but the
+night had not been wasted, and our fellows had made themselves secure.
+
+This new line was not very comfortable. To such an extent was it
+overlooked by the enemy that all movement by day was out of the
+question, and even incinerator fires had for a time to be forbidden. The
+enemy attacked this new line a few days after it had been taken up.
+However, our artillery caught the enemy's troops in close order before
+they had been deployed, and so we experienced no greater inconvenience
+than a bombardment, doing no great damage. It was not expected that this
+new line would have to be held for any great length of time. Already
+preparations were being pushed on for another encounter with the enemy.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+RAFAT
+
+
+We have seen, in an earlier chapter, that throughout the campaign in
+Palestine the left British flank, near the sea, was at all times much in
+advance of the right. We have already discussed the cause and
+advantages; there was one distinct disadvantage. As the trend of the
+country sloped up from the Maritime Plain, the enemy on our right front
+was on higher ground and had the advantages of observation. If there
+were a commanding position to our front, and we moved forward and
+captured it, we found that there were yet other positions beyond, from
+which that position was itself commanded. Our positions on the Ephraim
+Mountains along the Ballut Ridge were at this time overlooked from three
+commanding hills in the possession of the enemy, known as Arara, Rafat,
+and Three Bushes. Further to the right were the villages of El Kep and
+Berukin, also on high ground. Owing to the conformation of the country
+the key of this district was Arara.
+
+In order to improve the general line, and in preparation for a further
+advance, it was decided to move forward and to capture all these
+commanding positions. Accordingly, on the morning of the 9th April, the
+line moved forward. The village of El Kep was a nest of machine guns.
+After heavy bombardment it was captured after stubborn resistance.
+Berukin was also captured after sharp fighting, but further progress in
+this locality was held up. Next day these villages were heavily
+counter-attacked, and, though they were firmly held, further progress
+was out of the question.
+
+Meanwhile, a battalion of Somersets had captured Rafat, and a battalion
+of Dorsets Three Bushes Hill. Enemy shelling now became intense,
+followed up by counter-attacks, all of which were repulsed.
+
+The intention had been that the Somersets should capture Rafat first and
+then take Arara, the main objective of these operations. The capture of
+Three Bushes Hill was necessary to secure Arara and Rafat from reverse
+fire. But, to enable Arara to be held, it was also necessary to capture
+other heights to the south-east, notably one called The Pimple. Most of
+these heights were captured, but, although determined efforts were made,
+the enemy could not be dislodged from The Pimple. Nevertheless, the
+Somersets moved forward from Rafat and successfully established
+themselves upon Arara. Here they were fired at from all sides. They
+found that Arara was itself commanded from a height called Sheikh
+Silbih, a thousand or two yards beyond, while the reserve fire from the
+machine guns on The Pimple soon made their position on Arara untenable.
+They fell back upon, and firmly established themselves in, their
+positions at Rafat. One lad, who was left behind in this retirement, had
+a terrible experience. Wounded in three or four places, he was unable to
+withdraw with the remainder of his company. He lay out on Arara for
+three days, after which he was discovered by some Turks. These proceeded
+to strip him, whereupon he made known to them that he was still alive.
+They then bayonetted him, and left him for dead. He lay out there for
+yet another day, now naked, when he was found by a German
+stretcher-party. These took pity upon him, and removed him to a hospital
+where he was nursed back to life.
+
+The position on Three Bushes Hill had become interesting. If left in our
+undisputed possession, it would have rendered the main line of enemy
+trenches untenable. On the other hand, if the enemy could drive us off,
+he might from there roll up Rafat and our other positions. He therefore
+made several determined attempts throughout the day to retake this hill.
+The position was not altogether unlike that on Spion Kop. Each side
+clung to the slope immediately below the summit, the forward slope being
+untenable through shell fire; our guns were unable to silence the
+hostile batteries. There was this difference, however, from Spion Kop,
+for here there was no question at present of withdrawing. The
+difficulties of bringing supplies, water and ammunition up, and the even
+greater difficulty of carrying the wounded down a pathless precipice 400
+feet high, can be better imagined than described. This work had mostly
+to be done by night, for our communication line was under enemy
+observation. The last of the ambulance camels, which were evacuating
+wounded from the regimental aid post had not crossed the Ballut Ridge
+and got out of sight before dawn, and were shelled accordingly.
+
+The enemy delivered counter-attacks again in the night; these also were
+repulsed. Next morning he changed his tactics. Continuing to shell the
+back areas, he now pushed up snipers, who established themselves where
+they could fire at any movement. In so far as the snipers near the
+summit of the ridge were concerned, a service of counter-sniping was
+established. But, what was more difficult to deal with, he established
+snipers on the lower slopes of his own side of the ridge, who could look
+down upon, and make themselves unpleasant towards, Rafat. Accordingly,
+it was decided to clear the forward slope.
+
+The Dorsets had now been fighting on the hill for forty-eight hours.
+Accordingly, on the night of the 10th/11th, they were relieved by an
+Indian battalion, the Outrans. Just before dawn this battalion moved
+forward, surprised the Turks, drove them down the hill and consolidated
+a line along the forward slope, with observation posts and Lewis
+gunners, withdrawing the remainder of the battalion behind the crest.
+
+The sniping had thus been stopped for the time, and the day was passed
+in comparative quiet. At dusk, that evening, down came one of the most
+furious bombardments put down by the enemy in Palestine. Guns from all
+quarters concentrated on the hill, and practically blotted out the
+devoted band that were holding the forward line. The bombardment was
+followed up by a determined counter-attack, but this was repulsed, the
+battalion of Dorsets being brought back to support the Outrans on the
+hill.
+
+It was now realized that the only way by which the Arara position could
+be captured and held, was by a general advance of the line to at least a
+thousand yards farther to the north, so as to capture The Pimple, Sheikh
+Subih, and the enemy works beyond Three Bushes. Accordingly,
+preparations were put in hand, and all was ready for this further
+advance, when there came--the disaster in France.
+
+The great German offensive in France had commenced on the 21st March,
+and, a few days later, occurred that great break through which very
+nearly altered the whole complexion of the war. At first this was not
+allowed to prejudice the operations in Palestine. But, as the
+seriousness of the situation in France became realized, no effort was
+spared to collect more men to fill the gap. Orders were given to cease
+all further active operations on a large scale in Palestine, and to send
+to France all the men that could be spared.
+
+Accordingly, there was no alternative but to consolidate, to heavily
+wire and sangar in upon the line that had been already reached, making
+such tactical readjustments as were necessary.
+
+It might appear at first sight that the net result of these operations
+was negative, and that the poor fellows who had given their lives here
+had died in vain. But this was not so. Rafat was destined to become
+famous. It was fortified on an almost impregnable scale, thousands of
+pounds were spent, and a couple of million sand-bags were worked into
+its defences. A veritable fortress was established which overlooked much
+of the enemy positions. More than once was this fortress attacked by the
+Turks, but in vain. It ultimately formed the firm pivot on which was
+based the great sweep which conquered Palestine.
+
+Feeling between the Turks and the Germans was growing intensely bitter.
+Germans were not allowed to walk about singly behind the Turkish lines,
+for fear of assassination. In an attack made by them in the Jordan
+Valley in July, not only did the Turks fail to move forward in support
+of the Germans, but they actually fired upon the Germans, when, through
+lack of that support, they were compelled to retire. It was a case of "a
+house divided against itself" and it could not therefore hope long to
+stand.
+
+Active operations on a large scale in Palestine having been stopped, the
+army was not reorganized. It was a matter of keen regret to many who had
+followed the fortunes of this campaign since the days of Gaza, that they
+and their battalions were not to play a part in the final act. The 52nd
+and the 74th Divisions were withdrawn entirely, their places being taken
+by the 3rd and 7th Indian Divisions from Mesopotamia. All those
+remaining, except the 54th, were converted into Indian Divisions, 75 per
+cent of their battalions being withdrawn and replaced by fresh
+battalions from India. Those withdrawn were, in some cases, sent to
+France, in others, broken up and used for reinforcements in the country.
+Hitherto the army in Palestine had consisted mainly of Territorials.
+Henceforth it was to consist mainly of Indians.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE CROWNING VICTORY
+
+
+The Turkish forces in Palestine, in the autumn of 1918, consisted of
+three armies, the 8th and the 7th, plus one added Division on the west
+of the Jordan, and the 4th army on the east. All were under the supreme
+command of the German General, Liman von Sanders.
+
+The line held by the enemy west of the Jordan extended roughly from the
+sea, south of the Nahr el Falyk (some 14 miles north of Jaffa), across
+western Palestine approximately east, south-east to near Rafat, thence
+easterly and south-easterly, across the Nablus-Jerusalem Road, and so
+down to the Jordan Valley. Thus, a portion of his force was entrenched
+across the Maritime Plain, while the remainder was in the mountains of
+the Central Range. These mountains of Ephraim and Samaria form a rugged,
+isolated plateau, which is bounded on the north and east by the
+low-lying Valleys of Esdraelon and the Jordan. North-west, the mountains
+continue in a broken chain, till they fall precipitously to the sea at
+Cape Carmel.
+
+There were two or three routes available to the enemy for supply or
+retreat, behind the Samaritan plateau. Most important of these was the
+railway, which, leaving the main Damascus-Hejaz line at Deraa, ran
+westwards down the Yarmuk Valley to the Jordan, thence through Beisan,
+and up the Vale of Jezreel and along the Plain of Esdraelon to Haifa.
+From El Afule, a junction in the middle of the Esdraelon Plain, the
+south-bound line branched off, and, passing through Jenin (close by
+Jezreel), wound its way among the mountains up to Messudieh Station,
+close to Samaria. Thence a short line ran on to Nablus, while the main
+line continued down the slope of the Wadi Shair to the Maritime Plain,
+which it reached at Tul Keram. The advanced enemy bases at Nablus and
+Tul Keram were served also by good roads. That from Tul Keram followed
+the line of the railway up to a point near Samaria, where it joined the
+main north-bound road leading from Nablus down to Jenin and El Afule.
+From El Afule it would be possible to go down the Vale of Jezreel (along
+the road where Jehu drove furiously) to Beisan, and thence northward up
+the Jordan Valley. But the better road from Jenin and El Afule leads
+across the Plain of Esdraelon to Nazareth and Tiberias and round the
+northern side of the Sea of Galilee to Damascus. Another road from
+Nablus leads eastwards, and, dropping steeply down along the Wadi Fara,
+leads to the Jordan, which it crosses by a ford at Jisr ed Damie. The
+places of tactical importance on the enemy lines of communication behind
+his advanced bases were, therefore, the railway junctions at Deraa and
+El Afule, the ford of Jisr ed Damie, and the towns of Beisan, Jenin and
+Nazareth.
+
+The broad outline of General Allenby's plan of operations was an attack
+in overwhelming force against the enemy's positions on the Maritime
+Plain, followed by a right wheel of his left flank on a front of 16
+miles from Rafat to the sea, thereby rolling up the Turkish line and
+driving them all into the Samaritan hills; meanwhile, his cavalry were
+to dash for the tactical points behind the Turkish line and so close all
+enemy lines of retreat.
+
+Some weeks before the date fixed for the commencement of operations, the
+several Divisions were by turn withdrawn behind the line and put through
+a three weeks' course of intensive training. Then a rearrangement of the
+line took place, whereby an overwhelming force was concentrated on the
+left. The 60th Division, and most of the cavalry, were moved across to
+the extreme left from the Jordan Valley. Divisions in the line were so
+rearranged that the line from Rafat to the right was only held thinly,
+while the garrison of the line from Rafat to the sea was doubled by the
+addition of three more Divisions, including the 60th on the sea and a
+French Division at Rafat. All these movements were carried out with the
+utmost secrecy. The fact that the push was coming along the Maritime
+Plain was successfully camouflaged, and the enemy led to believe that
+the push would come up the Jordan Valley. The hotel at Jerusalem was
+closed, and got in readiness, ostensibly for occupation by G.H.Q. Empty
+lorries were run up and down the Jordan Valley. Tents were left standing
+there and dummy-horse lines arranged. Dummy horses were left in the
+Jordan Valley to convey to enemy aerial observers the impression that
+cavalry were still there in strength. All the marching towards the
+Jordan Valley was by day; all the marching towards the Maritime Plain
+was carried out by night, while by day these troops were hidden in the
+olive and orange groves that abound on this portion of the Plain. So
+successful were these ruses, and so complete the surprise, that enemy
+aerial reconnaissances, made a day before the attack, reported that
+there was unusual movement in the Jordan Valley and that there was no
+unusual movement on the coastal sector. The whole of the operations were
+a triumph of secrecy and of organization.
+
+On the day before the main attack, a small advance was carried out by
+the right wing just west of the Jordan, occupying El Mugheir. This place
+is the junction of several roads leading from the west to the east of
+the Jordan. The object of this preliminary move was to prevent the Turks
+west of the river escaping by this route to the east, and also to draw
+the attention of the enemy towards the Jordan Valley and distract it
+from the coastal sector.
+
+By the night of the 18th/19th September, our troops were in position.
+The Divisions occupying the line from the sea on the left were the
+60th, the 7th and the 75th on the Plain, the 3rd where Plain and hills
+meet about Mejdel Yaba, the 54th and the French at Rafat. Thence the
+line was held by the 10th Division, assisted by a composite force, and,
+on the extreme right, about the recently captured Mugheir, by the 53rd.
+Cavalry were concentrated behind the 60th Division ready to dash forward
+directly the line should be broken.
+
+At 4.30 on the morning of the 19th September, there suddenly opened an
+intensive bombardment of the enemy's coastal positions, carried out by
+all the artillery, trench-mortars and machine-guns that could be
+concentrated in this small sector, the navy also co-operating. After ten
+minutes' bombardment, the infantry moved forward and assaulted the
+enemy's front line positions, which were carried with but little
+opposition. Thereafter the barrage lifted and crept, being supplemented
+in places by smoke barrages dropped from aeroplanes. The infantry pushed
+forward and captured the enemy's second and third lines and strong
+points in rear. Shortly before seven o'clock, the 60th Division had
+broken right through the enemy defences by the sea, and had reached, and
+established a bridge-head at the Wadi Nahr el Falyk, a mile or so behind
+the enemy line. Engineers and pioneers got to work at once, and in a
+very short space of time had made roads and bridges through the enemy
+trench system, and over the Nahr el Falyk, by which cavalry and guns
+could be pushed forward. At 7.30, the cavalry passed through on their
+dash for the tactical points behind the enemy's lines.
+
+Meanwhile, all along the line our infantry had taken their first
+objectives with little opposition, the enemy having been taken
+completely by surprise. The whole line advanced to a maximum depth of 5
+miles, and then swung to the right, pivoting on Rafat. Such opposition
+as was encountered was met with at the strong points well behind the
+front line, where the enemy had had the time and opportunity to man his
+defences. For example, both at El Tireh and at Kalkilieh, stubborn
+resistance was encountered. Thus the line swung right-handed into the
+hills, crumpling up the whole enemy line west of Rafat. The 60th
+Division, after their break through, marched for the greater part of the
+day, and, by 5.30 in the afternoon, had reached Tul Keram. Our line,
+that evening, ran approximately south and north from Rafat to Tul Keram.
+
+The cavalry passing through the gaps broken at the sea and close to
+Tabsor, pushed rapidly northward along the Coastal Plain. Some of them
+made for Tul Keram, and, passing thence up the Valley towards Nablus,
+had already reached Anebta before dark, cutting off large bodies of the
+retreating enemy with guns and transport between Tul Keram and the
+railway junction at Messudieh. Another strong cavalry force moved
+farther north. They passed through the mountains east of Mount Carmel
+that night, by the Musmus Pass (Megiddo), and, early on the following
+morning, the 20th, they charged the enemy holding the northern exit of
+the Pass and debouched on to the Plain of Esdraelon (Armageddon).
+
+These seized the railway junction at El Afule. Some pushed on eastwards
+towards the Jordan and captured Beisan (Bethshan), some northwards and
+captured Nazareth, while some, turning southwards, took Jenin in
+reverse. By nightfall on the 20th all these tactical points were in our
+possession.
+
+Yet another exploit remains to be chronicled. Far away across the
+eastern desert, but beautifully co-ordinated, and working as part of one
+great machine, moved a raiding force of the Arab troops of Hussein, King
+of the Hejaz. At the critical moment these swooped down upon the
+junction at Deraa, where they destroyed the railway in all directions,
+completely depriving the enemy of their main line of retirement.
+
+Throughout the operations our airmen had the time of their lives. Some
+hovered all day over the enemy aerodrome at Jenin, and effectually
+prevented enemy machines from leaving the ground. Some maintained
+contact between the infantry and the higher command. Some, flying low,
+bombed and machine-gunned the retreating Turks, and completed their
+confusion.
+
+The advance was continued on the 20th. On this day, the 10th Division,
+which had hitherto remained stationary to the right of Rafat, moved
+forward in a north-easterly direction, taking in rear the strong enemy
+position at Furkha. The whole line was now advancing and driving the
+retreating Turks towards Samaria and Nablus, and down the roads leading
+northwards and eastwards from these points. By the evening of the 20th,
+the Turkish resistance had collapsed everywhere on the west of the
+Jordan, except on the Turkish left in the Jordan Valley. Our right wing
+had advanced slightly, and occupied a line from near El Mugheir to Es
+Sawieh, while our left wing had swung round and reached the line
+Bidich-Baka-Messudieh Junction--that is to say, we were gradually
+closing in on Nablus from the south, south-west, and west. Owing to the
+tactical positions behind the enemy lines having been seized by our
+cavalry, all avenues of escape which might have been open to the enemy
+had been closed, except the fords across the Jordan between Beisan and
+Jisr-ed-Damieh.
+
+By the 21st, the retreating Turks had become a demoralized rabble,
+fleeing to the fords of the Jordan, like the discomfited Midianites,
+under Oreb and Zeeb, had fled more than three thousand years before from
+the pursuit of Gideon. Those who fled down the northward road were
+captured and collected by our cavalry at Jenin. Those who fled down the
+eastward road by the Wadi Fara, hoping to reach the still open ford at
+Jisr-ed-Damieh, met with a more cruel fate. This road led down a steep
+and narrow gorge, dominated by the heights east of Nablus. A brigade of
+the 10th Division was rushed forward by a forced march, and seized these
+heights, effectually closing the trap. Our airmen had already got the
+situation well in hand here, and the road soon became a veritable
+shambles. The enemy had been forced or shepherded by our infantry into
+this bottle-neck, and our airmen, swooping down to 200 feet and bombing
+the head of the column, soon made the road impassable. That
+accomplished, they flew up and down the struggling column, bombing and
+machine-gunning without let or hindrance. It seemed as though the
+unspeakable Turk had at last been delivered over to vengeance in this
+Valley of Death. An eye-witness[11] describes the scene.
+
+"In no section of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow could there have been a
+more terrible picture of hopeless and irretrievable defeat. In this area
+alone, eighty-seven guns of various calibres, and fully a thousand horse
+and oxen-drawn vehicles, nearly a hundred motor-lorries, cars,
+field-kitchens, water carts, and a mass of other impedimenta blocked the
+road, with the carcases of thousands of animals and the bodies of dead
+Turks and Germans."
+
+On the 22nd, our cavalry moved up the Jordan Valley and seized the ford
+at Jisr-ed-Damieh, thus cutting off the last possible means of escape.
+Prisoners were surrendering in thousands. They looked weak and
+exhausted; in many cases they had fled over a parched country and
+beneath a burning sun for three or four days, without touching a drop of
+water. Their plight was pitiable. By that evening, the Turkish armies
+west of the Jordan had ceased to exist.
+
+There still remained the Turkish 4th army in Eastern Palestine. An
+expedition, consisting largely of cavalry, was sent against them. These
+crossed the Jordan Valley, and, moving up the eastern slopes, on the
+23rd September captured Es Salt, and, on the 26th, Amman. A day or two
+later, the Turkish force south of Amman, about 10,000 strong,
+surrendered. The remainder of the Turkish 4th army tried to withdraw.
+They were closely pursued by our cavalry and airmen, and, to some
+extent, cut off by the Arab forces of the King of the Hejaz. Many
+prisoners were taken from this army, while, such as could do so, made
+their escape to Damascus.
+
+The whole of Palestine, south of, and including the Plain of Esdraelon,
+was now in the hands of the British and their Arab allies. But there was
+still work to be done in a sweep forward towards Damascus. The Turks had
+some reserves at Damascus, and with these, and the remnants of their 4th
+army, they attempted to check our advance against that city.
+Accordingly, they sent a small force down to the Upper Jordan, that is,
+to the river north of the Sea of Galilee. This force, which consisted of
+Germans, Turks and Circassians, was rushed down from Damascus in
+motor-lorries, in order to deny the crossing at Jisr Benat Yakub. They
+blew up the bridge and covered the crossing with machine guns. On the
+27th our cavalry, pushing north from Tiberias, swam the river both to
+the south and to the north of this crossing, and surprised and captured
+many of the enemy. They then, with armoured cars, pushed forward along
+the main Tiberias-Damascus road.
+
+On the same day, other cavalry joined hands with the Arab army at Deraa.
+From this point, also, cavalry and armoured cars pushed northward. It
+seemed a question whether this force or that from Jisr Benat Yakub would
+be the first to reach Damascus, as both forces were rapidly approaching
+the city from the south and south-west respectively. The advance was
+still disputed by enemy rear guards, from whom prisoners and guns were
+captured. The enemy rear-guards were defeated, and, by the evening of
+the 30th, the city was partially surrounded.
+
+Early on the morning of the 1st October, a British force and a portion
+of the Arab army of King Hussein occupied the city of Damascus.
+
+In the course of a fortnight the enemy line had been broken; Samaria,
+Galilee, Eastern Palestine and Damascus had been conquered; three
+Turkish armies had been destroyed, with a loss of their entire war
+material; and over 350 guns and 71,000 prisoners had been captured.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 11: Mr. W. T. Massey, Official Correspondent with the E.E.F.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+Serious fighting had practically finished with the capture of Damascus.
+The northward flight of the Turks continued, closely pursued by our
+cavalry and armoured cars. A Division of infantry was brought forward in
+support, but the difficulties of supplying a large force so far away
+from a base made it impossible to bring forward the infantry in any
+strength. Australians rounded up a Turkish column some miles north of
+Damascus, and a few thousand more prisoners were captured. Beyrout, the
+port of Damascus, was abandoned without a blow, and, on the 6th October,
+was occupied by the allies. A Division of French troops was landed here,
+and, thereafter, this port became the main channel of supply for the
+troops operating in Northern Syria.
+
+Our forces pushed on northwards, meeting with little or no opposition,
+and occupying Baalbek, Tripolis and Homs. A Turkish force, under General
+Liman von Sanders, and estimated at about 12,000, concentrated a few
+miles south of Aleppo, where they threatened to offer some resistance.
+The advance northward was, however, unopposed. The enemy had constructed
+trenches covering Aleppo, and at first showed signs of holding them.
+But, after our armoured cars had got into touch, and our airmen had
+bombed them, the enemy decided to evacuate, and withdrew to the hills
+towards Alexandretta. Aleppo was entered by our cavalry on the 26th
+October, and the station was seized at Muslimie, the junction of the
+Baghdad Railway. By these captures we had made ourselves masters of the
+main line of communications with Constantinople of the Turkish armies in
+Mesopotamia.
+
+Their armies virtually destroyed, the Turks now concluded an armistice,
+which took effect as from the 31st October. Their allies, the
+Bulgarians, who had suffered disastrous reverses in Macedonia, had just
+concluded an armistice; the Austrians were being badly beaten by the
+Italians and were clearly nearing the end; and the Germans were fast
+retiring from France and Belgium: so, with all hope of succour gone, the
+Turks had no alternative but to conclude an armistice, the terms of
+which practically amounted to unconditional surrender.
+
+The terms of the armistice included the following. Immediate
+demobilization of the Turkish army, except troops required for the
+surveillance of the frontier and the maintenance of internal order; the
+surrender of the garrisons of the Hejaz, Assir, Yemen, Syria and
+Mesopotamia, and the withdrawal of troops from Cilicia; the surrender of
+all ports there; occupation by the Allies of the Taurus Mountains tunnel
+system; the allied control of all railways; occupation by the Allies of
+any strategic points considered necessary for their security;
+prohibition of destruction of military or similar material; all Germans
+and Austrians to quit Turkey within a month; Turkey to cease all
+relations with the Central Powers; all allied prisoners in Turkish
+possession to be handed over unconditionally, but Turkish prisoners in
+the Allies' hands to be kept at the disposal of the Allies. In addition,
+all war vessels in Turkish waters were to be surrendered, the
+Dardanelles were to be opened, and free access secured for allied ships
+to all Turkish ports and exchanges and to the Black Sea.
+
+A few days later, Austria threw in her hand, and, on the 11th November,
+an armistice was concluded with Germany. The Central Powers had
+surrendered. The greatest war in the history of the world had been
+brought to a close.
+
+Will our campaign be passed down to history as "The Last Crusade"?
+Presumably not. Throughout the campaign there was little or no religious
+animosity, except that the Moslem Turk extended no quarter to the
+Hindoo. To speak of this as a campaign of The Cross against The Crescent
+is untrue. The Turkish high command was controlled by Germans, so-called
+Christians. The British soldier fought with no less zest than when
+opposed to Turks. At the final battle, the Moslems, serving in our
+armies, by far outnumbered the Christians.
+
+The close of the great war forms a fitting point at which to bring our
+story also to a close. Its aim has been a blend of history and
+reminiscence. Much has been set down here which would have been omitted
+from a history; much more has been omitted which a complete history
+would have contained. In particular I plead guilty to omitting names of
+units deserving of special mention. Generally their names have not been
+known to me; in such cases as they were known, I have feared that to
+mention them might have caused more jealousy than satisfaction. We each
+of us think, and rightly so, that our own unit does better than any
+other engaged. So, many a reader may be disappointed at finding no
+mention of the unit in which he is particularly interested. I can only
+refer him to the congratulatory telegrams which his unit received in the
+field, and which are doubtless preserved among the records of the
+regiment.
+
+We have now completed our brief review of this campaign. We have seen
+its small beginnings in the defence of the Suez Canal, when Turkey,
+leaning upon Germany, a broken reed, vaunted herself in an attempt to
+conquer Egypt. We have traced the footsteps of the British army as,
+pushing back the invading Turk, it crept across the Desert. We have
+watched its struggles on the frontier of Asia, culminating in the
+victory of Gaza and Beersheba. We have followed its progress in the
+onward sweep, which conquered Jerusalem, and watched it through
+succeeding months of trial, patience and disappointment. Finally, we
+have seen it destroy the remnants of the Turkish armies, and, in one
+great rush, conquer the whole of Northern Syria. Proud, indeed, should
+those of us feel who have been privileged to play a part in this
+campaign.
+
+
+
+
+INDEX
+
+
+Abd, 15
+
+Abu Aweigila, 16
+
+Abu Hareira, 45
+
+Ain Karim, 83
+
+Ajalon, 71
+
+Akaba, Gulf of, 4, 26
+
+Aleppo, 23, 143
+
+Alexandretta, 143
+
+Ali Muntar, 38
+
+Amman, 114, 141
+
+Anwas, 73
+
+Apex, The, 46, 50, 59
+
+Arara, 131
+
+Armageddon, 33
+
+Asluj, 54
+
+Atawinah, 45, 58, 59
+
+Auja, 5,14
+
+Australia Hill, 39
+
+
+Baalbek, 143
+
+Baghdad, 22
+
+Baha, 45
+
+Baku, 23
+
+Beersheba, 39, 45, 51, 56
+
+Beihesnia, 75
+
+Beit Dukka, 75
+
+Beit Iksa, 83
+
+Beit Hanun, 45, 58, 63
+
+Beit Jibrin, 67
+
+Belah, 38
+
+Bethel, 109
+
+Beth-horon, 71
+
+Bethshan, 139
+
+Bireh, 72
+
+Bir-el-Abd, 14
+
+Bir-es-Sakaly, 54
+
+Bitter Lakes, 5
+
+
+Constantinople, 7
+
+Ctesiphon, 22
+
+
+Damascus, 142
+
+Dardanelles, 6
+
+Dead Sea, 112
+
+Deraa, 142
+
+Dueidar, 13
+
+
+Egypt, 1
+
+El Arish, 5
+
+El Burj, 80
+
+El Kep, 130
+
+El Kubeibeh, 67
+
+El Mesmiye, 68
+
+El Mughar, 68
+
+El Tine, 45
+
+El Tireh, 138
+
+Emmaus, 78
+
+Enab, 75
+
+Ephraim, 124
+
+Erzerum, 24
+
+Esdraelon, 135
+
+Es Salt, 114, 141
+
+
+Gallipoli, 7
+
+Gamli, 46
+
+Gaza, 37, 51, 56
+
+Gezer, 69
+
+Ghoraniyeh, 113
+
+
+Hajlah, 113
+
+Hareira, 58
+
+Hejaz, 25
+
+Hill 1070, 54
+
+Homs, 143
+
+Huj, 63
+
+
+Ikba, 126
+
+In Seirat, 39
+
+
+Jaffa, 69, 116
+
+Jericho, 111
+
+Jerusalem, 79, 84, 86
+
+Jiddah, 25
+
+Jisr-ed-Damieh, 141
+
+Jordan, 32, 109, 112
+
+Junction Station, 36, 66, 68, 101
+
+
+Kalkilieh, 138
+
+Kantara, 12
+
+Katia, 13
+
+Katrah, 68
+
+Kauwukah, 57
+
+Khalassa, 54
+
+Khan Epenus, 5
+
+Khan Yunus, 19
+
+Khasim Zanna, 54
+
+Kosseima, 5
+
+Kut el Amara, 21
+
+
+Latron, 73
+
+Ludd, 69, 101, 108
+
+
+Maan, 25
+
+Mageiba, 14
+
+Maghdaba, 16
+
+Magruntein, 17
+
+Mansura Ridge, 40
+
+Mazar, 15
+
+Mecca, 25
+
+Medina, 25
+
+Mejdel Yaba, 122
+
+Middlesex Hill, 58
+
+Mosul, 23
+
+Mount Carmel, 29
+
+Mount Royston, 14
+
+Mudros, 7
+
+Muslimie, 143
+
+Muweileh, 56
+
+
+Naaneh, 69
+
+Nablus, 139
+
+Nasiriyeh, 21
+
+Nazareth, 139
+
+Neby
+
+Musa, 110
+
+Neby Samwil, 71, 76, 80, 81
+
+
+Oghratina, 13, 15
+
+Outpost Hill, 58
+
+
+Palestine, 28
+
+Philistia, 30
+
+Plain of Sharon, 30
+
+
+Rafa, 4, 16
+
+Rafat, 130
+
+Ramadi, 23
+
+Ramleh, 69, 108
+
+Rayak, 35
+
+Romani, 12, 13
+
+
+Shatt-el-Arab, 21
+
+Sheikh Hasan, 55
+
+Sheikh Zowaid, 16
+
+Shellal, 17
+
+Sheria, 57
+
+Shunat Nimrin, 114
+
+Suez Canal, 2, 4
+
+Suvla Bay, 7
+
+
+Taurus, 35
+
+Tel-el-Kebir, 2
+
+Tel-el-Saba, 54
+
+Three Bushes Hill, 126, 131
+
+Towal Abu Jerwal, 56
+
+Trebizond, 24
+
+Tripolis, 143
+
+Tul Keram, 139
+
+
+Umbrella Hill, 55
+
+Umm Jerar, 48
+
+
+Wadi Auja, 116
+
+Wadi Deir Ballut, 116, 119
+
+Wadi Ghuzzeh, 38, 44
+
+Wadi Hesi, 58
+
+Wadi Nahr, 138
+
+Wellington Ridge, 15
+
+
+Yemen, 25
+
+
+_Printed in Great Britain for_ ROBERT SCOTT, _Publisher_, PATERNOSTER ROW,
+LONDON, _by_ BUTLER & TANNER, FROME
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
+
+LIST OF FIXED ISSUES
+
+p.   v--typo fixed, changed "Judaean" to "Judćan"
+p.  vi--typo fixed, changed "Khuweilfah" to "Khuweilfeh"
+p. vii--typo fixed, changed "Tamberlane" to "Tamerlane"
+p. 019--typo fixed, changed "Weli Sheikh Nura" to "Weli Sheikh Nuran"
+p. 029--typo fixed, changed "Keran" to "Keram"
+p. 039--typo fixed, changed a comma into a period after "Ali Muntar
+and Gaza"
+p. 054--inserted a missing period after "in our hands"
+p. 056--inserted a missing closing bracket after "farther west"
+p. 073--typo fixed, changed "via" to "viâ"
+p. 078--inserted a missing period after "his positions"
+p. 097--typo fixed, changed "Napolean" to "Napoleon"
+p. 112--typo fixed, changed "garrision" to "garrison"
+p. 114--typo fixed, changed "Hajleh" to "Hajlah"
+p. 135--typo fixed, changed "Nahr el Falik" to "Nahr el Falyk"
+p. 147--typo fixed, changed "Abou Aweigila" to "Abu Aweigila"
+p. 147--typo fixed, changed "Birel Abd" to "Bir-el-Abd"
+p. 147--typo fixed, changed "Beth-Horon" to "Beth-horon"
+p. 148--typo fixed, changed "Maza" to "Mazar"
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of With the British Army in The Holy Land, by 
+Henry Osmond Lock
+
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+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of With The British Army In The Holy Land, by Major H. O. Lock
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of With the British Army in The Holy Land, by 
+Henry Osmond Lock
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
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+
+
+Title: With the British Army in The Holy Land
+
+Author: Henry Osmond Lock
+
+Release Date: November 16, 2006 [EBook #19822]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE HOLY LAND ***
+
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+</pre>
+
+<h1>With the British Army<br /> in the Holy Land</h1>
+
+<h4 style="padding-top: 3em;">BY</h4>
+
+<h2>MAJOR H.&nbsp;O. LOCK</h2>
+
+<h6 style="padding-bottom: 4em;">THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT</h6>
+
+<h5>WITH MAPS</h5>
+
+<p class="publisher">
+LONDON: ROBERT SCOTT<br />
+ROXBURGHE HOUSE<br />
+PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.<br />
+1919<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td class="td1">PAGE</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Egypt and the Suez Canal</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">Modern Egypt&mdash;Military Geography of Egypt&mdash;The Eastern
+Boundary&mdash;Outbreak of War, 1914&mdash;Invasion of Egypt by
+the Turks&mdash;The Dardanelles&mdash;Defence Problem at the Opening of 1916.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Desert of Sinai</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_10">10</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">Across the Canal&mdash;The Military Railway&mdash;The Pipe-line&mdash;Kantara&mdash;Oghratina,
+Katia and Dueidar&mdash;Romani&mdash;Bir-el-Abd&mdash;El Arish&mdash;Maghdaba&mdash;Magruntein
+and Rafa&mdash;Sea-borne Supplies&mdash;Khan Yunus&mdash;The Land of Promise&mdash;Personnel.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mesopotamia, the Caucasus, and the Hejaz</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">Landing in Mesopotamia&mdash;1915 Operations&mdash;Kut&mdash;Baghdad&mdash;Consolidation&mdash;Interdependence
+of Mesopotamia and Palestine&mdash;Caucasus&mdash;Collapse
+of Russia&mdash;The Yemen&mdash;Revolt of the Hejaz&mdash;Mecca&mdash;Medina&mdash;Maan&mdash;Arab
+Co-operation in Eastern Palestine.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Palestine</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">General Idea&mdash;A Comprehensive View&mdash;The Sea&mdash;Sand Dunes&mdash;Coastal
+Plain&mdash;<ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'Judaean'">Jud&aelig;an</ins> Hills&mdash;Jordan Valley&mdash;Eastern Palestine&mdash;Armageddon&mdash;Climate&mdash;Railways&mdash;Population.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Gaza</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">History&mdash;Importance of Situation&mdash;Topography&mdash;First Battle of
+Gaza&mdash;Second Battle of Gaza&mdash;Reorganization of the Egyptian
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span>Expeditionary Force.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Trench Warfare</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">Fresh Arrivals&mdash;Journey to Railhead&mdash;Acclimatization&mdash;The
+Turkish Line&mdash;The British Line&mdash;Campaigning Conditions&mdash;Flies
+and Dust&mdash;Morale&mdash;Humorous Incidents&mdash;Spies&mdash;Raiding and
+Shelling&mdash;Defences at the Apex&mdash;Preparations for the Offensive.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Gaza and Beersheba</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">General Plan of the Battle&mdash;Reasons&mdash;Water&mdash;Transport&mdash;Bombardment
+of Gaza&mdash;Capture of Beersheba&mdash;Infantry Attack on
+Gaza&mdash;Counter-attack at <ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'Khuweilfah'">Khuweilfeh</ins>&mdash;Attack on Sheria&mdash;Evacuation
+of Gaza&mdash;Retreat of the Enemy&mdash;The Apex&mdash;Shelling and Raids.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Full Cry</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">Flight of the Enemy&mdash;Cavalry Pursuit&mdash;Crossing No Man's Land&mdash;Infantry
+Pursuit&mdash;Water&mdash;Arak-el-Menshiyeh Demonstration&mdash;Mesmiyeh
+Engagement&mdash;Junction Station Captured&mdash;Naaneh&mdash;Gezer&mdash;Jaffa&mdash;Summary of the Situation.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Neby Samwil</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">Routes into the Hills&mdash;Bireh&mdash;Scheme of Operations&mdash;The Saris
+Pass&mdash;Contrast with Hill Fighting in India&mdash;Enab&mdash;Neby Samwil&mdash;The
+Key to Jerusalem&mdash;Consolidation and Reliefs.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Jerusalem</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">The 20th Corps Movements&mdash;The New Line&mdash;Counter-attacks&mdash;Final
+Advance&mdash;Fighting round Jerusalem&mdash;The Enemy Outman&oelig;uvred&mdash;Surrender
+of the City&mdash;General Allenby's Entry and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span>Proclamation.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Holy City</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">Sacred to the Jew, the Christian and the Moslem&mdash;The Kings&mdash;Nebuchadnezzar&mdash;Nehemiah&mdash;Alexander&mdash;Ptolemy
+I&mdash;Antiochus&mdash;The Maccabees&mdash;Pompey&mdash;Herod&mdash;Christ&mdash;Titus&mdash;Hadrian&mdash;Constantine&mdash;Chosroes&mdash;Islam&mdash;The
+Crusaders&mdash;Saladin&mdash;Richard&mdash;The
+Kharezmians&mdash;Expulsion of the Crusaders&mdash;<ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'Tamberlane'">Tamerlane</ins>&mdash;The
+Ottomans&mdash;Napoleon&mdash;Mohammed Ali&mdash;Routes taken by the several Invaders.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Junction Station and Ludd</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">Chaos&mdash;Looting&mdash;Turkish Hospital&mdash;Prisoners of War&mdash;Vale of
+Sorek&mdash;Town Planning&mdash;Movements of Troops&mdash;Railway Development&mdash;Bridges&mdash;Armoured
+Train&mdash;Junction Station Superseded by Ludd&mdash;Development of Ludd&mdash;St. George.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Jordan</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">Attempt to Retake Jerusalem&mdash;Winter in Palestine&mdash;Jericho&mdash;Advancing
+the Line&mdash;Crossing the Jordan&mdash;Raid on Amman&mdash;Raid on Shunat Nimrin.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Wadi Deir Ballut</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_116">116</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">Crossing the Auja&mdash;Front Line Life in March&mdash;Musketry&mdash;Aircraft&mdash;Flowers&mdash;Wadi
+Deir Ballut&mdash;Capture of Deir Ballut Ridge.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Mountains of Ephraim</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">The New Line&mdash;Turkish Reinforcements&mdash;Method of Holding the
+Line&mdash;A Patrol Incident&mdash;Capture of Ikba.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Rafat</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span>Arara&mdash;Rafat&mdash;Three Bushes Hill&mdash;Collapse in France&mdash;Reorganization.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">the Crowning Victory</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">Situation in September, 1918&mdash;The Terrain&mdash;Preparations&mdash;Mugheir&mdash;The
+Sweep from Rafat to the Sea&mdash;Cavalry&mdash;Deraa&mdash;The
+Turkish Rout&mdash;Eastern Palestine&mdash;Sea of Galilee&mdash;Damascus&mdash;Summary of Results.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></td><td class="td3"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td class="td2">Pursuit&mdash;Beyrout&mdash;Aleppo&mdash;Armistices&mdash;Close of the War&mdash;Cross
+and Crescent&mdash;R&eacute;sum&eacute;.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<hr />
+<h2 style="padding-top: 1em;">SKETCH MAPS</h2>
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td class="td1">PAGE</td></tr>
+<tr><td>I</td><td class="td4"><span class="smcap"><a href="#railways">Railways in 1914</a></span></td><td>1</td></tr>
+<tr><td>II</td><td class="td4"><span class="smcap"><a href="#gaza">Gaza and Beersheba</a></span></td><td>51</td></tr>
+<tr><td>III</td><td class="td4"><span class="smcap"><a href="#country">Country round Jerusalem</a></span></td><td>79</td></tr>
+<tr><td>IV</td><td class="td4"><span class="smcap"><a href="#railways_1918">Railways in 1918</a></span></td><td>101</td></tr>
+<tr><td>V</td><td class="td4"><span class="smcap"><a href="#rafat">Country round Rafat</a></span></td><td>117<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span></td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2>NOTE</h2>
+
+<p>My aim in compiling this little book has been to provide a short account
+of the Palestine campaign, illustrated from the experiences of one who
+was present.</p>
+
+<p>The manuscript was written on active service, soon after the occurrence
+of the events recorded. It may, on this account, be sketchy, but, it is
+hoped, not the less interesting.</p>
+
+<p>My acknowledgments are due to the Official Despatches and publications,
+and also to the writings of Mr. W.&nbsp;T. Massey, Official Correspondent with
+the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.</p>
+
+<p class="right">H.&nbsp;O.&nbsp;L.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">In the Field, 1918.</span></p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><a name="railways" id="railways"></a><a href="./images/1415.jpg"><img src="./images/1415_th.jpg"
+alt="Railways in 1914" title="Railways in 1914" /></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p>
+<p class="figcenter"><span class="smcap">Railways in 1914</span></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h1 style="padding-top: 2em;"><a name="WITH_THE_BRITISH_ARMY_IN_THE_HOLY_LAND" id="WITH_THE_BRITISH_ARMY_IN_THE_HOLY_LAND"></a>WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN<br /> THE HOLY LAND</h1>
+
+
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h3>
+
+<h2>EGYPT AND THE SUEZ CANAL</h2>
+
+
+<p>The Holy Land has been the scene of war since the dawn of History. Long
+before Belgium became the cock-pit of Europe, Palestine was the cock-pit
+of the known world. Here, on the high road between Asia and Africa, were
+fought the great wars of Egyptians and Assyrians, Israelites and
+Canaanites, Greeks and Romans, Saracens and Crusaders. With these few
+square miles are associated the names of the world's greatest soldiers
+no less than that of the Prince of Peace. None can fail to be interested
+in the latest campaign in this Land of Armageddon.</p>
+
+<p>To understand the causes and events that led up to the campaign in
+Palestine of 1917-1918, we must first summarize, as shortly as possible,
+the modern history of Egypt. That country had for many centuries formed
+an integral part of the Turkish Empire. But she had been rapidly
+slipping from the grasp of the Turk. Early in the nineteenth century
+Mohamed Ali had effectually thrown off the Turkish yoke. True, the
+Turkish suzerainty remained; but that authority was little more than
+nominal and was represented by an annual money tribute paid to the Porte
+by the Khedive out of the revenues of Egypt.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Both France and England had large financial interests in Egypt,
+especially after the construction of the Suez Canal, which was opened
+for traffic in 1869.</p>
+
+<p>The Suez Canal, in fact, became of vital importance to Great Britain. By
+a stroke of policy the British Government acquired the shares of the
+almost bankrupt Khedive, Ismail Pasha, and thus had a holding in the
+company worth several million pounds. But far more important to Britain
+was the position of the Canal as the great artery of the British Empire,
+the most vulnerable point on the short sea route to India. Thus Britain
+became directly concerned in the affairs of Egypt, in its internal
+administration to secure peace within, and in its military defence to
+secure the country in general, and the Canal zone in particular, from
+invasion by a foreign enemy.</p>
+
+<p>But the affairs of Egypt were in a most unsatisfactory condition. The
+army was wholly unreliable, and extravagance in high places had brought
+the exchequer to the verge of bankruptcy. In 1882 matters reached a
+crisis. A revolution broke out, headed by Arabi Pasha, and the situation
+looked desperate. Joint naval and military action by Britain and France
+was proposed, but the French ships sailed away and left Britain with a
+free hand. The British fleet bombarded the Forts at Alexandria and a
+military force, based on the Suez Canal, was landed at Ismailia. This
+force completely defeated the army of Arabi Pasha at Tel-el-Kebir, put
+down the rebellion, and restored the government of the then Khedive,
+Tewfik Pasha. But the Khedivial government had been unable to cope with
+the rebellion single-handed; it had only been restored to power by
+British arms; it could not hope to retain that power unless continuously
+backed by the power of Britain.</p>
+
+<p>From this time forward, whether she liked it or not, Britain found
+herself effectually saddled with the direction of the government of
+Egypt. In this position she became more fully confirmed by the
+Anglo-Egyptian military operations<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> against the Soudan in 1885, under
+Gordon, and in 1898, under Kitchener. Outstanding differences with
+France were dispelled on the conclusion of the Anglo-French Entente
+Cordiale, and Britain was left virtually mistress of Egypt.</p>
+
+<p>Let us look for a minute at the military geography of Egypt,
+particularly with regard to the security of her frontiers from invasion.
+Egypt consists, or prior to the seventies consisted, of the Nile, its
+valley and delta, and the country rendered fertile by that river. On
+either side of this fertile belt is dry, barren desert. On the north is
+the Mediterranean Sea, and on the south the tropical Soudan. Thus, in
+the hands of a power that holds the command of the sea, Egypt is well
+adapted for defence. The tropical Soudan makes a well-nigh impossible
+line of advance for a large hostile force from the south, and the routes
+of approach from the east and from the west, across the waterless
+deserts, present obstacles scarcely less formidable. Since the
+seventies, however, another important factor has entered the problem,
+namely, the Suez Canal and the area of cultivation and civilization
+which has sprung up along its banks. The large amount of fresh water
+required for the maintenance of the Canal, for the use of the towns that
+have sprung up along its banks, and for the existence of the large
+population which the Canal has attracted, is brought by a Canal known as
+the Sweet Water Canal, from the river Nile. This Sweet Water Canal, and
+the piped services which it supplied, were, in 1914, wholly upon the
+western or Egyptian side of the Suez Canal. This western side was also
+well provided with communications. Trunk railways connected Ismailia, at
+the centre of the Canal, with Cairo and Alexandria, and lateral
+railways, running along the whole length of the Canal, connected it with
+Port Said and Suez.</p>
+
+<p>Although, as was subsequently discovered, the problem of defending the
+Suez Canal was by no means the same as that of defending Egypt, the
+problems may, at first sight, appear identical. An enemy force moving
+from Palestine against<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> the Suez Canal and Egypt, would have to cross a
+comparatively waterless desert for a distance of over a hundred miles.
+On coming into collision with the defenders of the Canal, such an enemy
+would be operating far from his base, with a long and vulnerable line of
+communications, and with little or no available fresh water. The
+defenders, operating along the line of the Suez Canal, would be close to
+their base, with admirable communications, both lateral and to the rear,
+and with the rich cultivated lands of Egypt on which to draw for
+supplies, whilst their supply of fresh water would be unlimited.</p>
+
+<p>The boundary line between Egypt and Palestine in 1914 ran from Rafa, on
+the Mediterranean, to the head of the Gulf of Akaba, the north-eastern
+arm of the Red Sea. This line runs right across the desert and is
+distant about 120 miles from the Suez Canal. At first sight the boundary
+seems ideal, and in so far as the defence of Egypt alone was concerned,
+it left little or nothing to be desired. But, as subsequent events
+proved, this line was not good enough to safeguard the defences of the
+Canal.</p>
+
+<p>On the outbreak of war, in August, 1914, between Germany and
+Austria-Hungary on the one hand, and Great Britain, France, Russia and
+Belgium on the other, the garrison of Egypt was augmented by troops sent
+out from England and India and from Australia. The Suez Canal, through
+which vast numbers of troops were passing, was of vital importance to
+the communications of the allies, and was strongly guarded accordingly.
+Two months later (November 5), Turkey threw in her hand with the Central
+Powers. One of the baits held out by Germany to induce the Turks to
+enter the struggle, was a promise that they should be restored to
+complete supremacy in Egypt. With the entering of Turkey into the war,
+and her open threats to invade Egypt, the protection of that country and
+of the Canal became a matter of extreme urgency.</p>
+
+<p>The policy of defence adopted was that of making the line of the Canal
+the line of resistance. A large portion of the low-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>lying desert to the
+north-east of the Canal was flooded, so as to render approach by that
+direction impossible. Warships took up stations in the Canal itself,
+while naval patrol launches took over the duty of guarding the Bitter
+Lakes. The troops detailed for the defence of the Canal itself were
+entrenched upon the western side, with reserves concentrated at points
+of tactical importance. In this way full advantage was taken of the
+lateral communications on the western side of the Canal, while it was
+thought that the difficulties of crossing the desert on the eastern side
+would make approach by the Turks well-nigh impossible.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the Turk was not letting the grass grow under his feet.
+Whether the Germans ever intended to pay the price for Turkish adhesion
+by sending a strong enough force to make the invasion of Egypt
+practicable is open to doubt. The Turkish rank and file were certainly
+led to believe that a serious invasion of Egypt was intended. But it is
+much more likely that the object of the Germans was to detain as large a
+British force as possible in Egypt and thus prevent their taking part in
+the fighting in France. A secondary object may have been to render the
+Suez Canal temporarily impassable. Whatever may have been the chestnuts
+that Germany hoped to get out of the fire, it was clear that Turkey was
+willing to act as catspaw, and attempt a foolhardy invasion of Egypt.
+Consequently, the construction of a new military railway in Syria was
+put in hand, and by January, 1915, the Turks had formed advanced posts
+at Auja, on the frontier, and also at Kosseima, El Arish, and Khan
+Epenus in the desert. The problem of water supply has always presented a
+difficulty to armies crossing this waterless desert. There are a certain
+number of reservoirs and cisterns which hold up water during the rains.
+In the winter time these would be full. The Turk is less particular
+about the water which he drinks than the white man, and doubtless he
+could, to some extent, be supplied from some of the brackish pools in
+the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> desert, with water that no one would think of offering to a British
+soldier.</p>
+
+<p>The light pontoons that the Turks dragged across the desert for crossing
+the Canal are said to have been used for carrying water during certain
+stages of the advance. Suffice it to say that the Turks did succeed in
+solving the water problem, and in crossing the desert with a force of
+some considerable strength.</p>
+
+<p>On the 3rd February, 1915, the threatened attack materialized. Before
+dawn, some of the light pontoons which the Turks had brought with them,
+were launched on the Canal. These were manned, while other Turks
+deployed along the eastern bank and opened fire to cover the crossing.
+The troops defending this portion of the Canal, mostly Indians, opened
+fire upon the pontoons, with the result that many of them were sunk. Two
+of the pontoons, however, reached the western bank, and their crews,
+numbering about twenty, surrendered. There was fighting throughout the
+day, but no further crossing of the Canal. On the next day the east bank
+was swept, with the result that a considerable party of the enemy were
+captured. After this, the Turks withdrew, and marched back to Palestine.
+This was the only time that a formed body of the enemy succeeded in
+reaching the Canal. But they had shown that it was possible for them to
+achieve the almost impossible, and thus they gave the authorities
+responsible for the defence of Egypt much food for thought.</p>
+
+<p>The menace to Egypt was for a time delayed, though not wholly removed,
+by the expedition against the Dardanelles.</p>
+
+<p>To co-operate with our Russian allies, the British Government decided,
+early in 1915, to attempt to force the passage of the Dardanelles. The
+strategic gains promised were highly attractive, and included&mdash;the
+passage of arms and munitions from the allies to Russia in exchange for
+wheat, the neutrality and possible adherence of the outstanding Balkan
+States, the severing of communications between European and Asiatic
+Turkey, the drawing off of Turkish troops from the theatres of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> the war,
+and the expulsion of the Turks from Constantinople, and ultimately from
+Europe. Incidentally, it was considered, on the principle that the best
+defensive is an offensive, that a thrust at the very heart of Turkey, a
+threat against Constantinople itself, would afford the best means of
+defending Egypt.</p>
+
+<p>The story of the Dardanelles expedition has been often told, and
+scarcely forms a part of this history, so a few words must suffice. In
+February, 1915, we started by bombarding the forts with a few old
+warships. The forts at the outer entrance were soon silenced, and early
+in March, the warships moved up to the Narrows. On the 18th, a great
+effort was made to reduce the forts about the Narrows; but it failed,
+with the loss of three battleships and more than 2,000 men. This
+demonstrated the fact that the Dardanelles could never be opened by sea
+power alone, and, accordingly, amphibious operations became necessary.
+An expeditionary force was assembled in Egypt, and Mudros was selected
+as the advanced base. On April 25, landings were effected on the extreme
+point of the Gallipoli Peninsula. In spite of heroic attempts, we did
+little more than effect a precarious lodgment. Further operations were
+necessary; additional divisions were brought out from home; and on the
+night of the 6th/7th August, another landing was effected at Suvla Bay.
+But the new plan was no more successful than the old. Within a couple of
+days this force also had settled down to a war of positions. Winter was
+approaching; our positions on the peninsula would then become no longer
+tenable. No progress could be made, and at length it was decided to
+evacuate. The Suvla Bay force was withdrawn first; and the evacuation of
+the main body of troops was completed on the 20th December. The
+withdrawal was carried out with the same brilliance that had
+characterized the various landings, and with so small a number of
+casualties that it was described as "an achievement without parallel in
+the annals of war."</p>
+
+<p>Many of the regiments that fought against the Turks at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> Gallipoli were
+withdrawn, directly or indirectly to Egypt, and subsequently met the
+Turk again during the advance into Palestine. Included among these were
+the 10th, 52nd, 53rd and 54th Divisions, besides regiments of Anzacs and
+Yeomanry. In so far as the Dardanelles operations aimed at protecting
+Egypt, they were a success; for, while they were in progress, no
+organized invasion of Egypt was attempted. But the evacuation had the
+effect of liberating a large force of Turkey's best troops for
+operations against Mesopotamia and Egypt.</p>
+
+<p>It would be convenient to pause here and take stock of the military
+situation in Egypt, in the light of over a year's experience of actual
+war.</p>
+
+<p>In the first place, the Turks had disillusioned us as to the
+impossibility of crossing the waterless desert, and had actually crossed
+it with a considerable armed and organized force. They announced that
+what they had effected had been nothing more than a reconnaissance. In
+any case, they had shown us what they could do, and that, backed by the
+resources of the Central Powers, there would be no insuperable obstacle
+to their bringing a large and fully equipped army across the desert.</p>
+
+<p>In the second place, we had discovered that the problems of defending
+the Suez Canal and of defending Egypt were not identical. While the
+Canal formed an admirable moat, an obstacle difficult to negotiate when
+stoutly defended, and so a capital defensive line for the protection of
+the Nile; yet this line was inadequate for the protection of the Canal
+itself or for securing the immunity of the passing shipping.</p>
+
+<p>And so, thirdly, we realized that some other line must be found for the
+protection of the Canal. While we were sitting on the west bank, small
+parties of Turks approached the eastern bank. On more than one occasion,
+in the summer of 1915, they succeeded in placing mines in the fairway of
+the Canal. It would, therefore, have been quite possible for them to
+have seriously interfered with the working of the Canal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> and the passage
+of shipping. Granted that a new line must be found, the question arises
+where such new line should be drawn. A line across the actual desert may
+be all very well in war time, though none too easy to hold, for the
+reasons that we have already discussed. But to keep a garrison on such a
+line for ever would be well-nigh intolerable. Thus, by a process of
+elimination, we find that the most suitable line for the permanent
+defence of the Suez Canal is the fertile country beyond the eastern
+desert&mdash;in other words, Palestine.</p>
+
+<p>Fourthly, it had been brought home to us that the worst form of defence
+is a passive defence. As, therefore, the Turk would not leave well
+alone, but insisted on attacking us in Egypt, so it became necessary for
+us to meet him on his own ground, to push a vigorous offensive, and
+eventually to carry the war into Palestine.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h3>
+
+<h2>THE DESERT OF SINAI</h2>
+
+
+<p>In accordance with the policy of defending the Suez Canal upon a line
+further east, the construction of a new defensive line was put in hand
+during the early months of 1916. No longer were the Turks to be allowed
+to annoy us by actually reaching the Canal. A line of trenches,
+protected by barbed wire entanglements, was constructed out in the
+desert, a few miles to the east of the Canal. As may be imagined, this
+was no easy task. A large amount of excavation was necessary for a small
+amount of trench; walls had to be built up with sandbags; and other
+steps had to be taken to prevent the sides from foundering, and to
+construct a work that would withstand shell fire.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, other preparations were put in hand for carrying the
+defensive line further to the east. The construction was commenced of a
+broad gauge of railway from Kantara eastwards across the desert. This
+railway eventually became the trunk line between Egypt and Palestine. In
+the days of trench warfare before Gaza, it transported freight trains
+heavily laden with rations and ammunitions, troop trains conveying
+officers and men in open trucks, hospital trains evacuating sick and
+wounded, and an all-sleeping-car express running nightly in each
+direction. In 1918, a swing-bridge was improvised across the Suez Canal,
+and Jerusalem and Cairo were then connected by rail without change of
+carriage being necessary. The future prospects of this railway seem
+unbounded. It will undoubtedly be continued through to Damascus and
+Aleppo, where it will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> connect with railways to Constantinople and to
+Baghdad and the Persian Gulf. Thus it will form part of a grand trunk
+railway system along the old caravan routes connecting the three
+continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. In its conception, it was just a
+military railway, laid, with but little preparation, across the sands of
+the desert. To this railway, however, was largely due the success of the
+campaign that we are about to consider.</p>
+
+<p>We have already seen that the Sinaitic Desert is almost waterless.
+Although it has often been crossed by invading armies in both
+directions, the provision of water has always presented the greatest
+difficulty. The carriage of water in tanks upon the backs of camels, a
+method used by us for locally supplying troops between water dumps and
+the headquarters of units, proved successful here thousands of years
+ago. The plan adopted by the Turks of dragging water-holding pontoons
+across the desert was not to be despised. Further progress was made when
+supplies of water were transported in tank-trucks along the railway. But
+a bolder adaptation of modern science to desert fighting was reached,
+when it was decided to lay on a piped supply of water from the Nile.</p>
+
+<p>We have seen that the western bank of the Suez Canal was already
+provided with a plentiful supply of fresh water by the Sweet Water
+Canal. Plant was now installed for making this water available for the
+troops. Purity had to be considered as well as adequacy of supply. A
+peculiar danger had to be guarded against. There is a disease prevalent
+in Egypt, of a particularly unpleasant character and persistent type,
+called by the medical profession Bilhaziosis, but better known to our
+men as "Bill Harris." This disease is conveyed by a parasitic worm found
+in the waters of the Nile, and affects not only those who drink the
+water, but also those who bathe in it or merely wash. Consequently,
+orders were stringent against even touching Nile water which had not
+previously been treated. This necessitated the troops east of the Canal
+being put upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> a very restricted supply, and they were accordingly
+rationed at the rate of a gallon of water per head per day for all
+purposes, including washing, cooking and drinking. At the Kantara
+waterworks water was drawn in from the Sweet Water Canal, mixed with
+alum, and pumped through settling tanks into filters. When it had passed
+through these, it was pumped underneath the Suez Canal into reservoirs
+on the eastern bank. Here it was chlorinated; and hence the water, now
+fit for all purposes, was pumped forward to its destination. There being
+no gradient to assist the natural flow of the water, it had to be pumped
+forward by successive stages. The first stage was as far as Romani; when
+working at greatest length the pumping stages numbered no less than
+seventeen. At times, during the advance, the railway had to be called in
+aid; and train-loads of water for the use of advanced troops were railed
+from pipe-head up to rail-head. At some stages of the advance this
+supply could be supplemented by local water, which, though generally
+somewhat brackish, was employed for the horses, mules and camels. It was
+even found to have no ill-effect upon the troops, if used for a limited
+period, and if necessary precautions were taken. At other stages, where
+water was non-existent, or rendered wholly unapproachable by enemy
+dispositions, our force became entirely dependent upon the supply
+delivered through the pipe-line. Ultimately, when we settled down to
+protracted trench warfare before Gaza, this pipe-line was delivering a
+constant supply of water into our trenches, distant some couple of
+hundred miles from the banks of the Nile.</p>
+
+<p>Kantara started upon a process of development worthy of the base of such
+an expedition. Before the war, it had been little more than a small
+Canal village, comprising a few huts. It eventually grew into an
+important railway terminus with wharves and cranes, a railway ferry and
+40 miles of sidings. Miles of first-class macadamized roads were made,
+vast ordnance and supply dumps arose, and camps and depots were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>
+established for man and beast. The scale on which this mushroom town
+developed was stupendous.</p>
+
+<p>Early in 1916, the Turks, relieved from imminent danger near home by our
+evacuation of Gallipoli, came down again in force through Syria,
+Palestine and the Desert, to attack us in Egypt. Our construction gangs,
+engaged upon the new railway and upon the development of local water
+supplies, were at this time covered by escorts, mainly of cavalry,
+spread out upon a wide front. On the 23rd of April several thousand
+Turks, operating in three columns, attacked our desert posts at
+Oghratina, Katia and Dueidar respectively, the two former being about 30
+miles and the last named about 10 miles to the east of Kantara.
+Oghratina and Katia, being well out in the desert, were cavalry posts
+held by yeomanry. These two posts were rushed by a large force of the
+enemy under cover of fog, and, though a stubborn resistance was offered,
+and the fighting was severe, the posts were overwhelmed. At Dueidar, an
+infantry post, some 20 miles or so nearer our base, the Turk was less
+successful. Under cover of the same fog, about 900 Turks tried to rush
+this post at dawn. They found the garrison standing to, and were beaten
+off. Though they made three distinct attempts to break through, they
+were unsuccessful. The garrison was reinforced and the Turks were
+repulsed.</p>
+
+<p>In order to hamper or prevent such bodies of Turks from again crossing
+the desert and approaching the Canal, it was decided to draw off the
+local water supplies in the desert. Accordingly, these supplies, mainly
+in pools and cisterns constructed by men in a bygone age, were
+systematically pumped or drained dry. By the end of June, no water was
+left available for enemy use within easy reach of the Canal. From this
+time forward the enemy attempted no more sporadic raids. He concentrated
+instead upon a serious attack against our main positions, which attack
+materialized at Romani.</p>
+
+<p>By July, 1916, our railway had reached the village of Romani, which is
+some 25 miles from Kantara, and is in the neighbour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>hood of Oghratina
+and Katia, where the enemy had secured his success in April. The Turkish
+force had been stiffened with Germans and Austrians, and was under the
+command of the German General Von Kressenstein. It moved from the
+Turkish railroad at Auja on the frontier, and advanced by way of
+Maghdaba and the Wadi El Arish to El Arish, and thence westward along
+the caravan route towards Egypt. This force had been well equipped and
+trained for this class of warfare, and it succeeded in dragging heavy
+guns across the desert byroads which it improvised for the purpose.
+Making his advanced base at Bir-el-Abd, the enemy first occupied and
+fortified a line about Mageiba. On the morning of the 3rd August, he
+made a general advance, and took up a line fronting our position at
+Romani. Here our left flank rested on the sea; the left of the line was
+held by the 52nd Division, while the 53rd Division was on the right. The
+East Lancashire Division was in reserve. The right flank comprised a
+chain of posts, behind which were a force of cavalry. The weak point
+was, therefore, our right flank, for a little force working round by the
+south would threaten our communications and might possibly cut us off
+from our reinforcements down the line and from our base at Kantara.
+Accordingly, on the night of the 3rd/4th, one Light Horse Brigade moved
+out to hold a three-miles line from our infantry post on the right,
+sending out patrols a considerable distance in front. About midnight,
+the enemy were found to be advancing in this direction. Before light
+next morning this Brigade were heavily engaged, holding up the advance
+of a considerable body of the enemy. Gradually the Brigade were pressed
+back by weight of numbers, until, at about five o'clock in the morning,
+the timely arrival of reinforcements secured the complete arrest of the
+enemy advance in this direction. Soon after daylight the enemy swung
+round his left flank and established himself upon Mount Royston. This
+enforced upon us a further retirement; but he had reached the limit of
+his success. Towards the sea, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> enemy attacks against the 52nd
+Division were beaten off, and here he could make no progress. At about
+5.30 in the afternoon, a counter-attack was launched against Mount
+Royston, and this position was recaptured. Early on the following
+morning, the 5th, before daylight, the 52nd Division recaptured
+Wellington Ridge, the last of our lost positions remaining in the hands
+of the Turk. The tide had now turned definitely in our favour and the
+Turk was in full retreat. An attempt was made to encircle his southern
+flank and to cut him off with our cavalry, but his rearguard actions
+were fought stubbornly, and the pursuing cavalry had to be withdrawn.
+During the night of the 5th/6th, the enemy evacuated Katia, which was
+occupied by us on the following morning. By the 8th, he had abandoned
+Oghratina, and had fallen back to his advanced base at Bir-el-Abd. From
+this base he now proceeded to evacuate camps and stores, but he was not
+allowed to do so unmolested. He was followed up by the whole of our
+cavalry and effectually shelled by our horse artillery. On the afternoon
+and evening of this day (the 8th) the Turk counter-attacked our cavalry,
+who were clearly outnumbered. Nevertheless the Turk considered it more
+prudent to burn the remainder of his stores. He completed the evacuation
+of Abd by the 12th, and it remained in our hands from this time forward.
+This abortive advance against Romani marked the last determined attempt
+of the Turks to invade the Suez Canal and Egypt. Henceforth the efforts
+of the Turks were confined to opposing the storm which their misguided
+cupidity had raised up against them.</p>
+
+<p>After the battle of Romani, our mounted troops held a line about Abd.
+The enemy now consolidated a position at Mazar, a little more than 20
+miles further to the east. In the middle of September, a cavalry column
+moved out to Mazar and attacked the Turkish positions. Neither side was
+anxious to bring on a general engagement at that time. However, the
+losses which the Turk suffered in this operation caused him sufficient<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>
+uneasiness to induce him to withdraw altogether from Mazar. He therefore
+withdrew his troops to a position close to El Arish.</p>
+
+<p>The Turkish garrison at El Arish consisted of some 1,600 infantry in
+all, in a strong entrenched position. In the second week of December
+increased activity was shown by the Turks, and aerial reconnaissance of
+their camps behind their front line showed evidence of the proximity of
+reinforcements. Our preparations for a forward move were pressed on
+strenuously, and, though they were somewhat delayed through lack of
+water, we were ready to move by the 20th December. The enemy realized
+that the swiftness of our final preparations had been too much for him.
+Knowing that his reinforcements could not arrive in time, he hurriedly
+withdrew his troops from El Arish. This retirement was reported by the
+R.F.C. on the 20th December, and our mounted troops, supported by
+infantry, were ordered to move on El Arish the same night. The town was
+found to be evacuated. Aircraft reports showed that about 1,600 of the
+enemy were on the march, in two columns, in the neighbourhood of
+Maghdaba and Abu Aweigila, while Sheikh Zowaid and Rafa appeared to be
+clear. The enemy were evidently not retreating by the caravan route
+towards Gaza, but were falling back southwards by the Wadi El Arish (the
+Biblical "River of Egypt") upon their rail-head at Auja.</p>
+
+<p>This evidence went to show that the garrison which had recently
+evacuated El Arish were at Maghdaba, and it seemed likely that this
+force were preparing to hold Maghdaba as a rearguard. A flying column of
+cavalry was immediately despatched against them from El Arish. This
+column found the enemy strongly posted and entrenched on both banks of
+the Wadi El Arish. An attack was set in motion on the morning of the
+23rd December, and lasted for the greater part of the day. By half-past
+four that afternoon, however, all organized resistance was over, and the
+enemy were surrender<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>ing everywhere. No further advance was attempted
+along the enemy's line of communications towards Auja, and the troops,
+being but a flying column, retired at once to El Arish.</p>
+
+<p>Within a few days after the destruction at Maghdaba of the rearguard, or
+garrison withdrawing from El Arish, another body of the enemy started to
+entrench a position at Magruntein near Rafa. This was obviously intended
+to bar our progress eastwards along the coastal route, the old caravan
+route to Gaza. Rafa is the frontier town upon the Turco-Egyptian
+frontier. The operation to which we are about to refer was, therefore,
+the last engagement that took place upon Egyptian territory. It was not
+possible at the end of December for the British force to push on and
+occupy Rafa permanently, owing to difficulties of supply. But since the
+enemy had again placed a small detached garrison within striking
+distance of our mounted troops, the temptation was held out for a
+repetition of the Maghdaba success at Magruntein. Accordingly, a flying
+column, composed wholly of mounted troops and artillery, moved out from
+El Arish on the evening of the 8th/9th January, 1917. The enemy was
+taken completely by surprise, and by dawn on the 9th January his
+position was almost entirely surrounded. The position, however, was a
+formidable one, with ground in front entirely open and devoid of cover.
+The main attack was timed for ten o'clock a.m., and was delivered from
+the east and south-east. The town of Rafa was soon occupied, and, in the
+course of the morning, our attack against the Turkish system of defences
+developed on every side. The enemy's works were dominated by a central
+redoubt or keep, and orders were given for a concerted attack to be
+developed against this at 3.30 p.m. Meanwhile the enemy had despatched a
+relieving force from Shellal, which is about twenty miles to the
+south-east of Rafa and mid-way between that town and the nearest Turkish
+railway. This relieving force was detected by our aircraft, who
+frequently attacked it with bombs and machine gun fire. Orders<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> were at
+once given for the attack on the redoubt to be pressed with vigour, and,
+before five o'clock, the redoubt was captured. With this position in our
+hands, the remaining works soon fell, and by 5.30 p.m. all organized
+resistance was over, and the enemy position, with all its garrison, was
+captured. The relieving force were driven off without much difficulty,
+and withdrew, presumably, to Shellal, which thereafter became the
+enemy's next point of concentration. Our column, taking with them all
+prisoners, animals and captured material, withdrew again to El Arish.</p>
+
+<p>From the time of our occupation of El Arish on the 22nd December, that
+town developed apace. Mine-sweeping operations were at once commenced in
+the roadstead, a pier was erected, and, on the 24th, the supply ships
+from Port Said began unloading stores and supplies. The lie of the land
+gives unlimited opportunity to a power having the command of the sea to
+supplement his other means of bringing forward supplies by landing
+sea-borne goods upon the open beach. Repeatedly, in the subsequent
+history of this war, we availed ourselves of this means of supply, as
+our army moved northwards in Palestine. The landing of stores at El
+Arish, however, was not wholly successful, owing to the strong currents,
+a shelving and shifting beach, and heavy surf. In winter, the sea is apt
+to be stormy here, and then such landing may become impossible. Supplies
+were also hastened to El Arish by camel convoy, and dumps were
+accumulated. The railway was pushed on with and, before the end of
+January, the railway station at El Arish was completed; during the
+following month the railway was pushed further out along the coast
+preparatory to another advance.</p>
+
+<p>After the destruction of their post at Rafa, the Turks immediately began
+to concentrate their forces near Shellal. West of this place they
+prepared a strong defensive position near Weli Sheikh Nuran, with the
+object of covering their lines of communication both along the Beersheba
+railway and along<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> the Jerusalem-Hebron-Beersheba road. They also
+established themselves at Khan Yunus, on the coastal road a few miles to
+the east of Rafa. On the 23rd February, a reconnaissance was carried out
+against Khan Yunus. The column, arriving at dawn, found the position
+strongly held, and, after man&oelig;uvring the enemy out of his front line
+of defence and capturing prisoners, withdrew without difficulty.
+Continuous pressure maintained by our troops in this neighbourhood,
+however, induced the enemy to withdraw the garrison of Khan Yunus, which
+place was entered by our cavalry without opposition on the 28th
+February. The enemy also evacuated without firing a shot the position
+which he had prepared near <ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'Weli Sheikh Nura'">Weli Sheikh Nuran</ins>.</p>
+
+<p>Our troops had crossed the desert with success attending them at every
+stage. And now at last they had set foot in the Promised Land. Many of
+them must have felt, what a soldier was afterwards heard to express,
+"This may be the land of promise; it's certainly not the land of
+fulfilment." History repeats itself. As the Israelites had much trial
+and suffering to endure after reaching this stage of their journey from
+Egypt, before they were permitted to "go in and possess the land," so
+had our lads many a fierce and bloody battle to fight before they, too,
+might set foot within the Holy City.</p>
+
+<p>A few words as to personnel may not be out of place before we leave the
+subject of this Desert campaign. Throughout this time the
+Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force was General Sir
+Archibald Murray, G.C.M.G., K.C.B. A reorganization of the force took
+place in October, 1917, in consequence of which General Murray moved his
+headquarters back from Ismailia to Cairo. At the same time, the new
+headquarters of the Eastern Force came into existence at Ismailia under
+the command of Lieut.-General Sir Charles Dobell, K.C.B., C.M.G.,
+D.S.O., under whose direction thus came more immediately the operations
+in the eastern desert.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Amongst the troops employed were the Australians and New Zealanders and
+several regiments of English Yeomanry, and, included among the infantry,
+were the 52nd (Lowland), the 53rd (Welsh and Home Counties), the 54th
+(East Anglian) and the 74th (Dismounted Yeomanry) Divisions.</p>
+
+<p>This review of the advance across the desert has of necessity been
+superficial. Strictly speaking, the Desert campaign is outside the scope
+of this book. But a summarized history of the advance forms a necessary
+introduction to our subject. Here, on the threshold of Palestine, we
+must leave this army for a short space, while we review some other
+operations, and while we take a glance at the nature of the country in
+which this army was about to operate.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h3>
+
+<h2>MESOPOTAMIA, THE CAUCASUS, AND THE HEJAZ</h2>
+
+
+<p>Having taken a hurried glance at the campaign in Sinai, which directly
+led up to that in Palestine, we will take a yet more hurried glance at
+three other campaigns in Asiatic Turkey which had their bearing, direct
+or indirect, upon the Palestine operations.</p>
+
+<p>Most important among these was the expedition to Mesopotamia. In 1914,
+when Turkey came into the war against us, a British Indian Brigade was
+landed at the mouth of the Shatt-el-Arab, the common estuary by which
+the Tigris and the Euphrates reach the Persian Gulf. The objects of this
+expedition were to secure the oil-fields of Persia in which Britain was
+largely interested; to neutralize German ascendancy, which was rapidly
+developing in this part of the world through her interests in the
+Baghdad Railway; and to embarrass Turkey by attacking her at a point
+where facilities of man&oelig;uvre and supply seemed to hold out a
+reasonable promise of success.</p>
+
+<p>Throughout 1915 this expedition met with uninterrupted success. The
+British Indian forces engaged were increased in number and strength,
+and, in spite of appalling conditions of climate, and notwithstanding
+more than one narrow escape from disaster, the British flag was pushed
+further and further forward into this flat alluvial country. In the
+autumn of 1915, we held all the country up to Nasiriyeh on the Euphrates
+and to Kut el Amara on the Tigris. Then that ill-fated de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>cision was
+arrived at which sent General Townshend, with the inadequate force at
+his command, up the Tigris to capture Baghdad. This force went
+heroically forward, and, just short of that city, defeated the Turks at
+the battle of Ctesiphon. But General Townshend's casualties were heavy,
+and his available reinforcements were neither sufficiently numerous nor
+at hand. The pick of the Turkish army released by our withdrawal from
+Gallipoli, had poured down to reinforce the enemy, and General Townshend
+had no alternative but to beat a hasty retreat. Accordingly, he fell
+back to Kut el Amara. Partly from inability to get his war-worn forces
+further away, and partly from a disinclination to abandon this important
+tactical point to the enemy, he consolidated here and prepared to
+withstand a siege. The history of that siege will live as one of the
+noblest in the annals of the British army. But the stars in their
+courses fought against us. Strong enemy positions, inadequate supplies
+and transport arrangements, floods, and appalling conditions of country
+and weather, proved overwhelming. In spite of the unremitting efforts of
+the relieving army, which fought battle after battle without stint of
+labour or loss, the garrison of Kut found themselves, at the beginning
+of May, 1916, left with no alternative but to capitulate. Almost the
+whole of the garrison were removed into Asia Minor, to a captivity which
+few were destined to survive. Naturally the Turks were much elated by
+this success, following upon their successes in Gallipoli, and were
+persuaded that the might of the British arm was nothing which they need
+fear.</p>
+
+<p>Leaving a sufficient force to check any further British advance into
+Mesopotamia, the Turk withdrew the bulk of his forces to operate against
+the Russians and, perhaps wisely, made no great effort to dislodge us
+from the territory which we already occupied. The opposing forces sat
+down and watched each other for many months in the entrenched positions
+below Kut. In March of the following year, 1917, General Maude, on whom
+had fallen the command of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> British army in Mesopotamia, won a
+decisive victory at Kut; and, pursuing the remnants of the routed enemy,
+entered Baghdad. The Turks withdrew to the higher country north and
+north-east of the city, whither they were pursued. After these
+operations, the British were in occupation of the completed section of
+the Baghdad railway, which was then open from Baghdad as far north as
+Samarra. They also effected a junction with the Russian troops operating
+in Persia. In the following September, engagements were fought at Ramadi
+and elsewhere on the Euphrates, with the result that the Turkish
+garrisons were rounded up, and but few Turkish troops were left to
+oppose the British forces in Mesopotamia. Nevertheless, an immediate
+advance was not made up to Mosul and the upper territories of
+Mesopotamia. Owing to the collapse of Russia, it became necessary for us
+to take over some of the country in Persia, which had previously been
+occupied by Russian troops, and an expedition was also sent to assist
+the Armenians at Baku on the Caspian Sea. Other troops which could be
+spared from Mesopotamia were sent round, in the spring of 1918, to take
+part in the operations in Palestine, and the forces that remained were
+devoted to the garrisoning and consolidation of the territory already
+occupied.</p>
+
+<p>A glance at the map of Turkey in Asia will show that the provinces of
+Mesopotamia and Syria consist of long narrow strips of fertile country
+bordered by desert, and resemble two legs which fork at Aleppo.</p>
+
+<p>As far as Aleppo, troops and supplies from Europe passed over one common
+route. From the Turkish point of view, therefore, the campaigns in these
+two countries were to some extent interdependent. This enabled the Turks
+to concentrate a reserve at Aleppo, ready to be moved down into either
+theatre of war as the exigencies of the situation might demand.
+Conversely, therefore, a British offensive in Mesopotamia might draw off
+troops destined for Palestine, or an offensive in Palestine might
+attract troops otherwise intended for opera<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>tions in Mesopotamia. There
+is strong evidence that a Turco-German offensive was contemplated in
+Mesopotamia for 1918. In the spring of that year, however, a British
+offensive was undertaken in Palestine, which had the immediate effect of
+drawing to that country strong Turkish and German reinforcements from
+Aleppo. Nothing more was heard of the offensive in Mesopotamia, and, by
+the autumn of 1918, there was scarcely a fighting Turk to be found in
+that country. Just as our expedition against the Dardanelles, by
+engaging the enemy at a vital spot near home, had materially assisted
+the defence of Egypt, so did our offensives in Palestine materially
+assist the defence of Mesopotamia.</p>
+
+<p>Turning to another corner of the map of Turkey, where Europe and Asia
+meet in the mountains of the Caucasus, we see that the Turkish frontier
+here marches with that of Russia. In the earlier days of the war, the
+Russians carried out an important and successful advance in this
+neighbourhood, and, early in 1916, occupied the cities of Trebizond and
+Erzerum. Thus, at the time when the campaign in Palestine was embarked
+upon, the armies of the allies were closing in upon Eastern Turkey
+simultaneously from three directions, the Russian Caucasus army from the
+north-east, the British Mesopotamian army from the south-east, and the
+Egyptian Expeditionary Force from the south. Strategically, the
+situation seemed full of promise. But, in the winter of 1917-18,
+followed the disastrous collapse of Russia, and the setting free of many
+Turkish soldiers of good quality from all the Russian fronts for service
+elsewhere. We had hoped that our offensive in Syria might have been
+supported by the co-operation of the Russians. Instead, we felt the
+pinch of their defection in the stiffening of enemy resistance on our
+front by the transfer of good troops from the Caucasus to Palestine.</p>
+
+<p>There is yet another theatre of warfare in Asiatic Turkey, the
+operations in which exerted considerable influence on those in
+Palestine. The whole of the eastern shores of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> Red Sea formed part
+of the Ottoman Empire. The southernmost sector, known as the Yemen, was
+the farthest outpost of that Empire. Here a few Turks and Arabs
+conducted a sporadic warfare against our garrison at Aden, more
+calculated to cause annoyance and to detain a British force of some
+strength than to exercise much influence upon the war as a whole.</p>
+
+<p>Farther to the north, on this Red Sea littoral, is a province of much
+more importance, the Hejaz, in which are situate the most holy of cities
+in the Moslem world, Mecca and Medina. To Christians, the Hejaz is
+forbidden ground. To Mahomedans, it is the focus of pilgrimage from all
+parts of the world. The Sultan of Turkey, as the ruler of Mecca, is
+looked up to by the Sunni or orthodox Mahomedans in all lands as the
+spiritual head of their Church. Though rulers of the Hejaz, the Turks
+were not at one with the local population. These are Arabs, and to them
+the Turkish rule was as unpopular as to most other non-Turkish subjects
+of that decaying Empire. Profiting by Turkey's embarrassments in other
+parts, the Arabs rose in the summer of 1916, resolved on ridding
+themselves of the hated Turkish yoke. Sheikh Hussein of Mecca was
+proclaimed King of the Hejaz.</p>
+
+<p>At this time there were garrisons of Turkish troops stationed at Mecca,
+Medina and at the port of Jiddah. Their communication with Turkey was by
+the recently opened railway to Damascus and Aleppo. This railway, south
+of Damascus, ran along the high plateau on the eastern side of the Dead
+Sea, through Maan, and along the desert to Medina. The intention was to
+carry the line ultimately through to Mecca, but at this time it was only
+open for traffic as far as Medina. The revolt broke out on the 5th June,
+1916, at which date a cordon was spread round Medina. Jiddah was
+attacked on the 9th, and capitulated after holding out for only a week.
+The bulk of the Mecca garrison were at this time at Taif. Accordingly,
+the town of Mecca passed into the hands of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> Emir, with the exception
+of the ports. These put up a small fight, but had all surrendered by the
+middle of July. The force at Taif were blockaded, and, on the 23rd
+September, this force also surrendered. By this time, all the outlying
+garrisons had been disposed of, and the Hejaz generally cleared of
+Turks.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, Medina had not only held out, but had been reinforced, and
+the fighting strength brought up to some 14,000. Late in September, the
+Turks sallied out and established a cordon of posts at a distance of
+some 30 to 40 miles from the city. They also pushed further afield; but,
+Arab armies moving up from the south, the Turks withdrew, at the end of
+the year, behind the cordon of posts which they had established. For the
+next six months, the railway to the north of Medina was frequently
+raided by the Arabs, but the town was effectually cut off from its
+communications with Turkey.</p>
+
+<p>In July, 1917, Akaba, at the head of the gulf of that name, the
+north-eastern arm of the Red Sea, was captured. This is at no great
+distance from Maan, an important depot on the Hejaz Railway, the last
+outpost of Syria at the edge of the desert of North Arabia. From Akaba,
+the railway was now attacked at Maan, with serious results to Medina;
+nevertheless, that city continued to hold out, and was probably never
+very closely invested.</p>
+
+<p>In October and November, 1917, about the time of the third battle of
+Gaza, the Turks were still in Maan, and tried to assume the offensive
+against the Arabs, but proved too weak to succeed. After the fall of
+Jerusalem, the Turks withdrew to some extent, and the Arabs advanced
+towards the lands east of the Dead Sea.</p>
+
+<p>From this period forward, the history of the Hejaz revolt merges in that
+of the Palestine campaign. The Arab forces east of the Dead Sea afforded
+a safeguard against any possible Turkish attempt to move round our right
+flank and raid our line of communications. In February and in March,
+1918,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> Turkish expeditions moving against the Arab forces of the King of
+the Hejaz southward from Kerak, near the south-eastern corner of the
+Dead Sea, met with failure. The former expedition ended in disaster, and
+the latter was forced to withdraw, owing to the imminence of a British
+crossing of the Jordan in its rear. Arab activity on the railway now
+definitely isolated Medina. Although the Arabs were never strong enough
+to push a powerful force up through Eastern Palestine, yet the presence
+of a friendly force operating in that country exercised considerable
+influence upon the later stages of the Palestine campaign. The
+assistance which the Arabs gave in the ultimate destruction of the
+Turkish army was invaluable.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h3>
+
+<h2>PALESTINE</h2>
+
+
+<p>The story of a campaign is more interesting if we have a general idea of
+the topography of the country in which it is conducted. Our time will,
+therefore, not be wasted if we leave the British Army on the frontiers
+of the Holy Land for a few minutes longer and form a mental picture of
+the terrain over which they are about to operate.</p>
+
+<p>Picture a country, about the size of Wales, divided into parallel strips
+running north and south, zones of alternate elevation and depression.
+This will give a rough idea of the conformation of Southern Palestine.
+On the west is the Mediterranean Sea. Skirting the sea are a series of
+sand dunes, beyond which comes the Coastal Plain. Together, these form
+the first depressed strip, averaging about 15 miles in width.
+Northwards, it tapers to a point where the mountains reach the sea at
+Cape Carmel. Beyond the Coastal Plain is the range of mountains on which
+stands Jerusalem, the mountains of Samaria and of Jud&aelig;a, rising to a
+height of about 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. On the eastern
+side of these mountains is a steep drop to the Valley of the Jordan and
+the Dead Sea, the level of the latter being nearly 1,300 feet below the
+level of the Mediterranean, and more than 4,000 feet below the summit of
+the adjoining Mount of Olives. Beyond the Jordan valley the country
+rises again abruptly into the hills of Moab or Eastern Palestine. Beyond
+lies the waterless desert.</p>
+
+<p>Before entering into details, let us imagine ourselves to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> standing
+on one of the mountains round about Jerusalem.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> Away to the north,
+Mount Carmel rises abruptly from the sea. Thence the chain of Carmel
+runs S.S.E. for some 20 miles, dividing the Coastal Plain from the Plain
+of Esdraelon. About Dothan and Tul <ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'Keran'">Keram</ins> it merges in the range
+comprising the mountains of Samaria and Jud&aelig;a, which range runs north
+and south through the land like the backbone of a fish, with steep
+spurs, like ribs, thrown out on either side towards the Coastal Plain
+and the Jordan Valley. Westwards, we look down upon the cultivated
+plain, and across it to the golden belt of sand dunes, tapering like the
+waist of an hour-glass where the olive plain touches the sea at Jaffa;
+beyond, lies the deep blue of the Mediterranean. Eastwards is a sheer
+abyss falling into the Jordan Valley, where that river, like a silver
+thread, winds its way along until it falls into the Dead Sea. Beyond, as
+if across a fifteen-mile moat, rise abruptly the mountains of Moab. The
+map of Palestine might be aptly compared to a bridge marker. The
+horizontal line is the plain of Esdraelon. In vertical columns "below
+the line" lie the strips of the country which we have just described.
+"Above the line" are the mountains of Lebanon, Tabor and Hermon, Galilee
+and the Sea of Tiberias, and the valleys and rivers of Damascus.</p>
+
+<p>Let us consider these zones in greater detail, more especially with
+regard to their influence on war. The sea, which skirts Palestine
+throughout its length, confers a twofold advantage upon her mistress. In
+the first place, it provides a supplementary line of communication. We
+have already seen that, during the advance across the Desert, sea-borne
+supplies from Port Said were landed at El Arish. This method was
+continued throughout our advance in Palestine, and landing places were
+improvised at various convenient stages. There is no good harbour along
+this coast; and landing, which has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> to be done by beach boats, is
+difficult, especially in a westerly wind. Nevertheless, considerable
+supplies were thus landed, chiefly of fuel and fodder, which would be
+little liable to damage by immersion. In the second place, help can be
+given during actual military operations by the Navy. Our ships
+frequently lay off the coast and bombarded the enemy's positions. Of
+necessity, each side had a flank resting on the sea. To the British,
+this was a feature of strength; to the Turk, it was one of weakness. He
+was compelled therefore at all times to draw back or "refuse" his
+coastal flank, while the British flank was constantly thrown forward
+menacing the flank of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>There is little to be said about the Sand Dunes, though, being on the
+flank, they were often the scene of operations. The sand here is soft
+and the going bad. Recourse in these operations was therefore had to
+camel transport. To the field engineer, difficulties were presented much
+as in the desert. During the trench warfare before Gaza, when a raid was
+carried out on Beach Post, no attempt was made to cut the enemy wire
+with our artillery, but the wire was simply pulled up by hand with the
+standards, for which the soft sand had provided no firm foundations.</p>
+
+<p>The Coastal Plain comprises, towards the north, the Biblical Plain of
+Sharon, and, towards the south, the land of Philistia. By this plain,
+and not through Jud&aelig;a, lies the road from the Nile to the Euphrates.
+Along this plain have marched the invading armies of all the ages.
+Though generally a flat country, the flatness is relieved by a few
+rolling hills, of no great height. It is very fertile and has a good
+supply of water, contained in wells. It thus presents many advantages,
+and but few disadvantages, to an army operating in the field. Roads are
+good or are easily improvised, while such obstacles to an invader's
+advance do not exist here as in the hills. Our successes in the campaign
+under consideration were generally attained by first pushing forward
+along the plain and then turning right-handed into the hills.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>From the plain, the country rises, in places through the intermediate
+foot hills of the Shephelah, in places more abruptly and directly into
+the mountains of Jud&aelig;a. These mountains are of limestone formation,
+terraced, where possible, for cultivation, and often wooded with olive
+trees or tilled as corn patches or vineyards. The scenery is rugged and
+pretty, the hill-sides generally steep, sometimes precipitous. This is
+the Palestine of the picture books. Deep gorges have been cut out by
+water action; but, as no rain falls throughout the summer months, these
+are, for the most part, but dry watercourses. There are a few good
+springs to be found in the valleys; the villagers upon the hills are,
+however, mainly dependent upon cisterns constructed in the rock, in
+which they catch as much water as possible during the winter rains.
+These mountains formed the stronghold of the Israelites, who never
+maintained sway for any length of time over the lower surrounding
+country. The mountains abound in ruins and are rich in caves, such as
+may have been the Caves of En-gedi and Adullam. One of the caves
+witnessed a lurid scene in our mountain fighting. A party of the enemy
+had established themselves in a cave with machine guns. Ghurkhas
+attacked, and the enemy, after inflicting casualties, thought to make
+good their escape by a back exit. But outside there were other Ghurkhas
+lying in wait, and, as the enemy emerged, they killed them all.</p>
+
+<p>We have seen that the general formation of this range of mountains is
+like the backbone of a fish. We should therefore expect to find
+communications from north to south easy enough along the "spine" or
+ridge, but difficult on either side, where there would be a succession
+of "ribs" or spurs to be crossed. This is the case. There is only one
+first-class road from north to south through this hill-country, namely,
+that which runs along the ridge from Samaria through Nablus, Jerusalem,
+Bethlehem and Hebron to Beersheba. Communications from east to west are,
+however, more easy along the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> spurs and intervening valleys. To attempt
+an advance northwards, from spur to spur, is tedious work; after a
+comparatively short push a pause is necessary to enable roads to be
+constructed for bringing forward guns and supplies. We had an
+illustration of this in March, 1918, when a forward move of this
+character met at first with but moderate opposition. A pause of a few
+weeks was necessary to enable fresh roads to be made. In the meantime,
+the enemy had been heavily reinforced, and, when the next advance was
+attempted, stout resistance was encountered. This hill-country lent
+itself readily to defence. Mutually supporting heights could be held. A
+hill, when captured thus, became a focus for fire concentrated from all
+the hills around. So when the Turks attacked us in these hills they met
+with much less success than in the Jordan Valley; and, on the other
+hand, they were able to offer a stouter resistance to our attacks in
+these hills than they could on the Coastal Plain.</p>
+
+<p>The Jordan Valley, as we have already seen, is more than a thousand feet
+below the level of the Mediterranean, that is, below what we speak of as
+"sea level." In this respect it is unique in the geography of the world.
+In winter time the climate is equable; in summer it is unbearable. In
+peace time, even the Bedouin forsake it in summer. The district is
+pestilential to a degree, and, in no sense of the word, a white man's
+country. It possesses a feature of considerable importance in the river
+Jordan itself, almost the only river in Palestine with a perennial flow.
+The river is tortuous and rapid and not adapted to navigation. These
+features indicate this area as a difficult one in which to hold a
+fighting line, and a no less difficult one across which to maintain
+communications. In the summer of 1918, our line ran along the river
+valley, and the troops in this sector suffered much from diseases.</p>
+
+<p>East of this strong natural boundary formed by the deep trough of the
+Jordan, we find a very different country. It rises abruptly from the
+Jordan Valley, and is in itself a plateau.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> It is at first fertile, but,
+at distances ranging from 40 to 60 miles inland, it merges into steppe
+and then into sheer desert. Thus it is a country apart, difficult of
+access from Jerusalem and Western Palestine, more easy of access from
+Damascus or from Arabia. Through it, from north to south, runs the Hejaz
+railway, on its way from Damascus to Medina. And so it proved an area in
+which the Turks, based on Damascus, and the Arabs, operating from Hejaz,
+were at greater advantage than our columns based on Jerusalem.</p>
+
+<p>We have now glanced at those portions of Palestine in which took place
+the principal fighting in this campaign. Our review would still be
+incomplete if we omitted all reference to the Plain of Esdraelon.
+Starting from the sea coast immediately north of Cape Carmel, at the
+ports of Haifa and Acre, this Plain runs east south-east across the
+country to the Jordan Valley. Rising slightly at first, it forms the
+watershed of "that ancient river, the river Kishon." After the watershed
+is crossed, there is a drop towards the Jordan Valley; this latter
+portion of the Plain constitutes the Vale of Jezreel. This Plain of
+Esdraelon is Armageddon. Here Barak overthrew Sisera, Gideon defeated
+the Midianites, and Saul and Jonathan met disaster and death at the
+hands of the Philistines. Here Josiah was defeated and slain by Pharaoh
+Necho. Near here, the Christians were defeated and their kingdom
+overthrown by the Saracens. On this Plain Napoleon won his final and
+crushing victory over the Turks.</p>
+
+<p>No battle, beyond a few cavalry engagements, took place here during the
+campaign which we are to consider. The Turks had been totally defeated
+before ever this line was reached. But this Plain has still for us a
+military interest. It may well be that here, where the mountains of
+Samaria overlook and command all approaches from the north, is to be
+found the best strategic line for the defence of the Suez Canal.</p>
+
+<p>In a country like Palestine, where levels and characteristics<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> are so
+divergent, diversities of climate are to be expected. We have seen that
+the summer climate of the Lower Jordan Valley is pestilential. Parts of
+the Coastal Plain also are very malarious, particularly from north of
+Jaffa to Mount Carmel. With these exceptions, the climate is by no means
+unpleasant nor unsuitable for the conduct of military operations. Far
+enough south to enjoy plenty of bright sunshine, it is still some
+distance north of the tropics. Pleasant and regular breezes from the sea
+mitigate the discomfort which might otherwise prevail in a country
+almost surrounded by desert. The whole of the rainfall comes in the
+winter months. From about April to October, though dews are heavy, rain
+is unknown. But in the winter months, especially December and January,
+and to some extent February, the rainfall is intense, and the country on
+the Plains and lower lying districts is reduced to a sea of mud
+well-nigh impassable. Thus military operations in summer are liable to
+be prejudiced by a shortage of water; in winter by an excess. The ideal
+season for operations is therefore in the spring, when there is an
+abundance of water and a plentiful feed; and, next to this, the autumn,
+when the heat of the summer has passed its height and the rains of
+winter have not yet made the country impassable.</p>
+
+<p>The importance of good railways in modern war is immense. We have
+already traced the construction of the broad gauge line from Egypt which
+followed close behind the British in their advance across the Desert and
+into Southern Palestine. The Turks in Western Palestine were at a
+perpetual disadvantage through the inferiority of the railway service;
+but, in Eastern Palestine, i.e. across the Jordan, the position was
+reversed. Before the war, Syria had been connected with Asia Minor by a
+broad gauge line from Aleppo to Rayak, where it effected a junction with
+a narrow gauge line from Beyrout to Damascus. The broad gauge line was
+part of the Baghdad railway scheme. But at this time, that railway, even
+between Constantinople and Aleppo, was only partially<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> completed. The
+tunnelling of the Taurus Mountains was yet unfinished. Thus troops or
+supplies, coming from Constantinople to Damascus, had to break the
+journey at the Taurus Mountains and again at Rayak. These two
+interruptions provided admirable opportunities for delay and confusion,
+which the dilatory Turk embraced. The tunnelling of the Taurus was
+pushed on with during the war, and in 1918 rumours reached us that these
+mountains had been pierced, so that trains could then run through from
+Constantinople (Haida Pasha) to Rayak. The installation of more
+business-like Germans at the latter station went far towards minimising
+the delays and confusion due to the break of gauge.</p>
+
+<p>From Damascus, the Hejaz railway, constructed nominally for Mecca
+pilgrims, runs due south, and, passing along the high plateau of Eastern
+Palestine, had already reached Medina. A branch from this line, starting
+from a junction at Deraa, ran westwards along the Plain of Esdraelon to
+Haifa. Another line, almost parallel to the Hejaz railway, ran from
+Damascus due south to Mezerib; this line was removed by the Turks after
+the commencement of the war, as the materials were required for railway
+construction elsewhere. Unconnected with any of these railways, a French
+line ran from Jaffa to Jerusalem; this also the Turks removed, as
+between Jaffa and Ludd, while, for the remainder of its length, they
+altered the gauge so as to adapt it to the rolling stock of the Hejaz
+Railway. All these railways south of Damascus were narrow-gauge lines,
+without much rolling stock available, so that their carrying capacity
+was limited.</p>
+
+<p>On the outbreak of war, the Turks, acting under the guidance of the
+Germans, embarked upon a considerable programme of railway construction.
+Starting from a point on the Plain of Esdraelon, El Apele, they
+constructed a new line which crossed the mountains about Samaria and
+reached the Plain of Sharon at Tul Keram. Thence it ran down the length
+of the Coastal Plain to Beersheba, and, ultimately, to Auja in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> the
+Desert. This railway was constructed in 1915 for the invasion of Egypt.
+Into this railway was incorporated portions of the old Jaffa-Jerusalem
+line, as between Ludd and "Junction Station." This was the none too
+distinctive name given to the important station which was constructed at
+the point where the older railway left the Plain; this now became the
+junction for Jerusalem. At a later date, the Turks withdrew from Auja to
+Beersheba, the line south of the latter place was removed and a new line
+was constructed from near Junction Station to points just north of Gaza.</p>
+
+<p>Roads in the coastal sector are good, though difficult for heavy motor
+traffic after rain. In the hills, the only first-class roads were the
+road running north and south along the ridge from Nablus through
+Jerusalem to Beersheba, and the road west and east from Jaffa to
+Jerusalem, continued eastwards through Jericho and across the Jordan to
+Es Salt and Amman Station on the Hejaz Railway.</p>
+
+<p>The population of Palestine is very mixed, comprising Moslems,
+Christians and Jews with their various subdivisions and sects. The
+Moslem inhabitants, Arabs and Syrians, have little in common with the
+Turks except their religion. The Jews and the Christians groaned under
+Turkish oppression. Both Jews and Christians welcomed the advent of the
+British, while the Moslems accepted the situation, if not with pleasure,
+at least with equanimity. The Turks themselves form no part of the
+regular population. They are alien rulers, speaking a language unknown
+to the people, and incapable of understanding the language of the
+country. Although Palestine has been governed by Moslems for upwards of
+a thousand years, it has only been annexed to the Ottoman Empire for
+four centuries. More than once during that period it would have been
+torn away but for the aid of the British. The government of Syria by the
+Ottoman Turk had been oppressive and corrupt and marked by the
+discouragement of all progress and enterprise. It was high time that it
+should cease.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The point chosen is imaginary. The view described combines
+those obtainable from two or three points in this neighbourhood.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h3>
+
+<h2>GAZA</h2>
+
+
+<p>Gaza! What pictures this name conjures up in our imagination. From
+childhood the city has been familiar to us for its dramatic associations
+with Samson. It was here that he removed the city gates and carried them
+to the summit of Ali Muntar, "to the top of an hill that is before
+Hebron," and it was here that he took hold of the two middle pillars,
+and, bowing himself with all his might, destroyed the temple of Dagon
+with the thousands of Philistines that were his tormentors. The whole
+history of Gaza is steeped in blood. It is the outpost of Africa, the
+gate of Asia. Throughout the ages its strategic importance has been
+immense. Scarcely an invading army has passed here without fighting a
+battle. It figured in the wars of the Eastern invaders, was totally
+destroyed by Alexander the Great, was the scene of one of Napoleon's
+battles, and, during our campaign, saw six months of trench warfare and
+no less than three distinct and sanguinary engagements. In the course of
+its history, Gaza is said to have been taken and destroyed in war
+between forty and fifty times. No city in the world has been destroyed
+more often. Happy, indeed is the city that has no history!</p>
+
+<p>Prior to this war, Gaza was a town of some 40,000 inhabitants, mostly
+Moslems, to whom the city is sacred. It owed its importance in modern
+times to being the junction of the caravan routes from Egypt to Syria
+and from Arabia to the Mediterranean. The town itself stands back some
+couple of miles from the sea, from which it is separated by sand dunes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>
+It is surrounded by gardens and plantations; most of these are bordered
+by thick cactus hedges, which played a prominent part in the days of
+trench warfare. The surrounding country is by no means level, but
+consists of rolling arable land with low ridges and some hills. The most
+prominent feature is the hill, Ali Muntar, a commanding height
+south-east of the town. When we first approached it, the hill was clad
+with trees and surrounded by a tomb; but six months' persistent
+bombardment soon removed the trees and tomb and altered the conformation
+of the hill. There are other ridges lying about the town, which were
+afterwards incorporated in the defensive schemes of the Turks and of
+ourselves. The geographical feature of principal military importance in
+this neighbourhood is the Wadi Ghuzzeh. This wadi is a watercourse,
+which, in times of rain, carries off the water from the hills between
+Beersheba and the Dead Sea. It runs, approximately, from south-east to
+north-west, at right angles to the coast line, and passes Gaza at a
+distance of about 4 miles from the south-western or Egyptian side of the
+town. During the greater part of the year this watercourse is dry,
+though the sides are steep, and wheeled traffic can only cross at
+properly constructed crossings. On either side of this wadi, distant a
+mile or so from its bed, are ridges which run approximately parallel to
+the wadi. That on the right bank is known as Mansura Ridge, that on the
+left bank as In Seirat. The latter is a relatively high ridge and
+affords cover for troops beyond. On the other side of this ridge,
+protected by it, and distant some nine or ten miles from Gaza, is a
+small village with a good supply of water. This village is known as Deir
+el Belah, or, more frequently, merely as Belah. It formed our advanced
+base during the later operations against Gaza.</p>
+
+<p>We have seen that, at the end of February, 1917, General Dobell's force
+had reached El Arish, while portions of it had crossed the border at
+Rafa, and his cavalry had occupied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> Khan Yunus. The Turks had withdrawn
+to Gaza, where they now took up a position. They had one force at Gaza
+and another in the neighbourhood of Beersheba, with other troops
+between. In March, it was decided to attack the enemy at Gaza. The
+British force was concentrated at Rafa, whence it marched up secretly by
+night. On the night of the 25th March, it moved forward from Belah
+against the first objective, the In Seirat Ridge. This was secured
+without serious opposition. There was a dense fog on the morning of the
+26th, and, as the troops were moving through standing crops, finding the
+way was none too easy. However, the Wadi Ghuzzeh was crossed, and the
+high ground at Mansura Ridge was secured. From there, an attack was
+delivered across the open against <ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: changed a comma into a period">Ali Muntar and Gaza.</ins> The main attack
+was made by the 53rd Division, plus one Brigade of the the 54th, while
+the 52nd Division were in reserve. Our troops captured, and established
+themselves on Ali Muntar, and also on the hill beyond, known as
+Australia Hill. From these points they looked down upon and dominated
+the town of Gaza. Meanwhile, the cavalry had been ordered to go round by
+the right, and to cut off the enemy when he should retreat. The cavalry
+not only got round, but succeeded in entering the town itself, where
+they captured some of the Turkish staff. The Turks believed that the
+game was up, and were now preparing to surrender. It was the opinion of
+many who took part in the battle, that, had we held on for a short time
+longer, we should have captured the town and the whole of this force,
+and that we should have then been in a position to meet and to defeat
+the enemy reinforcements, since the 52nd Division in reserve had not yet
+been brought into action. However, Turkish reinforcements were now
+reported to be coming up from the direction of Beersheba, and to be
+threatening our right flank. Accordingly, a withdrawal was ordered, and
+our troops fell back on the Mansura Ridge, the New Zealanders coming
+right through the town of Gaza itself. That<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> night, orders were given
+for an immediate retirement, and our forces recrossed the Wadi Ghuzzeh.
+The bulk of the force retired to Belah, while outposts held the In
+Seirat Ridge. After a two days' battle, wherein complete success had
+been almost within our grasp, we had but little to show save casualties.</p>
+
+<p>From the summit of In Seirat Ridge, a commanding view is obtained over
+the whole country from Gaza to Beersheba. From this point of vantage the
+Turks could be seen, throughout the first fortnight in April, busily
+digging themselves in and wiring their positions. We, on our side, were
+no less assiduous in preparations for another battle. Patrols were sent
+out to reconnoitre the country, and working parties went out into No
+Man's Land to construct ramparts and make all preparations for getting
+guns across the Wadi Ghuzzeh. The 74th Division were brought up to
+Belah. A few of the newly invented "tanks" arrived from England, and
+aroused great expectations.</p>
+
+<p>The day of the second battle of Gaza arrived. On the 16th April, the
+force moved out from Belah and crossed the Wadi Ghuzzeh by night. On
+this occasion, the first objective was Mansura Ridge, which was captured
+without much difficulty. The second, and principal objective, was the
+strong line of Turkish positions to the south and south-east of Gaza,
+and fronting the Gaza-Beersheba road. The troops detailed for the attack
+were the 52nd, the 53rd and the 54th Divisions, the 54th to move forward
+from Mansura, the 52nd on their left and the 53rd close to the sea. It
+was contemplated that most of our difficulties would be obviated by a
+long artillery preparation and by the newly arrived tanks which had
+acquired a high reputation in France. Accordingly, the enemy positions
+were shelled for two hours, and then the infantry advanced, preceded by
+these tanks. But, alas, the tanks were few in number; some were soon put
+out of action, or caught fire; and the hopes that they had raised were
+dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>appointed. The infantry advanced over some 3,000 yards of perfectly
+open plain, until they reached the enemy's uncut wire; here they were
+mown down by the enemy's machine guns. That night, those that were able
+to do so, crept back under cover of darkness to Mansura Ridge. The dead
+lay where they fell, a gruesome spectacle, for over six months, until
+buried by our own parties after the third battle of Gaza. Those that
+returned were collected and reorganized at Mansura Ridge, and at once
+commenced to dig in at this position. This was the night of the 19th
+April. Next morning, the Turks came pouring out of their positions to
+gloat over their success. By this time we had done little more than
+scratch the surface; had the Turks closed to deliver a determined
+counter-attack, they might have made matters distinctly uncomfortable.
+As it was, they came out merely as spectators. Our guns opened upon them
+and they withdrew. After this, our digging proceeded apace, and we soon
+had a satisfactory position entrenched from Mansura to the sea.</p>
+
+<p>There is a saying in the East that the British always come back, meaning
+that reverses only make them more determined to try again and to
+succeed. Thus did the British come back into the Soudan, and into the
+Transvaal. Thus was the surrender of Kut wiped out by the capture of
+Baghdad. And so were our losses at Gaza in this spring avenged by our
+victory on these same battlefields in the following autumn. For the time
+being, however, both sides settled down to the routine life of modern
+trench warfare.</p>
+
+<p>Now followed a complete reorganization of our army in Egypt. On the 28th
+June, 1917, the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary
+Force was taken over by General Sir Edmund Allenby, G.C.M.G., K.C.B. The
+organization into an Eastern Force under a subordinate commander, which
+had been instituted in the summer of 1916, was abolished, and the force
+was organized in Corps. The strength of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force
+was augmented,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> much artillery being added, besides three divisions of
+infantry. The 10th (Irish) and the 60th (London) Divisions were brought
+across from Salonica. The 75th Division was organized in the country and
+consisted of four battalions of Indian troops, taken from the Suez Canal
+Zone defences, and nine battalions of West of England Territorials, that
+had been in the East since the beginning of the war, and had, for the
+most part, been garrisoning India.</p>
+
+<p>When this reorganization was complete, this army was constituted as
+follows: The 20th Corps, comprising the 10th (Irish), the 53rd (Welsh),
+the 60th (London) and the 74th (Dismounted Yeomanry) Divisions. The 21st
+Corps, comprising the 52nd (Scottish Lowland), the 54th (East Anglian)
+and the 75th (Wessex and Indian) Divisions. The Desert Mounted Corps,
+comprising the Australian Mounted Division, the Anzac Mounted Division
+and the Yeomanry Division. General Allenby had, as his Chief-of-Staff,
+Major-General L.&nbsp;J. Bols, C.B., D.S.O. In addition to the above troops,
+there was, on this front, a composite brigade, consisting of French and
+Italians, familiarly known as the "Mixed Vermouth" Brigade. Other
+regiments were represented, such as Indian Imperial troops, and
+battalions of the British West India Regiment, while representative
+units of the Egyptian Army did duty upon the Lines of Communication.</p>
+
+<p>Although each Division was associated with some particular portion of
+Great Britain, from which it took its name, the association was not
+exclusive. Thus, the 52nd Lowland Division had at least one Highland
+Battalion, the 53rd Welsh had more battalions from England than from
+Wales, and the 54th East Anglian contained one battalion from London and
+one from the South of England. It will be best, therefore, if, in our
+future pages, we refer to divisions only by number.</p>
+
+<p>An interesting feature about General Allenby's army was that, from this
+time forward, the greater portion consisted of Territorials.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h3>
+
+<h2>TRENCH WARFARE</h2>
+
+
+<p>It was in the late summer of 1917 that the regiment with which I was
+serving joined the Expeditionary Force. Coming from India, we landed at
+Suez and were railed through at once to Kantara. This place we found a
+hive of industry, as befitted the military base of so important an
+expedition. Like other units similarly arriving from India, we were kept
+here for a fortnight. This time was devoted to the equipping of the
+battalion on the scale applicable to this country, with transport,
+draught and riding animals, Lewis guns and such other equipment as we
+required for the operations on which we were to embark.</p>
+
+<p>Immediately we were ready to move, we were railed up to the Front, to
+Belah, which, at that time, was railhead. This was our first experience
+of travelling on the Kantara Military Railway, and is not likely to be
+forgotten. The shortage of rolling stock available did not permit of
+troops, or, at that time, even of officers accompanying troops,
+travelling in passenger coaches. On the contrary, a number of open
+trucks were adapted for troop traffic, being roofed over with a covering
+affording protection from the sun but with sides left open. These trucks
+had neither continuous brakes nor screw couplings. Our journey,
+therefore, was enlivened by the frequent successful attempts of our
+truck to overtake the truck ahead, followed by a difference of opinion
+with the truck behind, a wavering between two opinions, and then another
+mad plunge into the darkness in pursuit of the truck ahead,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> and the
+next check brought about a repetition of this pleasing diversion from
+sleep. If the writer of a recent popular song really believed that the
+Sands of the Desert never grow cold, let him try travelling across them
+by night in an open truck. The train was not furnished with that luxury
+of modern travel, steam heating. For the men, a substitute was found by
+adopting the method by which sheep are kept cosy on similar occasions,
+that is, by packing into each truck a few more than it can accommodate.
+The officers rolled themselves up in their valises, bruised every
+protruding bone in their bodies, "and wished for the day."</p>
+
+<p>On arrival at the Front, we moved first into a position in reserve near
+the Wadi Ghuzzeh. As we crossed the summit of In Seirat Ridge, what a
+view unfolded itself before our eyes! Before us lay the Plain of
+Philistia, spreading from the sea to the Jud&aelig;an Hills, to our left front
+lay the white buildings of the town of Gaza, while, ever and anon, were
+heard and seen the booming of cannon and the bursting of shell.</p>
+
+<p>We were now put through a gradual process of acclimatization. Ensconced
+in one of the offshoots of the Wadi Ghuzzeh well behind the front line,
+we enjoyed safety from shelling. We were, however, sufficiently in the
+picture to have guns constantly firing around us and aeroplanes flying
+overhead, and could watch our friends being shelled in the front line
+and the daily anti-aeroplane shoots, both by our own and by the enemy's
+"Archies." Here we were able to carry out a certain amount of training,
+and to organize the battalion upon the lines of the new "normal
+formation," giving the platoon commander control over each kind of
+weapon with which the infantry are armed&mdash;rifle, bayonet, bomb,
+rifle-bomb and Lewis gun. Gas masks were issued, and all ranks were
+instructed in their use. In a couple of weeks this training, or rather
+adaptation of our previous training to the conditions of trench warfare
+upon this front, had so far progressed that we could enter upon the next
+stage of our acclimatization.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> Individual companies were now sent up
+into the front line "for instruction." This consisted of their being
+attached to other units that were garrisoning the front line. Our men
+were posted in the trenches with men of such other units; and some of
+the officers and men accompanied patrols into "No Man's Land." After
+three weeks of acclimatization, we moved up to the front line and
+ourselves took over a section of the defences. And here we remained
+until after the Fall of Gaza.</p>
+
+<p>The Turkish army at this time, as we have seen, held a strong position
+from the sea at Gaza, roughly along the main Gaza-Beersheba road to
+Beersheba. His force was on a wide front, the distance from Gaza to
+Beersheba being about 30 miles. Gaza itself had been made into a strong
+modern fortress, heavily entrenched and wired, offering every facility
+for protracted defence. The civilian population had been evacuated. The
+remainder of the enemy's line consisted originally of a series of strong
+localities, which were known as the Sihan group of works, the Atawinah
+group, the Baha group, the Abu Hareira-Arab el Teeaha trench system, and
+finally, the works covering Beersheba. During the period from July to
+October, the defences had been considerably strengthened, and these
+strong localities had, by the end of October, been joined up to form a
+practically continuous line from the sea to a point south of Sheria,
+except for a gap of some 1,500 to 2,000 yards between Ali Muntar and the
+Sihan group. The defensive works round Beersheba remained a detached
+system, but had been improved and extended. A new railway had been made
+from El Tine, just south of Junction Station on the Damascus-Beersheba
+railway to Beit Hanun, just north of Gaza, with a subsidiary branch to
+Huj, the latter intended to supply the centre of the defensive line. It
+was evident, therefore, that the enemy was determined to make every
+effort to maintain his position on the Gaza-Beersheba line.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The British force was extended on a front of 22 miles from the sea
+opposite Gaza to Gamli. About 6 miles inland, the Wadi Ghuzzeh is joined
+by a short tributary wadi, on the right bank, known as the Wadi
+Nukhabir. The point at which this wadi commenced was about a mile or so
+nearer to the enemy than the line of our positions opposite Gaza. Its
+head-waters (to use an expression scarcely appropriate to a dry
+watercourse) were within the apex of a <b>V</b>-shaped escarpment, the point of
+the <b>V</b> protruding towards the enemy. The feature might be compared to a
+heel-mark in soft ground. On the convex side were slight ridges with
+gentle forward slopes; on the concave were steep escarpments. The ridges
+of the <b>V</b> were known as Mansura and Sheikh Abbas Ridges respectively; the
+point was merely known as "The Apex." Our trench system here ran along
+the forward slopes of these ridges, a hundred yards or so below the
+crest, whence the country fell towards the enemy in a gentle glacis
+slope devoid of cover. Our reserves and our day positions were behind
+the escarpment, where was excellent cover from hostile shelling. The
+portion of the enemy's works in front of this sector was the Sihan
+group, a strongly prepared position distant about a mile. The apex
+itself formed a salient, necessary to hold since its Ridges would
+otherwise have dominated our positions; but, though a salient, the
+position was undoubtedly strong. The situation and the conformation of
+the Apex, therefore, both invited attack and assisted defence. From the
+sea to the Apex we had a continuous line of trenches. Beyond Sheikh
+Abbas our defences consisted of a series of redoubts, our right flank
+being to some extent in the air. Here, however, was a waterless desert,
+so difficult to cross that this flank could be sufficiently protected by
+cavalry patrols.</p>
+
+<p>Considering that there was a war on, campaigning life on this front was
+by no means uncomfortable. Those who had seen service in France bemoaned
+the lack of comforts and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> amusements behind the line, and the absence of
+home leave, those who had come from Salonica were congratulating
+themselves on the exchange; while those of us who had been in
+Mesopotamia during the bad times of 1916, considered ourselves in the
+lap of luxury. Rations were good and plentiful and canteen well stocked.
+The Turkish rations, on the other hand, were scanty and poor, with the
+result that morale was low, discomfort rife, and desertions frequent. On
+one occasion, when the enemy were making a raid upon our trenches, a
+couple of Turks got into an empty bag where one of our men had left his
+pack. The manner in which they pursued their advantage was by helping
+themselves to his tin of bully beef and getting away with all speed. A
+Turkish officer, who was subsequently taken prisoner, said, "If the
+Turkish rations had been as good as yours, you would never have captured
+Gaza."</p>
+
+<p>The health of our troops, on the whole, was good. In so far as there was
+sickness it consisted of a certain amount of dysentery, almost
+unavoidable in an army in the Field, septic sores, which are unusually
+rife, and a slight epidemic of sandfly fever. Foremost among the
+inconveniences to be tolerated were the flies, which made it difficult
+for the men to sleep by day, the time when they most need rest after
+manning the trenches all night. Next to the flies came the dust. The
+country, in which for the time we were making our home, consisted of
+arable ground devoid of crops, and thoroughly cut up by the passing of
+transport. A breeze, that blew daily without fail, served to raise a
+fine impalpable dust that permeated everything. This powder dust made
+marching difficult, but wise forethought caused galvanized iron netting
+to be laid along all the principal routes, forming "wire roads" for the
+use of light motor-cars and "foot-sloggers." If we grumbled at the dust,
+we had, at this time at least, no cause to complain, like our brethren
+in Flanders, of the mud. Taken all together, the morale was good and the
+men distinctly happy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Life in these days was not without its diversions and touches of humour.
+A nice Roman tessellated pavement was unearthed near the Wadi Ghuzzeh,
+at the place called Umm Jerar, which is associated with Abraham. Going
+one day to look for it, I found a military policeman on duty within half
+a mile of the spot. I said to him, "Can you tell me the way to the
+tessellated pavement?" He looked at me vacantly for a minute and then
+replied: "Is it the wire road that you happen to mean, sir?" On one
+occasion, the General was going round the front line accompanied by the
+Intelligence Officer (who is the Officer that selects the pass-word
+which is changed daily) and by the C.O. of the unit in this sector.
+Staying out rather later than they had intended, it was dusk or dark
+when they approached one of the posts. The sentry challenged,
+"Halt&mdash;hands up." Up went the General's hands in prompt compliance.
+"Advance one, and give the countersign," continued the sentry. The
+General turned to the Intelligence Officer, "What is the countersign
+to-day?" said he. "Really I am afraid I have forgotten," replied the
+Intelligence Officer, and both referred to the Colonel. "When I left my
+headquarters, it had not yet come through," was his reply. The sentry
+remained obdurate. Then followed explanations, and, after some parley
+and identifications, the party were allowed to proceed. As they were
+leaving, the General hurried again to the sentry, saying, "Well, my man,
+you might just tell us now what the pass-word is." "I am sorry, sir,"
+was his reply, "but I haven't the least idea."</p>
+
+<p>About this time the spy peril was rather rife. We had orders not to
+leave our lines without revolvers, for protection against assassination
+by spies. To one particular "hush-hush" spot rode up a General with his
+Staff Officer, both faultlessly attired, accompanied by the usual
+Orderly. The General asked to be shown round, and his request was
+conceded with the thoroughness and courtesy due to his high rank. His
+inspection completed, the General expressed his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> thanks, and the party
+rode away, never to be heard of again,&mdash;at least not in that capacity.
+Shortly afterwards, a notorious spy was seen working as a coolie in the
+Egyptian Labour Corps. Perhaps he was the General.</p>
+
+<p>The monotony of trench life was varied by occasional raids into the
+enemy trenches. Some very successful raids were carried out on the
+enemy's defences near the sea, especially at Beach Post, and other
+successful raids were made from the Apex upon the advanced trenches of
+the Sihan group of works. Mutual bombardments frequently enlivened the
+proceedings, the supremacy in which undoubtedly lay with our artillery.
+These never allowed a day to pass without doing some firing, and they
+had sniping guns ever ready to fire on any movement that might be seen
+in enemy territory. The enemy guns, largely manned by Austrians,
+reserved their fire for concentrated bombardments; evidently they were
+less able to replenish their supplies of ammunition.</p>
+
+<p>The sector of the front line which fell to our lot to hold was a portion
+of the Apex. Our front line companies manned a continuous system of
+trenches, while the reserve company and headquarters occupied dug-outs
+dug into, or constructed with sand bags upon, the steep slopes of the
+escarpment. There were deep tunnel dug-outs, extending into the bowels
+of the earth, in the support area, but these were never used. In the
+front line there were no such dug-outs, except for such purposes as
+signal office and platoon head-quarters. In case of intense shelling,
+the front line garrison, except sentries, could obtain fair cover behind
+the traverses in the narrow trenches which connected up the wider and
+more exposed fire bays. It is a debatable question whether deep dug-outs
+in or near the front line are advisable. When the enemy shells
+intensively, if he means business, his barrage is closely followed by
+his infantry. When the barrage lifts, therefore, it is of vital
+importance to man the fire-step immediately. It is not easy to turn a
+large number of men quickly out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> deep dug-outs which may thus prove
+only a Fool's Paradise. In one of the raids made near the sea, our
+infantry, following closely up to the barrage, caught the enemy taking
+refuge in dug-outs, and had no difficulty in capturing or accounting for
+the whole garrison of the raided trench. At the Apex we were three times
+bombarded and raided. On each occasion the garrison merely took refuge
+behind the traverses. Although they endured it, the bombardment was much
+more uncomfortable here than if the men had been in good dug-outs; yet
+they were able to man the trenches so quickly that in no case could the
+enemy effect a lodgment, and in only one case did he even reach the
+trench.</p>
+
+<p>When we took over the Apex, the days of sporadic raids by us were past,
+and all thought was concentrated on preparations for the great day that
+was then imminent. On the other hand, there was great patrolling
+activity. Our officers' patrols went out nightly into No Man's Land, and
+brought back information as to enemy works in progress and activity in
+their trenches. These patrols had many exciting experiences, and, in the
+dark, frequently encountered patrols sent out by the enemy. Much useful
+information was brought in by these patrols to the battalions holding
+this sector of the line, especially during the first few days after the
+commencement of the great offensive which resulted in the capture of
+Gaza and Beersheba.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><a name="gaza" id="gaza"></a><a href="./images/6869.jpg"><img src="./images/6869_th.jpg"
+alt="Gaza and Beersheba" title="Gaza and Beersheba" /></a></p>
+<p class="figcenter"><span class="smcap">Gaza and Beersheba</span></p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h3>
+
+<h2>GAZA AND BEERSHEBA</h2>
+
+
+<p>The plan by which General Allenby defeated the Turks and captured their
+Gaza-Beersheba line, involved three distinct operations. It will be
+remembered that the enemy defences consisted of a substantially
+continuous line from the sea at Gaza to Arab el Teeaha, where the left
+flank was bent back or "refused" at or about Sheria. Some 4&frac12; miles
+farther on were the detached works covering Beersheba, which thus
+constituted a strong outwork protecting the left flank of the main
+position. The decisive blow was to be struck against the left flank of
+the main Turkish position at Hareira and Sheria. Before this blow could
+be struck, it was necessary to clear away the obstacle presented by
+Beersheba. It was also necessary to keep the enemy in doubt as to where
+the decisive blow was to fall; so another operation, on as large a scale
+as the available force would permit, and calculated both to mystify the
+enemy and to draw off a portion of his reserves, was undertaken on the
+immediate sea front at Gaza. Thus we get, firstly, the capture of
+Beersheba; secondly, the attack on the Gaza coastal defences; and,
+thirdly, the main attack delivered against Sheria.</p>
+
+<p>"This plan of operations was chosen for the following reasons. The
+enemy's works in the Hareira-Sheria sector were less formidable than
+elsewhere, and they were easier of approach than other parts of the
+enemy's defences. The capture of Beersheba was a necessary preliminary
+to the main operation, in order to secure the water supply at that
+place,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> and to give room for the deployment of the attacking force on
+the high ground to the north and north-west of Beersheba, from which
+direction the main attack was to be developed. When Beersheba was in our
+hands, we should have an open flank against which to operate, and full
+use could be made of our superiority in mounted troops. Moreover, a
+success here offered prospects of pursuing our advantage, and forcing
+the enemy to abandon the rest of his fortified positions, which no other
+line of attack would afford."</p>
+
+<p>The difficulties to be overcome in the operations against Beersheba and
+the Hareira-Sheria line were considerable. Foremost among them were our
+old friend, the shortage of water, and, scarcely less formidable, the
+difficulty of transport.</p>
+
+<p>With regard to water, no supply existed in the area over which
+operations were to take place. "An ample supply of water was known to
+exist at Beersheba, but it was uncertain how quickly it could be
+developed or to what extent the enemy would have damaged the wells
+before we succeeded in occupying the town. Except at Beersheba, no large
+supply of water would be found till Sheria and Hareira had been
+captured. Arrangements had therefore to be made to ensure that the
+troops could be kept supplied with water, while operating at
+considerable distances from their original water base, for a period
+which might amount to a week or more." This was to some extent met by
+developing the water supplies at Ecani, Khalassa and Asluj, all places
+in No Man's Land some miles beyond our right flank.</p>
+
+<p>The transport problem was no less difficult. Beersheba, itself some
+thousand feet above the sea level, lies in a recess on the western
+slopes of the Jud&aelig;an Hills. In the bed of this recess runs the Wadi Es
+Saba. Towards the north-east a good metalled road leads gradually to the
+summit of the hills and on through Hebron to Jerusalem. North-west a
+good road led along the enemy's front to Gaza. The railway line,
+avoiding the heights, for the first ten or twelve<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> miles follows
+approximately the direction of the Gaza road, and then turns northwards
+along the Plain or Foothills. But south of the Gaza-Beersheba line there
+were no good roads, "and no reliance could therefore be placed on the
+use of motor transport." Owing to the steep banks of many of the wadis
+which intersected the area of operations, the routes passable by wheeled
+transport were limited, and, in many places, the going was heavy and
+difficult.</p>
+
+<p>Practically the whole of the transport available in the force, including
+30,000 pack camels, had to be allotted to one portion of the eastern
+force, to enable it to be kept supplied with food, water and ammunition,
+at a distance of 15 to 20 miles in advance of railhead.</p>
+
+<p>There already existed a branch from the Kantara military railway; which
+branch, leaving the main line at Rafa, ran to Shellal and Gamli,
+supplying the right of our line. Arrangements were made for this
+railhead to be pushed forward as rapidly as possible from Shellal
+towards Karm (some 7 miles to the east-south-east of Shellal), and for a
+line to be laid from Gamli towards Beersheba for the transport of
+ammunition. No Man's Land being some 10 or 12 miles wide in this sector,
+railway construction was carried on in front of our front line under
+cover of yeomanry outposts.</p>
+
+<p>This line of outposts was attacked on the morning of the 27th October by
+a strong reconnoitring party that the Turks sent out from the direction
+of Kauwukah to make a reconnaissance towards Karm. On a Division of our
+infantry coming up, the Turks withdrew.</p>
+
+<p>By the end of October all our preparations were ready. The bombardment
+of the Gaza defences commenced on the 27th and continued nightly. On the
+30th, warships of the Royal Navy, assisted by a French battleship, began
+co-operating in this bombardment. The actual infantry attack on Gaza was
+not intended to take place, however, until after the capture of
+Beersheba, and was delayed accordingly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The date fixed for the attack on Beersheba was the 31st October. The
+plan was to attack with two divisions the hostile works between the
+Khalassa Road and the Wadi Saba, that is, the sector to the south-west
+of the town. The works north of the Wadi Saba were to be masked with the
+Imperial Camel Corps and some infantry, while a portion of the 53rd
+Division further north covered the left of the Corps. The right of the
+attack was covered by a cavalry regiment. Further east, mounted troops
+took up a line opposite the southern defences of Beersheba. A mounted
+force, starting from Khalassa and Asluj, beyond our original right
+flank, were detailed to make a wide flanking movement and attack
+Beersheba from the east and north-east.</p>
+
+<p>The units detailed for the attack moved by a night march, and were in
+their appointed positions by dawn of the 31st. As a preliminary to the
+main attack, in order to enable field guns to be brought within
+effective range for wire-cutting, an attack was made upon the enemy's
+advanced works on the high ground about a couple of miles south-west of
+the town, at Hill 1070. This had been successfully accomplished by 8.45
+a.m., and the cutting of the wire proceeded satisfactorily, though
+pauses had to be made to allow the dust to clear. The assault was
+ordered for 12.15 p.m., and proved successful. By about 10 p.m., the
+whole of the works between the Khalassa Road and the Wadi Saba were in
+our <ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: inserted a missing period at the end of the paragraph">hands.</ins></p>
+
+<p>"Meanwhile the mounted troops, after a night march of, for a portion of
+the force, some 35 miles, arrived early on this same morning, the 31st,
+at about Khasim Zanna, in the hills, some 5 miles east of Beersheba.
+From the hills, the advance into Beersheba from the east and north-east
+lies over an open and almost flat plain, commanded by the rising ground
+north of the town and flanked by an underfeature in the Wadi Saba,
+called Tel el Saba.</p>
+
+<p>"A force was sent north to secure Bir es Sakaly, on the Hebron Road, and
+protect the right flank. This force<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> met with some opposition, and was
+engaged with hostile cavalry at Bir es Sakaly and to the north during
+the day. Tel el Saba was found strongly held by the enemy, and was not
+captured till late in the afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>"Meanwhile, attempts to advance in small parties across the plain
+towards the town made slow progress. In the evening, however, a mounted
+attack by Australian Light Horse, who rode straight at the town from the
+East, proved completely successful. They galloped over two deep trenches
+held by the enemy just outside the town, and entered the town at about 7
+p.m., capturing numerous prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>"A very strong position was thus taken with slight loss, and the Turkish
+detachment at Beersheba almost completely put out of action. This
+success laid open the left flank of the main Turkish position for a
+decisive blow."</p>
+
+<p>The actual date of the attack at Gaza had been left open till the result
+of the attack at Beersheba was known, as it was intended that the attack
+on Gaza, which was designed to draw hostile reserves towards that
+sector, should take place a day or two before the attack on the Sheria
+position. After the complete success of the Beersheba operations, it was
+decided that the attack on Gaza should take place on the morning of the
+2nd November.</p>
+
+<p>"The objectives of this attack were the hostile works from Umbrella Hill
+(2,000 yards south-west of the town) to Sheikh Hasan, on the sea (about
+2,500 yards north-west of the town). The front of the attack was about
+6,000 yards, and Sheikh Hasan, the farthest objective, was over 3,000
+yards from our front line. The ground over which the attack took place
+consisted of sand dunes, rising in places up to 150 feet in height. This
+sand is very deep and heavy going. The enemy's defences consisted of
+several lines of strongly built trenches and redoubts.</p>
+
+<p>"As Umbrella Hill flanked the advance against the Turkish works farther
+west, it was decided to capture it by a prelimin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>ary operation, to take
+place four hours previous to the main attack. It was accordingly
+attacked and captured at 11.0 p.m. on the 1st November by a portion of
+the 52nd Division. This attack drew a heavy bombardment of Umbrella Hill
+itself and our front lines, which lasted for two hours, but ceased in
+time to allow the main attack, which was timed for 3.0 a.m., to form up
+without interference."</p>
+
+<p>This attack partook of the nature of a modern trench to trench advance,
+as seen on the battlefields of France, with the co-operation of tanks
+and the accompaniment of other products of modern science. It was
+successful in reaching most of its objectives. The enemy losses were
+heavy, especially from the preliminary bombardment.</p>
+
+<p>"Subsequent reports from prisoners stated that one of the Divisions
+holding the Gaza Sector was withdrawn on account of casualties, a
+Division from the general reserve being drawn into this Sector to
+replace it. The attack thus succeeded in its primary object, which was
+to prevent any units being withdrawn from the Gaza defences to meet the
+threat to the Turkish left flank and to draw into Gaza as large a
+proportion as possible of the available Turkish reserves. Further, the
+capture of Sheikh Hasan and the south-western defences constituted a
+very direct threat to the whole of the Gaza position, which could be
+developed on any sign of a withdrawal on the part of the enemy."</p>
+
+<p>Here the force attacking Gaza stayed its hand, merely holding on to the
+positions already captured, while the main attack was being developed on
+the right.</p>
+
+<p>Having captured Beersheba on the 31st October, a force was pushed out
+early on the following day, the 1st November, into the hills north of
+Beersheba, with the object of securing the flank of the attack on
+Sheria, while mounted troops were sent north along the Hebron road.
+Accordingly, the 53rd Division took up a position from Towal Abu Jerwal
+(6 miles north of Beersheba) to Muweileh (3&frac12; miles farther <ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: inserted a missing closing bracket after 'west'">west)</ins> and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>
+the 10th Division occupied Abu Irgeig, on the railway, 6 miles from
+Beersheba.</p>
+
+<p>Next day, the 2nd, our mounted troops found and engaged considerable
+enemy forces to the north of Towal Abu Jerwal. Accordingly, on the 3rd,
+we advanced in that direction towards Ain Kohleh and Khuweilfeh, where
+the enemy were found to be holding a strong position with considerable
+and increasing forces. It will be borne in mind that this was only the
+right flank-guard; our main attack, which was to be delivered against
+Sheria, was not timed to commence until two or three days later.
+However, the enemy elected to employ the whole of his available reserves
+in an immediate counter-attack. During the 4th and 5th he made several
+determined attacks on the mounted troops in this locality. These attacks
+were repulsed; and the enemy's action was not allowed to make any
+essential modification to the original plan, which it had been decided
+to carry out at dawn on November 6th. It was this exhausting of the
+Turkish reserves, so early in the operations and so far away to the East
+as Khuweilfeh, that paved the way for the success of our attack on
+Sheria.</p>
+
+<p>At dawn, on the 6th, the force detailed for the main attack had taken up
+positions of readiness to the south-east of the Kauwukah system of
+trenches. The yeomanry opened the ball by assaulting the group of works
+forming the extreme left of the enemy's defensive system, following this
+up by an advance due west up the railway, capturing the line of detached
+works which lay east of the railway line. Meanwhile, London and Irish
+troops moved towards the Kauwukah system, bringing forward their guns to
+within wire-cutting range. Soon after noon, these troops commenced their
+attack upon the south-eastern face of the Kauwukah system. This was
+completely successful in capturing all its objectives. Sheria station
+was also reported as captured before dark. On this same day the right
+flank-guard, the 53rd Division, had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> successfully attacked Khuweilfeh.
+The position at nightfall, then, was that our right flank-guard were at
+Kauweilfeh, the yeomanry had reached the line of the Sheria to Wadi
+Union, and the troops on the left were close to Hareira Redoubt which
+was still occupied by the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Next day, the 7th, the situation remained practically unchanged on our
+extreme right, the enemy maintaining his positions opposite our right
+flank-guard. In the Sheria-Hareira locality, the Hareira Tepe Redoubt
+was captured at dawn. Tel el Sheria was captured at 4.0 a.m. and the
+line was pushed forward about a mile to the north of Tel el Sheria. That
+night the enemy withdrew.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, on our extreme left, the bombardment of Gaza had continued.
+Another attack was ordered to take place on the night of the 6th/7th. An
+attack was made at 11.30 p.m. that night against Outpost Hill and
+Middlesex Hill, south of the town, which met with little opposition. "As
+soon, after they had been taken, as patrols could be pushed forward, the
+enemy was found to be gone. Early in the morning, the main enemy force
+occupied the northern and eastern defences of Gaza. Rearguards were
+still occupying Beit Hanun and the Atawinah and Tank System (part of the
+Sihan group of works), from whence Turkish artillery continued to fire
+on Gaza and Ali Muntar until dusk.</p>
+
+<p>"As soon as it was seen that the Turks had evacuated Gaza, on the
+morning of the 7th, a part of the force pushed along the coast to the
+mouth of the Wadi Hesi, some 8 miles north of Gaza, so as to turn the
+Wadi Hesi line and prevent the enemy making any stand there. This force
+reached the Wadi Hesi by evening, and succeeded in establishing itself
+on the north bank in the face of considerable opposition from a Turkish
+rearguard. Cavalry had already pushed on round the north of Gaza and
+become engaged at Beit Hanun with an enemy rearguard which maintained
+its position till night-fall." This brings our history down to the night
+of November 7th/8th.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> By the morning of the 8th the enemy were in
+retreat all along the line.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, what had been happening to our own party in the Apex? The
+general plan of attack did not contemplate any advance from here.
+Nevertheless, it was necessary that this portion of the line should be
+firmly held, and it was more than likely that the enemy would try to
+create a diversion by raiding this inviting salient. By the end of
+October "liveliness" was increasing all round, and mutual bombardments
+were growing more intense. Fortunately, a large number of the shells
+fired by the enemy were "duds." We were puzzled at the time to know why
+duds figured so largely in this and following bombardments; subsequent
+inspection of the enemy trenches afforded an explanation. Great dumps of
+ammunition had been formed by the enemy close to the guns, and these,
+for safety and concealment, had been placed in deep dug-outs. On the
+evening of the 27th October, a great thunderstorm burst over Gaza,
+causing the enemy considerable damage, flooding the dug-outs, and
+presumably damping the fuses and ruining their ammunition.</p>
+
+<p>On the evening of the 3rd November, the enemy tried to create a
+diversion by raiding the Apex. On this evening we were sitting quietly
+having dinner in our headquarters dug-out, when sharp rifle fire was
+heard from the front line of the battalion on our right. We walked out,
+and saw a veritable Brock's Benefit display of Verey lights. A telephone
+message from our front line informed us that a considerable party of the
+enemy had crept quietly up, and were now prowling round our wire and
+trying to pick a way through. A hot fire from rifles, Lewis guns and
+machine guns, soon convinced the enemy of the uselessness of attempting,
+without artillery preparation, a raid against an alert enemy well
+entrenched with wire intact. They were beaten off, and withdrew to a
+fold in the ground a couple of hundred yards out in No Man's Land, where
+they were fired upon by our trench<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> mortars. Nevertheless they managed
+to rally, and came forward again to the attack. This time their
+reception was no more encouraging than before; our artillery got into
+them with a barrage and they withdrew. Now they sent up a red Verey
+light signal, whereupon a hostile barrage came down upon our trenches,
+under cover of which they not only withdrew themselves, but also removed
+their killed and wounded. It is a part of their religion to spare no
+pains in removing their dead and giving them a decent burial. A couple
+of deserters crept into our lines towards the morning, from whom we were
+able to gather something about their side of the operations. Desertion
+was fairly common among the Turks about this time, partly because
+rations were poor, but mainly because they had no stomach for the fight
+that they knew to be imminent. In so far as this raid affected us, our
+trenches were badly smashed by the artillery, but our casualties were
+insignificant.</p>
+
+<p>The next evening we sent a small patrol across No Man's Land, which,
+being boldly and pluckily led, crept right up to the enemy's trenches.
+Here they heard the sound of much traffic on the Gaza-Beersheba road,
+token doubtless of the impending withdrawal. More important from our
+immediate point of view, the patrol heard sounds of an enemy
+concentration in their front trenches, in apparent preparation for
+another raid on the Apex. Our artillery put salvoes at once upon those
+trenches; and the raid of that night proved a damp squib. About midnight
+we were wakened from our slumbers by a thunderstorm, the thunder,
+lightning and hail being provided by a deluge of bursting shells,
+splinters and shrapnel bullets. When the barrage lifted, glimpses were
+caught of the enemy moving along our front wire; but this raid never
+succeeded in forcing an entrance to our trenches.</p>
+
+<p>We had every reason to "remember the fifth of November." It came in with
+a display of fireworks; it went out like an inferno. Profiting by his
+previous experience, the enemy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> shelled a portion of our front
+deliberately from early evening until dark, with the obvious intention
+of cutting the wire on a portion of our sector. At ten o'clock that
+night, down came another intensive bombardment, which lasted for an
+hour. Under cover of the darkness, the enemy even brought trench mortars
+on camels up to our wire to assist in the bombardment. Next morning the
+ground looked like a veritable sea beach after a wreck; the litter
+consisted of splinters and duds of all sizes and descriptions, largely
+5.9&quot; H.Es. This hostile barrage made a really satisfactory job of the
+wire cutting. As soon as it lifted, the enemy's infantry made a
+determined effort to penetrate our line. During the bombardment our
+fellows had taken shelter in the narrow passage ways behind the
+traverses, and so lost no time, immediately the barrage lifted, in
+manning the fire-step. They at once got busy with rifles, Lewis guns and
+machine-guns, and gave the Turk, as he crossed the ruins of our wire, a
+distinctly warm reception. This proved more than enough for most of the
+enemy; but a few brave spirits succeeded in entering our trench and
+throwing bombs. They were not supported by their fellows, and were soon
+disposed of. At length, up went the now familiar red light, down came
+the closing barrage, the enemy drew off and we were left in peace.</p>
+
+<p>After these three abortive raids the Apex was left unmolested, except
+for occasional shelling on the 6th and 7th. On the 8th, we were relieved
+at the Apex by Lines of Communication troops, in order that we might
+take part in the pursuit of the enemy who were now in full retreat.</p>
+
+<p class="endnote">The quotations in this and the three following chapters, are from
+General Allenby's Despatch, dated the 16th December, 1917.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h3>
+
+<h2>FULL CRY</h2>
+
+
+<p>We have seen that during the night of the 7th/8th November, the enemy
+had retreated all along the line. The enemy opposite our right
+flank-guard withdrew towards Hebron, that is, north-east into the Jud&aelig;an
+Hills. He was pursued for a short distance by the yeomanry, and some
+prisoners and camels were captured. The yeomanry were then recalled to
+rejoin the main body of the mounted troops for the more important work
+of the pursuit of the enemy's main body. The enemy force that thus
+escaped into the hills there reorganized, and later descended to the
+Plain on the flank of our pursuing force with a view to creating a
+diversion; but of this, more anon.</p>
+
+<p>On the afternoon of the 7th, when it was seen that our Sheria operations
+in the centre had been successful, the cavalry were ordered to push
+forward from there in the direction of Huj, which was the terminus of
+the enemy's branch railway line from Deir Sineid. Had this force of
+cavalry been able to push forward and join up with the cavalry that had
+worked round by the sea and were engaging the enemy rearguard at Beit
+Hanun, the bulk of the Turkish force engaged upon this front might have
+been surrounded and captured. The mounted troops on the right moved
+towards Huj, but met with considerable opposition from hostile
+rearguards. On this account, and through difficulty in watering horses,
+the consummation devoutly to be desired was not attained.</p>
+
+<p>It will be remembered that the Gaza operations had the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> effect of almost
+turning the enemy's right flank as long ago as November 2nd, and that,
+by the evening of the 7th, the force advancing along the coast had
+already established itself on the north bank of the Wadi Hesi, some 6
+miles or so behind the enemy's defensive line.</p>
+
+<p>Throughout the 7th, Turkish rearguards clung to Beit Hanun and to the
+Atawineh and Tank systems to the east of Ali Muntar. The effect of this
+was, that, when our troops eventually got under way in pursuit of the
+retreating Turks, those near the sea had several miles' start of those
+further inland. This feature, a pursuit in echelon with the left flank
+advanced, continued throughout these operations. And so we shall see
+that Jaffa fell into our hands some weeks before the capture of
+Jerusalem had even been attempted.</p>
+
+<p>The bulk of the Turkish army retreated northwards along the Coastal
+Plain. Here ran their railway, their main line of communications, and
+also an excellent road from Gaza to Jerusalem. Little or no opportunity
+was afforded of catching the disorganized enemy in narrow defiles, as
+happened in the rout of the following autumn, but the open Plain offered
+ample opportunities for a hasty retreat, of which the enemy fully
+availed themselves.</p>
+
+<p>"During the 8th, then, the advance was continued, and interest was
+chiefly centred in an attempt to cut off, if possible, the Turkish
+rearguard which had held the Tank and Atawineh systems. Considerable
+captures of prisoners, guns, ammunition and other stores were made,
+especially at Huj and Deir Sineid, but no large formed body of the enemy
+was cut off. The Turkish rearguards fought stubbornly and offered
+considerable opposition." At this time the brunt of the work was being
+borne by the cavalry and the Royal Flying Corps, the infantry not having
+yet been ordered forward. "Near Huj, a fine charge by some squadrons of
+the Worcester and Warwick Yeomanry captured twelve guns, and broke the
+resistance of a hostile rearguard."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"It soon became obvious from the reports of the Royal Flying Corps, who
+throughout the 7th and 8th attacked the retreating columns with bombs
+and machine-gun fire, and from other evidence, that the enemy was
+retiring in considerable disorganization, and could offer no very
+serious resistance if pressed with determination.</p>
+
+<p>"Instructions were accordingly issued on the morning of the 9th to the
+mounted troops, directing them on to the line El Tine-Beit Duras, that
+is, on to a line a little to the south-west of Junction Station, with
+orders to press the enemy relentlessly. A portion of the infantry was
+ordered forward in support.</p>
+
+<p>"By the 9th, therefore, operations had reached the stage of a direct
+pursuit by as many troops as could be supplied so far in front of the
+railhead."</p>
+
+<p>The 54th Division had hitherto been principally engaged between Gaza and
+the sea. The 52nd Division, therefore, passed through the 54th and took
+up the pursuit along the coast, the pursuit along the Gaza-Jerusalem
+road falling to the lot of the 75th.</p>
+
+<p>On the night of the 8th, our regiment was relieved in the trenches at
+the Apex, and, on the 9th, the 75th Division concentrated behind the
+line, ready to take its part in the pursuit. Next day we all went
+forward in column of route. We crossed No Man's Land along the enemy's
+old front line trenches by Ali Muntar. Having looked out upon this scene
+for months through glasses, telescopes and periscopes, it was
+interesting now to obtain a close view of these fortress defences.</p>
+
+<p>But there were other sights that met our eyes, sad and gruesome, that
+can be better imagined than described. Portions of the enemy's wire, and
+of the gentle slopes in front, were littered with the remains of brave
+lads that had fallen in the sad days of March and April. It was strange
+that, in their own interests, the Turks had not buried these bodies.
+Instead they had left them lying there for months, beneath an almost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>
+tropical sun, and had actually fixed up their new wire entanglements
+over the unburied bodies. In some cases death had evidently been
+instantaneous. In others, where death had come more slowly, lads were to
+be found grasping open testaments or letters from home. It seemed so sad
+that these poor fellows, who had endured the hardships of the Desert and
+marched victoriously across Sinai, should, like Moses, have been
+privileged to see, but not to enter, the Promised Land.</p>
+
+<p>After crossing No Man's Land, we marched along past pleasanter sights,
+great stacks of ammunition, gas cylinders, and other interesting
+captures. We enjoyed glimpses of how the enemy here had made himself
+comfortable; still more did we enjoy glimpses of how we here had made
+the enemy uncomfortable. Huge craters there were, made by naval guns
+shelling from the sea. These guns had bombarded the enemy communications
+behind his front line, and had obtained direct hits on the track and
+rolling stock, causing a train or two, valuable booty, to fall into our
+possession. Bomb holes were to be seen, made by our aircraft in their
+efforts to destroy the bridges on the enemy's line of retreat.</p>
+
+<p>We bivouacked on the night of the 10th at Deir Sineid. For the next two
+days we marched forward, close upon the heels of the pursuing cavalry,
+but not close enough yet to come into action or to deploy from column of
+route. All along our route lay evidences of the enemy's rout. At one
+time, we were passing a convoy of prisoners being shepherded along by a
+few cavalry; at another, a party of refugees hurrying back with their
+worldly possessions to those homes to which they knew they could now
+return in safety. Here and there lay the body of some unfortunate Turk;
+while all along the line lay the wreckage of vehicles and the carcases
+of transport animals.</p>
+
+<p>Throughout these days the troops suffered considerably from thirst. A
+hot exhausting wind was blowing, and the men were heavily laden for
+long-distance route marching in a semi-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>tropical country. Water was the
+ever-recurring trouble. A little for the men to carry on with was
+generally procurable, but the difficulty of watering the animals at
+times became acute. The usual tidings were, that there was plenty of
+water at the next village. When the next village was reached the tidings
+proved to be true, but so long was the queue of animals already waiting
+to be watered, that fresh arrivals stood but little chance. At many
+places the water was insufficient; and "even when water was found in
+sufficient quantities, it was usually in wells and not on the surface;
+consequently, if the machinery for working the wells was damaged, or a
+sufficient supply of troughs was not available, the process of watering
+a large quantity of animals was slow and difficult."</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, how were our cavalry progressing? A glance at the map will
+show that, after the fall of Gaza, the next point of tactical importance
+in Palestine was Junction Station. With this in our hands, Jerusalem
+would be cut off from railway communication with the outer world, and
+quantities of rolling stock, supplies, war material and possibly
+prisoners, should fall into our hands. While still pursuing the
+retreating enemy, therefore, the cavalry had been directed to make
+Junction Station their next objective.</p>
+
+<p>The portion of the enemy's force that had withdrawn into the hills
+towards Hebron now made a descent from the hills to the Plain. Their
+object was to threaten the flank of our pursuing cavalry, create a
+diversion, and thus relieve the pressure from their main body. From
+Hebron, a couple of difficult tracks wind down the mountains to the
+village of Beit Jibrin, where they join a road coming from Bethlehem and
+Jerusalem. This latter road reaches the Plain and Beersheba railway at
+Arak el Menshiyeh. This was the spot, then, towards which the
+counter-attack, or demonstration from the hills, was organized.</p>
+
+<p>"It was obvious that the Hebron force, which was believed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> to be short
+of transport and ammunition, to have lost heavily, and to be in a
+generally disorganized state, could make no effective diversion, and
+that this threat could practically be disregarded. The Imperial Camel
+Corps, however, was ordered to move to the neighbourhood of Tel el
+Nejile, where it would be on the flank of any counterstroke from the
+hills; while orders were issued for the main pursuit to be pressed so
+that Junction Station might be reached with all speed. The Hebron group
+made an ineffective demonstration in the direction of Arak el Menshiyeh
+on the 10th, and then retired north-east so as to prolong the enemy's
+line towards Beit Jibrin."</p>
+
+<p>Close to the sea, the advance-guard of the 52nd Division pushed on as
+far as Burkah on the 11th, and, on the 12th, the yeomanry pushed north
+and seized Tel el Murreh, on the right or northern bank of the Nahr
+Sukereir and close to its mouth.</p>
+
+<p>"The operations of these days showed a stiffening of the enemy's
+resistance on the general line of the Wadi Sukereir, with centre about
+El Kustineh. Reports from the R.F.C. indicated the total hostile forces
+opposed to us on this line at about 15,000; and this increased
+resistance, coupled with the capture of prisoners from almost every unit
+of the Turkish force, tended to show that we were no longer opposed to
+rearguards, but that all the remainder of the Turkish Army, which could
+be induced to fight, was making a last effort to arrest our pursuit
+south of the important Junction Station.</p>
+
+<p>"On the morning of the 13th November, the situation was, that the enemy
+had strung out his force on a front of 20 miles from El Kubeibeh on the
+north to about Beit Jibrin to the south. The right half of his line ran
+roughly parallel to, and only about five miles in front of, the railway
+to the north of Junction Station, which was the main line of supply from
+the north."</p>
+
+<p>We have seen that our pursuit along the sea coast had a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> considerable
+start of that further to the right, and the rapidity of this pursuit had
+dictated to the enemy this rather unsatisfactory position which he was
+forced to take up. His right flank was already almost turned. In so far
+as he could do so, he held a strong position on the line of heights
+running north and south near the right flank of his position, on which
+heights stand the villages of Katrah and El Mughar.</p>
+
+<p>The 12th was a day of preparation. On the 13th, an attack was delivered
+against the enemy's position by the 75th Division on the right and the
+52nd on the left, the extreme right of the attack being protected by the
+Australian Mounted Troops, who had pressed forward towards Balin
+Berkussie and Tel es Safi. The country over which the attack took place
+is open and rolling. It is dotted with small villages surrounded by mud
+walls, with plantations of trees and thick cactus hedges outside the
+walls. These hedges afforded admirable opportunities for the concealment
+of machine guns. In spite of heavy machine gun fire, the 75th attacked
+and captured the village of El Mesmiye. A turning movement was directed
+against the enemy's right flank. There was a dashing charge of mounted
+troops, who galloped across the Plain under heavy fire and turned the
+enemy's position from the north. The Kahan El Mughar position,
+protecting the enemy's right flank, fell to the 52nd Division. After
+this, the enemy resistance weakened, and by the evening his forces were
+in retreat. Early the following morning we occupied Junction Station.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy's flight from Junction Station was precipitate. Two trains
+escaped shortly before our occupation, one of which was believed to have
+contained Von Kressenstein himself. Nevertheless our captures of rolling
+stock and material were considerable. The enemy's army had now been
+broken into two separate parts, which retired eastwards towards
+Jerusalem and northwards through Ramleh towards Tul Keram.</p>
+
+<p>Throughout the 14th our mounted troops pressed on toward<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> Ramleh and
+Ludd. On the right, Naaneh, on the railway to Ramleh, was attacked and
+captured in the morning. On the left, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles had
+a smart engagement at Ayun Kara, 6 miles south of Jaffa, where the Turks
+made a determined counter-attack, and were only repulsed at the point of
+the bayonet.</p>
+
+<p>On the morning of the 15th our mounted troops dislodged a hostile
+rearguard, which had taken up a position on the high ground, flanking
+the railway north of Junction Station, and covering the main road from
+Jaffa to Jerusalem. This is the site of Gezer, one of the most ancient
+of the Canaanitish cities in Palestine, and one of the first objects of
+interest sought by the eye of the tourist on his journey up from Jaffa
+to Jerusalem. Thus, commanding both the railway and the main Jerusalem
+road, this position might have considerably delayed our advance had it
+been held with determination. As it was, our mounted troops were able to
+occupy Ramleh and Ludd that evening and to push forward patrols to
+within a short distance of Jaffa.</p>
+
+<p>Jaffa, the ancient port of Jerusalem, was occupied without further
+opposition on the evening of the 16th.</p>
+
+<p>"The situation was now as follows. The enemy's army, cut in two by our
+capture of Junction Station, had retired partly east into the mountains
+towards Jerusalem, and partly north along the Plain. The nearest line on
+which these two portions could reunite was the line Tul Keram-Nablus."
+Although Jerusalem itself could still be supplied along the road
+connecting it with Nablus, or along the road across the Jordan to Ammam
+Station on the Hejaz Railway, yet "reports from the R.F.C. indicated
+that it was the probable intention of the enemy to evacuate Jerusalem
+and withdraw to organize on the line Tul Keram-Nablus.</p>
+
+<p>"On our side, the mounted troops had been marching and fighting
+continuously since October 31st, and had advanced a distance of 75 miles
+measured in a straight line from Asluj<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> to Jaffa. The infantry, after
+their last fighting at Gaza, had advanced, in nine days, distances of
+from 40 to 70 miles, with two severe engagements and continual
+advanced-guard fighting. The railway was being pushed forward as rapidly
+as possible, and every opportunity was taken of landing stores at points
+along the coast; but the landing of stores was dependent on a
+continuance of favourable weather, and might at any moment be stopped
+for several days together.</p>
+
+<p>"A pause was therefore necessary to await the progress of railway
+construction. But before our position in the Plain could be considered
+secure, it was essential to push forward into the hills, and to obtain a
+hold of the one good road which traverses the Jud&aelig;an range from north to
+south, from Nablus to Jerusalem."</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h3>
+
+<h2>NEBY SAMWIL</h2>
+
+
+<p>Our advance had hitherto been northwards along the low country, and had
+already reached a point on the Maritime Plain some miles north of the
+parallel of Jerusalem. It now wheeled to the right and struck into the
+Hills, with the object of getting astride the Jerusalem-Nablus road and
+of thus capturing the Holy City.</p>
+
+<p>It will be remembered, from our survey of the geography of Palestine,
+that the ridge of the Jud&aelig;an Hills runs approximately north and south,
+and that along the top of this ridge runs a first-class metalled road
+connecting Nablus with Jerusalem. From this ridge spurs run east and
+west down towards the Maritime Plain. These spurs are steep, bare and
+stony, and in places, precipitous, and are separated from one another by
+narrow valleys. Between such spurs, a few miles to the north-west of
+Jerusalem, sweeps down the Valley of Ajalon, with the villages of
+Beit-ur el-Foka (Beth-horon the Upper) and Beit-ur el-Tahta (Beth-horon
+the Lower), where Joshua won his memorable victory over the five kings
+of the Amorites. It was here that the routed hosts of the Amorites were
+pursued in panic, and near here that the sun and moon "stood still" at
+the bidding of Joshua. Further to the south, another gorge, or pass,
+roughly parallel to the Valley of Ajalon, leads down to the Plain, and
+along this pass runs the metalled road through Kurzet-el-Enab
+(Kirjath-Jearim), Saris and Bab-el-Wad, to Ramleh and Jaffa; this is the
+road followed by the Pilgrims. Other paths were shown upon the map, but
+these were found to be mere tracks on the hillside or up the stony<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> beds
+of wadis, and, without considerable improvement, were impracticable for
+wheeled guns or transport. The only routes along which guns, other than
+mountain artillery, could be moved, were the two first-class roads
+running northwards and westwards out of Jerusalem.</p>
+
+<p>Ten miles north of Jerusalem, along the Nablus road, at a height of
+nearly 3,000 feet above sea level, is the village of Bireh. This
+commanding position overlooks the Jordan Valley and all the surrounding
+country. This was the point which General Allenby decided to make his
+next objective. Reports had indicated that it was the probable intention
+of the enemy to evacuate Jerusalem, and in the known or suspected state
+of the demoralisation of the enemy, it was felt that considerable risks
+could be taken. Thus a bold and immediate dash for Bireh seemed to be
+indicated. Furthermore, an advance on this objective would take our
+forces well clear of Jerusalem itself. And so this plan best conformed
+with the determination that had previously been arrived at, that
+fighting should be within five miles of the Holy City.</p>
+
+<p>The general idea of the operation was, that our troops should move up
+into the hills, some going by the Valley of Ajalon, and some by the main
+Jaffa-Jerusalem road as far as Enab, and thence by the "Roman road"
+running north-east. Although it was thought likely that the Turks,
+reinforced from Damascus, and perhaps from Aleppo, would come down and
+attack our new line, yet it was hoped that Bireh would be reached before
+serious opposition was encountered. The enemy, however, changed his
+mind. Having, early in November, decided to withdraw from Jerusalem, he
+now determined to hold it till the bitter end. Turkish resistance
+stiffened immensely. Pushed far into the hills, as were our advanced
+troops, and without much artillery support, it was found impossible for
+them to reach Bireh in the first stride; and further operations upon a
+more elaborate scale had to be undertaken before Jerusalem could be
+captured.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>But we anticipate. Let us, then, return to the middle of November, at
+which time our forces had captured, and were holding, positions covering
+Jaffa, Ramleh and Junction Station. On the 17th November, the yeomanry
+commenced to move from Ramleh through the hills direct on Bireh, <ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'via'">vi&acirc;</ins> the
+valley of Ajalon and Lower Beth-horon; and, by the evening of the 18th,
+one portion of the yeomanry had reached Lower Beth-horon, while another
+portion had occupied Shilta.</p>
+
+<p>On the 19th, the infantry commenced its advance. Latron and Anwas were
+captured in the morning. For nearly 4 miles, between Bab el Wad (2&frac12;
+miles east of Latron) and Saris, the Jaffa-Jerusalem road passes through
+a narrow gorge or defile. The remainder of the day was spent in clearing
+this defile up to Saris. "These narrow passes from the plain to the
+plateau of the Jud&aelig;an range have seldom been forced, and have been fatal
+to many invading armies." The natural facilities for defence in this
+pass were undoubtedly very strong. "Had the attempt not been made at
+once, or had it been pressed with less determination, the enemy would
+have had time to reorganize his defences here, and the conquest of the
+plateau would then have been slow, costly and precarious."</p>
+
+<p>The character of the fighting now changed, and more nearly resembled the
+mountain warfare of the north-west frontier of India. The bulk of this
+hill fighting fell upon the 75th Division, whose Indian experience
+proved invaluable. It was interesting to note the points of resemblance
+and of distinction between hill fighting here and on the Indian
+frontier.</p>
+
+<p>In India, frontier warfare is usually conducted against ill-organized
+semi-savages, unarmed with artillery or machine guns, but furnished with
+the instincts and cunning of beasts of prey. Here the conditions were
+reversed. The enemy were well provided with artillery and machine guns,
+both of which they had had abundant opportunity to post advantageously
+and use effectually; whereas we had difficulties in get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>ting forward our
+guns and bringing them into action, and were at times without artillery
+assistance. On the other hand, our troops surpassed the enemy in their
+familiarity with mountain fighting.</p>
+
+<p>Here, as in all mountain fighting, the cardinal principle was piquetting
+the heights&mdash;that is to say, the necessity of sending up piquets from
+the advanced-guard, who deny to the enemy all commanding eminences,
+before the main body and transport move up the defile which those
+eminences command. Our piquets had frequently to fight their way up to
+the heights, and to be prepared, on reaching the summit, to withstand a
+shelling or repulse a counter-attack. They had, therefore, to be
+stronger than is usually necessary in India, but had to be particularly
+careful not to concentrate too much upon the summit. In India, where the
+enemy generally fight a guerilla warfare, hanging on to rearguards and
+cutting off stragglers, the stiffest part of the fighting is to be
+expected during the subsequent withdrawal of the piquets from the
+heights. Here, the fighting was done by the advanced-guard, and during
+the taking of the heights, subsequent withdrawal being generally
+unmolested. Quickness in the attack was found to be of great value. In
+some cases the garrisons of heights were surprised and captured before
+they could get away; more than once the advanced-guard, pushing rapidly
+up the road, were able to cut off such garrisons as they were coming
+down the reverse slopes of their hills.</p>
+
+<p>With regard to armament, our field artillery were able to assist with
+their 4.2 inch howitzers, but the 18-pounder field guns, with their flat
+projectory, were, at this stage, found to be of little use. During later
+stages of this mountain warfare, the 18-pounder came again into its own;
+but that was when suitable positions could be chosen deliberately, and
+when, through the length of the range or the use of reduced charges,
+they were able to drop their shells with a steep angle of descent. A
+high velocity gun, with a flat projectory, like our 18-pounder,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> has two
+disadvantages in mountain warfare. When the gun is firing from behind a
+steep hill, the shell, on leaving the gun, is liable to strike the hill
+in front instead of clearing the crest. When the projectile reaches the
+distant ridge (behind which the enemy are presumably taking cover), the
+angle of descent is not sufficiently steep to cause damage. More
+satisfactory results were obtainable with howitzers, whose high angle
+fire could both clear the forward crests and search the reverse slopes.
+Unfortunately, at this time, we had little or no mountain artillery up
+forward, while the wheeled guns were often badly handicapped for want of
+good roads. We had marched away from Gaza well enough supplied with
+artillery for normal or plain country fighting, but scarcely so for this
+very different fighting in the mountains.</p>
+
+<p>Another disadvantage under which we laboured, through this abrupt
+merging from trench into mountain warfare, was the overloading of the
+men. For the latter class of warfare men must be lightly equipped; in
+India, even the men's great-coats are carried for them on pack-mules.
+Here, the men were, of necessity, loaded up as for trench fighting, and
+were carrying gas masks and extra bandoliers (50 rounds) of ammunition,
+making a total of 170 rounds per man.</p>
+
+<p>The key to success in modern mountain fighting proved to be the rapidity
+with which roads could be constructed for bringing forward artillery.</p>
+
+<p>The defile up to Saris having been piquetted and cleared on the 19th,
+Enab was captured on the 20th in the face of organized opposition. Other
+infantry had moved from the plain along the more northern track (the
+Ajalon Valley route) by Berfilja and Beit Likia, and, on this same 20th,
+they captured Beit Dukka. On the same day the yeomanry got to within 4
+miles of the Nablus-Jerusalem road, but were stopped by strong
+opposition about Beihesnia, 3 or 4 miles west-south-west of Bireh.</p>
+
+<p>In this night it rained, as only in tropical and semi-tropical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>
+countries it knows how. The men, clad in their Indian drill, were soaked
+immediately, and lay down on the road or in the streets of Enab, or
+slept where they stood, the picture of misery. An isolated Turk rushed
+down the road, determined to sell his life dearly. But he could find
+nobody enthusiastic enough to fight, or even to take sufficient interest
+in him to accept his surrender; until at last he found a military
+policeman, who, this being his job, had no alternative but to take him
+prisoner. At length dawn broke; and it then became clear that Enab was
+under Turkish observation. So a cold night of rain was followed by a hot
+morn of fire.</p>
+
+<p>From Enab, a "Roman road" leaves the main Jaffa-Jerusalem road and
+strikes away north-east to Biddu, and thence towards Bireh. In Roman
+days, this may have been an important road, but now it was found to be a
+mere rocky track, impassable for wheels, or for anything except infantry
+and pack animals. On the morning of the 21st, a portion of the 75th
+Division moved forward by this track, while another portion of the
+Division was left at Enab to cover the flank and demonstrate along the
+main Jerusalem road. The latter body drove hostile parties from Kushel,
+2&frac12; miles east of Enab, and secured this ridge. Meanwhile, progress
+along the "Roman road" was slow. The track was under hostile shell-fire,
+and it was found impossible to bring up guns to support the advance of
+the infantry. The advanced guard, pushing on towards Bireh, had got as
+far as Biddu, when it was held up there by intensive hostile shelling.
+The remainder of the leading brigade thereupon captured a commanding
+position about a couple of miles to the east of Biddu, and 2&frac12; miles
+short of the Jerusalem-Nablus road. This commanding position was Neby
+Samwil.</p>
+
+<p>Neby Samwil, one of the most prominent heights round Jerusalem, must
+always have been a place of considerable importance. It is identified
+with Mizpeh, one of the cities built by King Asa. Ecclesiastical
+tradition connects this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> place with Ramah, the birth and burial place of
+the prophet Samuel, whose tomb is said to lie under the Crusading
+Church, the ruins of which still exist here. To the honour of this
+prophet, the Moslems had erected a fine mosque upon this spot, which was
+a landmark for miles round. As subsequent events proved, Neby Samwil was
+the key to Jerusalem.</p>
+
+<p>The question has been often asked: Who was the first to capture Neby
+Samwil? The honour has sometimes been claimed for the 60th Division. No
+doubt that Division fought here, and fought well. But at least two other
+divisions, the 52nd and the 75th, had been fighting on this hill for a
+day or so before the arrival of the 60th. As a matter of fact, this
+hill, the "key" to Jerusalem, was first captured by a brigade of the
+75th Division, in honour of which a "key" was thereafter adopted as the
+proud distinguishing mark of this Division.</p>
+
+<p>On Neby Samwil occurred some of the bitterest fighting in the Palestine
+campaign. Both sides realized the vital importance of the position. All
+the first night the hill was distinctly unhealthy. The trees were
+infested with snipers who picked off our men in the bright moonlight.
+Some refuge from the sniping was procurable inside the Mosque, but the
+Turkish artillery had no compunction in shelling the building and
+bringing it down in ruins. As the night progressed, more troops were
+poured on to the hill. The snipers were hunted down and summarily dealt
+with. Machine guns were established in the ruined Mosque and other
+appropriate positions, and preparations made to hold the hill at all
+costs. Towards the morning the Turks delivered a determined
+counter-attack. During the 22nd, the enemy made two counter-attacks on
+the Neby Samwil Ridge, which we repulsed. In one case, the Ghurkhas,
+having run out of ammunition, hurled down rocks and boulders upon the
+heads of the ascending enemy. At one time the Mosque was deserted by all
+except one machine-gun officer, who continued to work his gun
+single-handed. By this time the 52nd Division had come<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> up and were, in
+some cases relieving, in some fighting side by side with, the 75th.</p>
+
+<p>On the 23rd and on the 24th, determined and gallant attacks were made on
+the strong positions to the west of the Nablus road held by the enemy,
+who had brought up reinforcements and numerous machine guns, and could
+support his infantry by artillery fire from guns placed in position
+along the main road. Our artillery, from lack of roads, could not be
+brought up to give adequate support to our infantry, and both attacks
+failed. The yeomanry, who by the afternoon of the 21st had got to within
+a couple of miles of the Nablus road, were heavily counter-attacked, and
+fell back, after bitter fighting, on Beit-ur el-Foka (Upper Beth-horon).</p>
+
+<p>This fighting had been taking place over classical and sacred ground.
+Troops fighting on Neby Samwil looked down upon the Holy City, still in
+the hands of the Turk. Our advanced dressing station was established in
+the beautiful monastery on the traditional site of Emmaus; here the men
+were dying on the very spot that the risen Christ had been made known to
+His disciples in the breaking of bread.</p>
+
+<p>"The positions reached on the evening of the 21st practically marked the
+limit of the progress in this first attempt to gain the Nablus road.
+Positions had been won from which our final attack could be prepared and
+delivered with good prospects of success. Nevertheless, it was evident
+that a period of preparation and organization would be necessary before
+an attack could be delivered in sufficient strength to drive the enemy
+from his <ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: inserted a missing period after 'positions'">positions.</ins>"</p>
+
+<p>Orders were accordingly issued to consolidate the position gained and
+prepare for relief. The 60th Division had been lent to the 21st Corps,
+and had already taken their place in the fighting on Neby Samwil. Now
+the 21st Corps were gradually relieved and moved over to the left; while
+the operations about Jerusalem were taken over by the 20th Corps.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><a name="country" id="country"></a><a href="./images/100101.jpg"><img src="./images/100101_th.jpg"
+alt="Country round Jerusalem" title="Country round Jerusalem" /></a></p>
+<p class="figcenter"><span class="smcap">Country round Jerusalem</span></p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h3>
+
+<h2>JERUSALEM</h2>
+
+
+<p>Let us trace the fortunes of the 20th Corps, whom we last saw engaged in
+the fighting about Beersheba. After the fall of Gaza and Beersheba, most
+of the mounted troops went forward in pursuit of the enemy along the
+Maritime Plain. These were closely followed up and supported by the 21st
+Corps, i.e. the 52nd and 75th Divisions, with the 54th following close
+upon their heels. It was impossible at this time to supply more than a
+limited number of troops far forward of railhead. So the Divisions of
+the 20th Corps after their successful operations at Beersheba and
+Sheria, were first moved backwards to rest and re-equip, before going
+forward again into the field zone. Of these 20th Corps Divisions, the
+60th were the first to go forward. Following along the main
+Gaza-Junction Station road, in the footsteps of the 75th and 54th
+Divisions, the 60th arrived at Junction Station on the 22nd November, on
+which date the head-quarters of the 20th Corps also moved up to, and
+opened at, Junction Station. The 60th Division were now lent to the 21st
+Corps. They moved forward next day, following along the Jerusalem road
+to Enab, and about the 24th or 25th began to take their place in the
+fighting on the Neby Samwil ridge. Shortly after the 60th came forward
+the 74th. By the time that they got sufficiently far forward, the 20th
+Corps were taking over from, and relieving, the 21st, and the 74th
+Division soon found itself in the zone of operations to the west and
+north-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>west of Jerusalem. The 10th Division remained in the
+neighbourhood of Gaza for a few weeks, until the possibilities of supply
+permitted their also going forward. The 53rd Division did not go forward
+by the Maritime Plain at all. They remained about Beersheba until the
+4th December. Then they moved forward, without meeting with opposition,
+along the higher road, that is, through Hebron towards Bethlehem; and
+subsequently arrived in the hills at such time and place as their
+presence was required for man&oelig;uvring the enemy out of Jerusalem.</p>
+
+<p>While these reliefs were in progress, several determined counter-attacks
+were delivered by the enemy in their attempt to dislodge us from the
+positions of advantage that we had already gained. At this time our line
+was, of necessity, somewhat thinly held, especially towards the sea. The
+Imperial Camel Corps, whom we last saw protecting the right flank of the
+pursuit from the threat near Beit Jibrin, had been moved across to the
+extreme left, where they and cavalry held positions on the north bank of
+the River Auja, protecting Jaffa. Further to the right, the line was
+carried on by the 54th Division, who thus linked up, along the ridge
+north of the Valley of Ajalon, with the 52nd and 75th Divisions then
+fighting in the neighbourhood of Neby Samwil. "On the 25th November our
+advanced posts north of the River Auja were driven back across the
+river. An attack on the night of the 29th succeeded in penetrating our
+outpost line north-east of Jaffa; but next morning the whole hostile
+detachment, numbering 150, was surrounded and captured by the Australian
+Light Horse. Attacks were also delivered against the left flank of our
+position in the hills from Beit-ur el-Foka to El Burj and the Neby
+Samwil ridge. One such attack was delivered on the 30th near El Burj,
+when a counter-attack by Australian Light Horse took 200 prisoners and
+practically destroyed the attacking battalion. There was particularly
+heavy fighting between El Burj and Beit-ur el-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>Foka, but all these
+attacks were successfully resisted and severe losses were inflicted on
+the enemy. All efforts by the enemy to drive us off the Neby Samwil
+ridge were completely repulsed.</p>
+
+<p>"These attacks in no way affected our positions nor impeded the progress
+of our preparations. Favoured by a continuance of fine weather,
+preparations for a fresh advance against the Turkish positions west and
+south of Jerusalem proceeded rapidly. Existing roads and tracks were
+improved and new ones constructed to enable heavy and field artillery to
+be placed in position and ammunition and supplies brought up. The water
+supply was also developed. By December 4th all reliefs were complete." A
+line was then held from Kushel, about 5 miles to the west of Jerusalem,
+along the ridge that runs north-east some 3 or 4 miles to Neby Samwil.
+From this point, the line bent back at a right angle, and ran along the
+northern ridge of the Valley of Ajalon through Beit Izza and Beit Dukka
+to Beit-ur el-Tahta (Beth-horon the Lower), from which point it was
+carried west and north-west to the sea.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy held a line approximately facing our Kushel-Neby Samwil line,
+protecting Jerusalem from attack from the west or north-west, his front
+line being distant about three miles from the city, and artillery and
+machine guns being posted in the outskirts of the city itself. He had
+two good lines of supply or retreat, namely the north road from Nablus
+and the eastern road through Jericho and across the Jordan to Amman
+Station on the Hejaz Railway. It will be remembered that, in the words
+of the Psalmist, "The Hills stand round about Jerusalem." The Turks were
+able to select positions of considerable natural strength in these
+surrounding hills. In fact, the country is one continual succession of
+hills and valleys, the hillsides steep and rocky, the valleys deep and
+strewn with boulders. These positions of natural strength the enemy had
+improved by the construction of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> trenches and strong points and other
+devices of modern field engineering.</p>
+
+<p>The general idea of the operations for the capture of Jerusalem was the
+simultaneous pressure of three Divisions, whereby the enemy should be
+driven off his main roads, and the city be isolated, and so forced to
+surrender. The 60th and 74th Divisions had already arrived in the
+fighting zone and were occupying positions in the line, the 60th on the
+right, about Kushel, and the 74th about Neby Samwil. On December 4th,
+the 53rd Division commenced their march from Beersheba up the
+Hebron-Jerusalem Road. No opposition was met, and, by the evening of the
+6th, the head of this column was ten miles north of Hebron. The infantry
+were directed to reach the Bethlehem area by the 7th, and a line about
+three miles south of Jerusalem by dawn on the 8th. The 8th was the date
+fixed for the commencement of the renewed operations against Jerusalem.</p>
+
+<p>"On the 7th the weather broke, and for three days rain was almost
+continuous. The hills were covered with mist at frequent intervals
+throughout the fighting, rendering observation from the air and visual
+signalling impossible." Great was the discomfort caused to the men by
+this rain, fog and mud. The cold was intense, and soldiers who had borne
+the brunt of a long day's fighting could not sleep, but just lay huddled
+together longing for the dawn. An even more serious effect of the rain
+was to jeopardise the supply arrangements, by converting the roads into
+seas of liquid mud, rendering them almost impassable, in places quite
+impassable for camels and mechanical transport.</p>
+
+<p>By dawn on the 8th, all the troops were in their allotted positions,
+except the 53rd Division. It had been recognized that these troops on
+the extreme right might be delayed and fail to reach the positions
+assigned to them by dawn on the 8th, and arrangements had accordingly
+been made for the protection of our right flank west of Jerusalem in
+case of such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> delay occurring. This contingency did occur. The 53rd
+Division was held up by mud and fog, and by roads blown up by the enemy,
+so that, by the morning of the 8th, it was still some distance south of
+Jerusalem; on that day it exercised little or no influence on the
+fighting.</p>
+
+<p>During the darkness of the night of the 7th/8th December, and in weather
+such as we have described, portions of the 60th Division clambered down
+the mountain side, crossed the deep wadi bed in front of the right of
+our line, and crept up the steep terraced sides of the opposite ridge
+where ran a portion of the Turkish line. One brigade was to make a
+frontal attack, while another was to turn the left flank of the enemy's
+position, by scaling a spur to the south-west of the village of Ain
+Karim. These two brigades stormed the main line of works before daylight
+and captured the western defences of Jerusalem. Considerable rifle and
+artillery fire was experienced from the outskirts of Jerusalem, so that
+it was necessary for our troops to throw back their right and form a
+defensive flank facing eastwards towards the city. Artillery support
+from our own guns soon became difficult, owing to the length of the
+advance and the difficulty of moving guns forward. It thus became
+difficult for these troops to attain their subsequent objectives in the
+direction of the Nablus road north of Jerusalem. Accordingly, it was
+decided, early in the afternoon, to consolidate the line gained and
+resume the advance next day, when the right column (the 53rd Division)
+would be in a position to exert its pressure.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the task of the 74th Division was to swing forward, with
+their left resting and pivoting on Neby Samwil, to capture Beit Iksa
+village and works, and so to swing forward to the Nablus road. They each
+captured their first objective, and we were preparing for a further
+advance. But the delay on the right made it desirable to check for the
+time the advance on the left, and to consolidate the positions already
+attained.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>By nightfall, our line ran from Neby Samwil to the east of Beit Iksa,
+through Lifta, to a point of about 1&frac12; miles west of Jerusalem, whence
+it was thrown back facing east. Thus, our main line had swung forward,
+circling on its pivot at Neby Samwil, with its extreme right flank
+refused. The refused right flank afforded protection against the fire
+coming from the city. The main directions of our advance, however, now
+menaced, not so much Jerusalem itself, as the main Nablus road a few
+miles to the north of the city. All the enemy's prepared defences west
+and north-west of Jerusalem had been captured, and our troops were
+within a short distance of the Nablus-Jerusalem Road.</p>
+
+<p>That night the Turks withdrew. On the following morning, the 9th
+December, the 74th and 60th Divisions, driving back rearguards, occupied
+a line across the Nablus-Jerusalem road 4 miles north of Jerusalem.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, the 53rd Division had arrived on the scene of
+operations to the south of Jerusalem. They bore right-handed, cleared
+the Mount of Olives, which commands Jerusalem from the east, drove the
+enemy away eastwards, and occupied a position east of Jerusalem across
+the Jericho road.</p>
+
+<p>These operations isolated Jerusalem. At about noon on the 9th December,
+1918, the city was surrendered.</p>
+
+<p>Two days later General Allenby made his official entry into Jerusalem.
+It was a simple ceremony. The General entered the city on foot, preceded
+by his aides-de-camp, and accompanied by the commanders of the French
+and Italian detachments, by the French, Italian and American military
+attach&eacute;s, and by a few members of the General Staff. Outside the Jaffa
+Gate he was received by the Military Governor, and a guard of honour
+composed of representatives of troops from the various portions of the
+British Empire, which had taken part in the recent operations; while,
+inside the walls, were small parties from the French and Italian
+detachments<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> which those countries had sent to assist us in Palestine.
+Inside the city, at the base of the Tower of David, the ceremony was
+concluded by the reading of the Proclamation. Its terms promised that
+every person could pursue his lawful business without interruption, and
+that every sacred building, monument, holy spot, shrine, traditional
+site, endowment, pious bequest, or customary place of prayer of
+whatsoever form of the great religions of mankind, would be maintained
+and protected according to the existing customs and beliefs of those to
+whose faiths they were sacred.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h3>
+
+<h2>THE HOLY CITY<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></h2>
+
+
+<p>It is beyond the scope of this book to attempt a detailed history of
+Jerusalem. It cannot, however, fail to interest those readers who have
+followed us thus far, if we glance at a few incidents in the history of
+this sacred spot.</p>
+
+<p>Of little importance, perhaps non-existent, in the days of the
+Patriarchs, and still in the hands of the Jebusites through the days of
+Joshua, the Judges, and Samuel, it first sprang into fame about a
+thousand years before Christ when it was captured by King David, who
+made it his capital. Solomon built his temple on Mount Moriah, and
+prayed to Jehovah that He would especially hear the prayers of His
+people when they prayed toward the city which He had chosen and the
+House which Solomon had built for His name. Then did this city become,
+and has ever since remained, the sacred city of the Jews.</p>
+
+<p>With the advent of Christ, born within a few miles of its walls, Who
+here preached and healed, instituted His Holy Sacrament, suffered under
+Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried and the third day rose
+again from the dead, Who here laid the foundations of the most beautiful
+religion that the world has ever seen, Jerusalem became and has ever
+since remained, the sacred city of the Christian.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>And then, six hundred years later, came the rise of Islam. The great
+prophet Mahomet, in evolving his religion, based his teaching upon the
+principles of Judaism and Christianity, the prophets of which were to be
+honoured, including "the prophet David" and "the Prophet Christ." So, in
+accordance with the prayer of Solomon, and until the antagonism between
+Judaism and Islam led to the substitution of Mecca, it was towards
+Jerusalem that devout Moslems were required to turn when they prayed.
+From Mount Moriah did Mahomet, as his followers believe, miraculously
+ascend to heaven. And so did Jerusalem become, and has ever since
+remained, no less a sacred city of the Mahomedan.</p>
+
+<p>Thus it will be seen that Jerusalem, the sacred city of three mighty
+religions, became the most holy city in the world, the poetical
+prototype of heaven.</p>
+
+<p>Jerusalem, situate away on the hills and far from the main trading and
+military route, was of but little commercial or strategical importance.
+Yet we readily understand how its religious value caused it so often to
+become the goal and prize of contending creeds and armies. Sometimes the
+motive was religious antagonism, as with Antiochus Epiphanes and Titus;
+sometimes it was religious devotion, as with the Maccabees and
+Crusaders. Pitiful though it be, yet, throughout the ages, the City of
+the Prince of Peace has been associated with the most terrible scenes,
+the most savage excesses, in the whole dreadful drama of war.</p>
+
+<p>Not once nor twice in the reigns of the Kings of Judah and Israel, did
+Jerusalem resound with the clash of arms. Although, after the fall of
+the northern kingdom, it was delivered by divine intervention from the
+invasion of Sennacherib, yet its submersion by the rising tide of
+Babylon could not long be averted. The evil day had only been postponed
+and, in 607 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, Jerusalem fell before Nebuchadnezzar, before that
+power which, like Turkey of yesterday, dominated the whole stretch of
+country from the Persian Gulf to the border<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> of Egypt. Twenty years
+later, Jerusalem, with the Temple of Solomon, was destroyed, the city,
+palaces and temple being levelled in one, and the population were put to
+death or led away captive to Babylon.</p>
+
+<p>When, some years later, the capital of the Babylonians was captured by
+the Persians and their empire annexed, the Jews were permitted to return
+to Jerusalem. In the sixth and fifth centuries <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> the temple and walls
+were rebuilt under Ezra and Nehemiah, and Jerusalem took a fresh lease
+of life as a Jewish city.</p>
+
+<p>In the fourth century <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, when Alexander the Great marched southwards
+through Syria to Egypt, securing the Mediterranean littoral before
+embarking on his expedition into Asia, overthrowing Tyre in his march
+and totally destroying Gaza, the Jews no doubt made their submission,
+and their city thus escaped destruction.</p>
+
+<p>After the death of Alexander, Jud&aelig;a did not escape the anarchy which
+ensued during the internecine warfare waged by his generals and
+successors. In 321 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, Ptolemy I, King of Egypt, advanced against
+Jerusalem, and, assaulting it on the Sabbath, the Jew's day of rest, met
+with no resistance. He is said to have carried away 100,000 captives,
+whom he settled in Alexandria and Cyrene. The founding of a Syro-Grecian
+kingdom in Northern Syria brought Jud&aelig;a again into the unfortunate
+situation of a buffer state. Jerusalem seemed doomed to be among the
+prizes of an interminable warfare between the Ptolemies of Egypt and the
+Seleucid&aelig; of Syria and in turns vassal to each.</p>
+
+<p>At the commencement of the second century <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> Jud&aelig;a passed into the
+hands of the Syrian King Antiochus the Great, who at once proceeded to
+ingratiate himself with the whole nation. It was not the tyranny of
+foreign sovereigns, but the unprincipled ambition of their own native
+rulers, that led to calamities little less dreadful than the Babylonian
+captivity. Jason, the High Priest, had been dispossessed by his brother<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>
+Menelaus, by double dealing with the Syrian King, who at this time was
+Antiochus Epiphanes. A rumour of the King's death having reached
+Palestine in 170 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, Jason seized the opportunity and revolted against
+his brother Menelaus. But the rumour was false.</p>
+
+<p>"The intelligence of the insurrection, magnified into a deliberate
+revolt of the whole nation, reached Antiochus. He marched without delay
+against Jerusalem, put to death in three days' time 40,000 of the
+inhabitants, and seized as many more to be sold as slaves. He entered
+every court of the Temple, pillaged the treasury, and seized all the
+sacred utensils. He then commanded a great sow to be sacrificed on the
+altar of burnt offerings, part of the flesh to be boiled, and the liquor
+from the unclean animal to be sprinkled over every part of the Temple;
+and thus desecrated with the most odious defilement the sacred place
+which the Jews had considered for centuries the one holy spot in all the
+Universe."<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p>
+
+<p>Two years afterwards, Antiochus determined to exterminate the Hebrew
+race from the face of the earth. This produced the revolt of the Jews
+under Mattathias, whose illustrious son, Judas Maccab&aelig;us, founded the
+Maccab&aelig;an dynasty. By 128 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, the Jews, under John Hyrcanus, recovered
+their complete independence, which they maintained until compelled to
+acknowledge the dominion of Rome.</p>
+
+<p>But the native rulers could not govern for long without dissension. Soon
+were two more competitors, Aristobulus and Hyrcanus, quarrelling about
+the succession to the Jewish throne. The republic of Rome, having
+trampled under foot the pride and strength of the great Asiatic
+monarchies, assumed a right of interfering in the affairs of every
+independent kingdom. The ambassadors of Aristobulus and Hyrcanus
+appeared before Pompey, who was then in Syria and was at the zenith of
+his power. After subjugating Arabia, Pompey, in 63 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, marched
+directly into Jud&aelig;a. Espousing the candidature<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> of Hyrcanus, Pompey
+marched against Jerusalem, within the walls of which he was admitted by
+the party of Hyrcanus. Aristobulus and his supporters, with the
+priesthood, withdrew to the Temple and prepared for an obstinate
+defence. At the end of three months, and after great loss of life, the
+Romans made themselves masters of the Temple. "The conduct of the Roman
+General excited at once the horror and the admiration of the Jews. He
+entered the Temple, and even penetrated and profaned with his heathen
+presence the Holy of Holies. All the riches he left untouched, and the
+Temple he commanded to be purified from the carnage of his soldiers."<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a>
+He stipulated the tribute which the country was to pay, demolished the
+walls of the city, and nominated Hyrcanus to the priesthood, though
+without the royal diadem. The magnanimity of Pompey, in respecting the
+Treasures of the Temple, could not obliterate the deeper impression of
+Jewish hatred excited by his profanation of the sacred precincts.</p>
+
+<p>From this time forward Jud&aelig;a becomes more and more under the shadow of
+Rome. The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by Antipater, and later, the
+Temple, which had become much dilapidated, was demolished, and rebuilt
+in great magnificence by Herod the Great. He was the last King of Jud&aelig;a
+with any semblance of autonomy, and, in the year <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 6, Palestine was
+annexed to the Roman Empire.</p>
+
+<p>We pass over the incidents in the Life and death of our Lord, which, at
+the time, could have but little affected current events, but which were
+destined to influence so deeply the subsequent history, not merely of
+Palestine but of the whole world. And we come to the cataclysm of which
+Our Lord had been the sorrowful yet unerring Prophet.</p>
+
+<p>Blinded by religious fanaticism, and convinced that God must fight upon
+their side and give victory to His chosen people, be their conduct never
+so cruel and their bearing never so arrogant, the Jewish race, though a
+mere handful of men,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> offered war to the mistress of the world. With
+little military organization or training, divided by factions and torn
+asunder by internal dissensions, they yet dared to defy the mighty power
+of Rome. They defeated the ill-starred expedition of Cestius Gallus, and
+inflicted upon the Roman arms the most terrible disgrace they had ever
+endured in the East. But the triumph was short-lived; a terrible revenge
+was at hand. It was in this year, <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 70, that Titus laid siege to the
+city. At the time, its population was swollen ten or twenty-fold by the
+pilgrims attending the Passover. The reserves of food were destroyed in
+faction fights even before the Romans arrived outside the city walls.
+"Of all wretched and bloody sieges in the world's history, few, if any,
+have been more wretched or more bloody than the siege of Jerusalem by
+Titus. Fierce and bloody as was the fighting, the deaths from sickness
+and famine were yet more terrible. Dead bodies were thrown out into the
+valleys, where they lay rotting, a loathsome mass. The number of those
+who died in the siege were estimated at 600,000. At night, miserable,
+starving wretches would steal into the ravines to gather roots for food;
+here they were pounced upon by ambushed Romans and crucified by hundreds
+next morning in full view of the battlements."<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> Gradually the
+assaulting Romans got possession of portions of the city, yet the
+portions still uncaptured refused to surrender, their defenders still
+hoping against hope for a divine intervention, as in the days of
+Sennacherib. At length the city fell. The Romans, pouring in, began by
+slaying indiscriminately. Tiring of butchery, they turned their thoughts
+to plunder, but stood aghast at the houses filled with dead and
+putrefying corpses. The Temple of Herod was burnt, the city was
+desolate, while those whose miseries had not been relieved by death,
+were carried away into yet more miserable slavery or to a death more
+ignominious at Rome. As a Jewish city, Jerusalem had perished for ever.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Sixty years later, Jerusalem was rebuilt by the Emperor Hadrian. He
+resolved to suppress altogether the troublesome and turbulent Judaism.
+The measures which he took caused the Jews to rise against him under
+Barcochebas. This was the wildest and the most bloodthirsty of all the
+Jewish revolts; but it was the last. Jerusalem having been recaptured,
+Hadrian converted it into a Roman colony, forbade Jews to approach, and
+built a temple of Jupiter on the site of the Temple.</p>
+
+<p>It was when the Roman Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity, and his
+mother Helena discovered the true Cross and the Holy Places, that
+Jerusalem came again into prominence. Thereafter, churches and
+monasteries sprung up throughout Palestine, which thus, for a time,
+became thoroughly Christianized, under the Christian Emperors of Rome
+and Byzantium. But the seventh century saw the fall of the Christian
+ascendancy in Syria. In <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 614, the Persians, under Chosroes, swept
+through the land, massacring the Christians wholesale, and destroying
+most of their churches, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The
+withdrawal of the Persians was followed by a brief return of Christian
+ascendancy lasting but eight years, under the Emperor Heraclius. And
+then, in 637, Jerusalem fell to the growing power of Islam. It was this
+new religion, with a calendar only dating from <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 622, which was to
+control the future destinies of the Holy City.</p>
+
+<p>Islam arose at Mecca and Medina in barren and uninviting Arabia. When it
+started on that expansion, whereby it overspread half of the known
+world, Syria, from its situation, was naturally the first country to
+tempt its restless and devoted Arab warriors. Within ten years of the
+Hegira, or commencement of the Mahomedan era, we find the followers of
+the Prophet already in Syria. The Byzantine army was overwhelmed at the
+battle of the Yarmuk, and the Arabs laid siege to Jerusalem. The city
+capitulated to Omar, who granted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> terms of comparative magnanimity. His
+terms gave to the Christians security of person and property, safety of
+their churches, and non-interference on the part of Mahomedans with
+their religious exercises, houses or institutions. Upon the site of the
+Temple, which had been systematically defiled by the Christians out of
+abhorrence for the Jews, but which was honoured by the Moslems as the
+spot from which Mahomed ascended to heaven, was now erected the Mosque
+of Omar. This site became to the Mussulman, the most venerated spot in
+Jerusalem, as was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the Christian.
+When, in after years, pilgrimages to Mecca were temporarily interrupted,
+devout Mahomedans made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem instead.</p>
+
+<p>For the next few centuries Christian and Muslim lived together upon a
+fairly workable basis of toleration. Massacres of Christians and
+destruction of their churches occurred periodically, either in revenge
+for Christian successes elsewhere, or in connexion with other Mussulman
+disorders when mutual assassination was popular. But, on the whole,
+pilgrims, who at this time swarmed from all over Europe to visit the
+Holy Places at Jerusalem, were allowed to do so comparatively
+unmolested&mdash;that is, they were probably not robbed more in Palestine
+than in other professedly Christian countries through which they had to
+pass along their road. Had the Arab Mussulman remained master of
+Jerusalem, the Christians of Europe would probably have remained content
+with the situation.</p>
+
+<p>A change came in the year 1077. Jerusalem was then taken by the Turks,
+who had conquered all Asia Minor and were already threatening the
+Byzantine Empire in Europe. The treatment which the Christian pilgrims
+now received at Jerusalem aroused intense indignation in Europe, chiefly
+stimulated by the preaching of Peter the Hermit. Other motives there
+were, such as the protection of the Byzantine Empire from the menaces of
+the Turk, the desire of the Latin Church to prevail<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> over the Byzantine,
+and the temptations always offered in a holy war of loot upon earth and
+salvation in heaven. Nevertheless, there undoubtedly spread, throughout
+Western Europe, a mighty wave of religious enthusiasm which was sincere.</p>
+
+<p>The first Crusade was mainly recruited in France. Great were the
+vicissitudes through which the Crusaders passed on their pilgrimage
+through Europe and Asia Minor, largely through quarrels with their
+fellow-Christians before the Turks had even been encountered or their
+country entered. Having defeated the Turks at Antioch, the army marched
+south along the coast and at length reached and besieged Jerusalem. Of
+the numbers that set out from Western Europe, probably not less than a
+million, only a remnant of twenty thousand fighting men, with an equal
+number of followers, had reached the Holy City. Though thus decimated
+and war weary, the Crusaders were ecstatic with religious fervour; St.
+George was said to have appeared to them clad in shining armour; the
+Saracens gave way, and Jerusalem was taken by assault. The usual
+massacre of the inhabitants followed, and estimates of the slain vary
+from forty to a hundred thousand. In 1099 was established the Christian
+kingdom of Jerusalem, the kingdom of the Crusaders, Latin in creed,
+French in nationality, feudal in character and precarious in existence.
+The state of affairs seems now rather to have resembled the relationship
+which formerly existed between the Hebrews and the Philistines, or, even
+more analogously, that between the Italian city-states of the Middle
+Ages. Most of the cities of Palestine were gradually annexed by the
+Christians, but some, notably Askalon, did not pass out of the hands of
+the Saracens for many decades. Accordingly, wars became matters of
+almost annual occurrence, and "never, during the whole eighty years of
+its existence, was the kingdom of Jerusalem free from war and war's
+alarms."<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> The bulk of the original Crusaders left alive soon returned
+to their homes in Europe. There<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> was little or no native Christian
+population on which to draw, and the kingdom became dependent for the
+support of its army, both as to men and money, on the pilgrims that
+swarmed from Europe to Jerusalem; naval assistance was given by Genoese
+and by Venetians, more, alas, from motives of commerce than of piety.
+Religious enthusiasm had been capable of conquering and establishing
+this kingdom, but it proved quite unequal to the tasks of sustenance or
+protection. And so, after eighty years of romance and trouble, of love
+and war, of lust and murder, often inflicted, more often endured, this
+kingdom fell, because it had no sure foundation.</p>
+
+<p>The decline and fall of the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem forms a sordid
+story of jealousy, and intrigue, of futile ambition and divided
+counsels, of perjury and perfidy. The Crusaders intermarried with the
+women of the country, and, except so far as it was constantly recruited
+from Europe, the race rapidly degenerated. With no resources at their
+back, except the charity of Europe, the Crusaders yet had dreams of
+worldly aggrandisement, which included in their ken the whole of Egypt
+and Syria. The Second Crusade of 1146-9 came, not to conquer, but to
+support and defend this already tottering kingdom. It did that kingdom
+more harm than good, for it drained Europe of its potential pilgrims,
+anticipating and exhausting the natural flow of men and money on which
+the kingdom had come to rely, and dissipated them on a futile attempt to
+annex Damascus.</p>
+
+<p>The Knights Templars, the feudal barons of the country, built castles
+throughout the land, and lived at constant variance with the King and
+central government. Every baron fought for his own land and for his own
+aggrandisement. The kingdom of Jerusalem was fast tottering to its fall.</p>
+
+<p>It was in 1187 that Saladin, having made himself master of Egypt and of
+Damascus, attacked Tiberias, as a first step towards overthrowing the
+kingdom of Jerusalem. The Crusaders moved against him from Seffuriyeh.
+It was July,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> and the Crusaders were absolutely without water; the
+Saracens, with Lake Tiberias at their back, had abundance. The
+Crusaders, suffering terribly from thirst, nevertheless attacked. The
+result of the battle was a foregone conclusion. Here, at the Horns of
+Hattin, the Mount of Beatitudes, was the Crusaders' army destroyed and
+the power of the Christian completely crushed. Jerusalem itself, after a
+short, fierce struggle, fell in the following October. The inhabitants
+were not put to the sword. Huge ransoms were paid and the Christian
+population allowed to disperse throughout Syria. Jerusalem had passed
+again (it seemed as if for ever) into the hands of the Mahomedan.</p>
+
+<p>"The news of the fall of Jerusalem was received in Europe with a thrill
+of horror and indignation."<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> Thereupon set forth the Third Crusade,
+that which is identified with Richard I of England. Travelling by sea,
+these Crusaders avoided the horrible sufferings inevitable to the
+crossing of Asia Minor. Acre was captured in 1190, by the Crusaders,
+after a siege lasting for two years. Thence they marched southwards,
+through C&aelig;sarea to Jaffa, fighting on their way the great battle of
+Assur, when Saladin was defeated. But Richard, instead of marching upon
+Jerusalem, which lay in his grasp, vacillated and negotiated. At length
+he decided to go up against Jerusalem. Some twenty miles from the city
+he stopped. Again he vacillated. Dissensions broke out between the Duke
+of Burgundy and King Richard. The design of besieging Jerusalem was
+given up, and the army slowly and sadly returned to Jaffa. Thereupon, in
+1192, a peace was concluded, whereby the sea coast, from Jaffa to Acre,
+was ceded to the Franks, but Jerusalem still remained in the hands of
+the Saracens.</p>
+
+<p>There were several more Crusades. None of them (unless we except the
+treaty of the excommunicated Frederick in 1229) ever reached Jerusalem.
+Some of them never even reached Palestine, being shamefully diverted to
+other purposes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> Saddest of all was the Children's Crusade, when fifty
+thousand poor misguided children followed the Cross (like the Pied Piper
+of Hamelin) to slavery, dishonour, or death. But these form no part of
+the history of Jerusalem.</p>
+
+<p>In 1244, we find Christian and Saracen making common cause in Palestine
+against the Kharezmians. These Mongols, who only appeared on the stage
+of history for a brief period of four years, swept through the country,
+captured Jerusalem, massacred all on whom they could lay hands, Moslem
+and Christian alike, and destroyed such sacred relics as they could
+find. Then, defeated by the Egyptians, they perished out of history as
+suddenly as they had appeared.</p>
+
+<p>In 1291, the Christians, by this time reduced to their last stronghold
+of Acre, were finally expelled by the Moslems from Palestine&mdash;and that
+was the end of the Crusades. Europe became reconciled to the fact that
+the Kingdom of Christ is a Kingdom, not of the sword but of the soul.
+And so, the watchword by which the Crusades were inspired now became the
+consolation of their end&mdash;"Dieu le veut."</p>
+
+<p>In 1400, Syria and Palestine fell under another Mongol invasion by
+Timoor the Tartar (Tamerlane). In 1517, Palestine was annexed to the
+Ottoman Empire under Selim I, of which Empire it has since formed an
+integral part. At the close of the eighteenth century, <ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'Napolean'">Napoleon</ins> marched
+through the country, defeating the Turks at Gaza and on the Plain of
+Esdraelon, but was forced to withdraw. In 1832, Mohammad Ali, having
+thrown off the Turkish yoke in Egypt, conquered Syria, but nine years
+later, through the action of the European Powers, the country was
+restored again to the Ottoman Porte.</p>
+
+<p>In so far as any principles can be deduced from this history, they seem
+to show that Jerusalem, situated as it is, could never become the
+capital of a great Empire. On the other hand, this city, coveted by so
+many races and creeds, must be safeguarded by the arms and resources of
+some great Empire, or it can never remain at peace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It may be of interest to close this r&eacute;sum&eacute; of the history of Jerusalem
+by comparing the route taken by General Allenby with those taken by
+previous soldiers in their conquests of Jud&aelig;a. The routes taken by the
+British have already been fully described. In only one known case, that
+of the First Crusade, had Jud&aelig;a been successfully invaded before by an
+invader who had not previously made himself master of at least three of
+her borders.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> The attempt at a swift rush across one border made by
+Cestius Gallus, ended in a failure, which was only wiped out four years
+later after the Romans, under Vespasian and Titus, had first overrun
+Galilee and Samaria and mastered the strongholds round the Jud&aelig;an
+borders. This was the policy followed, a thousand years later, by
+Saladin.</p>
+
+<p>The upland of Jud&aelig;a has almost never been invaded from the barren
+waterless south.<a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> David, operating from Hebron, must have approached
+Jerusalem from the south, but he was already in possession of the Jud&aelig;an
+plateau. The original attempt of the Israelites to enter the country
+from the south was checked, and they subsequently crossed the Jordan and
+entered Jud&aelig;a through Jericho from the east. The Philistines must have
+come up by the passes from the west. Sennacherib did not approach
+Jerusalem himself, but it was whilst warring against Egypt at Lachish
+(Tel el Hesi on the Maritime Plain) that he sent his arrogant message to
+Jerusalem; and it was on the Plain that his victorious army, infected by
+the plague from Egypt, melted away as by a miracle. Egypt was his
+objective, not Jud&aelig;a. Nebuchadnezzar may have invaded Jud&aelig;a from the
+north, but it is more probable that he also came up from the west, after
+first making himself master of the Maritime Plain. Pompey was returning
+from his expedition in Arabia when he invaded, so he entered from the
+east, ascending the Jud&aelig;an plateau by way of Jericho and Bethel. Herod
+invaded from the north.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In the Christian era, Cestius Gallus made his disastrous expedition by
+the Valley of Ajalon, Beth-horon and Gibeon. Titus, after the
+surrounding country had been subjugated, moved his army up to Jerusalem
+by Gophna (Jufna) and Bethel, and so through Bireh, from the north-west
+and north. The Moslems, in 637, first captured Damascus; subsequently
+they approached Jerusalem across the Jordan. The First Crusaders came
+through Asia Minor and won a decisive victory at Antioch; thence they
+came southward along the coast, through Ramleh, and up the Valley of
+Ajalon, their advance through the mountains being unopposed. Saladin, by
+the decisive battle of Hattin, near Tiberias, made himself master of the
+surrounding country before closing in upon Jerusalem, which he
+eventually did from Hebron (south), from Askalon (west), and from the
+north. In the Third Crusade, Richard and his Crusaders came oversea to
+Acre; after marching to Ramleh, they tried first to reach the Holy City
+up the Valley of Ajalon, and afterwards by the Vale of Elah, the Wady es
+Sunt, further to the south, but both attempts failed.</p>
+
+<p>Many of the invading armies that have swept through Palestine have
+confined themselves to the great inter-continental road along the
+Maritime Plain, and have passed by Jerusalem, secure upon its plateau.
+We have seen that this was so with Sennacherib. This was probably the
+case with Alexander the Great, and was undoubtedly so with Napoleon. The
+latter defeated the Turks at Gaza and again on the Plain of Esdraelon.
+His objective was Syria, but he was foiled by the action of the British
+in the siege of Acre. This distraction also prevented him from making
+any attempt to reach Jerusalem.</p>
+
+<p>Prior to the arrival of the British, it was seven centuries since a
+Christian conqueror had set foot in Jerusalem. But there was now no
+gloating of the Cross over the Crescent. On the contrary, guards of
+Moslem troops from our Indian army were placed upon every building
+sacred to Islam, while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> Christian guards were mounted over those sacred
+to Christianity. Never before had Jerusalem fallen into the hands of
+conquerors so zealous for the safety of its populace or so concerned for
+the preservation of the city and all that it contained.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><a name="railways_1918" id="railways_1918"></a><a href="./images/126127.jpg"><img src="./images/126127_th.jpg"
+alt="Railways in 1918" title="Railways in 1918" /></a></p>
+<p class="figcenter"><span class="smcap">Railways in 1918</span></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Much of the material in this Chapter is derived from
+Milman's <i>History of the Jews</i>, W. Besant and E.&nbsp;H. Palmer's
+<i>Jerusalem</i>, and George Adam Smith's <i>Historical Geography of the Holy
+Land</i>, to which my acknowledgments are accordingly due.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Milman.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Milman.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Milman.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Besant &amp; Palmer.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Besant &amp; Palmer.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> G.&nbsp;A. Smith.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h3>
+
+<h2>JUNCTION STATION AND LUDD</h2>
+
+
+<p>An interesting task fell to my lot, in the reduction to order of the
+chaos existing at Junction Station. This place had been an important
+rest camp on the enemy's line of communications. That the Germans
+thought they had come to stay was manifested by the style in which the
+station and other buildings had been erected, as well as by the plans
+which they had left behind them for intended future development. Most of
+the buildings, including an up-to-date flour mill fitted with modern
+machinery, had been substantially built with stone. The erection of many
+additional houses was clearly contemplated, while the work had already
+been put in hand of planting fruit orchards.</p>
+
+<p>The disgusting state in which these premises were left was
+indescribable. Rotting carcases of beasts lay all about the place, while
+other filth almost surpassed them in stench. The buildings were infested
+with flies by day and mosquitoes by night, while other forms of vermin
+carried on the good work throughout the whole twenty-four hours.</p>
+
+<p>A large amount of stores had been left behind and had fallen into our
+hands, consisting mainly of grain, flour, and fodder (tibbin). The enemy
+had destroyed some of the buildings, smashed up the mill machinery, and
+set on fire as much of the corn as possible. This fire lasted for days,
+until at length it burned itself out, for it was useless attempting to
+salve any portion of the grain composing the bonfire.</p>
+
+<p>Before we had so much as taken possession, swarms of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> Bedouin came
+through the premises to loot. Thieving with them is instinctive. They
+could not understand why they had not a right to help themselves to what
+the Turks had abandoned. However, a strong guard was posted at once;
+those Bedouin who had taken up their abode on the premises were evicted;
+and preparations were made to face a somewhat stormy night. All that
+night through the crack of rifles resounded. Although the bag next
+morning proved to be small, yet, for days afterwards, Bedouin kept
+dropping in at our hospitals with bullet wounds to be dressed, as to the
+cause of which they could offer no satisfactory explanation. After this
+the looting fell off considerably. Nevertheless, a certain number of
+looters, averaging about a dozen a day, were caught and put into the
+Guard Room. We were glad of their assistance, as there was much filthy
+cleaning up to be done, so, fools that came to loot, remained to
+scavenge. Once we had an awkward predicament, for the sergeant of the
+guard, having confined in the same lock-up some looters, whose detention
+should be for twenty-four hours, and some prisoners, whose detention
+should be for the duration of the war, could not subsequently tell them
+apart.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy left here intact an entire Turkish hospital. It was one of the
+most picturesque of Eastern sights that anybody could wish to see.
+Crowded together in one huge ward were men of every shade, in variegated
+costumes, lying on beds with coverlets rivalling Joseph's coat of many
+colours. Unfortunately, the hospital was infected, or suspected of
+infection, with typhus. Therefore, as soon as the patients and staff had
+been evacuated, it was set on fire, and the whole hospital, woodwork,
+tents and all that they contained, ascended to heaven in a great column
+of smoke. Among the contents was a nice new camp bedstead. Pending the
+decision as to the competent military authority in whose custody this
+should be placed, I gave orders for it to be transferred to my quarters.
+But, strangely enough, each senior officer that arrived con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>sidered that
+the competent military authority to take charge of this bedstead was
+himself. It must have had at least a dozen owners by the time that it
+ascended in smoke. This hospital also contained one case of sardines. It
+was wonderful how widely spread became the fame of those sardines. Every
+British officer in Palestine seems to have licked his lips and looked
+forward to a meal of sardines when he should pass through Junction
+Station. Unfortunately, nobody could find those sardines. But a week
+later, when the rush of officers had gone, it was discovered that they
+had been appropriated as medical comforts by the R.A.M.C. Now, it so
+happened, that none of the patients then arriving were on a sardine
+diet, so other measures had to be taken to ensure that the sardines were
+not wasted.</p>
+
+<p>As the army went forward, they sent back large numbers of Turkish
+prisoners of war. These were collected at Junction Station, where a
+compound was formed. Such as were required for labour were temporarily
+detained, while the others were marched back under guard to railhead.</p>
+
+<p>During this sojourn, the prisoners were usefully employed in clearing up
+the messes which had been left behind, particularly in burying carcases.
+At one place we found half-a-dozen dead buffaloes lying half submerged.
+Before they could be got at and cleared away it was necessary to drain
+off the water. A party of the prisoners were detailed for this task; a
+few hours later they were found seriously trying to drain this water
+away up-hill. Among the prisoners were a few officers. In default of
+other suitable accommodation, one of them was allowed to live in a room
+at the Commandant's house. He displayed great anxiety lest somebody
+should touch the disused telephone or other wires, fire a booby trap
+possibly left behind by his kind friends, and so blow him to eternity.</p>
+
+<p>There was not much time to spare for contemplation. Nevertheless, in
+this, the Vale of Sorek, I often thought of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> Samson and Delilah, and
+"Mon coeur s'ouvre &agrave; ton voix"; or, pictured the Ark of the Covenant
+wend its way past my very door, on a cart drawn by two milch kine, on
+that wonderful journey from Ekron to Beth-Shemesh.</p>
+
+<p>There was plenty of work to be done, in reducing chaos to order, in
+protecting much valuable property, in meeting the requirements of
+thousands of passing troops, and in spreading, as it were, the spawn for
+this mushroom town. It had been an important place under Turkish
+administration. It promised, under the British r&eacute;gime, to become the
+most important railway centre in Palestine. Consequently, schemes of
+water supply, sanitation, and town planning had to be evolved and
+installed immediately, hospitals opened in the most appropriate
+buildings, spaces set apart for camping grounds for all classes of
+troops and animals, huge dumps and supply dumps respectively, railway
+sidings laid down and cemeteries opened both for Christians and for
+Mahomedans, while roads had to be improved and sign-boards set up in all
+directions.</p>
+
+<p>Many and diverse were the arrivals and departures in the course of one
+busy week. Foremost came the fighting troops of the 21st Corps, the 75th
+and 54th Divisions, followed later by those of the 20th Corps, the 60th
+and 74th Divisions. With them arrived field ambulances, which took
+possession of the best of the buildings and converted them into
+hospitals. Companies of Royal Engineers arrived, and travelling
+workshops staffs of the Ordnance Department, and both of these lost no
+time in opening their workshops. Enormous supply dumps were formed and
+camel convoys, miles long, arrived with supplies. The camels were
+specially inconsiderate, and would select awkward spots, like
+cross-roads, at which to lie down and die. They were welcome to die, if
+only they could and would have first made adequate arrangements for
+their own obsequies. A battalion of British West Indians that arrived,
+aroused both sympathy and amusement.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> They had marched through
+torrential rain and arrived soaked to the skin. In spite of a warning as
+to what they might expect, they rushed for shelter into some of the
+buildings which had not yet been disinfected; but their exit was even
+faster than their entrance, and they preferred the wet and cheerless
+exterior to being eaten alive within. Scarcely a day's march behind the
+fighting troops, arrived a thousand or more of the Egyptian Labour
+Corps. These were immediately set to work on the roads, and such good
+work did they do that the roads were soon in an excellent condition for
+mechanical transport. Full of irony was the arrival of several guards
+and a staff of military police <i>en route</i> for Jerusalem. It was
+believed, at this time, that the fall of Jerusalem was imminent. That
+Britain's fair name might not be sullied by any foolish misbehaviour, or
+any still more foolish collection of souvenirs, it was decided that
+guards should at once be mounted upon the Holy Places in Jerusalem.
+These guards, Christian and Moslem, collected at Junction Station, ready
+to march straight into the city; but, when its fall was postponed <i>sine
+die</i>, they had sadly but surely to return to their own regiments. The
+intention had been to surround Jerusalem with a cordon of British
+sentries; an order, accordingly, was published that any British soldier
+found within 5 miles of Jerusalem would be liable to be shot. Our
+unfortunate British soldiers fighting on Neby Samwil, which was within
+the prescribed distance, readily endorsed that sentiment, though
+scarcely in the sense implied by the authorities.</p>
+
+<p>Of all activities at this time of industry, none were greater than those
+of the railway development companies of the Royal Engineers. The Turkish
+line had been destroyed in several places and the rolling stock much
+damaged. Nevertheless, repairs were put in hand immediately, leaky
+engines were made water-tight, damaged trucks and coaches were made fit
+to travel, and, within a very short space of time, there was a train
+running each way between Junction Station<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> and Deir Sineid. As being the
+services of primary importance, the first trains were confined to the
+bringing up of ammunition and the taking down of wounded. The captured
+rolling stock was limited, and so the number of trains was painfully
+restricted. Fortunately, this narrow gauge line was of similar gauge to
+certain light railways in Egypt, and rolling stock from those lines was
+brought up with all convenient speed. Moreover, two quite new engines,
+said to have been originally destined for this line but captured at sea
+during the early days of the war, were hurried up and put into
+commission. New constructional work was also put in hand at once,
+including an embankment for continuing the line northwards across the
+bed of the Wadi Surar (Sorek), the original steel girder bridge having
+unfortunately been destroyed. The fate of the bridges here was similarly
+unfortunate. The railway bridge, which should have been blown up before,
+so as to prevent the escape of the Turkish trains, was only destroyed
+after they had got away; and so the destruction of this bridge proved of
+great hindrance to us, but caused no inconvenience whatever to the
+enemy. The other bridge across the wadi was a timber bridge, which
+carried the road. As this bridge was insecure and required
+strengthening, a party of military police were posted upon it to stop
+all traffic from crossing it through the night. Seized with a brain
+wave, they lit a fire upon the centre of the bridge. This expedient
+proved so successful, that it not only stopped the traffic for that
+night, but for all time. When morning came, it was discovered that they
+had burnt away the bridge itself, and a new bridge had to be
+constructed.</p>
+
+<p>An armoured train was improvised from such trucks as were available, the
+sides being sandbagged and a Lewis gun mounted in front. With this, the
+railway line was patrolled towards Jerusalem for some miles, until
+destroyed bridges made further progress impossible. The result of this
+reconnaissance showed that trains could run for some distance along<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>
+this line, and ammunition trains were pushed forward accordingly.</p>
+
+<p>When I left Junction Station to rejoin the fighting troops, it was well
+on the high road to importance and fame. This, however, never matured.
+It was to the policy of railway construction that this place owed its
+primary existence; it was to an extension of that policy that it looked
+for its future development; it was through a change in that policy that
+its glory soon afterwards departed.</p>
+
+<p>The original intention had been to adapt to our use the Turkish railway
+system, merely broadening the gauge. In that case, our own broad gauge
+line from Kantara, which, immediately on the fall of Gaza, had been
+brought through to Deir Sineid, would have been continued along the
+route of the Turkish line from Deir Sineid to Junction Station. The
+first months of working this Turkish line, still in its narrow gauge
+condition as captured, did not afford a promising outlook. These were
+months of torrential and persistent rain. The country became a quagmire.
+Landslips along the permanent way, and the washing away of culverts,
+became of such frequent occurrence, that it was decided to abandon this
+portion of this line altogether. Committed, therefore, to no
+predetermined route, the engineers were left with the whole country open
+to them to choose a course for their new trunk railway to the north.
+They chose a line much nearer the coast, and approximately followed the
+border line between the fertile plain and the sand dunes from Deir
+Sineid as far north as Yebna, thence bearing north-east towards Ramleh
+and Ludd. This had the effect of making the future railhead at Ludd.</p>
+
+<p>Situate at the cross-roads where the Valley of Ajalon debouches upon the
+Plain, and the ancient route from Jerusalem to Jaffa crosses the yet
+more ancient route from Egypt and Gaza to Acre and Damascus, the
+neighbourhood of Ramleh and Ludd has for many centuries been the site of
+an important town. In Biblical days it was Ludd; in Crusading days it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>
+was Ramleh. The towns are but a couple of miles apart. And so it came
+about that now, once again, this spot became the great traffic junction
+of Palestine.</p>
+
+<p>As time passed on, and as, through the spring and summer of 1918, we
+held a line across Palestine to the north of and covering Jerusalem and
+Jaffa, railway development proceeded apace, being focussed on Ludd. In
+spite of the difficulties of railway engineering in the mountains, the
+broad gauge line was carried from Ludd through Junction Station right up
+to Jerusalem. Well-constructed narrow gauge lines were laid down between
+Ludd and Jaffa, and between railhead and various distributing centres
+close behind the front line. The line from Junction Station to Beersheba
+was changed from narrow to broad gauge and extended to Rafa. Thereafter
+the line was double from Kantara to Rafa. From Rafa, one single line
+went forward, by Belah, Gaza and Yebna, to Ludd, while another single
+line went forward to Ludd by way of Beersheba and Junction Station. The
+advantages of a double line system north of Rafa were thus secured at
+times of pressure by working the full freight trains forward to Ludd vi&acirc;
+Gaza and Yebna, and working the trains of returned empties back again by
+way of Beersheba.</p>
+
+<p>Ludd developed apace. Soon were seen all the evidences and activities of
+a great advanced base and distributing centre. Huge ordnance and supply
+dumps arose, workshops and depots were to be seen on all sides, a great
+bakery was installed and even a mineral-water factory. The importance of
+Ludd far eclipsed the quondam glory of Belah, and came nearer to
+rivalling that of Kantara.</p>
+
+<p>To an Englishman, the chief interest of Ludd lies in its being the place
+of martyrdom and burial of St. George. Was it not appropriate that the
+victorious British armies in Palestine should have been provided and fed
+from beside the very tomb of their own Patron Saint?</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h3>
+
+<h2>THE JORDAN</h2>
+
+
+<p>Jerusalem having surrendered on the 9th December, the enemy lay round
+about in an encircling line on the north and east. The first thing to be
+done was to make good our hold upon the city. Accordingly, a series of
+minor operations took place, with the object of clearing the enemy from
+any points of vantage that he held and driving him further from the
+city.</p>
+
+<p>On the night of the 26/27th December, determined counter-attacks were
+delivered by the Turks. They attacked the 53rd Division at points east
+of Jerusalem, and the 60th to the north, their principal objective being
+Tel el Ful, a conspicuous hill 3 miles east of Neby Samwil, from which
+Jerusalem and the intervening ground could be overlooked. On the morning
+of the 28th, a lull occurred in the fighting, followed by an attack of
+unexpected strength against the whole front. The successes gained by
+this attack were short-lived. A counter-attack by the 74th and 10th
+Divisions, further to the left, now made itself felt. This was launched
+against the enemy's reserves, and thus deprived the enemy of the
+initiative. The Turkish attack being spent, a general advance northward,
+took place, not, however, without further heavy fighting. Pursuing our
+advantage, we further advanced our line on the 30th, and occupied a line
+from Beitior (Bethel), 2 miles north-east of Bireh, to Janieh and Ras
+Kerker, 7 miles west, north-west of Bireh. Bireh, which had been our
+objective in November, was, at last, securely in our possession. The
+Turkish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> attempt to recapture Jerusalem had ended in crushing defeat.</p>
+
+<p>Throughout the winter months the weather was miserably wet, and the
+troops in Palestine, whether engaged in active operations or merely
+holding the line, suffered intense discomfort. The mails brought us
+letters from our friends at home, saying how much they envied us who
+were spending Christmas in the Holy Land. But those who were up the line
+spent Christmas Day soaked to the skin in a gale of wind and rain, while
+their Christmas dinner consisted of half-rations of bully beef and
+biscuit. They were wishing themselves anywhere else upon this earth. The
+appalling weather conditions made it impossible to get more than the
+bare necessities of life forward from railhead, and tons of Christmas
+luxuries sent from England through Egypt lay soaked and rotting in dumps
+at Deir Sineid.</p>
+
+<p>January was much too wet for operations in this country. In February,
+however, General Allenby determined on the capture of Jericho. The
+country from round Jerusalem slopes down, as we have seen, very abruptly
+to Jericho and the Jordan Valley. Precipitous slopes, rocky ridges and
+narrow ledges, confined the advance to definite lines on which the enemy
+could concentrate fire. The advance began on the 19th, and, by the
+evening of the 20th, the 60th Division had reached a line 4 miles west
+of the cliffs overlooking Jericho. In the meantime, the mounted troops
+were working on the right or south of the infantry, towards the
+commanding position of Neby Musa, near the north-west corner of the Dead
+Sea. This advance was held up at the last wadi which was directly
+overlooked by, and subjected to, a heavy fire from Neby Musa. Other
+mounted troops, further to the right, discovered a way down to the
+Jordan Plain, where they were firmly established by dusk. That night the
+Turks withdrew, and our mounted troops, moving up the Plain, entered
+Jericho on the morning of the 21st.</p>
+
+<p>There are two or three routes between Jericho and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> summit of the
+Jud&aelig;an plateau. That by which the British had now come down was not the
+route followed by Joshua and the Israelites. They, on the other hand,
+ascended by a route farther north, through Mukhmas (Michmash) and Beitin
+(Bethel), thus reaching the summit near Bireh. The route followed by the
+pilgrims was that of the main road, which hereafter became the main line
+of supply of the forces operating in this direction.</p>
+
+<p>Having secured Jericho and the low country beyond as far as the Jordan,
+operations were now commenced with the object of pushing the enemy
+northwards, and clearing him from another substantial portion of
+Palestine. This would, at the same time, broaden the base for future
+operations which were contemplated across the River Jordan.</p>
+
+<p>Operations on a large scale were commenced on March 9th. Both the 20th
+and 21st Corps were engaged. We will, however, consider here only the
+operations of the 20th Corps, leaving those of the 21st until a
+subsequent chapter. The reader is already familiar with the type of
+country, which resembled that between Jerusalem and Jericho. The
+downward slopes were exceptionally steep, in places precipitous. The
+slopes were swept by machine-gun and rifle fire, and the beds of the
+wadis were enfiladed. The ascent on the far side was steeply terraced.
+Men had alternately to hoist and pull each other up under fire, and
+finally to expel the enemy from the summits in hand-to-hand fighting.
+Under these conditions no rapid advance could be looked for.</p>
+
+<p>The 60th Division, by night, crossed the Wadi el Auja, north of Jericho
+(not to be confused with the wadi of the same name to the north of
+Jaffa). This Division seized a position astride the Beisan-Jericho road.
+The 53rd Division captured Tel-Asur, a conspicuous landmark among a mass
+of high hills, which mountain the enemy tried repeatedly, but in vain,
+to recover. Farther to the left, a counter-attack was repulsed by the
+10th Division. At the conclusion of the operations,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> the high ground
+covering the approaches to the Jordan by the Jericho-Beisan Road had
+been secured, and also, farther west, linking up with the 21st Corps,
+the high ground stretching across the hills of Mount Ephraim.</p>
+
+<p>We come now to the passage of the River Jordan and the operations in
+Eastern Palestine. It will be remembered, from what has already been
+written,<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> that active operations were in progress about this time
+between the Turks south-east of the Dead Sea and our Arab allies, the
+troops of the King of the Hejaz. The Turkish line of communications ran
+down the Hejaz Railway through eastern Palestine, temptingly near our
+forces at Jericho. It will also be remembered,<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> that the Jordan
+Valley, and ascent therefrom into the hills of Eastern Palestine are
+unique. It would therefore have been difficult or impossible to cut the
+Turks' Hejaz communications by maintaining a permanent <ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'garrision'">garrison</ins> astride
+the railway, such garrison being based on Jericho with an extremely
+vulnerable line of communications across the valley. It was thought,
+however, that much useful service might be rendered to the Arabs if a
+raiding force were to cross the Jordan and destroy the railway in the
+neighbourhood of Amman.</p>
+
+<p>The country between the Jordan and Amman offered many obstacles to our
+advance. There were the marshes of the Jordan Valley to be crossed,
+ridges of clay to be surmounted, scrub to be negotiated, followed by an
+ascent of 3,500 feet. The metalled road to Amman crosses the Jordan at
+the Ghoraniyeh Bridge, and reaches the hills at Shunet Nimrin. It then
+winds up a wadi to Es Salt, whence it strikes due eastward to Amman.</p>
+
+<p>The operations commenced in the latter part of March. No serious
+obstacle was encountered until the crossings of the Jordan were reached.
+A small party was sent in motor-boats across the Dead Sea to dispose of
+any enemy who might be in the district to the north-east of the Dead
+Sea, but they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> met with few traces of the enemy. The enemy had destroyed
+the bridge at Ghoraniyeh early in the month. Other means had therefore
+to be devised for effecting a crossing. "Jordan overfloweth all his
+banks all the time of harvest." On the 28th March, owing to heavy rain,
+the river rose 9 feet. Floods had, therefore, to be contended with. The
+current is at all times rapid, and the banks, on account of the floods,
+are boggy and difficult for the approach of transport. On the night of
+the 21st/22nd March, the main crossings of the river were attempted,
+both at Ghoraniyeh, and a few miles further south at Hajlah, where the
+Pilgrim Road from Jerusalem reaches the Jordan. At the former point
+three attempts to swim the river were made, under fire, by men with
+ropes attached to their bodies, but in each case the swimmers were
+carried away by the strong current and found it impossible to reach the
+opposite bank. Then a punt was launched, but this was no sooner launched
+than it was swept away. The attempt was commenced in the bright
+moonlight, but was much hampered by enemy fire. It was renewed after the
+moon had gone down, but then it was impossible to find the easiest route
+or to negotiate the current in the dark. Farther down stream, however,
+the efforts met with better fortune. A small party succeeded in swimming
+across in the dark and landing on the left bank. These towed a rope
+behind them, by which, after landing, they hauled across light rafts.
+The crossing by the raft-loads of men had to be carried out in the face
+of some hostile fire. Portions of the scrub had been set on fire by the
+enemy, and these fires to some extent lit up the rafts as they were
+being pulled across. By daylight, 300 men had been got across, and a
+small bridge-head established. A barrel bridge was without delay
+constructed by the Engineers. Very little progress could be made that
+day as the scrub was infested with enemy machine guns. On the following
+night, however, a rush was made, and the bridge-head enlarged to a width
+of 1,500 yards. That night the Engineers constructed a steel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> pontoon
+bridge, and an entire cavalry regiment was passed over by dawn. The
+cavalry soon cleared away the enemy, not only from <ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'Hajleh'">Hajlah</ins>, but also from
+in front of Ghoraniyeh. Bridges were built now at Ghoraniyeh and the
+passage of the river assured.</p>
+
+<p>Having successfully crossed the Jordan, the force pushed on eastwards
+across the low country, meeting with some opposition. Eventually we
+reached Shunat Nimrin. The enemy retreating up the Es Salt road were
+bombed and machine-gunned by our aircraft. Part of our force, following
+on their heels, entered Es Salt on the 25th, while, on the 26th, our
+mounted troops occupied Amman. The railway to the south of the station
+was successfully cut, but north of Amman the cutting was not complete.
+Consequently, the enemy were able to receive considerable
+reinforcements. Before Amman could be attacked in strength some 4,000
+Turks were in position covering the viaduct and tunnel, while 2,000 more
+were moving on Es Salt from the north. Five miles of railway line were
+however, destroyed, while much other damage was done to the railway
+line. But, in view of the strength of the enemy and the difficulties of
+our communications (we had only been able to bring forward
+mountain-artillery), our force withdrew.</p>
+
+<p>The raid had not entirely fulfilled its object, but much good work had
+been done, and it had materially assisted Sherif Faisal with his Hejaz
+troops in his operations further south against Maan.</p>
+
+<p>Our force returning from Eastern Palestine did not abandon the
+hardly-won eastern bank of the Jordan. Bridge-heads were retained. The
+Turks, however, became aggressive, and, on the 11th April, attacked our
+bridge-head at Ghoraniyeh. They were repulsed from here and driven back
+to Shunet Nimrin, which they strongly garrisoned.</p>
+
+<p>On the 30th April another raid was made across the Jordan. This time our
+infantry attacked the Shunet Nimrin position, while the cavalry,
+intending to cut off the garrison, moved<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> round the flank and reached Es
+Salt. But a strong Turkish force, crossing the Jordan from the Nablus
+area at Jisr ed Damieh, drove back the cavalry, who lost nine guns in
+their retirement. This raid had been planned to co-operate with the Beni
+Sakr Arabs. Their promised assistance did not materialize, and the whole
+force was brought back to the crossings of the Jordan.</p>
+
+<p>Thenceforth, until the sweep of the following September the Jordan river
+and bridge-heads remained our front line.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> See before Chapter III.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> See before Chapter IV.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h3>
+
+<h2>THE WADI DEIR BALLUT</h2>
+
+
+<p>In the last chapter we saw how, after the capture of Jerusalem, the 20th
+Corps proceeded to improve the line on the right. We will now follow the
+operations of the 21st Corps on the left.</p>
+
+<p>The first operation of importance was that carried out by the 52nd
+Division on the extreme left. On the night of the 20th/21st December,
+1917, crossings, partly by fording and partly by rafts, were effected
+over the Wadi Auja, a few miles to the north of Jaffa. The high ground
+overlooking the wadi from the north was rushed before dawn, and a line
+was consolidated which effectually deprived the enemy of all observation
+from the north over the Valley of the Wadi Auja. Incidentally, the
+distance between the enemy and Jaffa was increased from 3 to 8 miles.
+This safeguarded Jaffa and its harbour, and the main Jaffa-Jerusalem
+road. Further adjustments of the line were made, including the capture
+of Rantieh on the railway and El Tine and Bornat to the right, which
+gave commanding views over the forward country and increased elbow room
+to the troops covering Ludd and Ramleh.</p>
+
+<p>As the result of these operations the line ran, at the beginning of
+March, approximately as follows. The 60th Division on the right had
+reached the Jordan, our line running along that river as far north as
+the Wadi Auja and then bending westwards. On their left came the 53rd
+Division, a little to the north of Bireh, and on their left again the
+10th Division completed the front of the 20th Corps. They joined up the
+75th Division, whose frontage ran from Midieh (the Modin of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span>
+Maccabees) through Kibbiah to the foot-hills at Et Tireh; from here the
+54th Division extended across the Plain; while the 52nd Division held
+the sector close to the sea, a little to the north of the other Wadi
+Auja.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><a name="rafat" id="rafat"></a><a href="./images/146147.jpg"><img src="./images/146147_th.jpg"
+alt="Country round Rafat" title="Country round Rafat" /></a></p>
+<p class="figcenter"><span class="smcap">Country round Rafat</span></p>
+
+<p>Except for occasional rains, our soldiering in the 75th Division sector,
+throughout February and the early part of March, was campaigning <i>de
+luxe</i>. The enemy had gone right back to the line of the Wadi Deir
+Ballut, leaving a No Man's Land in front of us about 4 miles across. He
+held advanced posts a mile or two in front of our line, but his guns had
+been taken well back out of range. We therefore enjoyed immunity both
+from sniping and shelling, and could move about in front of our line
+without anxiety, even in broad daylight. The observation posts that we
+occupied commanded extensive views across No Man's Land, and we should
+have had early intimation had there been any considerable hostile
+movement.</p>
+
+<p>We thus had opportunities for training, and preparing ourselves for the
+next forward push. The whole battalion was put through a course of
+musketry. The forward slopes of our position provided an admirable field
+firing range, with all No Man's Land for the stray bullets to spend
+themselves upon. How it must have made the Turk itch to see men lying
+about in platoons in the open before his very eyes, and how he must have
+longed to have had a gun within range, and to have dispersed us with a
+few rounds of shrapnel. We also instituted a very successful
+shooting-gallery. In the front line beer was seldom procurable, though
+much appreciated. Such as we were able to obtain from the canteen was
+taken to the rifle range. An empty bottle was set up 200 yards in front
+of the firer and a full one behind him. If he hit the former he became
+entitled to the contents of the latter. Each man was entitled to one
+free shot, and as many more as he liked at a cost of a penny each. The
+result was, that, at a very nominal cost to the canteen funds, the
+individual shooting of the battalion considerably improved.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Aerial activity was interesting. We soon became accustomed to the
+distinctive hum of the Hun machines flying high above us, followed by
+the barking of our "Archies." Then we could trace the track of the
+planes across the sky by the line of white smoke puffs left by our
+bursting archy shells. Archy seldom reckons to get a direct hit on a
+plane, but, by the expenditure of quantities of ammunition, he makes the
+Hun fly too high to see anything of value or to drop bombs with much
+hope of success. More tangible results were obtained by our fighting
+planes, which engaged the Hun in the air. A pretty little fight took
+place a thousand feet or so above our heads, between two of our planes
+and a couple of Huns. After preliminary circling and man&oelig;uvring for
+place, during which one Hun machine discreetly went all out for home,
+one of our planes swooped straight on to the remaining Hun, pouring a
+burst of Lewis gun fire into the pilot and observer at short range.
+Badly wounded, the Hun pilot turned his machine full speed for home. But
+our other plane, which had retained its altitude, hovered over him,
+headed him off from home, and shepherded him down on to the Plain, where
+he was forced to land and was captured. On another occasion, we were
+puzzled to see a Hun plane, returning from our lines, pitch in enemy
+territory, and, though unattacked, go up in smoke and flame. Subsequent
+reports furnished an explanation. The Hun pilot had descended without
+being very sure of his whereabouts. The Turks, mistaking him for a
+Britisher, opened fire upon him with a machine gun. Thereupon, believing
+himself to be in hostile territory, the pilot burnt his machine and
+surrendered&mdash;to his own friends!</p>
+
+<p>Campaigning <i>de luxe</i>! The wild flowers did all that lay in their power
+to add to the luxury. The warm sun of February and March, following the
+drenching rain of the winter, produces in Palestine a profusion of
+beautiful flowers that is probably surpassed nowhere. The country-side
+was literally carpeted with choice flowers of sweet smell and varied
+colour.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> To mention but a few&mdash;there were red, white, and blue anemones;
+cyclamen, white, pink and mauve; aromatic herbs; poppies and
+corn-flowers; scarlet tulips; pink phlox; blue irises, velvety arum
+lilies, black and crimson, tall, stately hollyhocks. And the catalogue
+is scarce begun. Truly a floral Paradise!</p>
+
+<p>Early in March came rumours of a forward move. The nominal pretext was
+an improvement of our line. Other motives may possibly have been
+influencing the higher authorities, such as keeping the initiative in
+our hands, fostering an aggressive spirit, and feeling the strength of
+the enemy with a view to subsequent operations on a larger scale.</p>
+
+<p>Almost opposite Jaffa the central range of Jud&aelig;an hills is cleft by a
+great gorge. Starting at a point on the edge of, and almost overlooking
+the Jordan Valley, it runs approximately due east and west, with many
+turns and even hairpin bends, until it debouches on the Plain at Mejdel
+Yaba, thence forming a main tributary of the River Auja. In the days of
+the Maccabees this gorge formed the frontier between the Jews and the
+Samaritans. This gorge is the Wadi Deir Ballut. The sides of this wadi
+are at all points steep, at some precipitous, presenting in places an
+almost sheer drop of several hundred feet. The bed of the wadi is from a
+hundred to a couple of hundred yards wide and the surface level. Thus
+the Wadi Ballut formed an admirable defensive line for the Turk; after
+it had passed into our hands, it provided us with an admirable line of
+communication.</p>
+
+<p>The Turk, at this time, held the line of the Wadi Ballut with such
+advanced posts as could deny to our patrols all access to the wadi.
+Available information about the wadi was thus restricted to reports and
+maps, and was none too ample or reliable. The intermediate country
+consisted of approximately flat "merjs," intersected with wadis, and
+dotted about with hills, villages, and other features of tactical
+importance. At this time of the year it somewhat resembled the general<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>
+appearance of Exmoor. For several days prior to the advance patrols were
+sent out into No Man's Land, that as much as possible might be
+ascertained about, and as many as possible be made familiar with, the
+terrain over which we had to operate.</p>
+
+<p>On the 12th March, the whole 75th Division, in co-operation with the
+Divisions on its flanks, moved forward. The operations of this day were
+perhaps little more than minor operations, certainly not one of the
+decisive battles of the war, although their effect in drawing
+reinforcements to Palestine may have had far-reaching results in other
+zones such as Mesopotamia. Nevertheless, as they formed such a pretty
+field day, so like our man&oelig;uvres at home, I venture upon a short
+description, in the hope that it may be of interest to those whose
+soldiering experience has been confined to the home front. There was no
+horrid barbed wire to contend with, nor gas. There were not even
+trenches, for the Turks' defence work here consisted only of stone
+walls, technically known as sangars. During the commencing stages we
+were not even shelled.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after dawn, our heavy artillery opened the ball by shelling the
+advanced posts of the enemy. At seven o'clock the whole line moved
+forward. Our first objective, a prominent knoll, was 4,000 yards away,
+and no previous opposition was expected. Having assumed the appropriate
+formation before crossing the crest, we moved forward in "artillery"
+formation, that is to say, in lines of platoons in file. For the
+non-military reader, it should be explained that this is the formation
+in which troops are considered least vulnerable against artillery or
+distant rifle and machine-gun fire. Great care was taken to ensure that
+direction was maintained, an officer with compass being specially
+detailed for this purpose, and that touch was not lost with the units on
+either flank. A battery of field artillery had been detailed to support
+the advance of this battalion; the forward observation officer went
+forward<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> with the infantry; the battery, less one section temporarily
+left behind, moved forward close behind us to a previously selected
+position from which the Deir Ballut Ridge would be within easy range. A
+section of machine gunners moved forward close behind the leading
+companies. In a fold of the ground, some 1,400 yards short of the first
+objective, the infantry shook out into lines of skirmishers. They
+continued their advance, and occupied the knoll which was their first
+objective without opposition.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, after a concentrated bombardment on the left, the first and
+second of the enemy's forward posts were captured without serious
+opposition; it appeared probable that these had been occupied mainly for
+observation and that his principal resistance was to be offered upon the
+Ballut Ridge.</p>
+
+<p>After a short halt on the first objective, to conform to the time-table,
+we moved forward again in the same formation against our second
+objective, a ridge which seemed to overlook the Wadi Deir Ballut. We
+still met with no opposition, until we put our heads up over the ridge,
+when we were greeted with a torrent of bullets from machine guns posted
+on the opposite side of the wadi. This wadi, it will be remembered, was
+to us <i>terra incognita</i>. The first thing to be done therefore was to
+make a hurried reconnaissance, and decide on the best method of getting
+down and across. It was found that the descent was almost a sheer
+precipice, and that we had not one but two wadis to cross; a smaller
+tributary wadi, scarcely marked on the map, forming, in fact, a rather
+serious obstacle. Carrying out such a reconnaissance, upon a forward
+slope, under machine gun fire from across the wadi, was none too easy.
+It had been intended that the leading company, which took the ridge,
+should at once open covering fire across the wadi, whilst the company
+following should pass through them and cross the wadi under cover of
+their fire. However, the difficulty of taking up suitable positions for
+seeing the target, and the extremity of the range (about 1,500 yards),
+made it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> inadvisable for the infantry to fire. But the machine gunners
+attached to us soon brought their machine guns into action, while our
+artillery f.o.o. took up a position on the ridge from which he could
+fire his guns to good effect.</p>
+
+<p>About this time, away to our left, developed the attack on Mejdel Yaba.
+This village occupies a commanding position overlooking the Plain, and,
+in Crusading days, was a fortress. That phase of the battle proved an
+artillery action pure and simple. The whole artillery of a Division,
+with several heavies added, was concentrated on that luckless spot. It
+afforded a spectacle not soon to be forgotten. When the infantry
+arrived, they found the work all over; the Turks had all been killed by
+the bombardment or fled from the village, most of the latter having been
+cut off and killed by our machine guns. Before leaving, the Turks had
+taken the precaution of interviewing the headman of the village and
+cutting his throat.</p>
+
+<p>To return to our own corner of the picture, under cover of the fire of
+our own artillery and machine guns the first company went forward.
+Slipping down that mountain side was a veritable case of running the
+gauntlet. But, once the bottom of the first wadi was reached, some cover
+was afforded for a breather. Almost in front of us, on the far ridge,
+lay the village of Deir Ballut, on which the enemy evidently intended to
+base their strongest resistance. On our left, the infantry were making a
+good pace; on the right they were held up, but, seeing us going forward,
+they pushed forward too, so that pressure might be maintained all along
+the line. The enemy had organized his defences and placed his machine
+guns with great skill. The slopes of the wadi were too steep for good
+shooting straight down the slope. So he had taken full advantage of the
+curves and hairpin bends of the wadi to place his machine guns in
+position sweeping the spurs and giving each other mutual support. Our
+leading company lost no time in getting to work. They dumped their packs
+and set out at once to storm the ridge. Meanwhile, our infantry
+advancing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> on the left, had taken some of the enemy machine guns in
+flank, forcing them to withdraw, which materially assisted the advance
+of the leading company. And so the leading company, closely followed by
+companies in support, established itself on the Ridge.</p>
+
+<p>The fiercest of the fighting, however, was yet to come. A great burst of
+machine-gun fire caused the leading platoon to take cover under one of
+the terraces. Hence they were at once led forward again. The Turks now
+delivered a strong counter-attack. Seeing this, the leading platoon
+dashed forward with their bayonets, led by the company cook, and the
+Turks were put to flight. The Lewis-gunners caught them as they were
+getting away and effectually quenched all desire to renew the
+counter-attack. Then the company pushed forward, and, ignoring the
+village of Deir Ballut, with its machine guns tried to get across the
+line of retreat from the village. Seeing this, the Turks evacuated Deir
+Ballut, and, under cover of machine guns posted on the further ridges,
+those left alive made good their escape. That evening found us in
+undisputed possession of Deir Ballut Ridge from beyond the village of
+Deir Ballut down to the Plain at Mejdel Yaba.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h3>
+
+<h2>THE MOUNTAINS OF EPHRAIM</h2>
+
+
+<p>We now found ourselves well established in the Mountains of Ephraim, and
+at no great distance from the enemy. After the taking of Ballut Ridge he
+had dropped back, and was soon seen to be entrenching and sangaring a
+new line from 2,000 to 4,000 yards further north. Ballut Ridge had been
+fixed as our final objective. Had there been possible roads by which
+guns and supplies could have been brought forward, an immediate pursuit
+or attack of the enemy might have proved successful; but, with such
+hopeless communications, deliberate action was a necessity.</p>
+
+<p>After the Ridge had been captured, the enemy were pursued with all the
+fire from rifles, machine guns and artillery that could be brought to
+bear. Cavalry, or even infantry pursuit across these mountains was out
+of the question. An outpost line was established and the troops settled
+down to a wet and somewhat cheerless night. The mountain sides had been
+so steep that it had been impossible to bring up any comforts, and even
+the camels bearing the reserve supply of ammunition could only be got
+forward with extreme difficulty. Except for shelling, we were left
+unmolested during the night and next morning, which gave us the
+opportunity of constructing sangars, making tracks for the pack
+transport animals, and generally making ourselves more comfortable.
+Patrols were sent forward, and it was ascertained that the country to
+our immediate front was clear of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The effect of this advance was to draw down reinforcements<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> into this
+sector, and to divert into Palestine reserves of Turkish troops; these
+came largely from the Caucasus, where the total collapse of Russia had
+set many good Turkish troops at liberty. There was evidence that these
+troops had been intended for an offensive campaign in Mesopotamia. It is
+probable, therefore, that this advance, indirectly, yet substantially,
+contributed to the defence of Mesopotamia, for the Turkish offensive in
+that area never materialized. Two or three German Divisions came down to
+stiffen up the Turks, and from this time forward the resistance which we
+had to face became unmistakeably hardened. The days of campaigning <i>de
+luxe</i> had gone for ever. Before our "archies" could get forward, the Hun
+aeroplanes had very much their own way, and, flying low, dropped bombs
+and machine-gunned us in a manner that was most uncomfortable. Enemy
+artillery shelled any movements on the forward slope, and brought a
+searching fire to bear, in the hope of damaging our bivouac areas behind
+the crest. The manner in which the front line was held in the mountains
+by the Turks as well as by ourselves, was as follows. Strong sangars
+were constituted on the forward slope of a hill or ridge. By day these
+were occupied only by a small and well-protected observation party, at
+times supplemented with a Lewis gun team; and the remainder of the
+garrison were withdrawn behind the crest to bivouac areas on the reverse
+slope. At dusk, the garrison moved forward and manned the front line,
+being withdrawn again during the half-light of dawn. Thus the hostile
+artillery could never see a target upon which to fire. Searching a steep
+reverse slope with guns is almost impossible while, even with howitzers,
+unless observation can be obtained, an enormous amount of ammunition has
+to be fired to secure any result.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, preparations proceeded apace. With a genius little short of
+that which has made roads across the Himalayas and the Alps, roads were
+soon engineered down and up the steep sides of the Wadi, so that within
+two or three weeks it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> was possible to bring guns across the Wadi and
+over the Ballut Ridge. Water supplies, of which excellent springs were
+discovered in the bed of the wadi, were developed; later, the cisterns
+on the hills were closed down to prevent mosquito breeding and malaria.</p>
+
+<p>On the 14th March, the enemy moved forward to counter-attack the Ballut
+Ridge line, but were caught in close formation by our artillery and the
+counter-attack never developed. On the 19th, a slight advance was made
+on our right, which brought the village of Beit Rima (possibly the
+Ramathaim of the Maccabees) within our line. Another forward move was
+evidently in the wind and patrolling activity increased all along our
+line.</p>
+
+<p>A detailed account of one of these patrol incidents may be instructive
+as affording an example of how such a patrol should be handled. The
+patrol commander was an experienced soldier who had seen service with
+almost every battalion of the regiment and in most of the theatres of
+this war; his sleeve was covered with wound stripes, and hostile snipers
+only made him angry.</p>
+
+<p>The orders which he received were to patrol as far as Ikba, and to
+protect some senior officers, who wished to make a reconnaissance and
+for whose safety he was responsible. He had under his command one
+platoon, consisting of three sections of riflemen and one of Lewis
+gunners; also one other officer to assist.</p>
+
+<p>A glance at the sketch map will show Ballut Ridge, which formed our
+front line, and Three Bushes Hill, the most forward position held by the
+enemy. Ikba, or to give it its full name, Khurbet Umm el Ikba, thus lay
+in No Man's Land at no great distance from the enemy. Though standing on
+a hill and commanding an admirable view of the surrounding country, it
+is overlooked at a range of a mile from Three Bushes Hill, and also at
+shorter distances within effective rifle range from the points marked A,
+B and C, and, to some extent, from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> point marked E. F is a lower
+knoll, commanded from Ikba. Both E and F are commanded from A.</p>
+
+<p>Moving forward before dawn, the patrol commander led his patrol forward
+down the Wadi Ikba. Each section was kept apart, and moved forward in
+single file under its own commander. To each section commander were
+given precise orders as to the position which he was to occupy, what he
+was to do, and when he was to withdraw. One section moved down the ridge
+on the right of the wadi, and took up a position at the point B. One
+section, with the junior officer, moved first along the wadi bed, and
+then, while it was still only half light, ascended the left-hand spur
+and took up a position at A. The Lewis-gun team occupied the hill at C.
+The remaining section, which had been kept in reserve at the hills about
+D, now moved forward and occupied Ikba. All being reported clear, the
+senior officers moved forward, arriving at Ikba just as the daylight
+became strong enough for them to obtain the forward view of the enemy
+country which they desired.</p>
+
+<p>An even better view of the country seemed probable from the spur at A.
+So across there went the officers, including the patrol commander. By
+the time they arrived, rifle reports were cracking, and the situation
+was becoming interesting. The reconnaissance finished, the patrol
+commander gave the senior officers five minutes in which to withdraw,
+before the expiration of which he would not begin to withdraw his
+patrol.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the enemy upon Three Bushes Hill, had espied the party in
+Ikba, and set out to capture the patrol. Creeping along under cover,
+they established themselves at the point E. Thence they started to move
+on to the point F, but came under fire from the section on point A. It
+became a case of running the gauntlet, but the section were shooting
+well and dropped their men. The section at Ikba was withdrawing; the
+enemy, failing to realize that the spur A was occupied, rushed across to
+A intending to shoot up the wadi at the section withdrawing from Ikba.
+They were greeted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> with a warm reception from the section already at A
+and beat a hasty retreat. The section at A now withdrew up the wadi,
+covered by the fire of the section still in position at B and by the
+Lewis gunners at C. The reserve section from Ikba, who had been the
+first to withdraw, had meanwhile taken up another section in rear, and,
+under their protection, the section at B and the Lewis-gunners from C
+withdrew up the wadi. The enemy had apparently had enough of it, for the
+pursuit was not pressed. A few rounds of shrapnel were fired at us as a
+parting present, but no casualties were sustained. This patrol commander
+had paid attention to, and illustrated the soundness of, the cardinal
+principles of mountain fighting, namely, the necessity for seizing and
+piquetting the commanding heights, and the support of the movement of
+one party of troops by the fire of other parties already in position.
+The plan of using the Lewis gun as a reserve of fire, kept well back to
+cover the retirement of the remainder, was undoubtedly sound. Had the
+commanding heights not been first secured, it is difficult to see how
+the patrol could have withdrawn in the face of the enemy without
+confusion and without casualty.</p>
+
+<p>On the 27th March the whole line moved forward. The advance was only
+intended to be for a depth of about a mile, in order to secure a better
+tactical line for defence. None of the objectives were believed to be
+held by the enemy. Accordingly, the advance was carried out by night. A
+full moon, giving light throughout the night, facilitated the operation.
+As soon as daylight was gone, the whole line crept noiselessly forward,
+with bayonets fixed ready to meet any possible opposition with cold
+steel. Away to our right, the enemy detected movement, and put down a
+barrage. But their firing was somewhat wild; the barrage came down
+behind the advancing troops and caused no casualties. On our front the
+enemy had not awakened to what was taking place, and our objectives were
+attained without molestation. It was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> realized that our new positions
+would be overlooked from the enemy's observation posts on Three Bushes
+Hill and on Arara, and that, when they saw us by daylight occupying the
+nearer ridges, they would shell us unmercifully. Accordingly, the
+remainder of the night was not devoted to sleep, but to the intensive
+building of sangars on the new defensive line, and the preparations of
+bivouac areas in such few spots as might be under cover from view and
+from fire. When morning came, the enemy commenced to shell, but the
+night had not been wasted, and our fellows had made themselves secure.</p>
+
+<p>This new line was not very comfortable. To such an extent was it
+overlooked by the enemy that all movement by day was out of the
+question, and even incinerator fires had for a time to be forbidden. The
+enemy attacked this new line a few days after it had been taken up.
+However, our artillery caught the enemy's troops in close order before
+they had been deployed, and so we experienced no greater inconvenience
+than a bombardment, doing no great damage. It was not expected that this
+new line would have to be held for any great length of time. Already
+preparations were being pushed on for another encounter with the enemy.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h3>
+
+<h2>RAFAT</h2>
+
+
+<p>We have seen, in an earlier chapter, that throughout the campaign in
+Palestine the left British flank, near the sea, was at all times much in
+advance of the right. We have already discussed the cause and
+advantages; there was one distinct disadvantage. As the trend of the
+country sloped up from the Maritime Plain, the enemy on our right front
+was on higher ground and had the advantages of observation. If there
+were a commanding position to our front, and we moved forward and
+captured it, we found that there were yet other positions beyond, from
+which that position was itself commanded. Our positions on the Ephraim
+Mountains along the Ballut Ridge were at this time overlooked from three
+commanding hills in the possession of the enemy, known as Arara, Rafat,
+and Three Bushes. Further to the right were the villages of El Kep and
+Berukin, also on high ground. Owing to the conformation of the country
+the key of this district was Arara.</p>
+
+<p>In order to improve the general line, and in preparation for a further
+advance, it was decided to move forward and to capture all these
+commanding positions. Accordingly, on the morning of the 9th April, the
+line moved forward. The village of El Kep was a nest of machine guns.
+After heavy bombardment it was captured after stubborn resistance.
+Berukin was also captured after sharp fighting, but further progress in
+this locality was held up. Next day these villages were heavily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>
+counter-attacked, and, though they were firmly held, further progress
+was out of the question.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, a battalion of Somersets had captured Rafat, and a battalion
+of Dorsets Three Bushes Hill. Enemy shelling now became intense,
+followed up by counter-attacks, all of which were repulsed.</p>
+
+<p>The intention had been that the Somersets should capture Rafat first and
+then take Arara, the main objective of these operations. The capture of
+Three Bushes Hill was necessary to secure Arara and Rafat from reverse
+fire. But, to enable Arara to be held, it was also necessary to capture
+other heights to the south-east, notably one called The Pimple. Most of
+these heights were captured, but, although determined efforts were made,
+the enemy could not be dislodged from The Pimple. Nevertheless, the
+Somersets moved forward from Rafat and successfully established
+themselves upon Arara. Here they were fired at from all sides. They
+found that Arara was itself commanded from a height called Sheikh
+Silbih, a thousand or two yards beyond, while the reserve fire from the
+machine guns on The Pimple soon made their position on Arara untenable.
+They fell back upon, and firmly established themselves in, their
+positions at Rafat. One lad, who was left behind in this retirement, had
+a terrible experience. Wounded in three or four places, he was unable to
+withdraw with the remainder of his company. He lay out on Arara for
+three days, after which he was discovered by some Turks. These proceeded
+to strip him, whereupon he made known to them that he was still alive.
+They then bayonetted him, and left him for dead. He lay out there for
+yet another day, now naked, when he was found by a German
+stretcher-party. These took pity upon him, and removed him to a hospital
+where he was nursed back to life.</p>
+
+<p>The position on Three Bushes Hill had become interesting. If left in our
+undisputed possession, it would have rendered the main line of enemy
+trenches untenable. On the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> hand, if the enemy could drive us off,
+he might from there roll up Rafat and our other positions. He therefore
+made several determined attempts throughout the day to retake this hill.
+The position was not altogether unlike that on Spion Kop. Each side
+clung to the slope immediately below the summit, the forward slope being
+untenable through shell fire; our guns were unable to silence the
+hostile batteries. There was this difference, however, from Spion Kop,
+for here there was no question at present of withdrawing. The
+difficulties of bringing supplies, water and ammunition up, and the even
+greater difficulty of carrying the wounded down a pathless precipice 400
+feet high, can be better imagined than described. This work had mostly
+to be done by night, for our communication line was under enemy
+observation. The last of the ambulance camels, which were evacuating
+wounded from the regimental aid post had not crossed the Ballut Ridge
+and got out of sight before dawn, and were shelled accordingly.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy delivered counter-attacks again in the night; these also were
+repulsed. Next morning he changed his tactics. Continuing to shell the
+back areas, he now pushed up snipers, who established themselves where
+they could fire at any movement. In so far as the snipers near the
+summit of the ridge were concerned, a service of counter-sniping was
+established. But, what was more difficult to deal with, he established
+snipers on the lower slopes of his own side of the ridge, who could look
+down upon, and make themselves unpleasant towards, Rafat. Accordingly,
+it was decided to clear the forward slope.</p>
+
+<p>The Dorsets had now been fighting on the hill for forty-eight hours.
+Accordingly, on the night of the 10th/11th, they were relieved by an
+Indian battalion, the Outrans. Just before dawn this battalion moved
+forward, surprised the Turks, drove them down the hill and consolidated
+a line along the forward slope, with observation posts and Lewis
+gunners,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> withdrawing the remainder of the battalion behind the crest.</p>
+
+<p>The sniping had thus been stopped for the time, and the day was passed
+in comparative quiet. At dusk, that evening, down came one of the most
+furious bombardments put down by the enemy in Palestine. Guns from all
+quarters concentrated on the hill, and practically blotted out the
+devoted band that were holding the forward line. The bombardment was
+followed up by a determined counter-attack, but this was repulsed, the
+battalion of Dorsets being brought back to support the Outrans on the
+hill.</p>
+
+<p>It was now realized that the only way by which the Arara position could
+be captured and held, was by a general advance of the line to at least a
+thousand yards farther to the north, so as to capture The Pimple, Sheikh
+Subih, and the enemy works beyond Three Bushes. Accordingly,
+preparations were put in hand, and all was ready for this further
+advance, when there came&mdash;the disaster in France.</p>
+
+<p>The great German offensive in France had commenced on the 21st March,
+and, a few days later, occurred that great break through which very
+nearly altered the whole complexion of the war. At first this was not
+allowed to prejudice the operations in Palestine. But, as the
+seriousness of the situation in France became realized, no effort was
+spared to collect more men to fill the gap. Orders were given to cease
+all further active operations on a large scale in Palestine, and to send
+to France all the men that could be spared.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, there was no alternative but to consolidate, to heavily
+wire and sangar in upon the line that had been already reached, making
+such tactical readjustments as were necessary.</p>
+
+<p>It might appear at first sight that the net result of these operations
+was negative, and that the poor fellows who had given their lives here
+had died in vain. But this was not so. Rafat was destined to become
+famous. It was fortified on an almost impregnable scale, thousands of
+pounds were spent,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> and a couple of million sand-bags were worked into
+its defences. A veritable fortress was established which overlooked much
+of the enemy positions. More than once was this fortress attacked by the
+Turks, but in vain. It ultimately formed the firm pivot on which was
+based the great sweep which conquered Palestine.</p>
+
+<p>Feeling between the Turks and the Germans was growing intensely bitter.
+Germans were not allowed to walk about singly behind the Turkish lines,
+for fear of assassination. In an attack made by them in the Jordan
+Valley in July, not only did the Turks fail to move forward in support
+of the Germans, but they actually fired upon the Germans, when, through
+lack of that support, they were compelled to retire. It was a case of "a
+house divided against itself" and it could not therefore hope long to
+stand.</p>
+
+<p>Active operations on a large scale in Palestine having been stopped, the
+army was not reorganized. It was a matter of keen regret to many who had
+followed the fortunes of this campaign since the days of Gaza, that they
+and their battalions were not to play a part in the final act. The 52nd
+and the 74th Divisions were withdrawn entirely, their places being taken
+by the 3rd and 7th Indian Divisions from Mesopotamia. All those
+remaining, except the 54th, were converted into Indian Divisions, 75 per
+cent of their battalions being withdrawn and replaced by fresh
+battalions from India. Those withdrawn were, in some cases, sent to
+France, in others, broken up and used for reinforcements in the country.
+Hitherto the army in Palestine had consisted mainly of Territorials.
+Henceforth it was to consist mainly of Indians.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h3>
+
+<h2>THE CROWNING VICTORY</h2>
+
+
+<p>The Turkish forces in Palestine, in the autumn of 1918, consisted of
+three armies, the 8th and the 7th, plus one added Division on the west
+of the Jordan, and the 4th army on the east. All were under the supreme
+command of the German General, Liman von Sanders.</p>
+
+<p>The line held by the enemy west of the Jordan extended roughly from the
+sea, south of the <ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'Nahr el Falik'">Nahr el Falyk</ins> (some 14 miles north of Jaffa), across
+western Palestine approximately east, south-east to near Rafat, thence
+easterly and south-easterly, across the Nablus-Jerusalem Road, and so
+down to the Jordan Valley. Thus, a portion of his force was entrenched
+across the Maritime Plain, while the remainder was in the mountains of
+the Central Range. These mountains of Ephraim and Samaria form a rugged,
+isolated plateau, which is bounded on the north and east by the
+low-lying Valleys of Esdraelon and the Jordan. North-west, the mountains
+continue in a broken chain, till they fall precipitously to the sea at
+Cape Carmel.</p>
+
+<p>There were two or three routes available to the enemy for supply or
+retreat, behind the Samaritan plateau. Most important of these was the
+railway, which, leaving the main Damascus-Hejaz line at Deraa, ran
+westwards down the Yarmuk Valley to the Jordan, thence through Beisan,
+and up the Vale of Jezreel and along the Plain of Esdraelon to Haifa.
+From El Afule, a junction in the middle of the Esdraelon Plain, the
+south-bound line branched off, and, passing through Jenin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> (close by
+Jezreel), wound its way among the mountains up to Messudieh Station,
+close to Samaria. Thence a short line ran on to Nablus, while the main
+line continued down the slope of the Wadi Shair to the Maritime Plain,
+which it reached at Tul Keram. The advanced enemy bases at Nablus and
+Tul Keram were served also by good roads. That from Tul Keram followed
+the line of the railway up to a point near Samaria, where it joined the
+main north-bound road leading from Nablus down to Jenin and El Afule.
+From El Afule it would be possible to go down the Vale of Jezreel (along
+the road where Jehu drove furiously) to Beisan, and thence northward up
+the Jordan Valley. But the better road from Jenin and El Afule leads
+across the Plain of Esdraelon to Nazareth and Tiberias and round the
+northern side of the Sea of Galilee to Damascus. Another road from
+Nablus leads eastwards, and, dropping steeply down along the Wadi Fara,
+leads to the Jordan, which it crosses by a ford at Jisr ed Damie. The
+places of tactical importance on the enemy lines of communication behind
+his advanced bases were, therefore, the railway junctions at Deraa and
+El Afule, the ford of Jisr ed Damie, and the towns of Beisan, Jenin and
+Nazareth.</p>
+
+<p>The broad outline of General Allenby's plan of operations was an attack
+in overwhelming force against the enemy's positions on the Maritime
+Plain, followed by a right wheel of his left flank on a front of 16
+miles from Rafat to the sea, thereby rolling up the Turkish line and
+driving them all into the Samaritan hills; meanwhile, his cavalry were
+to dash for the tactical points behind the Turkish line and so close all
+enemy lines of retreat.</p>
+
+<p>Some weeks before the date fixed for the commencement of operations, the
+several Divisions were by turn withdrawn behind the line and put through
+a three weeks' course of intensive training. Then a rearrangement of the
+line took place, whereby an overwhelming force was concentrated on the
+left. The 60th Division, and most of the cavalry, were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> moved across to
+the extreme left from the Jordan Valley. Divisions in the line were so
+rearranged that the line from Rafat to the right was only held thinly,
+while the garrison of the line from Rafat to the sea was doubled by the
+addition of three more Divisions, including the 60th on the sea and a
+French Division at Rafat. All these movements were carried out with the
+utmost secrecy. The fact that the push was coming along the Maritime
+Plain was successfully camouflaged, and the enemy led to believe that
+the push would come up the Jordan Valley. The hotel at Jerusalem was
+closed, and got in readiness, ostensibly for occupation by G.H.Q. Empty
+lorries were run up and down the Jordan Valley. Tents were left standing
+there and dummy-horse lines arranged. Dummy horses were left in the
+Jordan Valley to convey to enemy aerial observers the impression that
+cavalry were still there in strength. All the marching towards the
+Jordan Valley was by day; all the marching towards the Maritime Plain
+was carried out by night, while by day these troops were hidden in the
+olive and orange groves that abound on this portion of the Plain. So
+successful were these ruses, and so complete the surprise, that enemy
+aerial reconnaissances, made a day before the attack, reported that
+there was unusual movement in the Jordan Valley and that there was no
+unusual movement on the coastal sector. The whole of the operations were
+a triumph of secrecy and of organization.</p>
+
+<p>On the day before the main attack, a small advance was carried out by
+the right wing just west of the Jordan, occupying El Mugheir. This place
+is the junction of several roads leading from the west to the east of
+the Jordan. The object of this preliminary move was to prevent the Turks
+west of the river escaping by this route to the east, and also to draw
+the attention of the enemy towards the Jordan Valley and distract it
+from the coastal sector.</p>
+
+<p>By the night of the 18th/19th September, our troops were in position.
+The Divisions occupying the line from the sea<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> on the left were the
+60th, the 7th and the 75th on the Plain, the 3rd where Plain and hills
+meet about Mejdel Yaba, the 54th and the French at Rafat. Thence the
+line was held by the 10th Division, assisted by a composite force, and,
+on the extreme right, about the recently captured Mugheir, by the 53rd.
+Cavalry were concentrated behind the 60th Division ready to dash forward
+directly the line should be broken.</p>
+
+<p>At 4.30 on the morning of the 19th September, there suddenly opened an
+intensive bombardment of the enemy's coastal positions, carried out by
+all the artillery, trench-mortars and machine-guns that could be
+concentrated in this small sector, the navy also co-operating. After ten
+minutes' bombardment, the infantry moved forward and assaulted the
+enemy's front line positions, which were carried with but little
+opposition. Thereafter the barrage lifted and crept, being supplemented
+in places by smoke barrages dropped from aeroplanes. The infantry pushed
+forward and captured the enemy's second and third lines and strong
+points in rear. Shortly before seven o'clock, the 60th Division had
+broken right through the enemy defences by the sea, and had reached, and
+established a bridge-head at the Wadi Nahr el Falyk, a mile or so behind
+the enemy line. Engineers and pioneers got to work at once, and in a
+very short space of time had made roads and bridges through the enemy
+trench system, and over the Nahr el Falyk, by which cavalry and guns
+could be pushed forward. At 7.30, the cavalry passed through on their
+dash for the tactical points behind the enemy's lines.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, all along the line our infantry had taken their first
+objectives with little opposition, the enemy having been taken
+completely by surprise. The whole line advanced to a maximum depth of 5
+miles, and then swung to the right, pivoting on Rafat. Such opposition
+as was encountered was met with at the strong points well behind the
+front line, where the enemy had had the time and opportunity to man his
+defences. For example, both at El Tireh and at Kalkilieh, stub<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span>born
+resistance was encountered. Thus the line swung right-handed into the
+hills, crumpling up the whole enemy line west of Rafat. The 60th
+Division, after their break through, marched for the greater part of the
+day, and, by 5.30 in the afternoon, had reached Tul Keram. Our line,
+that evening, ran approximately south and north from Rafat to Tul Keram.</p>
+
+<p>The cavalry passing through the gaps broken at the sea and close to
+Tabsor, pushed rapidly northward along the Coastal Plain. Some of them
+made for Tul Keram, and, passing thence up the Valley towards Nablus,
+had already reached Anebta before dark, cutting off large bodies of the
+retreating enemy with guns and transport between Tul Keram and the
+railway junction at Messudieh. Another strong cavalry force moved
+farther north. They passed through the mountains east of Mount Carmel
+that night, by the Musmus Pass (Megiddo), and, early on the following
+morning, the 20th, they charged the enemy holding the northern exit of
+the Pass and debouched on to the Plain of Esdraelon (Armageddon).</p>
+
+<p>These seized the railway junction at El Afule. Some pushed on eastwards
+towards the Jordan and captured Beisan (Bethshan), some northwards and
+captured Nazareth, while some, turning southwards, took Jenin in
+reverse. By nightfall on the 20th all these tactical points were in our
+possession.</p>
+
+<p>Yet another exploit remains to be chronicled. Far away across the
+eastern desert, but beautifully co-ordinated, and working as part of one
+great machine, moved a raiding force of the Arab troops of Hussein, King
+of the Hejaz. At the critical moment these swooped down upon the
+junction at Deraa, where they destroyed the railway in all directions,
+completely depriving the enemy of their main line of retirement.</p>
+
+<p>Throughout the operations our airmen had the time of their lives. Some
+hovered all day over the enemy aerodrome at Jenin, and effectually
+prevented enemy machines from leaving the ground. Some maintained
+contact between the infantry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> and the higher command. Some, flying low,
+bombed and machine-gunned the retreating Turks, and completed their
+confusion.</p>
+
+<p>The advance was continued on the 20th. On this day, the 10th Division,
+which had hitherto remained stationary to the right of Rafat, moved
+forward in a north-easterly direction, taking in rear the strong enemy
+position at Furkha. The whole line was now advancing and driving the
+retreating Turks towards Samaria and Nablus, and down the roads leading
+northwards and eastwards from these points. By the evening of the 20th,
+the Turkish resistance had collapsed everywhere on the west of the
+Jordan, except on the Turkish left in the Jordan Valley. Our right wing
+had advanced slightly, and occupied a line from near El Mugheir to Es
+Sawieh, while our left wing had swung round and reached the line
+Bidich-Baka-Messudieh Junction&mdash;that is to say, we were gradually
+closing in on Nablus from the south, south-west, and west. Owing to the
+tactical positions behind the enemy lines having been seized by our
+cavalry, all avenues of escape which might have been open to the enemy
+had been closed, except the fords across the Jordan between Beisan and
+Jisr-ed-Damieh.</p>
+
+<p>By the 21st, the retreating Turks had become a demoralized rabble,
+fleeing to the fords of the Jordan, like the discomfited Midianites,
+under Oreb and Zeeb, had fled more than three thousand years before from
+the pursuit of Gideon. Those who fled down the northward road were
+captured and collected by our cavalry at Jenin. Those who fled down the
+eastward road by the Wadi Fara, hoping to reach the still open ford at
+Jisr-ed-Damieh, met with a more cruel fate. This road led down a steep
+and narrow gorge, dominated by the heights east of Nablus. A brigade of
+the 10th Division was rushed forward by a forced march, and seized these
+heights, effectually closing the trap. Our airmen had already got the
+situation well in hand here, and the road soon became a veritable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>
+shambles. The enemy had been forced or shepherded by our infantry into
+this bottle-neck, and our airmen, swooping down to 200 feet and bombing
+the head of the column, soon made the road impassable. That
+accomplished, they flew up and down the struggling column, bombing and
+machine-gunning without let or hindrance. It seemed as though the
+unspeakable Turk had at last been delivered over to vengeance in this
+Valley of Death. An eye-witness<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> describes the scene.</p>
+
+<p>"In no section of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow could there have been a
+more terrible picture of hopeless and irretrievable defeat. In this area
+alone, eighty-seven guns of various calibres, and fully a thousand horse
+and oxen-drawn vehicles, nearly a hundred motor-lorries, cars,
+field-kitchens, water carts, and a mass of other impedimenta blocked the
+road, with the carcases of thousands of animals and the bodies of dead
+Turks and Germans."</p>
+
+<p>On the 22nd, our cavalry moved up the Jordan Valley and seized the ford
+at Jisr-ed-Damieh, thus cutting off the last possible means of escape.
+Prisoners were surrendering in thousands. They looked weak and
+exhausted; in many cases they had fled over a parched country and
+beneath a burning sun for three or four days, without touching a drop of
+water. Their plight was pitiable. By that evening, the Turkish armies
+west of the Jordan had ceased to exist.</p>
+
+<p>There still remained the Turkish 4th army in Eastern Palestine. An
+expedition, consisting largely of cavalry, was sent against them. These
+crossed the Jordan Valley, and, moving up the eastern slopes, on the
+23rd September captured Es Salt, and, on the 26th, Amman. A day or two
+later, the Turkish force south of Amman, about 10,000 strong,
+surrendered. The remainder of the Turkish 4th army tried to withdraw.
+They were closely pursued by our cavalry and airmen, and, to some
+extent, cut off by the Arab forces of the King of the Hejaz. Many
+prisoners were taken from this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> army, while, such as could do so, made
+their escape to Damascus.</p>
+
+<p>The whole of Palestine, south of, and including the Plain of Esdraelon,
+was now in the hands of the British and their Arab allies. But there was
+still work to be done in a sweep forward towards Damascus. The Turks had
+some reserves at Damascus, and with these, and the remnants of their 4th
+army, they attempted to check our advance against that city.
+Accordingly, they sent a small force down to the Upper Jordan, that is,
+to the river north of the Sea of Galilee. This force, which consisted of
+Germans, Turks and Circassians, was rushed down from Damascus in
+motor-lorries, in order to deny the crossing at Jisr Benat Yakub. They
+blew up the bridge and covered the crossing with machine guns. On the
+27th our cavalry, pushing north from Tiberias, swam the river both to
+the south and to the north of this crossing, and surprised and captured
+many of the enemy. They then, with armoured cars, pushed forward along
+the main Tiberias-Damascus road.</p>
+
+<p>On the same day, other cavalry joined hands with the Arab army at Deraa.
+From this point, also, cavalry and armoured cars pushed northward. It
+seemed a question whether this force or that from Jisr Benat Yakub would
+be the first to reach Damascus, as both forces were rapidly approaching
+the city from the south and south-west respectively. The advance was
+still disputed by enemy rear guards, from whom prisoners and guns were
+captured. The enemy rear-guards were defeated, and, by the evening of
+the 30th, the city was partially surrounded.</p>
+
+<p>Early on the morning of the 1st October, a British force and a portion
+of the Arab army of King Hussein occupied the city of Damascus.</p>
+
+<p>In the course of a fortnight the enemy line had been broken; Samaria,
+Galilee, Eastern Palestine and Damascus had been conquered; three
+Turkish armies had been destroyed, with a loss of their entire war
+material; and over 350 guns and 71,000 prisoners had been captured.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Mr. W.&nbsp;T. Massey, Official Correspondent with the E.E.F.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p>
+<hr />
+
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h3>
+
+<h2>CONCLUSION</h2>
+
+
+<p>Serious fighting had practically finished with the capture of Damascus.
+The northward flight of the Turks continued, closely pursued by our
+cavalry and armoured cars. A Division of infantry was brought forward in
+support, but the difficulties of supplying a large force so far away
+from a base made it impossible to bring forward the infantry in any
+strength. Australians rounded up a Turkish column some miles north of
+Damascus, and a few thousand more prisoners were captured. Beyrout, the
+port of Damascus, was abandoned without a blow, and, on the 6th October,
+was occupied by the allies. A Division of French troops was landed here,
+and, thereafter, this port became the main channel of supply for the
+troops operating in Northern Syria.</p>
+
+<p>Our forces pushed on northwards, meeting with little or no opposition,
+and occupying Baalbek, Tripolis and Homs. A Turkish force, under General
+Liman von Sanders, and estimated at about 12,000, concentrated a few
+miles south of Aleppo, where they threatened to offer some resistance.
+The advance northward was, however, unopposed. The enemy had constructed
+trenches covering Aleppo, and at first showed signs of holding them.
+But, after our armoured cars had got into touch, and our airmen had
+bombed them, the enemy decided to evacuate, and withdrew to the hills
+towards Alexandretta. Aleppo was entered by our cavalry on the 26th
+October, and the station was seized at Muslimie, the junction of the
+Baghdad Railway. By these captures we had made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> ourselves masters of the
+main line of communications with Constantinople of the Turkish armies in
+Mesopotamia.</p>
+
+<p>Their armies virtually destroyed, the Turks now concluded an armistice,
+which took effect as from the 31st October. Their allies, the
+Bulgarians, who had suffered disastrous reverses in Macedonia, had just
+concluded an armistice; the Austrians were being badly beaten by the
+Italians and were clearly nearing the end; and the Germans were fast
+retiring from France and Belgium: so, with all hope of succour gone, the
+Turks had no alternative but to conclude an armistice, the terms of
+which practically amounted to unconditional surrender.</p>
+
+<p>The terms of the armistice included the following. Immediate
+demobilization of the Turkish army, except troops required for the
+surveillance of the frontier and the maintenance of internal order; the
+surrender of the garrisons of the Hejaz, Assir, Yemen, Syria and
+Mesopotamia, and the withdrawal of troops from Cilicia; the surrender of
+all ports there; occupation by the Allies of the Taurus Mountains tunnel
+system; the allied control of all railways; occupation by the Allies of
+any strategic points considered necessary for their security;
+prohibition of destruction of military or similar material; all Germans
+and Austrians to quit Turkey within a month; Turkey to cease all
+relations with the Central Powers; all allied prisoners in Turkish
+possession to be handed over unconditionally, but Turkish prisoners in
+the Allies' hands to be kept at the disposal of the Allies. In addition,
+all war vessels in Turkish waters were to be surrendered, the
+Dardanelles were to be opened, and free access secured for allied ships
+to all Turkish ports and exchanges and to the Black Sea.</p>
+
+<p>A few days later, Austria threw in her hand, and, on the 11th November,
+an armistice was concluded with Germany. The Central Powers had
+surrendered. The greatest war in the history of the world had been
+brought to a close.</p>
+
+<p>Will our campaign be passed down to history as "The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> Last Crusade"?
+Presumably not. Throughout the campaign there was little or no religious
+animosity, except that the Moslem Turk extended no quarter to the
+Hindoo. To speak of this as a campaign of The Cross against The Crescent
+is untrue. The Turkish high command was controlled by Germans, so-called
+Christians. The British soldier fought with no less zest than when
+opposed to Turks. At the final battle, the Moslems, serving in our
+armies, by far outnumbered the Christians.</p>
+
+<p>The close of the great war forms a fitting point at which to bring our
+story also to a close. Its aim has been a blend of history and
+reminiscence. Much has been set down here which would have been omitted
+from a history; much more has been omitted which a complete history
+would have contained. In particular I plead guilty to omitting names of
+units deserving of special mention. Generally their names have not been
+known to me; in such cases as they were known, I have feared that to
+mention them might have caused more jealousy than satisfaction. We each
+of us think, and rightly so, that our own unit does better than any
+other engaged. So, many a reader may be disappointed at finding no
+mention of the unit in which he is particularly interested. I can only
+refer him to the congratulatory telegrams which his unit received in the
+field, and which are doubtless preserved among the records of the
+regiment.</p>
+
+<p>We have now completed our brief review of this campaign. We have seen
+its small beginnings in the defence of the Suez Canal, when Turkey,
+leaning upon Germany, a broken reed, vaunted herself in an attempt to
+conquer Egypt. We have traced the footsteps of the British army as,
+pushing back the invading Turk, it crept across the Desert. We have
+watched its struggles on the frontier of Asia, culminating in the
+victory of Gaza and Beersheba. We have followed its progress in the
+onward sweep, which conquered Jerusalem, and watched it through
+succeeding months of trial, patience and disappoint<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span>ment. Finally, we
+have seen it destroy the remnants of the Turkish armies, and, in one
+great rush, conquer the whole of Northern Syria. Proud, indeed, should
+those of us feel who have been privileged to play a part in this
+campaign.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX</h2>
+
+
+<ul><li>Abd, <a href="#Page_15">15</a></li>
+
+<li><ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'Abou Aweigila'">Abu Aweigila</ins>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a></li>
+
+<li>Abu Hareira, <a href="#Page_45">45</a></li>
+
+<li>Ain Karim, <a href="#Page_83">83</a></li>
+
+<li>Ajalon, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li>
+
+<li>Akaba, Gulf of, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a></li>
+
+<li>Aleppo, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li>
+
+<li>Alexandretta, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li>
+
+<li>Ali Muntar, <a href="#Page_38">38</a></li>
+
+<li>Amman, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a></li>
+
+<li>Anwas, <a href="#Page_73">73</a></li>
+
+<li>Apex, The, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a></li>
+
+<li>Arara, <a href="#Page_131">131</a></li>
+
+<li>Armageddon, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></li>
+
+<li>Asluj, <a href="#Page_54">54</a></li>
+
+<li>Atawinah, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a></li>
+
+<li>Auja, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a></li>
+
+<li>Australia Hill, <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Baalbek, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li>
+
+<li>Baghdad, <a href="#Page_22">22</a></li>
+
+<li>Baha, <a href="#Page_45">45</a></li>
+
+<li>Baku, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></li>
+
+<li>Beersheba, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a></li>
+
+<li>Beihesnia, <a href="#Page_75">75</a></li>
+
+<li>Beit Dukka, <a href="#Page_75">75</a></li>
+
+<li>Beit Iksa, <a href="#Page_83">83</a></li>
+
+<li>Beit Hanun, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a></li>
+
+<li>Beit Jibrin, <a href="#Page_67">67</a></li>
+
+<li>Belah, <a href="#Page_38">38</a></li>
+
+<li>Bethel, <a href="#Page_109">109</a></li>
+
+<li><ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'Beth-Horon'">Beth-horon</ins>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li>
+
+<li>Bethshan, <a href="#Page_139">139</a></li>
+
+<li>Bireh, <a href="#Page_72">72</a></li>
+
+<li><ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'Birel Abd'">Bir-el-Abd</ins>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a></li>
+
+<li>Bir-es-Sakaly, <a href="#Page_54">54</a></li>
+
+<li>Bitter Lakes, <a href="#Page_5">5</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Constantinople, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></li>
+
+<li>Ctesiphon, <a href="#Page_22">22</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Damascus, <a href="#Page_142">142</a></li>
+
+<li>Dardanelles, <a href="#Page_6">6</a></li>
+
+<li>Dead Sea, <a href="#Page_112">112</a></li>
+
+<li>Deraa, <a href="#Page_142">142</a></li>
+
+<li>Dueidar, <a href="#Page_13">13</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Egypt, <a href="#Page_1">1</a></li>
+
+<li>El Arish, <a href="#Page_5">5</a></li>
+
+<li>El Burj, <a href="#Page_80">80</a></li>
+
+<li>El Kep, <a href="#Page_130">130</a></li>
+
+<li>El Kubeibeh, <a href="#Page_67">67</a></li>
+
+<li>El Mesmiye, <a href="#Page_68">68</a></li>
+
+<li>El Mughar, <a href="#Page_68">68</a></li>
+
+<li>El Tine, <a href="#Page_45">45</a></li>
+
+<li>El Tireh, <a href="#Page_138">138</a></li>
+
+<li>Emmaus, <a href="#Page_78">78</a></li>
+
+<li>Enab, <a href="#Page_75">75</a></li>
+
+<li>Ephraim, <a href="#Page_124">124</a></li>
+
+<li>Erzerum, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></li>
+
+<li>Esdraelon, <a href="#Page_135">135</a></li>
+
+<li><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>Es Salt, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Gallipoli, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></li>
+
+<li>Gamli, <a href="#Page_46">46</a></li>
+
+<li>Gaza, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a></li>
+
+<li>Gezer, <a href="#Page_69">69</a></li>
+
+<li>Ghoraniyeh, <a href="#Page_113">113</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Hajlah, <a href="#Page_113">113</a></li>
+
+<li>Hareira, <a href="#Page_58">58</a></li>
+
+<li>Hejaz, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></li>
+
+<li>Hill 1070, <a href="#Page_54">54</a></li>
+
+<li>Homs, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li>
+
+<li>Huj, <a href="#Page_63">63</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Ikba, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li>
+
+<li>In Seirat, <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Jaffa, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a></li>
+
+<li>Jericho, <a href="#Page_111">111</a></li>
+
+<li>Jerusalem, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a></li>
+
+<li>Jiddah, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></li>
+
+<li>Jisr-ed-Damieh, <a href="#Page_141">141</a></li>
+
+<li>Jordan, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a></li>
+
+<li>Junction Station, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Kalkilieh, <a href="#Page_138">138</a></li>
+
+<li>Kantara, <a href="#Page_12">12</a></li>
+
+<li>Katia, <a href="#Page_13">13</a></li>
+
+<li>Katrah, <a href="#Page_68">68</a></li>
+
+<li>Kauwukah, <a href="#Page_57">57</a></li>
+
+<li>Khalassa, <a href="#Page_54">54</a></li>
+
+<li>Khan Epenus, <a href="#Page_5">5</a></li>
+
+<li>Khan Yunus, <a href="#Page_19">19</a></li>
+
+<li>Khasim Zanna, <a href="#Page_54">54</a></li>
+
+<li>Kosseima, <a href="#Page_5">5</a></li>
+
+<li>Kut el Amara, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Latron, <a href="#Page_73">73</a></li>
+
+<li>Ludd, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Maan, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></li>
+
+<li>Mageiba, <a href="#Page_14">14</a></li>
+
+<li>Maghdaba, <a href="#Page_16">16</a></li>
+
+<li>Magruntein, <a href="#Page_17">17</a></li>
+
+<li>Mansura Ridge, <a href="#Page_40">40</a></li>
+
+<li><ins class="correction"
+title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'Maza'">Mazar</ins>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a></li>
+
+<li>Mecca, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></li>
+
+<li>Medina, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></li>
+
+<li>Mejdel Yaba, <a href="#Page_122">122</a></li>
+
+<li>Middlesex Hill, <a href="#Page_58">58</a></li>
+
+<li>Mosul, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></li>
+
+<li>Mount Carmel, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></li>
+
+<li>Mount Royston, <a href="#Page_14">14</a></li>
+
+<li>Mudros, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></li>
+
+<li>Muslimie, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li>
+
+<li>Muweileh, <a href="#Page_56">56</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Naaneh, <a href="#Page_69">69</a></li>
+
+<li>Nablus, <a href="#Page_139">139</a></li>
+
+<li>Nasiriyeh, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li>
+
+<li>Nazareth, <a href="#Page_139">139</a></li>
+
+<li>Neby</li>
+
+<li>Musa, <a href="#Page_110">110</a></li>
+
+<li>Neby Samwil, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Oghratina, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a></li>
+
+<li>Outpost Hill, <a href="#Page_58">58</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Palestine, <a href="#Page_28">28</a></li>
+
+<li>Philistia, <a href="#Page_30">30</a></li>
+
+<li>Plain of Sharon, <a href="#Page_30">30</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Rafa, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a></li>
+
+<li>Rafat, <a href="#Page_130">130</a></li>
+
+<li>Ramadi, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></li>
+
+<li>Ramleh, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a></li>
+
+<li>Rayak, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></li>
+
+<li>Romani, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_13">13</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Shatt-el-Arab, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li>
+
+<li>Sheikh Hasan, <a href="#Page_55">55</a></li>
+
+<li>Sheikh Zowaid, <a href="#Page_16">16</a></li>
+
+<li>Shellal, <a href="#Page_17">17</a></li>
+
+<li>Sheria, <a href="#Page_57">57</a></li>
+
+<li>Shunat Nimrin, <a href="#Page_114">114</a></li>
+
+<li><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>Suez Canal, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_4">4</a></li>
+
+<li>Suvla Bay, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Taurus, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></li>
+
+<li>Tel-el-Kebir, <a href="#Page_2">2</a></li>
+
+<li>Tel-el-Saba, <a href="#Page_54">54</a></li>
+
+<li>Three Bushes Hill, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a></li>
+
+<li>Towal Abu Jerwal, <a href="#Page_56">56</a></li>
+
+<li>Trebizond, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></li>
+
+<li>Tripolis, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li>
+
+<li>Tul Keram, <a href="#Page_139">139</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Umbrella Hill, <a href="#Page_55">55</a></li>
+
+<li>Umm Jerar, <a href="#Page_48">48</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Wadi Auja, <a href="#Page_116">116</a></li>
+
+<li>Wadi Deir Ballut, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a></li>
+
+<li>Wadi Ghuzzeh, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a></li>
+
+<li>Wadi Hesi, <a href="#Page_58">58</a></li>
+
+<li>Wadi Nahr, <a href="#Page_138">138</a></li>
+
+<li>Wellington Ridge, <a href="#Page_15">15</a></li>
+
+<li>&nbsp;</li>
+
+<li>Yemen, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></li>
+</ul>
+
+
+
+<p class="publisher2">
+<i>Printed in Great Britain for</i> <span class="smcap">Robert Scott</span>, <i>Publisher</i>, <span class="smcap">Paternoster Row</span>, <span class="smcap">London</span>,<br />
+<i>by</i> <span class="smcap">Butler &amp; Tanner, Frome</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="note">
+<p class="center"><b>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE</b></p>
+
+<p>Please hover your mouse over the words with a thin dotted gray line
+underneath them for seeing what the original reads.</p>
+
+<p class="center">LIST OF FIXED ISSUES</p>
+
+<ul><li>p. &nbsp;&nbsp;v&mdash;typo fixed, changed "Judaean" to "Judćan"</li>
+<li>p. &nbsp;vi&mdash;typo fixed, changed "Khuweilfah" to "Khuweilfeh"</li>
+<li>p. vii&mdash;typo fixed, changed "Tamberlane" to "Tamerlane"</li>
+<li>p. 019&mdash;typo fixed, changed "Weli Sheikh Nura" to "Weli Sheikh Nuran"</li>
+<li>p. 029&mdash;typo fixed, changed "Keran" to "Keram"</li>
+<li>p. 039&mdash;typo fixed, changed a comma into a period after "Ali Muntar and Gaza"</li>
+<li>p. 054&mdash;inserted a missing period after "in our hands"</li>
+<li>p. 056&mdash;inserted a missing closing bracket after "farther west"</li>
+<li>p. 073&mdash;typo fixed, changed "via" to "viâ"</li>
+<li>p. 078&mdash;inserted a missing period after "his positions"</li>
+<li>p. 097&mdash;typo fixed, changed "Napolean" to "Napoleon"</li>
+<li>p. 112&mdash;typo fixed, changed "garrision" to "garrison"</li>
+<li>p. 114&mdash;typo fixed, changed "Hajleh" to "Hajlah"</li>
+<li>p. 135&mdash;typo fixed, changed "Nahr el Falik" to "Nahr el Falyk"</li>
+<li>p. 147&mdash;typo fixed, changed "Abou Aweigila" to "Abu Aweigila"</li>
+<li>p. 147&mdash;typo fixed, changed "Birel Abd" to "Bir-el-Abd"</li>
+<li>p. 147&mdash;typo fixed, changed "Beth-Horon" to "Beth-horon"</li>
+<li>p. 148&mdash;typo fixed, changed "Maza" to "Mazar"</li>
+</ul>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of With the British Army in The Holy Land, by 
+Henry Osmond Lock
+
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of With the British Army in The Holy Land, by
+Henry Osmond Lock
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: With the British Army in The Holy Land
+
+Author: Henry Osmond Lock
+
+Release Date: November 16, 2006 [EBook #19822]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE HOLY LAND ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Irma Spehar and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+With the British Army in the Holy Land
+
+BY
+
+MAJOR H. O. LOCK
+
+THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT
+
+WITH MAPS
+
+LONDON: ROBERT SCOTT
+ROXBURGHE HOUSE
+PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.
+1919
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER I
+                                                                 PAGE
+EGYPT AND THE SUEZ CANAL                                          1
+
+Modern Egypt--Military Geography of Egypt--The Eastern Boundary--Outbreak
+of War, 1914--Invasion of Egypt by the Turks--The Dardanelles--Defence
+Problem at the Opening of 1916.
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE DESERT OF SINAI                                              10
+
+Across the Canal--The Military Railway--The Pipe-line--Kantara--Oghratina,
+Katia and Dueidar--Romani--Bir-el-Abd--El Arish--Maghdaba--Magruntein and
+Rafa--Sea-borne Supplies--Khan Yunus--The Land of Promise--Personnel.
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+MESOPOTAMIA, THE CAUCASUS, AND THE HEJAZ                         21
+
+Landing in Mesopotamia--1915
+Operations--Kut--Baghdad--Consolidation--Interdependence of Mesopotamia and
+Palestine--Caucasus--Collapse of Russia--The Yemen--Revolt of the
+Hejaz--Mecca--Medina--Maan--Arab Co-operation in Eastern Palestine.
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+PALESTINE                                                        28
+
+General Idea--A Comprehensive View--The Sea--Sand Dunes--Coastal
+Plain--Judaean Hills--Jordan Valley--Eastern
+Palestine--Armageddon--Climate--Railways--Population.
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+GAZA                                                             37
+
+History--Importance of Situation--Topography--First Battle of Gaza--Second
+Battle of Gaza--Reorganization of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+TRENCH WARFARE                                                   43
+
+Fresh Arrivals--Journey to Railhead--Acclimatization--The Turkish Line--The
+British Line--Campaigning Conditions--Flies and Dust--Morale--Humorous
+Incidents--Spies--Raiding and Shelling--Defences at the Apex--Preparations
+for the Offensive.
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+GAZA AND BEERSHEBA                                               51
+
+General Plan of the Battle--Reasons--Water--Transport--Bombardment of
+Gaza--Capture of Beersheba--Infantry Attack on Gaza--Counter-attack at
+Khuweilfeh--Attack on Sheria--Evacuation of Gaza--Retreat of the Enemy--The
+Apex--Shelling and Raids.
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+FULL CRY                                                         62
+
+Flight of the Enemy--Cavalry Pursuit--Crossing No Man's Land--Infantry
+Pursuit--Water--Arak-el-Menshiyeh Demonstration--Mesmiyeh
+Engagement--Junction Station Captured--Naaneh--Gezer--Jaffa--Summary of the
+Situation.
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+NEBY SAMWIL                                                      71
+
+Routes into the Hills--Bireh--Scheme of Operations--The Saris
+Pass--Contrast with Hill Fighting in India--Enab--Neby Samwil--The Key to
+Jerusalem--Consolidation and Reliefs.
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+JERUSALEM                                                        79
+
+The 20th Corps Movements--The New Line--Counter-attacks--Final
+Advance--Fighting round Jerusalem--The Enemy Outmanoeuvred--Surrender of
+the City--General Allenby's Entry and Proclamation.
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE HOLY CITY                                                    86
+
+Sacred to the Jew, the Christian and the Moslem--The
+Kings--Nebuchadnezzar--Nehemiah--Alexander--Ptolemy I--Antiochus--The
+Maccabees--Pompey--Herod--Christ--Titus--Hadrian--Constantine--Chosroes--
+Islam--The Crusaders--Saladin--Richard--The Kharezmians--Expulsion of the
+Crusaders--Tamerlane--The Ottomans--Napoleon--Mohammed Ali--Routes taken by
+the several Invaders.
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+JUNCTION STATION AND LUDD                                       101
+
+Chaos--Looting--Turkish Hospital--Prisoners of War--Vale of Sorek--Town
+Planning--Movements of Troops--Railway Development--Bridges--Armoured
+Train--Junction Station Superseded by Ludd--Development of Ludd--St.
+George.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE JORDAN                                                      109
+
+Attempt to Retake Jerusalem--Winter in Palestine--Jericho--Advancing the
+Line--Crossing the Jordan--Raid on Amman--Raid on Shunat Nimrin.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE WADI DEIR BALLUT                                            116
+
+Crossing the Auja--Front Line Life in
+March--Musketry--Aircraft--Flowers--Wadi Deir Ballut--Capture of Deir
+Ballut Ridge.
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE MOUNTAINS OF EPHRAIM                                        124
+
+The New Line--Turkish Reinforcements--Method of Holding the Line--A Patrol
+Incident--Capture of Ikba.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+RAFAT                                                           130
+
+Arara--Rafat--Three Bushes Hill--Collapse in France--Reorganization.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE CROWNING VICTORY                                            135
+
+Situation in September, 1918--The Terrain--Preparations--Mugheir--The Sweep
+from Rafat to the Sea--Cavalry--Deraa--The Turkish Rout--Eastern
+Palestine--Sea of Galilee--Damascus--Summary of Results.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+CONCLUSION                                                      143
+
+Pursuit--Beyrout--Aleppo--Armistices--Close of the War--Cross and
+Crescent--Resume.
+
+
+SKETCH MAPS                              PAGE
+
+I   RAILWAYS IN 1914                      1
+
+II  GAZA AND BEERSHEBA                   51
+
+III COUNTRY ROUND JERUSALEM              79
+
+IV  RAILWAYS IN 1918                    101
+
+V   COUNTRY ROUND RAFAT                 117
+
+
+
+
+NOTE
+
+
+My aim in compiling this little book has been to provide a short account
+of the Palestine campaign, illustrated from the experiences of one who
+was present.
+
+The manuscript was written on active service, soon after the occurrence
+of the events recorded. It may, on this account, be sketchy, but, it is
+hoped, not the less interesting.
+
+My acknowledgments are due to the Official Despatches and publications,
+and also to the writings of Mr. W.T. Massey, Official Correspondent with
+the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
+
+H. O. L.
+
+
+IN THE FIELD, 1918.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE HOLY LAND
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+EGYPT AND THE SUEZ CANAL
+
+
+The Holy Land has been the scene of war since the dawn of History. Long
+before Belgium became the cock-pit of Europe, Palestine was the cock-pit
+of the known world. Here, on the high road between Asia and Africa, were
+fought the great wars of Egyptians and Assyrians, Israelites and
+Canaanites, Greeks and Romans, Saracens and Crusaders. With these few
+square miles are associated the names of the world's greatest soldiers
+no less than that of the Prince of Peace. None can fail to be interested
+in the latest campaign in this Land of Armageddon.
+
+To understand the causes and events that led up to the campaign in
+Palestine of 1917-1918, we must first summarize, as shortly as possible,
+the modern history of Egypt. That country had for many centuries formed
+an integral part of the Turkish Empire. But she had been rapidly
+slipping from the grasp of the Turk. Early in the nineteenth century
+Mohamed Ali had effectually thrown off the Turkish yoke. True, the
+Turkish suzerainty remained; but that authority was little more than
+nominal and was represented by an annual money tribute paid to the Porte
+by the Khedive out of the revenues of Egypt.
+
+Both France and England had large financial interests in Egypt,
+especially after the construction of the Suez Canal, which was opened
+for traffic in 1869.
+
+The Suez Canal, in fact, became of vital importance to Great Britain. By
+a stroke of policy the British Government acquired the shares of the
+almost bankrupt Khedive, Ismail Pasha, and thus had a holding in the
+company worth several million pounds. But far more important to Britain
+was the position of the Canal as the great artery of the British Empire,
+the most vulnerable point on the short sea route to India. Thus Britain
+became directly concerned in the affairs of Egypt, in its internal
+administration to secure peace within, and in its military defence to
+secure the country in general, and the Canal zone in particular, from
+invasion by a foreign enemy.
+
+But the affairs of Egypt were in a most unsatisfactory condition. The
+army was wholly unreliable, and extravagance in high places had brought
+the exchequer to the verge of bankruptcy. In 1882 matters reached a
+crisis. A revolution broke out, headed by Arabi Pasha, and the situation
+looked desperate. Joint naval and military action by Britain and France
+was proposed, but the French ships sailed away and left Britain with a
+free hand. The British fleet bombarded the Forts at Alexandria and a
+military force, based on the Suez Canal, was landed at Ismailia. This
+force completely defeated the army of Arabi Pasha at Tel-el-Kebir, put
+down the rebellion, and restored the government of the then Khedive,
+Tewfik Pasha. But the Khedivial government had been unable to cope with
+the rebellion single-handed; it had only been restored to power by
+British arms; it could not hope to retain that power unless continuously
+backed by the power of Britain.
+
+From this time forward, whether she liked it or not, Britain found
+herself effectually saddled with the direction of the government of
+Egypt. In this position she became more fully confirmed by the
+Anglo-Egyptian military operations against the Soudan in 1885, under
+Gordon, and in 1898, under Kitchener. Outstanding differences with
+France were dispelled on the conclusion of the Anglo-French Entente
+Cordiale, and Britain was left virtually mistress of Egypt.
+
+Let us look for a minute at the military geography of Egypt,
+particularly with regard to the security of her frontiers from invasion.
+Egypt consists, or prior to the seventies consisted, of the Nile, its
+valley and delta, and the country rendered fertile by that river. On
+either side of this fertile belt is dry, barren desert. On the north is
+the Mediterranean Sea, and on the south the tropical Soudan. Thus, in
+the hands of a power that holds the command of the sea, Egypt is well
+adapted for defence. The tropical Soudan makes a well-nigh impossible
+line of advance for a large hostile force from the south, and the routes
+of approach from the east and from the west, across the waterless
+deserts, present obstacles scarcely less formidable. Since the
+seventies, however, another important factor has entered the problem,
+namely, the Suez Canal and the area of cultivation and civilization
+which has sprung up along its banks. The large amount of fresh water
+required for the maintenance of the Canal, for the use of the towns that
+have sprung up along its banks, and for the existence of the large
+population which the Canal has attracted, is brought by a Canal known as
+the Sweet Water Canal, from the river Nile. This Sweet Water Canal, and
+the piped services which it supplied, were, in 1914, wholly upon the
+western or Egyptian side of the Suez Canal. This western side was also
+well provided with communications. Trunk railways connected Ismailia, at
+the centre of the Canal, with Cairo and Alexandria, and lateral
+railways, running along the whole length of the Canal, connected it with
+Port Said and Suez.
+
+Although, as was subsequently discovered, the problem of defending the
+Suez Canal was by no means the same as that of defending Egypt, the
+problems may, at first sight, appear identical. An enemy force moving
+from Palestine against the Suez Canal and Egypt, would have to cross a
+comparatively waterless desert for a distance of over a hundred miles.
+On coming into collision with the defenders of the Canal, such an enemy
+would be operating far from his base, with a long and vulnerable line of
+communications, and with little or no available fresh water. The
+defenders, operating along the line of the Suez Canal, would be close to
+their base, with admirable communications, both lateral and to the rear,
+and with the rich cultivated lands of Egypt on which to draw for
+supplies, whilst their supply of fresh water would be unlimited.
+
+The boundary line between Egypt and Palestine in 1914 ran from Rafa, on
+the Mediterranean, to the head of the Gulf of Akaba, the north-eastern
+arm of the Red Sea. This line runs right across the desert and is
+distant about 120 miles from the Suez Canal. At first sight the boundary
+seems ideal, and in so far as the defence of Egypt alone was concerned,
+it left little or nothing to be desired. But, as subsequent events
+proved, this line was not good enough to safeguard the defences of the
+Canal.
+
+On the outbreak of war, in August, 1914, between Germany and
+Austria-Hungary on the one hand, and Great Britain, France, Russia and
+Belgium on the other, the garrison of Egypt was augmented by troops sent
+out from England and India and from Australia. The Suez Canal, through
+which vast numbers of troops were passing, was of vital importance to
+the communications of the allies, and was strongly guarded accordingly.
+Two months later (November 5), Turkey threw in her hand with the Central
+Powers. One of the baits held out by Germany to induce the Turks to
+enter the struggle, was a promise that they should be restored to
+complete supremacy in Egypt. With the entering of Turkey into the war,
+and her open threats to invade Egypt, the protection of that country and
+of the Canal became a matter of extreme urgency.
+
+The policy of defence adopted was that of making the line of the Canal
+the line of resistance. A large portion of the low-lying desert to the
+north-east of the Canal was flooded, so as to render approach by that
+direction impossible. Warships took up stations in the Canal itself,
+while naval patrol launches took over the duty of guarding the Bitter
+Lakes. The troops detailed for the defence of the Canal itself were
+entrenched upon the western side, with reserves concentrated at points
+of tactical importance. In this way full advantage was taken of the
+lateral communications on the western side of the Canal, while it was
+thought that the difficulties of crossing the desert on the eastern side
+would make approach by the Turks well-nigh impossible.
+
+Meanwhile, the Turk was not letting the grass grow under his feet.
+Whether the Germans ever intended to pay the price for Turkish adhesion
+by sending a strong enough force to make the invasion of Egypt
+practicable is open to doubt. The Turkish rank and file were certainly
+led to believe that a serious invasion of Egypt was intended. But it is
+much more likely that the object of the Germans was to detain as large a
+British force as possible in Egypt and thus prevent their taking part in
+the fighting in France. A secondary object may have been to render the
+Suez Canal temporarily impassable. Whatever may have been the chestnuts
+that Germany hoped to get out of the fire, it was clear that Turkey was
+willing to act as catspaw, and attempt a foolhardy invasion of Egypt.
+Consequently, the construction of a new military railway in Syria was
+put in hand, and by January, 1915, the Turks had formed advanced posts
+at Auja, on the frontier, and also at Kosseima, El Arish, and Khan
+Epenus in the desert. The problem of water supply has always presented a
+difficulty to armies crossing this waterless desert. There are a certain
+number of reservoirs and cisterns which hold up water during the rains.
+In the winter time these would be full. The Turk is less particular
+about the water which he drinks than the white man, and doubtless he
+could, to some extent, be supplied from some of the brackish pools in
+the desert, with water that no one would think of offering to a British
+soldier.
+
+The light pontoons that the Turks dragged across the desert for crossing
+the Canal are said to have been used for carrying water during certain
+stages of the advance. Suffice it to say that the Turks did succeed in
+solving the water problem, and in crossing the desert with a force of
+some considerable strength.
+
+On the 3rd February, 1915, the threatened attack materialized. Before
+dawn, some of the light pontoons which the Turks had brought with them,
+were launched on the Canal. These were manned, while other Turks
+deployed along the eastern bank and opened fire to cover the crossing.
+The troops defending this portion of the Canal, mostly Indians, opened
+fire upon the pontoons, with the result that many of them were sunk. Two
+of the pontoons, however, reached the western bank, and their crews,
+numbering about twenty, surrendered. There was fighting throughout the
+day, but no further crossing of the Canal. On the next day the east bank
+was swept, with the result that a considerable party of the enemy were
+captured. After this, the Turks withdrew, and marched back to Palestine.
+This was the only time that a formed body of the enemy succeeded in
+reaching the Canal. But they had shown that it was possible for them to
+achieve the almost impossible, and thus they gave the authorities
+responsible for the defence of Egypt much food for thought.
+
+The menace to Egypt was for a time delayed, though not wholly removed,
+by the expedition against the Dardanelles.
+
+To co-operate with our Russian allies, the British Government decided,
+early in 1915, to attempt to force the passage of the Dardanelles. The
+strategic gains promised were highly attractive, and included--the
+passage of arms and munitions from the allies to Russia in exchange for
+wheat, the neutrality and possible adherence of the outstanding Balkan
+States, the severing of communications between European and Asiatic
+Turkey, the drawing off of Turkish troops from the theatres of the war,
+and the expulsion of the Turks from Constantinople, and ultimately from
+Europe. Incidentally, it was considered, on the principle that the best
+defensive is an offensive, that a thrust at the very heart of Turkey, a
+threat against Constantinople itself, would afford the best means of
+defending Egypt.
+
+The story of the Dardanelles expedition has been often told, and
+scarcely forms a part of this history, so a few words must suffice. In
+February, 1915, we started by bombarding the forts with a few old
+warships. The forts at the outer entrance were soon silenced, and early
+in March, the warships moved up to the Narrows. On the 18th, a great
+effort was made to reduce the forts about the Narrows; but it failed,
+with the loss of three battleships and more than 2,000 men. This
+demonstrated the fact that the Dardanelles could never be opened by sea
+power alone, and, accordingly, amphibious operations became necessary.
+An expeditionary force was assembled in Egypt, and Mudros was selected
+as the advanced base. On April 25, landings were effected on the extreme
+point of the Gallipoli Peninsula. In spite of heroic attempts, we did
+little more than effect a precarious lodgment. Further operations were
+necessary; additional divisions were brought out from home; and on the
+night of the 6th/7th August, another landing was effected at Suvla Bay.
+But the new plan was no more successful than the old. Within a couple of
+days this force also had settled down to a war of positions. Winter was
+approaching; our positions on the peninsula would then become no longer
+tenable. No progress could be made, and at length it was decided to
+evacuate. The Suvla Bay force was withdrawn first; and the evacuation of
+the main body of troops was completed on the 20th December. The
+withdrawal was carried out with the same brilliance that had
+characterized the various landings, and with so small a number of
+casualties that it was described as "an achievement without parallel in
+the annals of war."
+
+Many of the regiments that fought against the Turks at Gallipoli were
+withdrawn, directly or indirectly to Egypt, and subsequently met the
+Turk again during the advance into Palestine. Included among these were
+the 10th, 52nd, 53rd and 54th Divisions, besides regiments of Anzacs and
+Yeomanry. In so far as the Dardanelles operations aimed at protecting
+Egypt, they were a success; for, while they were in progress, no
+organized invasion of Egypt was attempted. But the evacuation had the
+effect of liberating a large force of Turkey's best troops for
+operations against Mesopotamia and Egypt.
+
+It would be convenient to pause here and take stock of the military
+situation in Egypt, in the light of over a year's experience of actual
+war.
+
+In the first place, the Turks had disillusioned us as to the
+impossibility of crossing the waterless desert, and had actually crossed
+it with a considerable armed and organized force. They announced that
+what they had effected had been nothing more than a reconnaissance. In
+any case, they had shown us what they could do, and that, backed by the
+resources of the Central Powers, there would be no insuperable obstacle
+to their bringing a large and fully equipped army across the desert.
+
+In the second place, we had discovered that the problems of defending
+the Suez Canal and of defending Egypt were not identical. While the
+Canal formed an admirable moat, an obstacle difficult to negotiate when
+stoutly defended, and so a capital defensive line for the protection of
+the Nile; yet this line was inadequate for the protection of the Canal
+itself or for securing the immunity of the passing shipping.
+
+And so, thirdly, we realized that some other line must be found for the
+protection of the Canal. While we were sitting on the west bank, small
+parties of Turks approached the eastern bank. On more than one occasion,
+in the summer of 1915, they succeeded in placing mines in the fairway of
+the Canal. It would, therefore, have been quite possible for them to
+have seriously interfered with the working of the Canal and the passage
+of shipping. Granted that a new line must be found, the question arises
+where such new line should be drawn. A line across the actual desert may
+be all very well in war time, though none too easy to hold, for the
+reasons that we have already discussed. But to keep a garrison on such a
+line for ever would be well-nigh intolerable. Thus, by a process of
+elimination, we find that the most suitable line for the permanent
+defence of the Suez Canal is the fertile country beyond the eastern
+desert--in other words, Palestine.
+
+Fourthly, it had been brought home to us that the worst form of defence
+is a passive defence. As, therefore, the Turk would not leave well
+alone, but insisted on attacking us in Egypt, so it became necessary for
+us to meet him on his own ground, to push a vigorous offensive, and
+eventually to carry the war into Palestine.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE DESERT OF SINAI
+
+
+In accordance with the policy of defending the Suez Canal upon a line
+further east, the construction of a new defensive line was put in hand
+during the early months of 1916. No longer were the Turks to be allowed
+to annoy us by actually reaching the Canal. A line of trenches,
+protected by barbed wire entanglements, was constructed out in the
+desert, a few miles to the east of the Canal. As may be imagined, this
+was no easy task. A large amount of excavation was necessary for a small
+amount of trench; walls had to be built up with sandbags; and other
+steps had to be taken to prevent the sides from foundering, and to
+construct a work that would withstand shell fire.
+
+Meanwhile, other preparations were put in hand for carrying the
+defensive line further to the east. The construction was commenced of a
+broad gauge of railway from Kantara eastwards across the desert. This
+railway eventually became the trunk line between Egypt and Palestine. In
+the days of trench warfare before Gaza, it transported freight trains
+heavily laden with rations and ammunitions, troop trains conveying
+officers and men in open trucks, hospital trains evacuating sick and
+wounded, and an all-sleeping-car express running nightly in each
+direction. In 1918, a swing-bridge was improvised across the Suez Canal,
+and Jerusalem and Cairo were then connected by rail without change of
+carriage being necessary. The future prospects of this railway seem
+unbounded. It will undoubtedly be continued through to Damascus and
+Aleppo, where it will connect with railways to Constantinople and to
+Baghdad and the Persian Gulf. Thus it will form part of a grand trunk
+railway system along the old caravan routes connecting the three
+continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. In its conception, it was just a
+military railway, laid, with but little preparation, across the sands of
+the desert. To this railway, however, was largely due the success of the
+campaign that we are about to consider.
+
+We have already seen that the Sinaitic Desert is almost waterless.
+Although it has often been crossed by invading armies in both
+directions, the provision of water has always presented the greatest
+difficulty. The carriage of water in tanks upon the backs of camels, a
+method used by us for locally supplying troops between water dumps and
+the headquarters of units, proved successful here thousands of years
+ago. The plan adopted by the Turks of dragging water-holding pontoons
+across the desert was not to be despised. Further progress was made when
+supplies of water were transported in tank-trucks along the railway. But
+a bolder adaptation of modern science to desert fighting was reached,
+when it was decided to lay on a piped supply of water from the Nile.
+
+We have seen that the western bank of the Suez Canal was already
+provided with a plentiful supply of fresh water by the Sweet Water
+Canal. Plant was now installed for making this water available for the
+troops. Purity had to be considered as well as adequacy of supply. A
+peculiar danger had to be guarded against. There is a disease prevalent
+in Egypt, of a particularly unpleasant character and persistent type,
+called by the medical profession Bilhaziosis, but better known to our
+men as "Bill Harris." This disease is conveyed by a parasitic worm found
+in the waters of the Nile, and affects not only those who drink the
+water, but also those who bathe in it or merely wash. Consequently,
+orders were stringent against even touching Nile water which had not
+previously been treated. This necessitated the troops east of the Canal
+being put upon a very restricted supply, and they were accordingly
+rationed at the rate of a gallon of water per head per day for all
+purposes, including washing, cooking and drinking. At the Kantara
+waterworks water was drawn in from the Sweet Water Canal, mixed with
+alum, and pumped through settling tanks into filters. When it had passed
+through these, it was pumped underneath the Suez Canal into reservoirs
+on the eastern bank. Here it was chlorinated; and hence the water, now
+fit for all purposes, was pumped forward to its destination. There being
+no gradient to assist the natural flow of the water, it had to be pumped
+forward by successive stages. The first stage was as far as Romani; when
+working at greatest length the pumping stages numbered no less than
+seventeen. At times, during the advance, the railway had to be called in
+aid; and train-loads of water for the use of advanced troops were railed
+from pipe-head up to rail-head. At some stages of the advance this
+supply could be supplemented by local water, which, though generally
+somewhat brackish, was employed for the horses, mules and camels. It was
+even found to have no ill-effect upon the troops, if used for a limited
+period, and if necessary precautions were taken. At other stages, where
+water was non-existent, or rendered wholly unapproachable by enemy
+dispositions, our force became entirely dependent upon the supply
+delivered through the pipe-line. Ultimately, when we settled down to
+protracted trench warfare before Gaza, this pipe-line was delivering a
+constant supply of water into our trenches, distant some couple of
+hundred miles from the banks of the Nile.
+
+Kantara started upon a process of development worthy of the base of such
+an expedition. Before the war, it had been little more than a small
+Canal village, comprising a few huts. It eventually grew into an
+important railway terminus with wharves and cranes, a railway ferry and
+40 miles of sidings. Miles of first-class macadamized roads were made,
+vast ordnance and supply dumps arose, and camps and depots were
+established for man and beast. The scale on which this mushroom town
+developed was stupendous.
+
+Early in 1916, the Turks, relieved from imminent danger near home by our
+evacuation of Gallipoli, came down again in force through Syria,
+Palestine and the Desert, to attack us in Egypt. Our construction gangs,
+engaged upon the new railway and upon the development of local water
+supplies, were at this time covered by escorts, mainly of cavalry,
+spread out upon a wide front. On the 23rd of April several thousand
+Turks, operating in three columns, attacked our desert posts at
+Oghratina, Katia and Dueidar respectively, the two former being about 30
+miles and the last named about 10 miles to the east of Kantara.
+Oghratina and Katia, being well out in the desert, were cavalry posts
+held by yeomanry. These two posts were rushed by a large force of the
+enemy under cover of fog, and, though a stubborn resistance was offered,
+and the fighting was severe, the posts were overwhelmed. At Dueidar, an
+infantry post, some 20 miles or so nearer our base, the Turk was less
+successful. Under cover of the same fog, about 900 Turks tried to rush
+this post at dawn. They found the garrison standing to, and were beaten
+off. Though they made three distinct attempts to break through, they
+were unsuccessful. The garrison was reinforced and the Turks were
+repulsed.
+
+In order to hamper or prevent such bodies of Turks from again crossing
+the desert and approaching the Canal, it was decided to draw off the
+local water supplies in the desert. Accordingly, these supplies, mainly
+in pools and cisterns constructed by men in a bygone age, were
+systematically pumped or drained dry. By the end of June, no water was
+left available for enemy use within easy reach of the Canal. From this
+time forward the enemy attempted no more sporadic raids. He concentrated
+instead upon a serious attack against our main positions, which attack
+materialized at Romani.
+
+By July, 1916, our railway had reached the village of Romani, which is
+some 25 miles from Kantara, and is in the neighbourhood of Oghratina
+and Katia, where the enemy had secured his success in April. The Turkish
+force had been stiffened with Germans and Austrians, and was under the
+command of the German General Von Kressenstein. It moved from the
+Turkish railroad at Auja on the frontier, and advanced by way of
+Maghdaba and the Wadi El Arish to El Arish, and thence westward along
+the caravan route towards Egypt. This force had been well equipped and
+trained for this class of warfare, and it succeeded in dragging heavy
+guns across the desert byroads which it improvised for the purpose.
+Making his advanced base at Bir-el-Abd, the enemy first occupied and
+fortified a line about Mageiba. On the morning of the 3rd August, he
+made a general advance, and took up a line fronting our position at
+Romani. Here our left flank rested on the sea; the left of the line was
+held by the 52nd Division, while the 53rd Division was on the right. The
+East Lancashire Division was in reserve. The right flank comprised a
+chain of posts, behind which were a force of cavalry. The weak point
+was, therefore, our right flank, for a little force working round by the
+south would threaten our communications and might possibly cut us off
+from our reinforcements down the line and from our base at Kantara.
+Accordingly, on the night of the 3rd/4th, one Light Horse Brigade moved
+out to hold a three-miles line from our infantry post on the right,
+sending out patrols a considerable distance in front. About midnight,
+the enemy were found to be advancing in this direction. Before light
+next morning this Brigade were heavily engaged, holding up the advance
+of a considerable body of the enemy. Gradually the Brigade were pressed
+back by weight of numbers, until, at about five o'clock in the morning,
+the timely arrival of reinforcements secured the complete arrest of the
+enemy advance in this direction. Soon after daylight the enemy swung
+round his left flank and established himself upon Mount Royston. This
+enforced upon us a further retirement; but he had reached the limit of
+his success. Towards the sea, the enemy attacks against the 52nd
+Division were beaten off, and here he could make no progress. At about
+5.30 in the afternoon, a counter-attack was launched against Mount
+Royston, and this position was recaptured. Early on the following
+morning, the 5th, before daylight, the 52nd Division recaptured
+Wellington Ridge, the last of our lost positions remaining in the hands
+of the Turk. The tide had now turned definitely in our favour and the
+Turk was in full retreat. An attempt was made to encircle his southern
+flank and to cut him off with our cavalry, but his rearguard actions
+were fought stubbornly, and the pursuing cavalry had to be withdrawn.
+During the night of the 5th/6th, the enemy evacuated Katia, which was
+occupied by us on the following morning. By the 8th, he had abandoned
+Oghratina, and had fallen back to his advanced base at Bir-el-Abd. From
+this base he now proceeded to evacuate camps and stores, but he was not
+allowed to do so unmolested. He was followed up by the whole of our
+cavalry and effectually shelled by our horse artillery. On the afternoon
+and evening of this day (the 8th) the Turk counter-attacked our cavalry,
+who were clearly outnumbered. Nevertheless the Turk considered it more
+prudent to burn the remainder of his stores. He completed the evacuation
+of Abd by the 12th, and it remained in our hands from this time forward.
+This abortive advance against Romani marked the last determined attempt
+of the Turks to invade the Suez Canal and Egypt. Henceforth the efforts
+of the Turks were confined to opposing the storm which their misguided
+cupidity had raised up against them.
+
+After the battle of Romani, our mounted troops held a line about Abd.
+The enemy now consolidated a position at Mazar, a little more than 20
+miles further to the east. In the middle of September, a cavalry column
+moved out to Mazar and attacked the Turkish positions. Neither side was
+anxious to bring on a general engagement at that time. However, the
+losses which the Turk suffered in this operation caused him sufficient
+uneasiness to induce him to withdraw altogether from Mazar. He therefore
+withdrew his troops to a position close to El Arish.
+
+The Turkish garrison at El Arish consisted of some 1,600 infantry in
+all, in a strong entrenched position. In the second week of December
+increased activity was shown by the Turks, and aerial reconnaissance of
+their camps behind their front line showed evidence of the proximity of
+reinforcements. Our preparations for a forward move were pressed on
+strenuously, and, though they were somewhat delayed through lack of
+water, we were ready to move by the 20th December. The enemy realized
+that the swiftness of our final preparations had been too much for him.
+Knowing that his reinforcements could not arrive in time, he hurriedly
+withdrew his troops from El Arish. This retirement was reported by the
+R.F.C. on the 20th December, and our mounted troops, supported by
+infantry, were ordered to move on El Arish the same night. The town was
+found to be evacuated. Aircraft reports showed that about 1,600 of the
+enemy were on the march, in two columns, in the neighbourhood of
+Maghdaba and Abu Aweigila, while Sheikh Zowaid and Rafa appeared to be
+clear. The enemy were evidently not retreating by the caravan route
+towards Gaza, but were falling back southwards by the Wadi El Arish (the
+Biblical "River of Egypt") upon their rail-head at Auja.
+
+This evidence went to show that the garrison which had recently
+evacuated El Arish were at Maghdaba, and it seemed likely that this
+force were preparing to hold Maghdaba as a rearguard. A flying column of
+cavalry was immediately despatched against them from El Arish. This
+column found the enemy strongly posted and entrenched on both banks of
+the Wadi El Arish. An attack was set in motion on the morning of the
+23rd December, and lasted for the greater part of the day. By half-past
+four that afternoon, however, all organized resistance was over, and the
+enemy were surrendering everywhere. No further advance was attempted
+along the enemy's line of communications towards Auja, and the troops,
+being but a flying column, retired at once to El Arish.
+
+Within a few days after the destruction at Maghdaba of the rearguard, or
+garrison withdrawing from El Arish, another body of the enemy started to
+entrench a position at Magruntein near Rafa. This was obviously intended
+to bar our progress eastwards along the coastal route, the old caravan
+route to Gaza. Rafa is the frontier town upon the Turco-Egyptian
+frontier. The operation to which we are about to refer was, therefore,
+the last engagement that took place upon Egyptian territory. It was not
+possible at the end of December for the British force to push on and
+occupy Rafa permanently, owing to difficulties of supply. But since the
+enemy had again placed a small detached garrison within striking
+distance of our mounted troops, the temptation was held out for a
+repetition of the Maghdaba success at Magruntein. Accordingly, a flying
+column, composed wholly of mounted troops and artillery, moved out from
+El Arish on the evening of the 8th/9th January, 1917. The enemy was
+taken completely by surprise, and by dawn on the 9th January his
+position was almost entirely surrounded. The position, however, was a
+formidable one, with ground in front entirely open and devoid of cover.
+The main attack was timed for ten o'clock a.m., and was delivered from
+the east and south-east. The town of Rafa was soon occupied, and, in the
+course of the morning, our attack against the Turkish system of defences
+developed on every side. The enemy's works were dominated by a central
+redoubt or keep, and orders were given for a concerted attack to be
+developed against this at 3.30 p.m. Meanwhile the enemy had despatched a
+relieving force from Shellal, which is about twenty miles to the
+south-east of Rafa and mid-way between that town and the nearest Turkish
+railway. This relieving force was detected by our aircraft, who
+frequently attacked it with bombs and machine gun fire. Orders were at
+once given for the attack on the redoubt to be pressed with vigour, and,
+before five o'clock, the redoubt was captured. With this position in our
+hands, the remaining works soon fell, and by 5.30 p.m. all organized
+resistance was over, and the enemy position, with all its garrison, was
+captured. The relieving force were driven off without much difficulty,
+and withdrew, presumably, to Shellal, which thereafter became the
+enemy's next point of concentration. Our column, taking with them all
+prisoners, animals and captured material, withdrew again to El Arish.
+
+From the time of our occupation of El Arish on the 22nd December, that
+town developed apace. Mine-sweeping operations were at once commenced in
+the roadstead, a pier was erected, and, on the 24th, the supply ships
+from Port Said began unloading stores and supplies. The lie of the land
+gives unlimited opportunity to a power having the command of the sea to
+supplement his other means of bringing forward supplies by landing
+sea-borne goods upon the open beach. Repeatedly, in the subsequent
+history of this war, we availed ourselves of this means of supply, as
+our army moved northwards in Palestine. The landing of stores at El
+Arish, however, was not wholly successful, owing to the strong currents,
+a shelving and shifting beach, and heavy surf. In winter, the sea is apt
+to be stormy here, and then such landing may become impossible. Supplies
+were also hastened to El Arish by camel convoy, and dumps were
+accumulated. The railway was pushed on with and, before the end of
+January, the railway station at El Arish was completed; during the
+following month the railway was pushed further out along the coast
+preparatory to another advance.
+
+After the destruction of their post at Rafa, the Turks immediately began
+to concentrate their forces near Shellal. West of this place they
+prepared a strong defensive position near Weli Sheikh Nuran, with the
+object of covering their lines of communication both along the Beersheba
+railway and along the Jerusalem-Hebron-Beersheba road. They also
+established themselves at Khan Yunus, on the coastal road a few miles to
+the east of Rafa. On the 23rd February, a reconnaissance was carried out
+against Khan Yunus. The column, arriving at dawn, found the position
+strongly held, and, after manoeuvring the enemy out of his front line
+of defence and capturing prisoners, withdrew without difficulty.
+Continuous pressure maintained by our troops in this neighbourhood,
+however, induced the enemy to withdraw the garrison of Khan Yunus, which
+place was entered by our cavalry without opposition on the 28th
+February. The enemy also evacuated without firing a shot the position
+which he had prepared near Weli Sheikh Nuran.
+
+Our troops had crossed the desert with success attending them at every
+stage. And now at last they had set foot in the Promised Land. Many of
+them must have felt, what a soldier was afterwards heard to express,
+"This may be the land of promise; it's certainly not the land of
+fulfilment." History repeats itself. As the Israelites had much trial
+and suffering to endure after reaching this stage of their journey from
+Egypt, before they were permitted to "go in and possess the land," so
+had our lads many a fierce and bloody battle to fight before they, too,
+might set foot within the Holy City.
+
+A few words as to personnel may not be out of place before we leave the
+subject of this Desert campaign. Throughout this time the
+Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force was General Sir
+Archibald Murray, G.C.M.G., K.C.B. A reorganization of the force took
+place in October, 1917, in consequence of which General Murray moved his
+headquarters back from Ismailia to Cairo. At the same time, the new
+headquarters of the Eastern Force came into existence at Ismailia under
+the command of Lieut.-General Sir Charles Dobell, K.C.B., C.M.G.,
+D.S.O., under whose direction thus came more immediately the operations
+in the eastern desert.
+
+Amongst the troops employed were the Australians and New Zealanders and
+several regiments of English Yeomanry, and, included among the infantry,
+were the 52nd (Lowland), the 53rd (Welsh and Home Counties), the 54th
+(East Anglian) and the 74th (Dismounted Yeomanry) Divisions.
+
+This review of the advance across the desert has of necessity been
+superficial. Strictly speaking, the Desert campaign is outside the scope
+of this book. But a summarized history of the advance forms a necessary
+introduction to our subject. Here, on the threshold of Palestine, we
+must leave this army for a short space, while we review some other
+operations, and while we take a glance at the nature of the country in
+which this army was about to operate.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+MESOPOTAMIA, THE CAUCASUS, AND THE HEJAZ
+
+
+Having taken a hurried glance at the campaign in Sinai, which directly
+led up to that in Palestine, we will take a yet more hurried glance at
+three other campaigns in Asiatic Turkey which had their bearing, direct
+or indirect, upon the Palestine operations.
+
+Most important among these was the expedition to Mesopotamia. In 1914,
+when Turkey came into the war against us, a British Indian Brigade was
+landed at the mouth of the Shatt-el-Arab, the common estuary by which
+the Tigris and the Euphrates reach the Persian Gulf. The objects of this
+expedition were to secure the oil-fields of Persia in which Britain was
+largely interested; to neutralize German ascendancy, which was rapidly
+developing in this part of the world through her interests in the
+Baghdad Railway; and to embarrass Turkey by attacking her at a point
+where facilities of manoeuvre and supply seemed to hold out a
+reasonable promise of success.
+
+Throughout 1915 this expedition met with uninterrupted success. The
+British Indian forces engaged were increased in number and strength,
+and, in spite of appalling conditions of climate, and notwithstanding
+more than one narrow escape from disaster, the British flag was pushed
+further and further forward into this flat alluvial country. In the
+autumn of 1915, we held all the country up to Nasiriyeh on the Euphrates
+and to Kut el Amara on the Tigris. Then that ill-fated decision was
+arrived at which sent General Townshend, with the inadequate force at
+his command, up the Tigris to capture Baghdad. This force went
+heroically forward, and, just short of that city, defeated the Turks at
+the battle of Ctesiphon. But General Townshend's casualties were heavy,
+and his available reinforcements were neither sufficiently numerous nor
+at hand. The pick of the Turkish army released by our withdrawal from
+Gallipoli, had poured down to reinforce the enemy, and General Townshend
+had no alternative but to beat a hasty retreat. Accordingly, he fell
+back to Kut el Amara. Partly from inability to get his war-worn forces
+further away, and partly from a disinclination to abandon this important
+tactical point to the enemy, he consolidated here and prepared to
+withstand a siege. The history of that siege will live as one of the
+noblest in the annals of the British army. But the stars in their
+courses fought against us. Strong enemy positions, inadequate supplies
+and transport arrangements, floods, and appalling conditions of country
+and weather, proved overwhelming. In spite of the unremitting efforts of
+the relieving army, which fought battle after battle without stint of
+labour or loss, the garrison of Kut found themselves, at the beginning
+of May, 1916, left with no alternative but to capitulate. Almost the
+whole of the garrison were removed into Asia Minor, to a captivity which
+few were destined to survive. Naturally the Turks were much elated by
+this success, following upon their successes in Gallipoli, and were
+persuaded that the might of the British arm was nothing which they need
+fear.
+
+Leaving a sufficient force to check any further British advance into
+Mesopotamia, the Turk withdrew the bulk of his forces to operate against
+the Russians and, perhaps wisely, made no great effort to dislodge us
+from the territory which we already occupied. The opposing forces sat
+down and watched each other for many months in the entrenched positions
+below Kut. In March of the following year, 1917, General Maude, on whom
+had fallen the command of the British army in Mesopotamia, won a
+decisive victory at Kut; and, pursuing the remnants of the routed enemy,
+entered Baghdad. The Turks withdrew to the higher country north and
+north-east of the city, whither they were pursued. After these
+operations, the British were in occupation of the completed section of
+the Baghdad railway, which was then open from Baghdad as far north as
+Samarra. They also effected a junction with the Russian troops operating
+in Persia. In the following September, engagements were fought at Ramadi
+and elsewhere on the Euphrates, with the result that the Turkish
+garrisons were rounded up, and but few Turkish troops were left to
+oppose the British forces in Mesopotamia. Nevertheless, an immediate
+advance was not made up to Mosul and the upper territories of
+Mesopotamia. Owing to the collapse of Russia, it became necessary for us
+to take over some of the country in Persia, which had previously been
+occupied by Russian troops, and an expedition was also sent to assist
+the Armenians at Baku on the Caspian Sea. Other troops which could be
+spared from Mesopotamia were sent round, in the spring of 1918, to take
+part in the operations in Palestine, and the forces that remained were
+devoted to the garrisoning and consolidation of the territory already
+occupied.
+
+A glance at the map of Turkey in Asia will show that the provinces of
+Mesopotamia and Syria consist of long narrow strips of fertile country
+bordered by desert, and resemble two legs which fork at Aleppo.
+
+As far as Aleppo, troops and supplies from Europe passed over one common
+route. From the Turkish point of view, therefore, the campaigns in these
+two countries were to some extent interdependent. This enabled the Turks
+to concentrate a reserve at Aleppo, ready to be moved down into either
+theatre of war as the exigencies of the situation might demand.
+Conversely, therefore, a British offensive in Mesopotamia might draw off
+troops destined for Palestine, or an offensive in Palestine might
+attract troops otherwise intended for operations in Mesopotamia. There
+is strong evidence that a Turco-German offensive was contemplated in
+Mesopotamia for 1918. In the spring of that year, however, a British
+offensive was undertaken in Palestine, which had the immediate effect of
+drawing to that country strong Turkish and German reinforcements from
+Aleppo. Nothing more was heard of the offensive in Mesopotamia, and, by
+the autumn of 1918, there was scarcely a fighting Turk to be found in
+that country. Just as our expedition against the Dardanelles, by
+engaging the enemy at a vital spot near home, had materially assisted
+the defence of Egypt, so did our offensives in Palestine materially
+assist the defence of Mesopotamia.
+
+Turning to another corner of the map of Turkey, where Europe and Asia
+meet in the mountains of the Caucasus, we see that the Turkish frontier
+here marches with that of Russia. In the earlier days of the war, the
+Russians carried out an important and successful advance in this
+neighbourhood, and, early in 1916, occupied the cities of Trebizond and
+Erzerum. Thus, at the time when the campaign in Palestine was embarked
+upon, the armies of the allies were closing in upon Eastern Turkey
+simultaneously from three directions, the Russian Caucasus army from the
+north-east, the British Mesopotamian army from the south-east, and the
+Egyptian Expeditionary Force from the south. Strategically, the
+situation seemed full of promise. But, in the winter of 1917-18,
+followed the disastrous collapse of Russia, and the setting free of many
+Turkish soldiers of good quality from all the Russian fronts for service
+elsewhere. We had hoped that our offensive in Syria might have been
+supported by the co-operation of the Russians. Instead, we felt the
+pinch of their defection in the stiffening of enemy resistance on our
+front by the transfer of good troops from the Caucasus to Palestine.
+
+There is yet another theatre of warfare in Asiatic Turkey, the
+operations in which exerted considerable influence on those in
+Palestine. The whole of the eastern shores of the Red Sea formed part
+of the Ottoman Empire. The southernmost sector, known as the Yemen, was
+the farthest outpost of that Empire. Here a few Turks and Arabs
+conducted a sporadic warfare against our garrison at Aden, more
+calculated to cause annoyance and to detain a British force of some
+strength than to exercise much influence upon the war as a whole.
+
+Farther to the north, on this Red Sea littoral, is a province of much
+more importance, the Hejaz, in which are situate the most holy of cities
+in the Moslem world, Mecca and Medina. To Christians, the Hejaz is
+forbidden ground. To Mahomedans, it is the focus of pilgrimage from all
+parts of the world. The Sultan of Turkey, as the ruler of Mecca, is
+looked up to by the Sunni or orthodox Mahomedans in all lands as the
+spiritual head of their Church. Though rulers of the Hejaz, the Turks
+were not at one with the local population. These are Arabs, and to them
+the Turkish rule was as unpopular as to most other non-Turkish subjects
+of that decaying Empire. Profiting by Turkey's embarrassments in other
+parts, the Arabs rose in the summer of 1916, resolved on ridding
+themselves of the hated Turkish yoke. Sheikh Hussein of Mecca was
+proclaimed King of the Hejaz.
+
+At this time there were garrisons of Turkish troops stationed at Mecca,
+Medina and at the port of Jiddah. Their communication with Turkey was by
+the recently opened railway to Damascus and Aleppo. This railway, south
+of Damascus, ran along the high plateau on the eastern side of the Dead
+Sea, through Maan, and along the desert to Medina. The intention was to
+carry the line ultimately through to Mecca, but at this time it was only
+open for traffic as far as Medina. The revolt broke out on the 5th June,
+1916, at which date a cordon was spread round Medina. Jiddah was
+attacked on the 9th, and capitulated after holding out for only a week.
+The bulk of the Mecca garrison were at this time at Taif. Accordingly,
+the town of Mecca passed into the hands of the Emir, with the exception
+of the ports. These put up a small fight, but had all surrendered by the
+middle of July. The force at Taif were blockaded, and, on the 23rd
+September, this force also surrendered. By this time, all the outlying
+garrisons had been disposed of, and the Hejaz generally cleared of
+Turks.
+
+Meanwhile, Medina had not only held out, but had been reinforced, and
+the fighting strength brought up to some 14,000. Late in September, the
+Turks sallied out and established a cordon of posts at a distance of
+some 30 to 40 miles from the city. They also pushed further afield; but,
+Arab armies moving up from the south, the Turks withdrew, at the end of
+the year, behind the cordon of posts which they had established. For the
+next six months, the railway to the north of Medina was frequently
+raided by the Arabs, but the town was effectually cut off from its
+communications with Turkey.
+
+In July, 1917, Akaba, at the head of the gulf of that name, the
+north-eastern arm of the Red Sea, was captured. This is at no great
+distance from Maan, an important depot on the Hejaz Railway, the last
+outpost of Syria at the edge of the desert of North Arabia. From Akaba,
+the railway was now attacked at Maan, with serious results to Medina;
+nevertheless, that city continued to hold out, and was probably never
+very closely invested.
+
+In October and November, 1917, about the time of the third battle of
+Gaza, the Turks were still in Maan, and tried to assume the offensive
+against the Arabs, but proved too weak to succeed. After the fall of
+Jerusalem, the Turks withdrew to some extent, and the Arabs advanced
+towards the lands east of the Dead Sea.
+
+From this period forward, the history of the Hejaz revolt merges in that
+of the Palestine campaign. The Arab forces east of the Dead Sea afforded
+a safeguard against any possible Turkish attempt to move round our right
+flank and raid our line of communications. In February and in March,
+1918, Turkish expeditions moving against the Arab forces of the King of
+the Hejaz southward from Kerak, near the south-eastern corner of the
+Dead Sea, met with failure. The former expedition ended in disaster, and
+the latter was forced to withdraw, owing to the imminence of a British
+crossing of the Jordan in its rear. Arab activity on the railway now
+definitely isolated Medina. Although the Arabs were never strong enough
+to push a powerful force up through Eastern Palestine, yet the presence
+of a friendly force operating in that country exercised considerable
+influence upon the later stages of the Palestine campaign. The
+assistance which the Arabs gave in the ultimate destruction of the
+Turkish army was invaluable.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+PALESTINE
+
+
+The story of a campaign is more interesting if we have a general idea of
+the topography of the country in which it is conducted. Our time will,
+therefore, not be wasted if we leave the British Army on the frontiers
+of the Holy Land for a few minutes longer and form a mental picture of
+the terrain over which they are about to operate.
+
+Picture a country, about the size of Wales, divided into parallel strips
+running north and south, zones of alternate elevation and depression.
+This will give a rough idea of the conformation of Southern Palestine.
+On the west is the Mediterranean Sea. Skirting the sea are a series of
+sand dunes, beyond which comes the Coastal Plain. Together, these form
+the first depressed strip, averaging about 15 miles in width.
+Northwards, it tapers to a point where the mountains reach the sea at
+Cape Carmel. Beyond the Coastal Plain is the range of mountains on which
+stands Jerusalem, the mountains of Samaria and of Judaea, rising to a
+height of about 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. On the eastern
+side of these mountains is a steep drop to the Valley of the Jordan and
+the Dead Sea, the level of the latter being nearly 1,300 feet below the
+level of the Mediterranean, and more than 4,000 feet below the summit of
+the adjoining Mount of Olives. Beyond the Jordan valley the country
+rises again abruptly into the hills of Moab or Eastern Palestine. Beyond
+lies the waterless desert.
+
+Before entering into details, let us imagine ourselves to be standing
+on one of the mountains round about Jerusalem.[1] Away to the north,
+Mount Carmel rises abruptly from the sea. Thence the chain of Carmel
+runs S.S.E. for some 20 miles, dividing the Coastal Plain from the Plain
+of Esdraelon. About Dothan and Tul Keram it merges in the range
+comprising the mountains of Samaria and Judaea, which range runs north
+and south through the land like the backbone of a fish, with steep
+spurs, like ribs, thrown out on either side towards the Coastal Plain
+and the Jordan Valley. Westwards, we look down upon the cultivated
+plain, and across it to the golden belt of sand dunes, tapering like the
+waist of an hour-glass where the olive plain touches the sea at Jaffa;
+beyond, lies the deep blue of the Mediterranean. Eastwards is a sheer
+abyss falling into the Jordan Valley, where that river, like a silver
+thread, winds its way along until it falls into the Dead Sea. Beyond, as
+if across a fifteen-mile moat, rise abruptly the mountains of Moab. The
+map of Palestine might be aptly compared to a bridge marker. The
+horizontal line is the plain of Esdraelon. In vertical columns "below
+the line" lie the strips of the country which we have just described.
+"Above the line" are the mountains of Lebanon, Tabor and Hermon, Galilee
+and the Sea of Tiberias, and the valleys and rivers of Damascus.
+
+Let us consider these zones in greater detail, more especially with
+regard to their influence on war. The sea, which skirts Palestine
+throughout its length, confers a twofold advantage upon her mistress. In
+the first place, it provides a supplementary line of communication. We
+have already seen that, during the advance across the Desert, sea-borne
+supplies from Port Said were landed at El Arish. This method was
+continued throughout our advance in Palestine, and landing places were
+improvised at various convenient stages. There is no good harbour along
+this coast; and landing, which has to be done by beach boats, is
+difficult, especially in a westerly wind. Nevertheless, considerable
+supplies were thus landed, chiefly of fuel and fodder, which would be
+little liable to damage by immersion. In the second place, help can be
+given during actual military operations by the Navy. Our ships
+frequently lay off the coast and bombarded the enemy's positions. Of
+necessity, each side had a flank resting on the sea. To the British,
+this was a feature of strength; to the Turk, it was one of weakness. He
+was compelled therefore at all times to draw back or "refuse" his
+coastal flank, while the British flank was constantly thrown forward
+menacing the flank of the enemy.
+
+There is little to be said about the Sand Dunes, though, being on the
+flank, they were often the scene of operations. The sand here is soft
+and the going bad. Recourse in these operations was therefore had to
+camel transport. To the field engineer, difficulties were presented much
+as in the desert. During the trench warfare before Gaza, when a raid was
+carried out on Beach Post, no attempt was made to cut the enemy wire
+with our artillery, but the wire was simply pulled up by hand with the
+standards, for which the soft sand had provided no firm foundations.
+
+The Coastal Plain comprises, towards the north, the Biblical Plain of
+Sharon, and, towards the south, the land of Philistia. By this plain,
+and not through Judaea, lies the road from the Nile to the Euphrates.
+Along this plain have marched the invading armies of all the ages.
+Though generally a flat country, the flatness is relieved by a few
+rolling hills, of no great height. It is very fertile and has a good
+supply of water, contained in wells. It thus presents many advantages,
+and but few disadvantages, to an army operating in the field. Roads are
+good or are easily improvised, while such obstacles to an invader's
+advance do not exist here as in the hills. Our successes in the campaign
+under consideration were generally attained by first pushing forward
+along the plain and then turning right-handed into the hills.
+
+From the plain, the country rises, in places through the intermediate
+foot hills of the Shephelah, in places more abruptly and directly into
+the mountains of Judaea. These mountains are of limestone formation,
+terraced, where possible, for cultivation, and often wooded with olive
+trees or tilled as corn patches or vineyards. The scenery is rugged and
+pretty, the hill-sides generally steep, sometimes precipitous. This is
+the Palestine of the picture books. Deep gorges have been cut out by
+water action; but, as no rain falls throughout the summer months, these
+are, for the most part, but dry watercourses. There are a few good
+springs to be found in the valleys; the villagers upon the hills are,
+however, mainly dependent upon cisterns constructed in the rock, in
+which they catch as much water as possible during the winter rains.
+These mountains formed the stronghold of the Israelites, who never
+maintained sway for any length of time over the lower surrounding
+country. The mountains abound in ruins and are rich in caves, such as
+may have been the Caves of En-gedi and Adullam. One of the caves
+witnessed a lurid scene in our mountain fighting. A party of the enemy
+had established themselves in a cave with machine guns. Ghurkhas
+attacked, and the enemy, after inflicting casualties, thought to make
+good their escape by a back exit. But outside there were other Ghurkhas
+lying in wait, and, as the enemy emerged, they killed them all.
+
+We have seen that the general formation of this range of mountains is
+like the backbone of a fish. We should therefore expect to find
+communications from north to south easy enough along the "spine" or
+ridge, but difficult on either side, where there would be a succession
+of "ribs" or spurs to be crossed. This is the case. There is only one
+first-class road from north to south through this hill-country, namely,
+that which runs along the ridge from Samaria through Nablus, Jerusalem,
+Bethlehem and Hebron to Beersheba. Communications from east to west are,
+however, more easy along the spurs and intervening valleys. To attempt
+an advance northwards, from spur to spur, is tedious work; after a
+comparatively short push a pause is necessary to enable roads to be
+constructed for bringing forward guns and supplies. We had an
+illustration of this in March, 1918, when a forward move of this
+character met at first with but moderate opposition. A pause of a few
+weeks was necessary to enable fresh roads to be made. In the meantime,
+the enemy had been heavily reinforced, and, when the next advance was
+attempted, stout resistance was encountered. This hill-country lent
+itself readily to defence. Mutually supporting heights could be held. A
+hill, when captured thus, became a focus for fire concentrated from all
+the hills around. So when the Turks attacked us in these hills they met
+with much less success than in the Jordan Valley; and, on the other
+hand, they were able to offer a stouter resistance to our attacks in
+these hills than they could on the Coastal Plain.
+
+The Jordan Valley, as we have already seen, is more than a thousand feet
+below the level of the Mediterranean, that is, below what we speak of as
+"sea level." In this respect it is unique in the geography of the world.
+In winter time the climate is equable; in summer it is unbearable. In
+peace time, even the Bedouin forsake it in summer. The district is
+pestilential to a degree, and, in no sense of the word, a white man's
+country. It possesses a feature of considerable importance in the river
+Jordan itself, almost the only river in Palestine with a perennial flow.
+The river is tortuous and rapid and not adapted to navigation. These
+features indicate this area as a difficult one in which to hold a
+fighting line, and a no less difficult one across which to maintain
+communications. In the summer of 1918, our line ran along the river
+valley, and the troops in this sector suffered much from diseases.
+
+East of this strong natural boundary formed by the deep trough of the
+Jordan, we find a very different country. It rises abruptly from the
+Jordan Valley, and is in itself a plateau. It is at first fertile, but,
+at distances ranging from 40 to 60 miles inland, it merges into steppe
+and then into sheer desert. Thus it is a country apart, difficult of
+access from Jerusalem and Western Palestine, more easy of access from
+Damascus or from Arabia. Through it, from north to south, runs the Hejaz
+railway, on its way from Damascus to Medina. And so it proved an area in
+which the Turks, based on Damascus, and the Arabs, operating from Hejaz,
+were at greater advantage than our columns based on Jerusalem.
+
+We have now glanced at those portions of Palestine in which took place
+the principal fighting in this campaign. Our review would still be
+incomplete if we omitted all reference to the Plain of Esdraelon.
+Starting from the sea coast immediately north of Cape Carmel, at the
+ports of Haifa and Acre, this Plain runs east south-east across the
+country to the Jordan Valley. Rising slightly at first, it forms the
+watershed of "that ancient river, the river Kishon." After the watershed
+is crossed, there is a drop towards the Jordan Valley; this latter
+portion of the Plain constitutes the Vale of Jezreel. This Plain of
+Esdraelon is Armageddon. Here Barak overthrew Sisera, Gideon defeated
+the Midianites, and Saul and Jonathan met disaster and death at the
+hands of the Philistines. Here Josiah was defeated and slain by Pharaoh
+Necho. Near here, the Christians were defeated and their kingdom
+overthrown by the Saracens. On this Plain Napoleon won his final and
+crushing victory over the Turks.
+
+No battle, beyond a few cavalry engagements, took place here during the
+campaign which we are to consider. The Turks had been totally defeated
+before ever this line was reached. But this Plain has still for us a
+military interest. It may well be that here, where the mountains of
+Samaria overlook and command all approaches from the north, is to be
+found the best strategic line for the defence of the Suez Canal.
+
+In a country like Palestine, where levels and characteristics are so
+divergent, diversities of climate are to be expected. We have seen that
+the summer climate of the Lower Jordan Valley is pestilential. Parts of
+the Coastal Plain also are very malarious, particularly from north of
+Jaffa to Mount Carmel. With these exceptions, the climate is by no means
+unpleasant nor unsuitable for the conduct of military operations. Far
+enough south to enjoy plenty of bright sunshine, it is still some
+distance north of the tropics. Pleasant and regular breezes from the sea
+mitigate the discomfort which might otherwise prevail in a country
+almost surrounded by desert. The whole of the rainfall comes in the
+winter months. From about April to October, though dews are heavy, rain
+is unknown. But in the winter months, especially December and January,
+and to some extent February, the rainfall is intense, and the country on
+the Plains and lower lying districts is reduced to a sea of mud
+well-nigh impassable. Thus military operations in summer are liable to
+be prejudiced by a shortage of water; in winter by an excess. The ideal
+season for operations is therefore in the spring, when there is an
+abundance of water and a plentiful feed; and, next to this, the autumn,
+when the heat of the summer has passed its height and the rains of
+winter have not yet made the country impassable.
+
+The importance of good railways in modern war is immense. We have
+already traced the construction of the broad gauge line from Egypt which
+followed close behind the British in their advance across the Desert and
+into Southern Palestine. The Turks in Western Palestine were at a
+perpetual disadvantage through the inferiority of the railway service;
+but, in Eastern Palestine, i.e. across the Jordan, the position was
+reversed. Before the war, Syria had been connected with Asia Minor by a
+broad gauge line from Aleppo to Rayak, where it effected a junction with
+a narrow gauge line from Beyrout to Damascus. The broad gauge line was
+part of the Baghdad railway scheme. But at this time, that railway, even
+between Constantinople and Aleppo, was only partially completed. The
+tunnelling of the Taurus Mountains was yet unfinished. Thus troops or
+supplies, coming from Constantinople to Damascus, had to break the
+journey at the Taurus Mountains and again at Rayak. These two
+interruptions provided admirable opportunities for delay and confusion,
+which the dilatory Turk embraced. The tunnelling of the Taurus was
+pushed on with during the war, and in 1918 rumours reached us that these
+mountains had been pierced, so that trains could then run through from
+Constantinople (Haida Pasha) to Rayak. The installation of more
+business-like Germans at the latter station went far towards minimising
+the delays and confusion due to the break of gauge.
+
+From Damascus, the Hejaz railway, constructed nominally for Mecca
+pilgrims, runs due south, and, passing along the high plateau of Eastern
+Palestine, had already reached Medina. A branch from this line, starting
+from a junction at Deraa, ran westwards along the Plain of Esdraelon to
+Haifa. Another line, almost parallel to the Hejaz railway, ran from
+Damascus due south to Mezerib; this line was removed by the Turks after
+the commencement of the war, as the materials were required for railway
+construction elsewhere. Unconnected with any of these railways, a French
+line ran from Jaffa to Jerusalem; this also the Turks removed, as
+between Jaffa and Ludd, while, for the remainder of its length, they
+altered the gauge so as to adapt it to the rolling stock of the Hejaz
+Railway. All these railways south of Damascus were narrow-gauge lines,
+without much rolling stock available, so that their carrying capacity
+was limited.
+
+On the outbreak of war, the Turks, acting under the guidance of the
+Germans, embarked upon a considerable programme of railway construction.
+Starting from a point on the Plain of Esdraelon, El Apele, they
+constructed a new line which crossed the mountains about Samaria and
+reached the Plain of Sharon at Tul Keram. Thence it ran down the length
+of the Coastal Plain to Beersheba, and, ultimately, to Auja in the
+Desert. This railway was constructed in 1915 for the invasion of Egypt.
+Into this railway was incorporated portions of the old Jaffa-Jerusalem
+line, as between Ludd and "Junction Station." This was the none too
+distinctive name given to the important station which was constructed at
+the point where the older railway left the Plain; this now became the
+junction for Jerusalem. At a later date, the Turks withdrew from Auja to
+Beersheba, the line south of the latter place was removed and a new line
+was constructed from near Junction Station to points just north of Gaza.
+
+Roads in the coastal sector are good, though difficult for heavy motor
+traffic after rain. In the hills, the only first-class roads were the
+road running north and south along the ridge from Nablus through
+Jerusalem to Beersheba, and the road west and east from Jaffa to
+Jerusalem, continued eastwards through Jericho and across the Jordan to
+Es Salt and Amman Station on the Hejaz Railway.
+
+The population of Palestine is very mixed, comprising Moslems,
+Christians and Jews with their various subdivisions and sects. The
+Moslem inhabitants, Arabs and Syrians, have little in common with the
+Turks except their religion. The Jews and the Christians groaned under
+Turkish oppression. Both Jews and Christians welcomed the advent of the
+British, while the Moslems accepted the situation, if not with pleasure,
+at least with equanimity. The Turks themselves form no part of the
+regular population. They are alien rulers, speaking a language unknown
+to the people, and incapable of understanding the language of the
+country. Although Palestine has been governed by Moslems for upwards of
+a thousand years, it has only been annexed to the Ottoman Empire for
+four centuries. More than once during that period it would have been
+torn away but for the aid of the British. The government of Syria by the
+Ottoman Turk had been oppressive and corrupt and marked by the
+discouragement of all progress and enterprise. It was high time that it
+should cease.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: The point chosen is imaginary. The view described combines
+those obtainable from two or three points in this neighbourhood.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+GAZA
+
+
+Gaza! What pictures this name conjures up in our imagination. From
+childhood the city has been familiar to us for its dramatic associations
+with Samson. It was here that he removed the city gates and carried them
+to the summit of Ali Muntar, "to the top of an hill that is before
+Hebron," and it was here that he took hold of the two middle pillars,
+and, bowing himself with all his might, destroyed the temple of Dagon
+with the thousands of Philistines that were his tormentors. The whole
+history of Gaza is steeped in blood. It is the outpost of Africa, the
+gate of Asia. Throughout the ages its strategic importance has been
+immense. Scarcely an invading army has passed here without fighting a
+battle. It figured in the wars of the Eastern invaders, was totally
+destroyed by Alexander the Great, was the scene of one of Napoleon's
+battles, and, during our campaign, saw six months of trench warfare and
+no less than three distinct and sanguinary engagements. In the course of
+its history, Gaza is said to have been taken and destroyed in war
+between forty and fifty times. No city in the world has been destroyed
+more often. Happy, indeed is the city that has no history!
+
+Prior to this war, Gaza was a town of some 40,000 inhabitants, mostly
+Moslems, to whom the city is sacred. It owed its importance in modern
+times to being the junction of the caravan routes from Egypt to Syria
+and from Arabia to the Mediterranean. The town itself stands back some
+couple of miles from the sea, from which it is separated by sand dunes.
+It is surrounded by gardens and plantations; most of these are bordered
+by thick cactus hedges, which played a prominent part in the days of
+trench warfare. The surrounding country is by no means level, but
+consists of rolling arable land with low ridges and some hills. The most
+prominent feature is the hill, Ali Muntar, a commanding height
+south-east of the town. When we first approached it, the hill was clad
+with trees and surrounded by a tomb; but six months' persistent
+bombardment soon removed the trees and tomb and altered the conformation
+of the hill. There are other ridges lying about the town, which were
+afterwards incorporated in the defensive schemes of the Turks and of
+ourselves. The geographical feature of principal military importance in
+this neighbourhood is the Wadi Ghuzzeh. This wadi is a watercourse,
+which, in times of rain, carries off the water from the hills between
+Beersheba and the Dead Sea. It runs, approximately, from south-east to
+north-west, at right angles to the coast line, and passes Gaza at a
+distance of about 4 miles from the south-western or Egyptian side of the
+town. During the greater part of the year this watercourse is dry,
+though the sides are steep, and wheeled traffic can only cross at
+properly constructed crossings. On either side of this wadi, distant a
+mile or so from its bed, are ridges which run approximately parallel to
+the wadi. That on the right bank is known as Mansura Ridge, that on the
+left bank as In Seirat. The latter is a relatively high ridge and
+affords cover for troops beyond. On the other side of this ridge,
+protected by it, and distant some nine or ten miles from Gaza, is a
+small village with a good supply of water. This village is known as Deir
+el Belah, or, more frequently, merely as Belah. It formed our advanced
+base during the later operations against Gaza.
+
+We have seen that, at the end of February, 1917, General Dobell's force
+had reached El Arish, while portions of it had crossed the border at
+Rafa, and his cavalry had occupied Khan Yunus. The Turks had withdrawn
+to Gaza, where they now took up a position. They had one force at Gaza
+and another in the neighbourhood of Beersheba, with other troops
+between. In March, it was decided to attack the enemy at Gaza. The
+British force was concentrated at Rafa, whence it marched up secretly by
+night. On the night of the 25th March, it moved forward from Belah
+against the first objective, the In Seirat Ridge. This was secured
+without serious opposition. There was a dense fog on the morning of the
+26th, and, as the troops were moving through standing crops, finding the
+way was none too easy. However, the Wadi Ghuzzeh was crossed, and the
+high ground at Mansura Ridge was secured. From there, an attack was
+delivered across the open against Ali Muntar and Gaza. The main attack
+was made by the 53rd Division, plus one Brigade of the the 54th, while
+the 52nd Division were in reserve. Our troops captured, and established
+themselves on Ali Muntar, and also on the hill beyond, known as
+Australia Hill. From these points they looked down upon and dominated
+the town of Gaza. Meanwhile, the cavalry had been ordered to go round by
+the right, and to cut off the enemy when he should retreat. The cavalry
+not only got round, but succeeded in entering the town itself, where
+they captured some of the Turkish staff. The Turks believed that the
+game was up, and were now preparing to surrender. It was the opinion of
+many who took part in the battle, that, had we held on for a short time
+longer, we should have captured the town and the whole of this force,
+and that we should have then been in a position to meet and to defeat
+the enemy reinforcements, since the 52nd Division in reserve had not yet
+been brought into action. However, Turkish reinforcements were now
+reported to be coming up from the direction of Beersheba, and to be
+threatening our right flank. Accordingly, a withdrawal was ordered, and
+our troops fell back on the Mansura Ridge, the New Zealanders coming
+right through the town of Gaza itself. That night, orders were given
+for an immediate retirement, and our forces recrossed the Wadi Ghuzzeh.
+The bulk of the force retired to Belah, while outposts held the In
+Seirat Ridge. After a two days' battle, wherein complete success had
+been almost within our grasp, we had but little to show save casualties.
+
+From the summit of In Seirat Ridge, a commanding view is obtained over
+the whole country from Gaza to Beersheba. From this point of vantage the
+Turks could be seen, throughout the first fortnight in April, busily
+digging themselves in and wiring their positions. We, on our side, were
+no less assiduous in preparations for another battle. Patrols were sent
+out to reconnoitre the country, and working parties went out into No
+Man's Land to construct ramparts and make all preparations for getting
+guns across the Wadi Ghuzzeh. The 74th Division were brought up to
+Belah. A few of the newly invented "tanks" arrived from England, and
+aroused great expectations.
+
+The day of the second battle of Gaza arrived. On the 16th April, the
+force moved out from Belah and crossed the Wadi Ghuzzeh by night. On
+this occasion, the first objective was Mansura Ridge, which was captured
+without much difficulty. The second, and principal objective, was the
+strong line of Turkish positions to the south and south-east of Gaza,
+and fronting the Gaza-Beersheba road. The troops detailed for the attack
+were the 52nd, the 53rd and the 54th Divisions, the 54th to move forward
+from Mansura, the 52nd on their left and the 53rd close to the sea. It
+was contemplated that most of our difficulties would be obviated by a
+long artillery preparation and by the newly arrived tanks which had
+acquired a high reputation in France. Accordingly, the enemy positions
+were shelled for two hours, and then the infantry advanced, preceded by
+these tanks. But, alas, the tanks were few in number; some were soon put
+out of action, or caught fire; and the hopes that they had raised were
+disappointed. The infantry advanced over some 3,000 yards of perfectly
+open plain, until they reached the enemy's uncut wire; here they were
+mown down by the enemy's machine guns. That night, those that were able
+to do so, crept back under cover of darkness to Mansura Ridge. The dead
+lay where they fell, a gruesome spectacle, for over six months, until
+buried by our own parties after the third battle of Gaza. Those that
+returned were collected and reorganized at Mansura Ridge, and at once
+commenced to dig in at this position. This was the night of the 19th
+April. Next morning, the Turks came pouring out of their positions to
+gloat over their success. By this time we had done little more than
+scratch the surface; had the Turks closed to deliver a determined
+counter-attack, they might have made matters distinctly uncomfortable.
+As it was, they came out merely as spectators. Our guns opened upon them
+and they withdrew. After this, our digging proceeded apace, and we soon
+had a satisfactory position entrenched from Mansura to the sea.
+
+There is a saying in the East that the British always come back, meaning
+that reverses only make them more determined to try again and to
+succeed. Thus did the British come back into the Soudan, and into the
+Transvaal. Thus was the surrender of Kut wiped out by the capture of
+Baghdad. And so were our losses at Gaza in this spring avenged by our
+victory on these same battlefields in the following autumn. For the time
+being, however, both sides settled down to the routine life of modern
+trench warfare.
+
+Now followed a complete reorganization of our army in Egypt. On the 28th
+June, 1917, the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary
+Force was taken over by General Sir Edmund Allenby, G.C.M.G., K.C.B. The
+organization into an Eastern Force under a subordinate commander, which
+had been instituted in the summer of 1916, was abolished, and the force
+was organized in Corps. The strength of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force
+was augmented, much artillery being added, besides three divisions of
+infantry. The 10th (Irish) and the 60th (London) Divisions were brought
+across from Salonica. The 75th Division was organized in the country and
+consisted of four battalions of Indian troops, taken from the Suez Canal
+Zone defences, and nine battalions of West of England Territorials, that
+had been in the East since the beginning of the war, and had, for the
+most part, been garrisoning India.
+
+When this reorganization was complete, this army was constituted as
+follows: The 20th Corps, comprising the 10th (Irish), the 53rd (Welsh),
+the 60th (London) and the 74th (Dismounted Yeomanry) Divisions. The 21st
+Corps, comprising the 52nd (Scottish Lowland), the 54th (East Anglian)
+and the 75th (Wessex and Indian) Divisions. The Desert Mounted Corps,
+comprising the Australian Mounted Division, the Anzac Mounted Division
+and the Yeomanry Division. General Allenby had, as his Chief-of-Staff,
+Major-General L. J. Bols, C.B., D.S.O. In addition to the above troops,
+there was, on this front, a composite brigade, consisting of French and
+Italians, familiarly known as the "Mixed Vermouth" Brigade. Other
+regiments were represented, such as Indian Imperial troops, and
+battalions of the British West India Regiment, while representative
+units of the Egyptian Army did duty upon the Lines of Communication.
+
+Although each Division was associated with some particular portion of
+Great Britain, from which it took its name, the association was not
+exclusive. Thus, the 52nd Lowland Division had at least one Highland
+Battalion, the 53rd Welsh had more battalions from England than from
+Wales, and the 54th East Anglian contained one battalion from London and
+one from the South of England. It will be best, therefore, if, in our
+future pages, we refer to divisions only by number.
+
+An interesting feature about General Allenby's army was that, from this
+time forward, the greater portion consisted of Territorials.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+TRENCH WARFARE
+
+
+It was in the late summer of 1917 that the regiment with which I was
+serving joined the Expeditionary Force. Coming from India, we landed at
+Suez and were railed through at once to Kantara. This place we found a
+hive of industry, as befitted the military base of so important an
+expedition. Like other units similarly arriving from India, we were kept
+here for a fortnight. This time was devoted to the equipping of the
+battalion on the scale applicable to this country, with transport,
+draught and riding animals, Lewis guns and such other equipment as we
+required for the operations on which we were to embark.
+
+Immediately we were ready to move, we were railed up to the Front, to
+Belah, which, at that time, was railhead. This was our first experience
+of travelling on the Kantara Military Railway, and is not likely to be
+forgotten. The shortage of rolling stock available did not permit of
+troops, or, at that time, even of officers accompanying troops,
+travelling in passenger coaches. On the contrary, a number of open
+trucks were adapted for troop traffic, being roofed over with a covering
+affording protection from the sun but with sides left open. These trucks
+had neither continuous brakes nor screw couplings. Our journey,
+therefore, was enlivened by the frequent successful attempts of our
+truck to overtake the truck ahead, followed by a difference of opinion
+with the truck behind, a wavering between two opinions, and then another
+mad plunge into the darkness in pursuit of the truck ahead, and the
+next check brought about a repetition of this pleasing diversion from
+sleep. If the writer of a recent popular song really believed that the
+Sands of the Desert never grow cold, let him try travelling across them
+by night in an open truck. The train was not furnished with that luxury
+of modern travel, steam heating. For the men, a substitute was found by
+adopting the method by which sheep are kept cosy on similar occasions,
+that is, by packing into each truck a few more than it can accommodate.
+The officers rolled themselves up in their valises, bruised every
+protruding bone in their bodies, "and wished for the day."
+
+On arrival at the Front, we moved first into a position in reserve near
+the Wadi Ghuzzeh. As we crossed the summit of In Seirat Ridge, what a
+view unfolded itself before our eyes! Before us lay the Plain of
+Philistia, spreading from the sea to the Judaean Hills, to our left front
+lay the white buildings of the town of Gaza, while, ever and anon, were
+heard and seen the booming of cannon and the bursting of shell.
+
+We were now put through a gradual process of acclimatization. Ensconced
+in one of the offshoots of the Wadi Ghuzzeh well behind the front line,
+we enjoyed safety from shelling. We were, however, sufficiently in the
+picture to have guns constantly firing around us and aeroplanes flying
+overhead, and could watch our friends being shelled in the front line
+and the daily anti-aeroplane shoots, both by our own and by the enemy's
+"Archies." Here we were able to carry out a certain amount of training,
+and to organize the battalion upon the lines of the new "normal
+formation," giving the platoon commander control over each kind of
+weapon with which the infantry are armed--rifle, bayonet, bomb,
+rifle-bomb and Lewis gun. Gas masks were issued, and all ranks were
+instructed in their use. In a couple of weeks this training, or rather
+adaptation of our previous training to the conditions of trench warfare
+upon this front, had so far progressed that we could enter upon the next
+stage of our acclimatization. Individual companies were now sent up
+into the front line "for instruction." This consisted of their being
+attached to other units that were garrisoning the front line. Our men
+were posted in the trenches with men of such other units; and some of
+the officers and men accompanied patrols into "No Man's Land." After
+three weeks of acclimatization, we moved up to the front line and
+ourselves took over a section of the defences. And here we remained
+until after the Fall of Gaza.
+
+The Turkish army at this time, as we have seen, held a strong position
+from the sea at Gaza, roughly along the main Gaza-Beersheba road to
+Beersheba. His force was on a wide front, the distance from Gaza to
+Beersheba being about 30 miles. Gaza itself had been made into a strong
+modern fortress, heavily entrenched and wired, offering every facility
+for protracted defence. The civilian population had been evacuated. The
+remainder of the enemy's line consisted originally of a series of strong
+localities, which were known as the Sihan group of works, the Atawinah
+group, the Baha group, the Abu Hareira-Arab el Teeaha trench system, and
+finally, the works covering Beersheba. During the period from July to
+October, the defences had been considerably strengthened, and these
+strong localities had, by the end of October, been joined up to form a
+practically continuous line from the sea to a point south of Sheria,
+except for a gap of some 1,500 to 2,000 yards between Ali Muntar and the
+Sihan group. The defensive works round Beersheba remained a detached
+system, but had been improved and extended. A new railway had been made
+from El Tine, just south of Junction Station on the Damascus-Beersheba
+railway to Beit Hanun, just north of Gaza, with a subsidiary branch to
+Huj, the latter intended to supply the centre of the defensive line. It
+was evident, therefore, that the enemy was determined to make every
+effort to maintain his position on the Gaza-Beersheba line.
+
+The British force was extended on a front of 22 miles from the sea
+opposite Gaza to Gamli. About 6 miles inland, the Wadi Ghuzzeh is joined
+by a short tributary wadi, on the right bank, known as the Wadi
+Nukhabir. The point at which this wadi commenced was about a mile or so
+nearer to the enemy than the line of our positions opposite Gaza. Its
+head-waters (to use an expression scarcely appropriate to a dry
+watercourse) were within the apex of a =V=-shaped escarpment, the point of
+the =V= protruding towards the enemy. The feature might be compared to a
+heel-mark in soft ground. On the convex side were slight ridges with
+gentle forward slopes; on the concave were steep escarpments. The ridges
+of the =V= were known as Mansura and Sheikh Abbas Ridges respectively; the
+point was merely known as "The Apex." Our trench system here ran along
+the forward slopes of these ridges, a hundred yards or so below the
+crest, whence the country fell towards the enemy in a gentle glacis
+slope devoid of cover. Our reserves and our day positions were behind
+the escarpment, where was excellent cover from hostile shelling. The
+portion of the enemy's works in front of this sector was the Sihan
+group, a strongly prepared position distant about a mile. The apex
+itself formed a salient, necessary to hold since its Ridges would
+otherwise have dominated our positions; but, though a salient, the
+position was undoubtedly strong. The situation and the conformation of
+the Apex, therefore, both invited attack and assisted defence. From the
+sea to the Apex we had a continuous line of trenches. Beyond Sheikh
+Abbas our defences consisted of a series of redoubts, our right flank
+being to some extent in the air. Here, however, was a waterless desert,
+so difficult to cross that this flank could be sufficiently protected by
+cavalry patrols.
+
+Considering that there was a war on, campaigning life on this front was
+by no means uncomfortable. Those who had seen service in France bemoaned
+the lack of comforts and amusements behind the line, and the absence of
+home leave, those who had come from Salonica were congratulating
+themselves on the exchange; while those of us who had been in
+Mesopotamia during the bad times of 1916, considered ourselves in the
+lap of luxury. Rations were good and plentiful and canteen well stocked.
+The Turkish rations, on the other hand, were scanty and poor, with the
+result that morale was low, discomfort rife, and desertions frequent. On
+one occasion, when the enemy were making a raid upon our trenches, a
+couple of Turks got into an empty bag where one of our men had left his
+pack. The manner in which they pursued their advantage was by helping
+themselves to his tin of bully beef and getting away with all speed. A
+Turkish officer, who was subsequently taken prisoner, said, "If the
+Turkish rations had been as good as yours, you would never have captured
+Gaza."
+
+The health of our troops, on the whole, was good. In so far as there was
+sickness it consisted of a certain amount of dysentery, almost
+unavoidable in an army in the Field, septic sores, which are unusually
+rife, and a slight epidemic of sandfly fever. Foremost among the
+inconveniences to be tolerated were the flies, which made it difficult
+for the men to sleep by day, the time when they most need rest after
+manning the trenches all night. Next to the flies came the dust. The
+country, in which for the time we were making our home, consisted of
+arable ground devoid of crops, and thoroughly cut up by the passing of
+transport. A breeze, that blew daily without fail, served to raise a
+fine impalpable dust that permeated everything. This powder dust made
+marching difficult, but wise forethought caused galvanized iron netting
+to be laid along all the principal routes, forming "wire roads" for the
+use of light motor-cars and "foot-sloggers." If we grumbled at the dust,
+we had, at this time at least, no cause to complain, like our brethren
+in Flanders, of the mud. Taken all together, the morale was good and the
+men distinctly happy.
+
+Life in these days was not without its diversions and touches of humour.
+A nice Roman tessellated pavement was unearthed near the Wadi Ghuzzeh,
+at the place called Umm Jerar, which is associated with Abraham. Going
+one day to look for it, I found a military policeman on duty within half
+a mile of the spot. I said to him, "Can you tell me the way to the
+tessellated pavement?" He looked at me vacantly for a minute and then
+replied: "Is it the wire road that you happen to mean, sir?" On one
+occasion, the General was going round the front line accompanied by the
+Intelligence Officer (who is the Officer that selects the pass-word
+which is changed daily) and by the C.O. of the unit in this sector.
+Staying out rather later than they had intended, it was dusk or dark
+when they approached one of the posts. The sentry challenged,
+"Halt--hands up." Up went the General's hands in prompt compliance.
+"Advance one, and give the countersign," continued the sentry. The
+General turned to the Intelligence Officer, "What is the countersign
+to-day?" said he. "Really I am afraid I have forgotten," replied the
+Intelligence Officer, and both referred to the Colonel. "When I left my
+headquarters, it had not yet come through," was his reply. The sentry
+remained obdurate. Then followed explanations, and, after some parley
+and identifications, the party were allowed to proceed. As they were
+leaving, the General hurried again to the sentry, saying, "Well, my man,
+you might just tell us now what the pass-word is." "I am sorry, sir,"
+was his reply, "but I haven't the least idea."
+
+About this time the spy peril was rather rife. We had orders not to
+leave our lines without revolvers, for protection against assassination
+by spies. To one particular "hush-hush" spot rode up a General with his
+Staff Officer, both faultlessly attired, accompanied by the usual
+Orderly. The General asked to be shown round, and his request was
+conceded with the thoroughness and courtesy due to his high rank. His
+inspection completed, the General expressed his thanks, and the party
+rode away, never to be heard of again,--at least not in that capacity.
+Shortly afterwards, a notorious spy was seen working as a coolie in the
+Egyptian Labour Corps. Perhaps he was the General.
+
+The monotony of trench life was varied by occasional raids into the
+enemy trenches. Some very successful raids were carried out on the
+enemy's defences near the sea, especially at Beach Post, and other
+successful raids were made from the Apex upon the advanced trenches of
+the Sihan group of works. Mutual bombardments frequently enlivened the
+proceedings, the supremacy in which undoubtedly lay with our artillery.
+These never allowed a day to pass without doing some firing, and they
+had sniping guns ever ready to fire on any movement that might be seen
+in enemy territory. The enemy guns, largely manned by Austrians,
+reserved their fire for concentrated bombardments; evidently they were
+less able to replenish their supplies of ammunition.
+
+The sector of the front line which fell to our lot to hold was a portion
+of the Apex. Our front line companies manned a continuous system of
+trenches, while the reserve company and headquarters occupied dug-outs
+dug into, or constructed with sand bags upon, the steep slopes of the
+escarpment. There were deep tunnel dug-outs, extending into the bowels
+of the earth, in the support area, but these were never used. In the
+front line there were no such dug-outs, except for such purposes as
+signal office and platoon head-quarters. In case of intense shelling,
+the front line garrison, except sentries, could obtain fair cover behind
+the traverses in the narrow trenches which connected up the wider and
+more exposed fire bays. It is a debatable question whether deep dug-outs
+in or near the front line are advisable. When the enemy shells
+intensively, if he means business, his barrage is closely followed by
+his infantry. When the barrage lifts, therefore, it is of vital
+importance to man the fire-step immediately. It is not easy to turn a
+large number of men quickly out of deep dug-outs which may thus prove
+only a Fool's Paradise. In one of the raids made near the sea, our
+infantry, following closely up to the barrage, caught the enemy taking
+refuge in dug-outs, and had no difficulty in capturing or accounting for
+the whole garrison of the raided trench. At the Apex we were three times
+bombarded and raided. On each occasion the garrison merely took refuge
+behind the traverses. Although they endured it, the bombardment was much
+more uncomfortable here than if the men had been in good dug-outs; yet
+they were able to man the trenches so quickly that in no case could the
+enemy effect a lodgment, and in only one case did he even reach the
+trench.
+
+When we took over the Apex, the days of sporadic raids by us were past,
+and all thought was concentrated on preparations for the great day that
+was then imminent. On the other hand, there was great patrolling
+activity. Our officers' patrols went out nightly into No Man's Land, and
+brought back information as to enemy works in progress and activity in
+their trenches. These patrols had many exciting experiences, and, in the
+dark, frequently encountered patrols sent out by the enemy. Much useful
+information was brought in by these patrols to the battalions holding
+this sector of the line, especially during the first few days after the
+commencement of the great offensive which resulted in the capture of
+Gaza and Beersheba.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+GAZA AND BEERSHEBA
+
+
+The plan by which General Allenby defeated the Turks and captured their
+Gaza-Beersheba line, involved three distinct operations. It will be
+remembered that the enemy defences consisted of a substantially
+continuous line from the sea at Gaza to Arab el Teeaha, where the left
+flank was bent back or "refused" at or about Sheria. Some 4-1/2 miles
+farther on were the detached works covering Beersheba, which thus
+constituted a strong outwork protecting the left flank of the main
+position. The decisive blow was to be struck against the left flank of
+the main Turkish position at Hareira and Sheria. Before this blow could
+be struck, it was necessary to clear away the obstacle presented by
+Beersheba. It was also necessary to keep the enemy in doubt as to where
+the decisive blow was to fall; so another operation, on as large a scale
+as the available force would permit, and calculated both to mystify the
+enemy and to draw off a portion of his reserves, was undertaken on the
+immediate sea front at Gaza. Thus we get, firstly, the capture of
+Beersheba; secondly, the attack on the Gaza coastal defences; and,
+thirdly, the main attack delivered against Sheria.
+
+"This plan of operations was chosen for the following reasons. The
+enemy's works in the Hareira-Sheria sector were less formidable than
+elsewhere, and they were easier of approach than other parts of the
+enemy's defences. The capture of Beersheba was a necessary preliminary
+to the main operation, in order to secure the water supply at that
+place, and to give room for the deployment of the attacking force on
+the high ground to the north and north-west of Beersheba, from which
+direction the main attack was to be developed. When Beersheba was in our
+hands, we should have an open flank against which to operate, and full
+use could be made of our superiority in mounted troops. Moreover, a
+success here offered prospects of pursuing our advantage, and forcing
+the enemy to abandon the rest of his fortified positions, which no other
+line of attack would afford."
+
+The difficulties to be overcome in the operations against Beersheba and
+the Hareira-Sheria line were considerable. Foremost among them were our
+old friend, the shortage of water, and, scarcely less formidable, the
+difficulty of transport.
+
+With regard to water, no supply existed in the area over which
+operations were to take place. "An ample supply of water was known to
+exist at Beersheba, but it was uncertain how quickly it could be
+developed or to what extent the enemy would have damaged the wells
+before we succeeded in occupying the town. Except at Beersheba, no large
+supply of water would be found till Sheria and Hareira had been
+captured. Arrangements had therefore to be made to ensure that the
+troops could be kept supplied with water, while operating at
+considerable distances from their original water base, for a period
+which might amount to a week or more." This was to some extent met by
+developing the water supplies at Ecani, Khalassa and Asluj, all places
+in No Man's Land some miles beyond our right flank.
+
+The transport problem was no less difficult. Beersheba, itself some
+thousand feet above the sea level, lies in a recess on the western
+slopes of the Judaean Hills. In the bed of this recess runs the Wadi Es
+Saba. Towards the north-east a good metalled road leads gradually to the
+summit of the hills and on through Hebron to Jerusalem. North-west a
+good road led along the enemy's front to Gaza. The railway line,
+avoiding the heights, for the first ten or twelve miles follows
+approximately the direction of the Gaza road, and then turns northwards
+along the Plain or Foothills. But south of the Gaza-Beersheba line there
+were no good roads, "and no reliance could therefore be placed on the
+use of motor transport." Owing to the steep banks of many of the wadis
+which intersected the area of operations, the routes passable by wheeled
+transport were limited, and, in many places, the going was heavy and
+difficult.
+
+Practically the whole of the transport available in the force, including
+30,000 pack camels, had to be allotted to one portion of the eastern
+force, to enable it to be kept supplied with food, water and ammunition,
+at a distance of 15 to 20 miles in advance of railhead.
+
+There already existed a branch from the Kantara military railway; which
+branch, leaving the main line at Rafa, ran to Shellal and Gamli,
+supplying the right of our line. Arrangements were made for this
+railhead to be pushed forward as rapidly as possible from Shellal
+towards Karm (some 7 miles to the east-south-east of Shellal), and for a
+line to be laid from Gamli towards Beersheba for the transport of
+ammunition. No Man's Land being some 10 or 12 miles wide in this sector,
+railway construction was carried on in front of our front line under
+cover of yeomanry outposts.
+
+This line of outposts was attacked on the morning of the 27th October by
+a strong reconnoitring party that the Turks sent out from the direction
+of Kauwukah to make a reconnaissance towards Karm. On a Division of our
+infantry coming up, the Turks withdrew.
+
+By the end of October all our preparations were ready. The bombardment
+of the Gaza defences commenced on the 27th and continued nightly. On the
+30th, warships of the Royal Navy, assisted by a French battleship, began
+co-operating in this bombardment. The actual infantry attack on Gaza was
+not intended to take place, however, until after the capture of
+Beersheba, and was delayed accordingly.
+
+The date fixed for the attack on Beersheba was the 31st October. The
+plan was to attack with two divisions the hostile works between the
+Khalassa Road and the Wadi Saba, that is, the sector to the south-west
+of the town. The works north of the Wadi Saba were to be masked with the
+Imperial Camel Corps and some infantry, while a portion of the 53rd
+Division further north covered the left of the Corps. The right of the
+attack was covered by a cavalry regiment. Further east, mounted troops
+took up a line opposite the southern defences of Beersheba. A mounted
+force, starting from Khalassa and Asluj, beyond our original right
+flank, were detailed to make a wide flanking movement and attack
+Beersheba from the east and north-east.
+
+The units detailed for the attack moved by a night march, and were in
+their appointed positions by dawn of the 31st. As a preliminary to the
+main attack, in order to enable field guns to be brought within
+effective range for wire-cutting, an attack was made upon the enemy's
+advanced works on the high ground about a couple of miles south-west of
+the town, at Hill 1070. This had been successfully accomplished by 8.45
+a.m., and the cutting of the wire proceeded satisfactorily, though
+pauses had to be made to allow the dust to clear. The assault was
+ordered for 12.15 p.m., and proved successful. By about 10 p.m., the
+whole of the works between the Khalassa Road and the Wadi Saba were in
+our hands.
+
+"Meanwhile the mounted troops, after a night march of, for a portion of
+the force, some 35 miles, arrived early on this same morning, the 31st,
+at about Khasim Zanna, in the hills, some 5 miles east of Beersheba.
+From the hills, the advance into Beersheba from the east and north-east
+lies over an open and almost flat plain, commanded by the rising ground
+north of the town and flanked by an underfeature in the Wadi Saba,
+called Tel el Saba.
+
+"A force was sent north to secure Bir es Sakaly, on the Hebron Road, and
+protect the right flank. This force met with some opposition, and was
+engaged with hostile cavalry at Bir es Sakaly and to the north during
+the day. Tel el Saba was found strongly held by the enemy, and was not
+captured till late in the afternoon.
+
+"Meanwhile, attempts to advance in small parties across the plain
+towards the town made slow progress. In the evening, however, a mounted
+attack by Australian Light Horse, who rode straight at the town from the
+East, proved completely successful. They galloped over two deep trenches
+held by the enemy just outside the town, and entered the town at about 7
+p.m., capturing numerous prisoners.
+
+"A very strong position was thus taken with slight loss, and the Turkish
+detachment at Beersheba almost completely put out of action. This
+success laid open the left flank of the main Turkish position for a
+decisive blow."
+
+The actual date of the attack at Gaza had been left open till the result
+of the attack at Beersheba was known, as it was intended that the attack
+on Gaza, which was designed to draw hostile reserves towards that
+sector, should take place a day or two before the attack on the Sheria
+position. After the complete success of the Beersheba operations, it was
+decided that the attack on Gaza should take place on the morning of the
+2nd November.
+
+"The objectives of this attack were the hostile works from Umbrella Hill
+(2,000 yards south-west of the town) to Sheikh Hasan, on the sea (about
+2,500 yards north-west of the town). The front of the attack was about
+6,000 yards, and Sheikh Hasan, the farthest objective, was over 3,000
+yards from our front line. The ground over which the attack took place
+consisted of sand dunes, rising in places up to 150 feet in height. This
+sand is very deep and heavy going. The enemy's defences consisted of
+several lines of strongly built trenches and redoubts.
+
+"As Umbrella Hill flanked the advance against the Turkish works farther
+west, it was decided to capture it by a preliminary operation, to take
+place four hours previous to the main attack. It was accordingly
+attacked and captured at 11.0 p.m. on the 1st November by a portion of
+the 52nd Division. This attack drew a heavy bombardment of Umbrella Hill
+itself and our front lines, which lasted for two hours, but ceased in
+time to allow the main attack, which was timed for 3.0 a.m., to form up
+without interference."
+
+This attack partook of the nature of a modern trench to trench advance,
+as seen on the battlefields of France, with the co-operation of tanks
+and the accompaniment of other products of modern science. It was
+successful in reaching most of its objectives. The enemy losses were
+heavy, especially from the preliminary bombardment.
+
+"Subsequent reports from prisoners stated that one of the Divisions
+holding the Gaza Sector was withdrawn on account of casualties, a
+Division from the general reserve being drawn into this Sector to
+replace it. The attack thus succeeded in its primary object, which was
+to prevent any units being withdrawn from the Gaza defences to meet the
+threat to the Turkish left flank and to draw into Gaza as large a
+proportion as possible of the available Turkish reserves. Further, the
+capture of Sheikh Hasan and the south-western defences constituted a
+very direct threat to the whole of the Gaza position, which could be
+developed on any sign of a withdrawal on the part of the enemy."
+
+Here the force attacking Gaza stayed its hand, merely holding on to the
+positions already captured, while the main attack was being developed on
+the right.
+
+Having captured Beersheba on the 31st October, a force was pushed out
+early on the following day, the 1st November, into the hills north of
+Beersheba, with the object of securing the flank of the attack on
+Sheria, while mounted troops were sent north along the Hebron road.
+Accordingly, the 53rd Division took up a position from Towal Abu Jerwal
+(6 miles north of Beersheba) to Muweileh (3-1/2 miles farther west) and
+the 10th Division occupied Abu Irgeig, on the railway, 6 miles from
+Beersheba.
+
+Next day, the 2nd, our mounted troops found and engaged considerable
+enemy forces to the north of Towal Abu Jerwal. Accordingly, on the 3rd,
+we advanced in that direction towards Ain Kohleh and Khuweilfeh, where
+the enemy were found to be holding a strong position with considerable
+and increasing forces. It will be borne in mind that this was only the
+right flank-guard; our main attack, which was to be delivered against
+Sheria, was not timed to commence until two or three days later.
+However, the enemy elected to employ the whole of his available reserves
+in an immediate counter-attack. During the 4th and 5th he made several
+determined attacks on the mounted troops in this locality. These attacks
+were repulsed; and the enemy's action was not allowed to make any
+essential modification to the original plan, which it had been decided
+to carry out at dawn on November 6th. It was this exhausting of the
+Turkish reserves, so early in the operations and so far away to the East
+as Khuweilfeh, that paved the way for the success of our attack on
+Sheria.
+
+At dawn, on the 6th, the force detailed for the main attack had taken up
+positions of readiness to the south-east of the Kauwukah system of
+trenches. The yeomanry opened the ball by assaulting the group of works
+forming the extreme left of the enemy's defensive system, following this
+up by an advance due west up the railway, capturing the line of detached
+works which lay east of the railway line. Meanwhile, London and Irish
+troops moved towards the Kauwukah system, bringing forward their guns to
+within wire-cutting range. Soon after noon, these troops commenced their
+attack upon the south-eastern face of the Kauwukah system. This was
+completely successful in capturing all its objectives. Sheria station
+was also reported as captured before dark. On this same day the right
+flank-guard, the 53rd Division, had successfully attacked Khuweilfeh.
+The position at nightfall, then, was that our right flank-guard were at
+Kauweilfeh, the yeomanry had reached the line of the Sheria to Wadi
+Union, and the troops on the left were close to Hareira Redoubt which
+was still occupied by the enemy.
+
+Next day, the 7th, the situation remained practically unchanged on our
+extreme right, the enemy maintaining his positions opposite our right
+flank-guard. In the Sheria-Hareira locality, the Hareira Tepe Redoubt
+was captured at dawn. Tel el Sheria was captured at 4.0 a.m. and the
+line was pushed forward about a mile to the north of Tel el Sheria. That
+night the enemy withdrew.
+
+Meanwhile, on our extreme left, the bombardment of Gaza had continued.
+Another attack was ordered to take place on the night of the 6th/7th. An
+attack was made at 11.30 p.m. that night against Outpost Hill and
+Middlesex Hill, south of the town, which met with little opposition. "As
+soon, after they had been taken, as patrols could be pushed forward, the
+enemy was found to be gone. Early in the morning, the main enemy force
+occupied the northern and eastern defences of Gaza. Rearguards were
+still occupying Beit Hanun and the Atawinah and Tank System (part of the
+Sihan group of works), from whence Turkish artillery continued to fire
+on Gaza and Ali Muntar until dusk."
+
+"As soon as it was seen that the Turks had evacuated Gaza, on the
+morning of the 7th, a part of the force pushed along the coast to the
+mouth of the Wadi Hesi, some 8 miles north of Gaza, so as to turn the
+Wadi Hesi line and prevent the enemy making any stand there. This force
+reached the Wadi Hesi by evening, and succeeded in establishing itself
+on the north bank in the face of considerable opposition from a Turkish
+rearguard. Cavalry had already pushed on round the north of Gaza and
+become engaged at Beit Hanun with an enemy rearguard which maintained
+its position till night-fall." This brings our history down to the night
+of November 7th/8th. By the morning of the 8th the enemy were in
+retreat all along the line.
+
+Meanwhile, what had been happening to our own party in the Apex? The
+general plan of attack did not contemplate any advance from here.
+Nevertheless, it was necessary that this portion of the line should be
+firmly held, and it was more than likely that the enemy would try to
+create a diversion by raiding this inviting salient. By the end of
+October "liveliness" was increasing all round, and mutual bombardments
+were growing more intense. Fortunately, a large number of the shells
+fired by the enemy were "duds." We were puzzled at the time to know why
+duds figured so largely in this and following bombardments; subsequent
+inspection of the enemy trenches afforded an explanation. Great dumps of
+ammunition had been formed by the enemy close to the guns, and these,
+for safety and concealment, had been placed in deep dug-outs. On the
+evening of the 27th October, a great thunderstorm burst over Gaza,
+causing the enemy considerable damage, flooding the dug-outs, and
+presumably damping the fuses and ruining their ammunition.
+
+On the evening of the 3rd November, the enemy tried to create a
+diversion by raiding the Apex. On this evening we were sitting quietly
+having dinner in our headquarters dug-out, when sharp rifle fire was
+heard from the front line of the battalion on our right. We walked out,
+and saw a veritable Brock's Benefit display of Verey lights. A telephone
+message from our front line informed us that a considerable party of the
+enemy had crept quietly up, and were now prowling round our wire and
+trying to pick a way through. A hot fire from rifles, Lewis guns and
+machine guns, soon convinced the enemy of the uselessness of attempting,
+without artillery preparation, a raid against an alert enemy well
+entrenched with wire intact. They were beaten off, and withdrew to a
+fold in the ground a couple of hundred yards out in No Man's Land, where
+they were fired upon by our trench mortars. Nevertheless they managed
+to rally, and came forward again to the attack. This time their
+reception was no more encouraging than before; our artillery got into
+them with a barrage and they withdrew. Now they sent up a red Verey
+light signal, whereupon a hostile barrage came down upon our trenches,
+under cover of which they not only withdrew themselves, but also removed
+their killed and wounded. It is a part of their religion to spare no
+pains in removing their dead and giving them a decent burial. A couple
+of deserters crept into our lines towards the morning, from whom we were
+able to gather something about their side of the operations. Desertion
+was fairly common among the Turks about this time, partly because
+rations were poor, but mainly because they had no stomach for the fight
+that they knew to be imminent. In so far as this raid affected us, our
+trenches were badly smashed by the artillery, but our casualties were
+insignificant.
+
+The next evening we sent a small patrol across No Man's Land, which,
+being boldly and pluckily led, crept right up to the enemy's trenches.
+Here they heard the sound of much traffic on the Gaza-Beersheba road,
+token doubtless of the impending withdrawal. More important from our
+immediate point of view, the patrol heard sounds of an enemy
+concentration in their front trenches, in apparent preparation for
+another raid on the Apex. Our artillery put salvoes at once upon those
+trenches; and the raid of that night proved a damp squib. About midnight
+we were wakened from our slumbers by a thunderstorm, the thunder,
+lightning and hail being provided by a deluge of bursting shells,
+splinters and shrapnel bullets. When the barrage lifted, glimpses were
+caught of the enemy moving along our front wire; but this raid never
+succeeded in forcing an entrance to our trenches.
+
+We had every reason to "remember the fifth of November." It came in with
+a display of fireworks; it went out like an inferno. Profiting by his
+previous experience, the enemy shelled a portion of our front
+deliberately from early evening until dark, with the obvious intention
+of cutting the wire on a portion of our sector. At ten o'clock that
+night, down came another intensive bombardment, which lasted for an
+hour. Under cover of the darkness, the enemy even brought trench mortars
+on camels up to our wire to assist in the bombardment. Next morning the
+ground looked like a veritable sea beach after a wreck; the litter
+consisted of splinters and duds of all sizes and descriptions, largely
+5.9" H.Es. This hostile barrage made a really satisfactory job of the
+wire cutting. As soon as it lifted, the enemy's infantry made a
+determined effort to penetrate our line. During the bombardment our
+fellows had taken shelter in the narrow passage ways behind the
+traverses, and so lost no time, immediately the barrage lifted, in
+manning the fire-step. They at once got busy with rifles, Lewis guns and
+machine-guns, and gave the Turk, as he crossed the ruins of our wire, a
+distinctly warm reception. This proved more than enough for most of the
+enemy; but a few brave spirits succeeded in entering our trench and
+throwing bombs. They were not supported by their fellows, and were soon
+disposed of. At length, up went the now familiar red light, down came
+the closing barrage, the enemy drew off and we were left in peace.
+
+After these three abortive raids the Apex was left unmolested, except
+for occasional shelling on the 6th and 7th. On the 8th, we were relieved
+at the Apex by Lines of Communication troops, in order that we might
+take part in the pursuit of the enemy who were now in full retreat.
+
+     The quotations in this and the three following chapters, are from
+     General Allenby's Despatch, dated the 16th December, 1917.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+FULL CRY
+
+
+We have seen that during the night of the 7th/8th November, the enemy
+had retreated all along the line. The enemy opposite our right
+flank-guard withdrew towards Hebron, that is, north-east into the Judaean
+Hills. He was pursued for a short distance by the yeomanry, and some
+prisoners and camels were captured. The yeomanry were then recalled to
+rejoin the main body of the mounted troops for the more important work
+of the pursuit of the enemy's main body. The enemy force that thus
+escaped into the hills there reorganized, and later descended to the
+Plain on the flank of our pursuing force with a view to creating a
+diversion; but of this, more anon.
+
+On the afternoon of the 7th, when it was seen that our Sheria operations
+in the centre had been successful, the cavalry were ordered to push
+forward from there in the direction of Huj, which was the terminus of
+the enemy's branch railway line from Deir Sineid. Had this force of
+cavalry been able to push forward and join up with the cavalry that had
+worked round by the sea and were engaging the enemy rearguard at Beit
+Hanun, the bulk of the Turkish force engaged upon this front might have
+been surrounded and captured. The mounted troops on the right moved
+towards Huj, but met with considerable opposition from hostile
+rearguards. On this account, and through difficulty in watering horses,
+the consummation devoutly to be desired was not attained.
+
+It will be remembered that the Gaza operations had the effect of almost
+turning the enemy's right flank as long ago as November 2nd, and that,
+by the evening of the 7th, the force advancing along the coast had
+already established itself on the north bank of the Wadi Hesi, some 6
+miles or so behind the enemy's defensive line.
+
+Throughout the 7th, Turkish rearguards clung to Beit Hanun and to the
+Atawineh and Tank systems to the east of Ali Muntar. The effect of this
+was, that, when our troops eventually got under way in pursuit of the
+retreating Turks, those near the sea had several miles' start of those
+further inland. This feature, a pursuit in echelon with the left flank
+advanced, continued throughout these operations. And so we shall see
+that Jaffa fell into our hands some weeks before the capture of
+Jerusalem had even been attempted.
+
+The bulk of the Turkish army retreated northwards along the Coastal
+Plain. Here ran their railway, their main line of communications, and
+also an excellent road from Gaza to Jerusalem. Little or no opportunity
+was afforded of catching the disorganized enemy in narrow defiles, as
+happened in the rout of the following autumn, but the open Plain offered
+ample opportunities for a hasty retreat, of which the enemy fully
+availed themselves.
+
+"During the 8th, then, the advance was continued, and interest was
+chiefly centred in an attempt to cut off, if possible, the Turkish
+rearguard which had held the Tank and Atawineh systems. Considerable
+captures of prisoners, guns, ammunition and other stores were made,
+especially at Huj and Deir Sineid, but no large formed body of the enemy
+was cut off. The Turkish rearguards fought stubbornly and offered
+considerable opposition." At this time the brunt of the work was being
+borne by the cavalry and the Royal Flying Corps, the infantry not having
+yet been ordered forward. "Near Huj, a fine charge by some squadrons of
+the Worcester and Warwick Yeomanry captured twelve guns, and broke the
+resistance of a hostile rearguard."
+
+"It soon became obvious from the reports of the Royal Flying Corps, who
+throughout the 7th and 8th attacked the retreating columns with bombs
+and machine-gun fire, and from other evidence, that the enemy was
+retiring in considerable disorganization, and could offer no very
+serious resistance if pressed with determination.
+
+"Instructions were accordingly issued on the morning of the 9th to the
+mounted troops, directing them on to the line El Tine-Beit Duras, that
+is, on to a line a little to the south-west of Junction Station, with
+orders to press the enemy relentlessly. A portion of the infantry was
+ordered forward in support.
+
+"By the 9th, therefore, operations had reached the stage of a direct
+pursuit by as many troops as could be supplied so far in front of the
+railhead."
+
+The 54th Division had hitherto been principally engaged between Gaza and
+the sea. The 52nd Division, therefore, passed through the 54th and took
+up the pursuit along the coast, the pursuit along the Gaza-Jerusalem
+road falling to the lot of the 75th.
+
+On the night of the 8th, our regiment was relieved in the trenches at
+the Apex, and, on the 9th, the 75th Division concentrated behind the
+line, ready to take its part in the pursuit. Next day we all went
+forward in column of route. We crossed No Man's Land along the enemy's
+old front line trenches by Ali Muntar. Having looked out upon this scene
+for months through glasses, telescopes and periscopes, it was
+interesting now to obtain a close view of these fortress defences.
+
+But there were other sights that met our eyes, sad and gruesome, that
+can be better imagined than described. Portions of the enemy's wire, and
+of the gentle slopes in front, were littered with the remains of brave
+lads that had fallen in the sad days of March and April. It was strange
+that, in their own interests, the Turks had not buried these bodies.
+Instead they had left them lying there for months, beneath an almost
+tropical sun, and had actually fixed up their new wire entanglements
+over the unburied bodies. In some cases death had evidently been
+instantaneous. In others, where death had come more slowly, lads were to
+be found grasping open testaments or letters from home. It seemed so sad
+that these poor fellows, who had endured the hardships of the Desert and
+marched victoriously across Sinai, should, like Moses, have been
+privileged to see, but not to enter, the Promised Land.
+
+After crossing No Man's Land, we marched along past pleasanter sights,
+great stacks of ammunition, gas cylinders, and other interesting
+captures. We enjoyed glimpses of how the enemy here had made himself
+comfortable; still more did we enjoy glimpses of how we here had made
+the enemy uncomfortable. Huge craters there were, made by naval guns
+shelling from the sea. These guns had bombarded the enemy communications
+behind his front line, and had obtained direct hits on the track and
+rolling stock, causing a train or two, valuable booty, to fall into our
+possession. Bomb holes were to be seen, made by our aircraft in their
+efforts to destroy the bridges on the enemy's line of retreat.
+
+We bivouacked on the night of the 10th at Deir Sineid. For the next two
+days we marched forward, close upon the heels of the pursuing cavalry,
+but not close enough yet to come into action or to deploy from column of
+route. All along our route lay evidences of the enemy's rout. At one
+time, we were passing a convoy of prisoners being shepherded along by a
+few cavalry; at another, a party of refugees hurrying back with their
+worldly possessions to those homes to which they knew they could now
+return in safety. Here and there lay the body of some unfortunate Turk;
+while all along the line lay the wreckage of vehicles and the carcases
+of transport animals.
+
+Throughout these days the troops suffered considerably from thirst. A
+hot exhausting wind was blowing, and the men were heavily laden for
+long-distance route marching in a semi-tropical country. Water was the
+ever-recurring trouble. A little for the men to carry on with was
+generally procurable, but the difficulty of watering the animals at
+times became acute. The usual tidings were, that there was plenty of
+water at the next village. When the next village was reached the tidings
+proved to be true, but so long was the queue of animals already waiting
+to be watered, that fresh arrivals stood but little chance. At many
+places the water was insufficient; and "even when water was found in
+sufficient quantities, it was usually in wells and not on the surface;
+consequently, if the machinery for working the wells was damaged, or a
+sufficient supply of troughs was not available, the process of watering
+a large quantity of animals was slow and difficult."
+
+Meanwhile, how were our cavalry progressing? A glance at the map will
+show that, after the fall of Gaza, the next point of tactical importance
+in Palestine was Junction Station. With this in our hands, Jerusalem
+would be cut off from railway communication with the outer world, and
+quantities of rolling stock, supplies, war material and possibly
+prisoners, should fall into our hands. While still pursuing the
+retreating enemy, therefore, the cavalry had been directed to make
+Junction Station their next objective.
+
+The portion of the enemy's force that had withdrawn into the hills
+towards Hebron now made a descent from the hills to the Plain. Their
+object was to threaten the flank of our pursuing cavalry, create a
+diversion, and thus relieve the pressure from their main body. From
+Hebron, a couple of difficult tracks wind down the mountains to the
+village of Beit Jibrin, where they join a road coming from Bethlehem and
+Jerusalem. This latter road reaches the Plain and Beersheba railway at
+Arak el Menshiyeh. This was the spot, then, towards which the
+counter-attack, or demonstration from the hills, was organized.
+
+"It was obvious that the Hebron force, which was believed to be short
+of transport and ammunition, to have lost heavily, and to be in a
+generally disorganized state, could make no effective diversion, and
+that this threat could practically be disregarded. The Imperial Camel
+Corps, however, was ordered to move to the neighbourhood of Tel el
+Nejile, where it would be on the flank of any counterstroke from the
+hills; while orders were issued for the main pursuit to be pressed so
+that Junction Station might be reached with all speed. The Hebron group
+made an ineffective demonstration in the direction of Arak el Menshiyeh
+on the 10th, and then retired north-east so as to prolong the enemy's
+line towards Beit Jibrin."
+
+Close to the sea, the advance-guard of the 52nd Division pushed on as
+far as Burkah on the 11th, and, on the 12th, the yeomanry pushed north
+and seized Tel el Murreh, on the right or northern bank of the Nahr
+Sukereir and close to its mouth.
+
+"The operations of these days showed a stiffening of the enemy's
+resistance on the general line of the Wadi Sukereir, with centre about
+El Kustineh. Reports from the R.F.C. indicated the total hostile forces
+opposed to us on this line at about 15,000; and this increased
+resistance, coupled with the capture of prisoners from almost every unit
+of the Turkish force, tended to show that we were no longer opposed to
+rearguards, but that all the remainder of the Turkish Army, which could
+be induced to fight, was making a last effort to arrest our pursuit
+south of the important Junction Station.
+
+"On the morning of the 13th November, the situation was, that the enemy
+had strung out his force on a front of 20 miles from El Kubeibeh on the
+north to about Beit Jibrin to the south. The right half of his line ran
+roughly parallel to, and only about five miles in front of, the railway
+to the north of Junction Station, which was the main line of supply from
+the north."
+
+We have seen that our pursuit along the sea coast had a considerable
+start of that further to the right, and the rapidity of this pursuit had
+dictated to the enemy this rather unsatisfactory position which he was
+forced to take up. His right flank was already almost turned. In so far
+as he could do so, he held a strong position on the line of heights
+running north and south near the right flank of his position, on which
+heights stand the villages of Katrah and El Mughar.
+
+The 12th was a day of preparation. On the 13th, an attack was delivered
+against the enemy's position by the 75th Division on the right and the
+52nd on the left, the extreme right of the attack being protected by the
+Australian Mounted Troops, who had pressed forward towards Balin
+Berkussie and Tel es Safi. The country over which the attack took place
+is open and rolling. It is dotted with small villages surrounded by mud
+walls, with plantations of trees and thick cactus hedges outside the
+walls. These hedges afforded admirable opportunities for the concealment
+of machine guns. In spite of heavy machine gun fire, the 75th attacked
+and captured the village of El Mesmiye. A turning movement was directed
+against the enemy's right flank. There was a dashing charge of mounted
+troops, who galloped across the Plain under heavy fire and turned the
+enemy's position from the north. The Kahan El Mughar position,
+protecting the enemy's right flank, fell to the 52nd Division. After
+this, the enemy resistance weakened, and by the evening his forces were
+in retreat. Early the following morning we occupied Junction Station.
+
+The enemy's flight from Junction Station was precipitate. Two trains
+escaped shortly before our occupation, one of which was believed to have
+contained Von Kressenstein himself. Nevertheless our captures of rolling
+stock and material were considerable. The enemy's army had now been
+broken into two separate parts, which retired eastwards towards
+Jerusalem and northwards through Ramleh towards Tul Keram.
+
+Throughout the 14th our mounted troops pressed on toward Ramleh and
+Ludd. On the right, Naaneh, on the railway to Ramleh, was attacked and
+captured in the morning. On the left, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles had
+a smart engagement at Ayun Kara, 6 miles south of Jaffa, where the Turks
+made a determined counter-attack, and were only repulsed at the point of
+the bayonet.
+
+On the morning of the 15th our mounted troops dislodged a hostile
+rearguard, which had taken up a position on the high ground, flanking
+the railway north of Junction Station, and covering the main road from
+Jaffa to Jerusalem. This is the site of Gezer, one of the most ancient
+of the Canaanitish cities in Palestine, and one of the first objects of
+interest sought by the eye of the tourist on his journey up from Jaffa
+to Jerusalem. Thus, commanding both the railway and the main Jerusalem
+road, this position might have considerably delayed our advance had it
+been held with determination. As it was, our mounted troops were able to
+occupy Ramleh and Ludd that evening and to push forward patrols to
+within a short distance of Jaffa.
+
+Jaffa, the ancient port of Jerusalem, was occupied without further
+opposition on the evening of the 16th.
+
+"The situation was now as follows. The enemy's army, cut in two by our
+capture of Junction Station, had retired partly east into the mountains
+towards Jerusalem, and partly north along the Plain. The nearest line on
+which these two portions could reunite was the line Tul Keram-Nablus."
+Although Jerusalem itself could still be supplied along the road
+connecting it with Nablus, or along the road across the Jordan to Ammam
+Station on the Hejaz Railway, yet "reports from the R.F.C. indicated
+that it was the probable intention of the enemy to evacuate Jerusalem
+and withdraw to organize on the line Tul Keram-Nablus.
+
+"On our side, the mounted troops had been marching and fighting
+continuously since October 31st, and had advanced a distance of 75 miles
+measured in a straight line from Asluj to Jaffa. The infantry, after
+their last fighting at Gaza, had advanced, in nine days, distances of
+from 40 to 70 miles, with two severe engagements and continual
+advanced-guard fighting. The railway was being pushed forward as rapidly
+as possible, and every opportunity was taken of landing stores at points
+along the coast; but the landing of stores was dependent on a
+continuance of favourable weather, and might at any moment be stopped
+for several days together.
+
+"A pause was therefore necessary to await the progress of railway
+construction. But before our position in the Plain could be considered
+secure, it was essential to push forward into the hills, and to obtain a
+hold of the one good road which traverses the Judaean range from north to
+south, from Nablus to Jerusalem."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+NEBY SAMWIL
+
+
+Our advance had hitherto been northwards along the low country, and had
+already reached a point on the Maritime Plain some miles north of the
+parallel of Jerusalem. It now wheeled to the right and struck into the
+Hills, with the object of getting astride the Jerusalem-Nablus road and
+of thus capturing the Holy City.
+
+It will be remembered, from our survey of the geography of Palestine,
+that the ridge of the Judaean Hills runs approximately north and south,
+and that along the top of this ridge runs a first-class metalled road
+connecting Nablus with Jerusalem. From this ridge spurs run east and
+west down towards the Maritime Plain. These spurs are steep, bare and
+stony, and in places, precipitous, and are separated from one another by
+narrow valleys. Between such spurs, a few miles to the north-west of
+Jerusalem, sweeps down the Valley of Ajalon, with the villages of
+Beit-ur el-Foka (Beth-horon the Upper) and Beit-ur el-Tahta (Beth-horon
+the Lower), where Joshua won his memorable victory over the five kings
+of the Amorites. It was here that the routed hosts of the Amorites were
+pursued in panic, and near here that the sun and moon "stood still" at
+the bidding of Joshua. Further to the south, another gorge, or pass,
+roughly parallel to the Valley of Ajalon, leads down to the Plain, and
+along this pass runs the metalled road through Kurzet-el-Enab
+(Kirjath-Jearim), Saris and Bab-el-Wad, to Ramleh and Jaffa; this is the
+road followed by the Pilgrims. Other paths were shown upon the map, but
+these were found to be mere tracks on the hillside or up the stony beds
+of wadis, and, without considerable improvement, were impracticable for
+wheeled guns or transport. The only routes along which guns, other than
+mountain artillery, could be moved, were the two first-class roads
+running northwards and westwards out of Jerusalem.
+
+Ten miles north of Jerusalem, along the Nablus road, at a height of
+nearly 3,000 feet above sea level, is the village of Bireh. This
+commanding position overlooks the Jordan Valley and all the surrounding
+country. This was the point which General Allenby decided to make his
+next objective. Reports had indicated that it was the probable intention
+of the enemy to evacuate Jerusalem, and in the known or suspected state
+of the demoralisation of the enemy, it was felt that considerable risks
+could be taken. Thus a bold and immediate dash for Bireh seemed to be
+indicated. Furthermore, an advance on this objective would take our
+forces well clear of Jerusalem itself. And so this plan best conformed
+with the determination that had previously been arrived at, that
+fighting should be within five miles of the Holy City.
+
+The general idea of the operation was, that our troops should move up
+into the hills, some going by the Valley of Ajalon, and some by the main
+Jaffa-Jerusalem road as far as Enab, and thence by the "Roman road"
+running north-east. Although it was thought likely that the Turks,
+reinforced from Damascus, and perhaps from Aleppo, would come down and
+attack our new line, yet it was hoped that Bireh would be reached before
+serious opposition was encountered. The enemy, however, changed his
+mind. Having, early in November, decided to withdraw from Jerusalem, he
+now determined to hold it till the bitter end. Turkish resistance
+stiffened immensely. Pushed far into the hills, as were our advanced
+troops, and without much artillery support, it was found impossible for
+them to reach Bireh in the first stride; and further operations upon a
+more elaborate scale had to be undertaken before Jerusalem could be
+captured.
+
+But we anticipate. Let us, then, return to the middle of November, at
+which time our forces had captured, and were holding, positions covering
+Jaffa, Ramleh and Junction Station. On the 17th November, the yeomanry
+commenced to move from Ramleh through the hills direct on Bireh, via the
+valley of Ajalon and Lower Beth-horon; and, by the evening of the 18th,
+one portion of the yeomanry had reached Lower Beth-horon, while another
+portion had occupied Shilta.
+
+On the 19th, the infantry commenced its advance. Latron and Anwas were
+captured in the morning. For nearly 4 miles, between Bab el Wad (2-1/2
+miles east of Latron) and Saris, the Jaffa-Jerusalem road passes through
+a narrow gorge or defile. The remainder of the day was spent in clearing
+this defile up to Saris. "These narrow passes from the plain to the
+plateau of the Judaean range have seldom been forced, and have been fatal
+to many invading armies." The natural facilities for defence in this
+pass were undoubtedly very strong. "Had the attempt not been made at
+once, or had it been pressed with less determination, the enemy would
+have had time to reorganize his defences here, and the conquest of the
+plateau would then have been slow, costly and precarious."
+
+The character of the fighting now changed, and more nearly resembled the
+mountain warfare of the north-west frontier of India. The bulk of this
+hill fighting fell upon the 75th Division, whose Indian experience
+proved invaluable. It was interesting to note the points of resemblance
+and of distinction between hill fighting here and on the Indian
+frontier.
+
+In India, frontier warfare is usually conducted against ill-organized
+semi-savages, unarmed with artillery or machine guns, but furnished with
+the instincts and cunning of beasts of prey. Here the conditions were
+reversed. The enemy were well provided with artillery and machine guns,
+both of which they had had abundant opportunity to post advantageously
+and use effectually; whereas we had difficulties in getting forward our
+guns and bringing them into action, and were at times without artillery
+assistance. On the other hand, our troops surpassed the enemy in their
+familiarity with mountain fighting.
+
+Here, as in all mountain fighting, the cardinal principle was piquetting
+the heights--that is to say, the necessity of sending up piquets from
+the advanced-guard, who deny to the enemy all commanding eminences,
+before the main body and transport move up the defile which those
+eminences command. Our piquets had frequently to fight their way up to
+the heights, and to be prepared, on reaching the summit, to withstand a
+shelling or repulse a counter-attack. They had, therefore, to be
+stronger than is usually necessary in India, but had to be particularly
+careful not to concentrate too much upon the summit. In India, where the
+enemy generally fight a guerilla warfare, hanging on to rearguards and
+cutting off stragglers, the stiffest part of the fighting is to be
+expected during the subsequent withdrawal of the piquets from the
+heights. Here, the fighting was done by the advanced-guard, and during
+the taking of the heights, subsequent withdrawal being generally
+unmolested. Quickness in the attack was found to be of great value. In
+some cases the garrisons of heights were surprised and captured before
+they could get away; more than once the advanced-guard, pushing rapidly
+up the road, were able to cut off such garrisons as they were coming
+down the reverse slopes of their hills.
+
+With regard to armament, our field artillery were able to assist with
+their 4.2 inch howitzers, but the 18-pounder field guns, with their flat
+projectory, were, at this stage, found to be of little use. During later
+stages of this mountain warfare, the 18-pounder came again into its own;
+but that was when suitable positions could be chosen deliberately, and
+when, through the length of the range or the use of reduced charges,
+they were able to drop their shells with a steep angle of descent. A
+high velocity gun, with a flat projectory, like our 18-pounder, has two
+disadvantages in mountain warfare. When the gun is firing from behind a
+steep hill, the shell, on leaving the gun, is liable to strike the hill
+in front instead of clearing the crest. When the projectile reaches the
+distant ridge (behind which the enemy are presumably taking cover), the
+angle of descent is not sufficiently steep to cause damage. More
+satisfactory results were obtainable with howitzers, whose high angle
+fire could both clear the forward crests and search the reverse slopes.
+Unfortunately, at this time, we had little or no mountain artillery up
+forward, while the wheeled guns were often badly handicapped for want of
+good roads. We had marched away from Gaza well enough supplied with
+artillery for normal or plain country fighting, but scarcely so for this
+very different fighting in the mountains.
+
+Another disadvantage under which we laboured, through this abrupt
+merging from trench into mountain warfare, was the overloading of the
+men. For the latter class of warfare men must be lightly equipped; in
+India, even the men's great-coats are carried for them on pack-mules.
+Here, the men were, of necessity, loaded up as for trench fighting, and
+were carrying gas masks and extra bandoliers (50 rounds) of ammunition,
+making a total of 170 rounds per man.
+
+The key to success in modern mountain fighting proved to be the rapidity
+with which roads could be constructed for bringing forward artillery.
+
+The defile up to Saris having been piquetted and cleared on the 19th,
+Enab was captured on the 20th in the face of organized opposition. Other
+infantry had moved from the plain along the more northern track (the
+Ajalon Valley route) by Berfilja and Beit Likia, and, on this same 20th,
+they captured Beit Dukka. On the same day the yeomanry got to within 4
+miles of the Nablus-Jerusalem road, but were stopped by strong
+opposition about Beihesnia, 3 or 4 miles west-south-west of Bireh.
+
+In this night it rained, as only in tropical and semi-tropical
+countries it knows how. The men, clad in their Indian drill, were soaked
+immediately, and lay down on the road or in the streets of Enab, or
+slept where they stood, the picture of misery. An isolated Turk rushed
+down the road, determined to sell his life dearly. But he could find
+nobody enthusiastic enough to fight, or even to take sufficient interest
+in him to accept his surrender; until at last he found a military
+policeman, who, this being his job, had no alternative but to take him
+prisoner. At length dawn broke; and it then became clear that Enab was
+under Turkish observation. So a cold night of rain was followed by a hot
+morn of fire.
+
+From Enab, a "Roman road" leaves the main Jaffa-Jerusalem road and
+strikes away north-east to Biddu, and thence towards Bireh. In Roman
+days, this may have been an important road, but now it was found to be a
+mere rocky track, impassable for wheels, or for anything except infantry
+and pack animals. On the morning of the 21st, a portion of the 75th
+Division moved forward by this track, while another portion of the
+Division was left at Enab to cover the flank and demonstrate along the
+main Jerusalem road. The latter body drove hostile parties from Kushel,
+2-1/2 miles east of Enab, and secured this ridge. Meanwhile, progress
+along the "Roman road" was slow. The track was under hostile shell-fire,
+and it was found impossible to bring up guns to support the advance of
+the infantry. The advanced guard, pushing on towards Bireh, had got as
+far as Biddu, when it was held up there by intensive hostile shelling.
+The remainder of the leading brigade thereupon captured a commanding
+position about a couple of miles to the east of Biddu, and 2-1/2 miles
+short of the Jerusalem-Nablus road. This commanding position was Neby
+Samwil.
+
+Neby Samwil, one of the most prominent heights round Jerusalem, must
+always have been a place of considerable importance. It is identified
+with Mizpeh, one of the cities built by King Asa. Ecclesiastical
+tradition connects this place with Ramah, the birth and burial place of
+the prophet Samuel, whose tomb is said to lie under the Crusading
+Church, the ruins of which still exist here. To the honour of this
+prophet, the Moslems had erected a fine mosque upon this spot, which was
+a landmark for miles round. As subsequent events proved, Neby Samwil was
+the key to Jerusalem.
+
+The question has been often asked: Who was the first to capture Neby
+Samwil? The honour has sometimes been claimed for the 60th Division. No
+doubt that Division fought here, and fought well. But at least two other
+divisions, the 52nd and the 75th, had been fighting on this hill for a
+day or so before the arrival of the 60th. As a matter of fact, this
+hill, the "key" to Jerusalem, was first captured by a brigade of the
+75th Division, in honour of which a "key" was thereafter adopted as the
+proud distinguishing mark of this Division.
+
+On Neby Samwil occurred some of the bitterest fighting in the Palestine
+campaign. Both sides realized the vital importance of the position. All
+the first night the hill was distinctly unhealthy. The trees were
+infested with snipers who picked off our men in the bright moonlight.
+Some refuge from the sniping was procurable inside the Mosque, but the
+Turkish artillery had no compunction in shelling the building and
+bringing it down in ruins. As the night progressed, more troops were
+poured on to the hill. The snipers were hunted down and summarily dealt
+with. Machine guns were established in the ruined Mosque and other
+appropriate positions, and preparations made to hold the hill at all
+costs. Towards the morning the Turks delivered a determined
+counter-attack. During the 22nd, the enemy made two counter-attacks on
+the Neby Samwil Ridge, which we repulsed. In one case, the Ghurkhas,
+having run out of ammunition, hurled down rocks and boulders upon the
+heads of the ascending enemy. At one time the Mosque was deserted by all
+except one machine-gun officer, who continued to work his gun
+single-handed. By this time the 52nd Division had come up and were, in
+some cases relieving, in some fighting side by side with, the 75th.
+
+On the 23rd and on the 24th, determined and gallant attacks were made on
+the strong positions to the west of the Nablus road held by the enemy,
+who had brought up reinforcements and numerous machine guns, and could
+support his infantry by artillery fire from guns placed in position
+along the main road. Our artillery, from lack of roads, could not be
+brought up to give adequate support to our infantry, and both attacks
+failed. The yeomanry, who by the afternoon of the 21st had got to within
+a couple of miles of the Nablus road, were heavily counter-attacked, and
+fell back, after bitter fighting, on Beit-ur el-Foka (Upper Beth-horon).
+
+This fighting had been taking place over classical and sacred ground.
+Troops fighting on Neby Samwil looked down upon the Holy City, still in
+the hands of the Turk. Our advanced dressing station was established in
+the beautiful monastery on the traditional site of Emmaus; here the men
+were dying on the very spot that the risen Christ had been made known to
+His disciples in the breaking of bread.
+
+"The positions reached on the evening of the 21st practically marked the
+limit of the progress in this first attempt to gain the Nablus road.
+Positions had been won from which our final attack could be prepared and
+delivered with good prospects of success. Nevertheless, it was evident
+that a period of preparation and organization would be necessary before
+an attack could be delivered in sufficient strength to drive the enemy
+from his positions."
+
+Orders were accordingly issued to consolidate the position gained and
+prepare for relief. The 60th Division had been lent to the 21st Corps,
+and had already taken their place in the fighting on Neby Samwil. Now
+the 21st Corps were gradually relieved and moved over to the left; while
+the operations about Jerusalem were taken over by the 20th Corps.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+JERUSALEM
+
+
+Let us trace the fortunes of the 20th Corps, whom we last saw engaged in
+the fighting about Beersheba. After the fall of Gaza and Beersheba, most
+of the mounted troops went forward in pursuit of the enemy along the
+Maritime Plain. These were closely followed up and supported by the 21st
+Corps, i.e. the 52nd and 75th Divisions, with the 54th following close
+upon their heels. It was impossible at this time to supply more than a
+limited number of troops far forward of railhead. So the Divisions of
+the 20th Corps after their successful operations at Beersheba and
+Sheria, were first moved backwards to rest and re-equip, before going
+forward again into the field zone. Of these 20th Corps Divisions, the
+60th were the first to go forward. Following along the main
+Gaza-Junction Station road, in the footsteps of the 75th and 54th
+Divisions, the 60th arrived at Junction Station on the 22nd November, on
+which date the head-quarters of the 20th Corps also moved up to, and
+opened at, Junction Station. The 60th Division were now lent to the 21st
+Corps. They moved forward next day, following along the Jerusalem road
+to Enab, and about the 24th or 25th began to take their place in the
+fighting on the Neby Samwil ridge. Shortly after the 60th came forward
+the 74th. By the time that they got sufficiently far forward, the 20th
+Corps were taking over from, and relieving, the 21st, and the 74th
+Division soon found itself in the zone of operations to the west and
+north-west of Jerusalem. The 10th Division remained in the
+neighbourhood of Gaza for a few weeks, until the possibilities of supply
+permitted their also going forward. The 53rd Division did not go forward
+by the Maritime Plain at all. They remained about Beersheba until the
+4th December. Then they moved forward, without meeting with opposition,
+along the higher road, that is, through Hebron towards Bethlehem; and
+subsequently arrived in the hills at such time and place as their
+presence was required for manoeuvring the enemy out of Jerusalem.
+
+While these reliefs were in progress, several determined counter-attacks
+were delivered by the enemy in their attempt to dislodge us from the
+positions of advantage that we had already gained. At this time our line
+was, of necessity, somewhat thinly held, especially towards the sea. The
+Imperial Camel Corps, whom we last saw protecting the right flank of the
+pursuit from the threat near Beit Jibrin, had been moved across to the
+extreme left, where they and cavalry held positions on the north bank of
+the River Auja, protecting Jaffa. Further to the right, the line was
+carried on by the 54th Division, who thus linked up, along the ridge
+north of the Valley of Ajalon, with the 52nd and 75th Divisions then
+fighting in the neighbourhood of Neby Samwil. "On the 25th November our
+advanced posts north of the River Auja were driven back across the
+river. An attack on the night of the 29th succeeded in penetrating our
+outpost line north-east of Jaffa; but next morning the whole hostile
+detachment, numbering 150, was surrounded and captured by the Australian
+Light Horse. Attacks were also delivered against the left flank of our
+position in the hills from Beit-ur el-Foka to El Burj and the Neby
+Samwil ridge. One such attack was delivered on the 30th near El Burj,
+when a counter-attack by Australian Light Horse took 200 prisoners and
+practically destroyed the attacking battalion. There was particularly
+heavy fighting between El Burj and Beit-ur el-Foka, but all these
+attacks were successfully resisted and severe losses were inflicted on
+the enemy. All efforts by the enemy to drive us off the Neby Samwil
+ridge were completely repulsed.
+
+"These attacks in no way affected our positions nor impeded the progress
+of our preparations. Favoured by a continuance of fine weather,
+preparations for a fresh advance against the Turkish positions west and
+south of Jerusalem proceeded rapidly. Existing roads and tracks were
+improved and new ones constructed to enable heavy and field artillery to
+be placed in position and ammunition and supplies brought up. The water
+supply was also developed. By December 4th all reliefs were complete." A
+line was then held from Kushel, about 5 miles to the west of Jerusalem,
+along the ridge that runs north-east some 3 or 4 miles to Neby Samwil.
+From this point, the line bent back at a right angle, and ran along the
+northern ridge of the Valley of Ajalon through Beit Izza and Beit Dukka
+to Beit-ur el-Tahta (Beth-horon the Lower), from which point it was
+carried west and north-west to the sea.
+
+The enemy held a line approximately facing our Kushel-Neby Samwil line,
+protecting Jerusalem from attack from the west or north-west, his front
+line being distant about three miles from the city, and artillery and
+machine guns being posted in the outskirts of the city itself. He had
+two good lines of supply or retreat, namely the north road from Nablus
+and the eastern road through Jericho and across the Jordan to Amman
+Station on the Hejaz Railway. It will be remembered that, in the words
+of the Psalmist, "The Hills stand round about Jerusalem." The Turks were
+able to select positions of considerable natural strength in these
+surrounding hills. In fact, the country is one continual succession of
+hills and valleys, the hillsides steep and rocky, the valleys deep and
+strewn with boulders. These positions of natural strength the enemy had
+improved by the construction of trenches and strong points and other
+devices of modern field engineering.
+
+The general idea of the operations for the capture of Jerusalem was the
+simultaneous pressure of three Divisions, whereby the enemy should be
+driven off his main roads, and the city be isolated, and so forced to
+surrender. The 60th and 74th Divisions had already arrived in the
+fighting zone and were occupying positions in the line, the 60th on the
+right, about Kushel, and the 74th about Neby Samwil. On December 4th,
+the 53rd Division commenced their march from Beersheba up the
+Hebron-Jerusalem Road. No opposition was met, and, by the evening of the
+6th, the head of this column was ten miles north of Hebron. The infantry
+were directed to reach the Bethlehem area by the 7th, and a line about
+three miles south of Jerusalem by dawn on the 8th. The 8th was the date
+fixed for the commencement of the renewed operations against Jerusalem.
+
+"On the 7th the weather broke, and for three days rain was almost
+continuous. The hills were covered with mist at frequent intervals
+throughout the fighting, rendering observation from the air and visual
+signalling impossible." Great was the discomfort caused to the men by
+this rain, fog and mud. The cold was intense, and soldiers who had borne
+the brunt of a long day's fighting could not sleep, but just lay huddled
+together longing for the dawn. An even more serious effect of the rain
+was to jeopardise the supply arrangements, by converting the roads into
+seas of liquid mud, rendering them almost impassable, in places quite
+impassable for camels and mechanical transport.
+
+By dawn on the 8th, all the troops were in their allotted positions,
+except the 53rd Division. It had been recognized that these troops on
+the extreme right might be delayed and fail to reach the positions
+assigned to them by dawn on the 8th, and arrangements had accordingly
+been made for the protection of our right flank west of Jerusalem in
+case of such delay occurring. This contingency did occur. The 53rd
+Division was held up by mud and fog, and by roads blown up by the enemy,
+so that, by the morning of the 8th, it was still some distance south of
+Jerusalem; on that day it exercised little or no influence on the
+fighting.
+
+During the darkness of the night of the 7th/8th December, and in weather
+such as we have described, portions of the 60th Division clambered down
+the mountain side, crossed the deep wadi bed in front of the right of
+our line, and crept up the steep terraced sides of the opposite ridge
+where ran a portion of the Turkish line. One brigade was to make a
+frontal attack, while another was to turn the left flank of the enemy's
+position, by scaling a spur to the south-west of the village of Ain
+Karim. These two brigades stormed the main line of works before daylight
+and captured the western defences of Jerusalem. Considerable rifle and
+artillery fire was experienced from the outskirts of Jerusalem, so that
+it was necessary for our troops to throw back their right and form a
+defensive flank facing eastwards towards the city. Artillery support
+from our own guns soon became difficult, owing to the length of the
+advance and the difficulty of moving guns forward. It thus became
+difficult for these troops to attain their subsequent objectives in the
+direction of the Nablus road north of Jerusalem. Accordingly, it was
+decided, early in the afternoon, to consolidate the line gained and
+resume the advance next day, when the right column (the 53rd Division)
+would be in a position to exert its pressure.
+
+Meanwhile, the task of the 74th Division was to swing forward, with
+their left resting and pivoting on Neby Samwil, to capture Beit Iksa
+village and works, and so to swing forward to the Nablus road. They each
+captured their first objective, and we were preparing for a further
+advance. But the delay on the right made it desirable to check for the
+time the advance on the left, and to consolidate the positions already
+attained.
+
+By nightfall, our line ran from Neby Samwil to the east of Beit Iksa,
+through Lifta, to a point of about 1-1/2 miles west of Jerusalem, whence
+it was thrown back facing east. Thus, our main line had swung forward,
+circling on its pivot at Neby Samwil, with its extreme right flank
+refused. The refused right flank afforded protection against the fire
+coming from the city. The main directions of our advance, however, now
+menaced, not so much Jerusalem itself, as the main Nablus road a few
+miles to the north of the city. All the enemy's prepared defences west
+and north-west of Jerusalem had been captured, and our troops were
+within a short distance of the Nablus-Jerusalem Road.
+
+That night the Turks withdrew. On the following morning, the 9th
+December, the 74th and 60th Divisions, driving back rearguards, occupied
+a line across the Nablus-Jerusalem road 4 miles north of Jerusalem.
+
+In the meantime, the 53rd Division had arrived on the scene of
+operations to the south of Jerusalem. They bore right-handed, cleared
+the Mount of Olives, which commands Jerusalem from the east, drove the
+enemy away eastwards, and occupied a position east of Jerusalem across
+the Jericho road.
+
+These operations isolated Jerusalem. At about noon on the 9th December,
+1918, the city was surrendered.
+
+Two days later General Allenby made his official entry into Jerusalem.
+It was a simple ceremony. The General entered the city on foot, preceded
+by his aides-de-camp, and accompanied by the commanders of the French
+and Italian detachments, by the French, Italian and American military
+attaches, and by a few members of the General Staff. Outside the Jaffa
+Gate he was received by the Military Governor, and a guard of honour
+composed of representatives of troops from the various portions of the
+British Empire, which had taken part in the recent operations; while,
+inside the walls, were small parties from the French and Italian
+detachments which those countries had sent to assist us in Palestine.
+Inside the city, at the base of the Tower of David, the ceremony was
+concluded by the reading of the Proclamation. Its terms promised that
+every person could pursue his lawful business without interruption, and
+that every sacred building, monument, holy spot, shrine, traditional
+site, endowment, pious bequest, or customary place of prayer of
+whatsoever form of the great religions of mankind, would be maintained
+and protected according to the existing customs and beliefs of those to
+whose faiths they were sacred.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE HOLY CITY[2]
+
+
+It is beyond the scope of this book to attempt a detailed history of
+Jerusalem. It cannot, however, fail to interest those readers who have
+followed us thus far, if we glance at a few incidents in the history of
+this sacred spot.
+
+Of little importance, perhaps non-existent, in the days of the
+Patriarchs, and still in the hands of the Jebusites through the days of
+Joshua, the Judges, and Samuel, it first sprang into fame about a
+thousand years before Christ when it was captured by King David, who
+made it his capital. Solomon built his temple on Mount Moriah, and
+prayed to Jehovah that He would especially hear the prayers of His
+people when they prayed toward the city which He had chosen and the
+House which Solomon had built for His name. Then did this city become,
+and has ever since remained, the sacred city of the Jews.
+
+With the advent of Christ, born within a few miles of its walls, Who
+here preached and healed, instituted His Holy Sacrament, suffered under
+Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried and the third day rose
+again from the dead, Who here laid the foundations of the most beautiful
+religion that the world has ever seen, Jerusalem became and has ever
+since remained, the sacred city of the Christian.
+
+And then, six hundred years later, came the rise of Islam. The great
+prophet Mahomet, in evolving his religion, based his teaching upon the
+principles of Judaism and Christianity, the prophets of which were to be
+honoured, including "the prophet David" and "the Prophet Christ." So, in
+accordance with the prayer of Solomon, and until the antagonism between
+Judaism and Islam led to the substitution of Mecca, it was towards
+Jerusalem that devout Moslems were required to turn when they prayed.
+From Mount Moriah did Mahomet, as his followers believe, miraculously
+ascend to heaven. And so did Jerusalem become, and has ever since
+remained, no less a sacred city of the Mahomedan.
+
+Thus it will be seen that Jerusalem, the sacred city of three mighty
+religions, became the most holy city in the world, the poetical
+prototype of heaven.
+
+Jerusalem, situate away on the hills and far from the main trading and
+military route, was of but little commercial or strategical importance.
+Yet we readily understand how its religious value caused it so often to
+become the goal and prize of contending creeds and armies. Sometimes the
+motive was religious antagonism, as with Antiochus Epiphanes and Titus;
+sometimes it was religious devotion, as with the Maccabees and
+Crusaders. Pitiful though it be, yet, throughout the ages, the City of
+the Prince of Peace has been associated with the most terrible scenes,
+the most savage excesses, in the whole dreadful drama of war.
+
+Not once nor twice in the reigns of the Kings of Judah and Israel, did
+Jerusalem resound with the clash of arms. Although, after the fall of
+the northern kingdom, it was delivered by divine intervention from the
+invasion of Sennacherib, yet its submersion by the rising tide of
+Babylon could not long be averted. The evil day had only been postponed
+and, in 607 B.C., Jerusalem fell before Nebuchadnezzar, before that
+power which, like Turkey of yesterday, dominated the whole stretch of
+country from the Persian Gulf to the border of Egypt. Twenty years
+later, Jerusalem, with the Temple of Solomon, was destroyed, the city,
+palaces and temple being levelled in one, and the population were put to
+death or led away captive to Babylon.
+
+When, some years later, the capital of the Babylonians was captured by
+the Persians and their empire annexed, the Jews were permitted to return
+to Jerusalem. In the sixth and fifth centuries B.C. the temple and walls
+were rebuilt under Ezra and Nehemiah, and Jerusalem took a fresh lease
+of life as a Jewish city.
+
+In the fourth century B.C., when Alexander the Great marched southwards
+through Syria to Egypt, securing the Mediterranean littoral before
+embarking on his expedition into Asia, overthrowing Tyre in his march
+and totally destroying Gaza, the Jews no doubt made their submission,
+and their city thus escaped destruction.
+
+After the death of Alexander, Judaea did not escape the anarchy which
+ensued during the internecine warfare waged by his generals and
+successors. In 321 B.C., Ptolemy I, King of Egypt, advanced against
+Jerusalem, and, assaulting it on the Sabbath, the Jew's day of rest, met
+with no resistance. He is said to have carried away 100,000 captives,
+whom he settled in Alexandria and Cyrene. The founding of a Syro-Grecian
+kingdom in Northern Syria brought Judaea again into the unfortunate
+situation of a buffer state. Jerusalem seemed doomed to be among the
+prizes of an interminable warfare between the Ptolemies of Egypt and the
+Seleucidae of Syria and in turns vassal to each.
+
+At the commencement of the second century B.C. Judaea passed into the
+hands of the Syrian King Antiochus the Great, who at once proceeded to
+ingratiate himself with the whole nation. It was not the tyranny of
+foreign sovereigns, but the unprincipled ambition of their own native
+rulers, that led to calamities little less dreadful than the Babylonian
+captivity. Jason, the High Priest, had been dispossessed by his brother
+Menelaus, by double dealing with the Syrian King, who at this time was
+Antiochus Epiphanes. A rumour of the King's death having reached
+Palestine in 170 B.C., Jason seized the opportunity and revolted against
+his brother Menelaus. But the rumour was false.
+
+"The intelligence of the insurrection, magnified into a deliberate
+revolt of the whole nation, reached Antiochus. He marched without delay
+against Jerusalem, put to death in three days' time 40,000 of the
+inhabitants, and seized as many more to be sold as slaves. He entered
+every court of the Temple, pillaged the treasury, and seized all the
+sacred utensils. He then commanded a great sow to be sacrificed on the
+altar of burnt offerings, part of the flesh to be boiled, and the liquor
+from the unclean animal to be sprinkled over every part of the Temple;
+and thus desecrated with the most odious defilement the sacred place
+which the Jews had considered for centuries the one holy spot in all the
+Universe."[3]
+
+Two years afterwards, Antiochus determined to exterminate the Hebrew
+race from the face of the earth. This produced the revolt of the Jews
+under Mattathias, whose illustrious son, Judas Maccabaeus, founded the
+Maccabaean dynasty. By 128 B.C., the Jews, under John Hyrcanus, recovered
+their complete independence, which they maintained until compelled to
+acknowledge the dominion of Rome.
+
+But the native rulers could not govern for long without dissension. Soon
+were two more competitors, Aristobulus and Hyrcanus, quarrelling about
+the succession to the Jewish throne. The republic of Rome, having
+trampled under foot the pride and strength of the great Asiatic
+monarchies, assumed a right of interfering in the affairs of every
+independent kingdom. The ambassadors of Aristobulus and Hyrcanus
+appeared before Pompey, who was then in Syria and was at the zenith of
+his power. After subjugating Arabia, Pompey, in 63 B.C., marched
+directly into Judaea. Espousing the candidature of Hyrcanus, Pompey
+marched against Jerusalem, within the walls of which he was admitted by
+the party of Hyrcanus. Aristobulus and his supporters, with the
+priesthood, withdrew to the Temple and prepared for an obstinate
+defence. At the end of three months, and after great loss of life, the
+Romans made themselves masters of the Temple. "The conduct of the Roman
+General excited at once the horror and the admiration of the Jews. He
+entered the Temple, and even penetrated and profaned with his heathen
+presence the Holy of Holies. All the riches he left untouched, and the
+Temple he commanded to be purified from the carnage of his soldiers."[4]
+He stipulated the tribute which the country was to pay, demolished the
+walls of the city, and nominated Hyrcanus to the priesthood, though
+without the royal diadem. The magnanimity of Pompey, in respecting the
+Treasures of the Temple, could not obliterate the deeper impression of
+Jewish hatred excited by his profanation of the sacred precincts.
+
+From this time forward Judaea becomes more and more under the shadow of
+Rome. The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by Antipater, and later, the
+Temple, which had become much dilapidated, was demolished, and rebuilt
+in great magnificence by Herod the Great. He was the last King of Judaea
+with any semblance of autonomy, and, in the year A.D. 6, Palestine was
+annexed to the Roman Empire.
+
+We pass over the incidents in the Life and death of our Lord, which, at
+the time, could have but little affected current events, but which were
+destined to influence so deeply the subsequent history, not merely of
+Palestine but of the whole world. And we come to the cataclysm of which
+Our Lord had been the sorrowful yet unerring Prophet.
+
+Blinded by religious fanaticism, and convinced that God must fight upon
+their side and give victory to His chosen people, be their conduct never
+so cruel and their bearing never so arrogant, the Jewish race, though a
+mere handful of men, offered war to the mistress of the world. With
+little military organization or training, divided by factions and torn
+asunder by internal dissensions, they yet dared to defy the mighty power
+of Rome. They defeated the ill-starred expedition of Cestius Gallus, and
+inflicted upon the Roman arms the most terrible disgrace they had ever
+endured in the East. But the triumph was short-lived; a terrible revenge
+was at hand. It was in this year, A.D. 70, that Titus laid siege to the
+city. At the time, its population was swollen ten or twenty-fold by the
+pilgrims attending the Passover. The reserves of food were destroyed in
+faction fights even before the Romans arrived outside the city walls.
+"Of all wretched and bloody sieges in the world's history, few, if any,
+have been more wretched or more bloody than the siege of Jerusalem by
+Titus. Fierce and bloody as was the fighting, the deaths from sickness
+and famine were yet more terrible. Dead bodies were thrown out into the
+valleys, where they lay rotting, a loathsome mass. The number of those
+who died in the siege were estimated at 600,000. At night, miserable,
+starving wretches would steal into the ravines to gather roots for food;
+here they were pounced upon by ambushed Romans and crucified by hundreds
+next morning in full view of the battlements."[5] Gradually the
+assaulting Romans got possession of portions of the city, yet the
+portions still uncaptured refused to surrender, their defenders still
+hoping against hope for a divine intervention, as in the days of
+Sennacherib. At length the city fell. The Romans, pouring in, began by
+slaying indiscriminately. Tiring of butchery, they turned their thoughts
+to plunder, but stood aghast at the houses filled with dead and
+putrefying corpses. The Temple of Herod was burnt, the city was
+desolate, while those whose miseries had not been relieved by death,
+were carried away into yet more miserable slavery or to a death more
+ignominious at Rome. As a Jewish city, Jerusalem had perished for ever.
+
+Sixty years later, Jerusalem was rebuilt by the Emperor Hadrian. He
+resolved to suppress altogether the troublesome and turbulent Judaism.
+The measures which he took caused the Jews to rise against him under
+Barcochebas. This was the wildest and the most bloodthirsty of all the
+Jewish revolts; but it was the last. Jerusalem having been recaptured,
+Hadrian converted it into a Roman colony, forbade Jews to approach, and
+built a temple of Jupiter on the site of the Temple.
+
+It was when the Roman Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity, and his
+mother Helena discovered the true Cross and the Holy Places, that
+Jerusalem came again into prominence. Thereafter, churches and
+monasteries sprung up throughout Palestine, which thus, for a time,
+became thoroughly Christianized, under the Christian Emperors of Rome
+and Byzantium. But the seventh century saw the fall of the Christian
+ascendancy in Syria. In A.D. 614, the Persians, under Chosroes, swept
+through the land, massacring the Christians wholesale, and destroying
+most of their churches, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The
+withdrawal of the Persians was followed by a brief return of Christian
+ascendancy lasting but eight years, under the Emperor Heraclius. And
+then, in 637, Jerusalem fell to the growing power of Islam. It was this
+new religion, with a calendar only dating from A.D. 622, which was to
+control the future destinies of the Holy City.
+
+Islam arose at Mecca and Medina in barren and uninviting Arabia. When it
+started on that expansion, whereby it overspread half of the known
+world, Syria, from its situation, was naturally the first country to
+tempt its restless and devoted Arab warriors. Within ten years of the
+Hegira, or commencement of the Mahomedan era, we find the followers of
+the Prophet already in Syria. The Byzantine army was overwhelmed at the
+battle of the Yarmuk, and the Arabs laid siege to Jerusalem. The city
+capitulated to Omar, who granted terms of comparative magnanimity. His
+terms gave to the Christians security of person and property, safety of
+their churches, and non-interference on the part of Mahomedans with
+their religious exercises, houses or institutions. Upon the site of the
+Temple, which had been systematically defiled by the Christians out of
+abhorrence for the Jews, but which was honoured by the Moslems as the
+spot from which Mahomed ascended to heaven, was now erected the Mosque
+of Omar. This site became to the Mussulman, the most venerated spot in
+Jerusalem, as was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the Christian.
+When, in after years, pilgrimages to Mecca were temporarily interrupted,
+devout Mahomedans made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem instead.
+
+For the next few centuries Christian and Muslim lived together upon a
+fairly workable basis of toleration. Massacres of Christians and
+destruction of their churches occurred periodically, either in revenge
+for Christian successes elsewhere, or in connexion with other Mussulman
+disorders when mutual assassination was popular. But, on the whole,
+pilgrims, who at this time swarmed from all over Europe to visit the
+Holy Places at Jerusalem, were allowed to do so comparatively
+unmolested--that is, they were probably not robbed more in Palestine
+than in other professedly Christian countries through which they had to
+pass along their road. Had the Arab Mussulman remained master of
+Jerusalem, the Christians of Europe would probably have remained content
+with the situation.
+
+A change came in the year 1077. Jerusalem was then taken by the Turks,
+who had conquered all Asia Minor and were already threatening the
+Byzantine Empire in Europe. The treatment which the Christian pilgrims
+now received at Jerusalem aroused intense indignation in Europe, chiefly
+stimulated by the preaching of Peter the Hermit. Other motives there
+were, such as the protection of the Byzantine Empire from the menaces of
+the Turk, the desire of the Latin Church to prevail over the Byzantine,
+and the temptations always offered in a holy war of loot upon earth and
+salvation in heaven. Nevertheless, there undoubtedly spread, throughout
+Western Europe, a mighty wave of religious enthusiasm which was sincere.
+
+The first Crusade was mainly recruited in France. Great were the
+vicissitudes through which the Crusaders passed on their pilgrimage
+through Europe and Asia Minor, largely through quarrels with their
+fellow-Christians before the Turks had even been encountered or their
+country entered. Having defeated the Turks at Antioch, the army marched
+south along the coast and at length reached and besieged Jerusalem. Of
+the numbers that set out from Western Europe, probably not less than a
+million, only a remnant of twenty thousand fighting men, with an equal
+number of followers, had reached the Holy City. Though thus decimated
+and war weary, the Crusaders were ecstatic with religious fervour; St.
+George was said to have appeared to them clad in shining armour; the
+Saracens gave way, and Jerusalem was taken by assault. The usual
+massacre of the inhabitants followed, and estimates of the slain vary
+from forty to a hundred thousand. In 1099 was established the Christian
+kingdom of Jerusalem, the kingdom of the Crusaders, Latin in creed,
+French in nationality, feudal in character and precarious in existence.
+The state of affairs seems now rather to have resembled the relationship
+which formerly existed between the Hebrews and the Philistines, or, even
+more analogously, that between the Italian city-states of the Middle
+Ages. Most of the cities of Palestine were gradually annexed by the
+Christians, but some, notably Askalon, did not pass out of the hands of
+the Saracens for many decades. Accordingly, wars became matters of
+almost annual occurrence, and "never, during the whole eighty years of
+its existence, was the kingdom of Jerusalem free from war and war's
+alarms."[6] The bulk of the original Crusaders left alive soon returned
+to their homes in Europe. There was little or no native Christian
+population on which to draw, and the kingdom became dependent for the
+support of its army, both as to men and money, on the pilgrims that
+swarmed from Europe to Jerusalem; naval assistance was given by Genoese
+and by Venetians, more, alas, from motives of commerce than of piety.
+Religious enthusiasm had been capable of conquering and establishing
+this kingdom, but it proved quite unequal to the tasks of sustenance or
+protection. And so, after eighty years of romance and trouble, of love
+and war, of lust and murder, often inflicted, more often endured, this
+kingdom fell, because it had no sure foundation.
+
+The decline and fall of the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem forms a sordid
+story of jealousy, and intrigue, of futile ambition and divided
+counsels, of perjury and perfidy. The Crusaders intermarried with the
+women of the country, and, except so far as it was constantly recruited
+from Europe, the race rapidly degenerated. With no resources at their
+back, except the charity of Europe, the Crusaders yet had dreams of
+worldly aggrandisement, which included in their ken the whole of Egypt
+and Syria. The Second Crusade of 1146-9 came, not to conquer, but to
+support and defend this already tottering kingdom. It did that kingdom
+more harm than good, for it drained Europe of its potential pilgrims,
+anticipating and exhausting the natural flow of men and money on which
+the kingdom had come to rely, and dissipated them on a futile attempt to
+annex Damascus.
+
+The Knights Templars, the feudal barons of the country, built castles
+throughout the land, and lived at constant variance with the King and
+central government. Every baron fought for his own land and for his own
+aggrandisement. The kingdom of Jerusalem was fast tottering to its fall.
+
+It was in 1187 that Saladin, having made himself master of Egypt and of
+Damascus, attacked Tiberias, as a first step towards overthrowing the
+kingdom of Jerusalem. The Crusaders moved against him from Seffuriyeh.
+It was July, and the Crusaders were absolutely without water; the
+Saracens, with Lake Tiberias at their back, had abundance. The
+Crusaders, suffering terribly from thirst, nevertheless attacked. The
+result of the battle was a foregone conclusion. Here, at the Horns of
+Hattin, the Mount of Beatitudes, was the Crusaders' army destroyed and
+the power of the Christian completely crushed. Jerusalem itself, after a
+short, fierce struggle, fell in the following October. The inhabitants
+were not put to the sword. Huge ransoms were paid and the Christian
+population allowed to disperse throughout Syria. Jerusalem had passed
+again (it seemed as if for ever) into the hands of the Mahomedan.
+
+"The news of the fall of Jerusalem was received in Europe with a thrill
+of horror and indignation."[7] Thereupon set forth the Third Crusade,
+that which is identified with Richard I of England. Travelling by sea,
+these Crusaders avoided the horrible sufferings inevitable to the
+crossing of Asia Minor. Acre was captured in 1190, by the Crusaders,
+after a siege lasting for two years. Thence they marched southwards,
+through Caesarea to Jaffa, fighting on their way the great battle of
+Assur, when Saladin was defeated. But Richard, instead of marching upon
+Jerusalem, which lay in his grasp, vacillated and negotiated. At length
+he decided to go up against Jerusalem. Some twenty miles from the city
+he stopped. Again he vacillated. Dissensions broke out between the Duke
+of Burgundy and King Richard. The design of besieging Jerusalem was
+given up, and the army slowly and sadly returned to Jaffa. Thereupon, in
+1192, a peace was concluded, whereby the sea coast, from Jaffa to Acre,
+was ceded to the Franks, but Jerusalem still remained in the hands of
+the Saracens.
+
+There were several more Crusades. None of them (unless we except the
+treaty of the excommunicated Frederick in 1229) ever reached Jerusalem.
+Some of them never even reached Palestine, being shamefully diverted to
+other purposes. Saddest of all was the Children's Crusade, when fifty
+thousand poor misguided children followed the Cross (like the Pied Piper
+of Hamelin) to slavery, dishonour, or death. But these form no part of
+the history of Jerusalem.
+
+In 1244, we find Christian and Saracen making common cause in Palestine
+against the Kharezmians. These Mongols, who only appeared on the stage
+of history for a brief period of four years, swept through the country,
+captured Jerusalem, massacred all on whom they could lay hands, Moslem
+and Christian alike, and destroyed such sacred relics as they could
+find. Then, defeated by the Egyptians, they perished out of history as
+suddenly as they had appeared.
+
+In 1291, the Christians, by this time reduced to their last stronghold
+of Acre, were finally expelled by the Moslems from Palestine--and that
+was the end of the Crusades. Europe became reconciled to the fact that
+the Kingdom of Christ is a Kingdom, not of the sword but of the soul.
+And so, the watchword by which the Crusades were inspired now became the
+consolation of their end--"Dieu le veut."
+
+In 1400, Syria and Palestine fell under another Mongol invasion by
+Timoor the Tartar (Tamerlane). In 1517, Palestine was annexed to the
+Ottoman Empire under Selim I, of which Empire it has since formed an
+integral part. At the close of the eighteenth century, Napoleon marched
+through the country, defeating the Turks at Gaza and on the Plain of
+Esdraelon, but was forced to withdraw. In 1832, Mohammad Ali, having
+thrown off the Turkish yoke in Egypt, conquered Syria, but nine years
+later, through the action of the European Powers, the country was
+restored again to the Ottoman Porte.
+
+In so far as any principles can be deduced from this history, they seem
+to show that Jerusalem, situated as it is, could never become the
+capital of a great Empire. On the other hand, this city, coveted by so
+many races and creeds, must be safeguarded by the arms and resources of
+some great Empire, or it can never remain at peace.
+
+It may be of interest to close this resume of the history of Jerusalem
+by comparing the route taken by General Allenby with those taken by
+previous soldiers in their conquests of Judaea. The routes taken by the
+British have already been fully described. In only one known case, that
+of the First Crusade, had Judaea been successfully invaded before by an
+invader who had not previously made himself master of at least three of
+her borders.[8] The attempt at a swift rush across one border made by
+Cestius Gallus, ended in a failure, which was only wiped out four years
+later after the Romans, under Vespasian and Titus, had first overrun
+Galilee and Samaria and mastered the strongholds round the Judaean
+borders. This was the policy followed, a thousand years later, by
+Saladin.
+
+The upland of Judaea has almost never been invaded from the barren
+waterless south.[8] David, operating from Hebron, must have approached
+Jerusalem from the south, but he was already in possession of the Judaean
+plateau. The original attempt of the Israelites to enter the country
+from the south was checked, and they subsequently crossed the Jordan and
+entered Judaea through Jericho from the east. The Philistines must have
+come up by the passes from the west. Sennacherib did not approach
+Jerusalem himself, but it was whilst warring against Egypt at Lachish
+(Tel el Hesi on the Maritime Plain) that he sent his arrogant message to
+Jerusalem; and it was on the Plain that his victorious army, infected by
+the plague from Egypt, melted away as by a miracle. Egypt was his
+objective, not Judaea. Nebuchadnezzar may have invaded Judaea from the
+north, but it is more probable that he also came up from the west, after
+first making himself master of the Maritime Plain. Pompey was returning
+from his expedition in Arabia when he invaded, so he entered from the
+east, ascending the Judaean plateau by way of Jericho and Bethel. Herod
+invaded from the north.
+
+In the Christian era, Cestius Gallus made his disastrous expedition by
+the Valley of Ajalon, Beth-horon and Gibeon. Titus, after the
+surrounding country had been subjugated, moved his army up to Jerusalem
+by Gophna (Jufna) and Bethel, and so through Bireh, from the north-west
+and north. The Moslems, in 637, first captured Damascus; subsequently
+they approached Jerusalem across the Jordan. The First Crusaders came
+through Asia Minor and won a decisive victory at Antioch; thence they
+came southward along the coast, through Ramleh, and up the Valley of
+Ajalon, their advance through the mountains being unopposed. Saladin, by
+the decisive battle of Hattin, near Tiberias, made himself master of the
+surrounding country before closing in upon Jerusalem, which he
+eventually did from Hebron (south), from Askalon (west), and from the
+north. In the Third Crusade, Richard and his Crusaders came oversea to
+Acre; after marching to Ramleh, they tried first to reach the Holy City
+up the Valley of Ajalon, and afterwards by the Vale of Elah, the Wady es
+Sunt, further to the south, but both attempts failed.
+
+Many of the invading armies that have swept through Palestine have
+confined themselves to the great inter-continental road along the
+Maritime Plain, and have passed by Jerusalem, secure upon its plateau.
+We have seen that this was so with Sennacherib. This was probably the
+case with Alexander the Great, and was undoubtedly so with Napoleon. The
+latter defeated the Turks at Gaza and again on the Plain of Esdraelon.
+His objective was Syria, but he was foiled by the action of the British
+in the siege of Acre. This distraction also prevented him from making
+any attempt to reach Jerusalem.
+
+Prior to the arrival of the British, it was seven centuries since a
+Christian conqueror had set foot in Jerusalem. But there was now no
+gloating of the Cross over the Crescent. On the contrary, guards of
+Moslem troops from our Indian army were placed upon every building
+sacred to Islam, while Christian guards were mounted over those sacred
+to Christianity. Never before had Jerusalem fallen into the hands of
+conquerors so zealous for the safety of its populace or so concerned for
+the preservation of the city and all that it contained.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 2: Much of the material in this Chapter is derived from
+Milman's _History of the Jews_, W. Besant and E. H. Palmer's
+_Jerusalem_, and George Adam Smith's _Historical Geography of the Holy
+Land_, to which my acknowledgments are accordingly due.]
+
+[Footnote 3: Milman.]
+
+[Footnote 4: Milman.]
+
+[Footnote 5: Milman.]
+
+[Footnote 6: Besant & Palmer.]
+
+[Footnote 7: Besant & Palmer.]
+
+[Footnote 8: G. A. Smith.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+JUNCTION STATION AND LUDD
+
+
+An interesting task fell to my lot, in the reduction to order of the
+chaos existing at Junction Station. This place had been an important
+rest camp on the enemy's line of communications. That the Germans
+thought they had come to stay was manifested by the style in which the
+station and other buildings had been erected, as well as by the plans
+which they had left behind them for intended future development. Most of
+the buildings, including an up-to-date flour mill fitted with modern
+machinery, had been substantially built with stone. The erection of many
+additional houses was clearly contemplated, while the work had already
+been put in hand of planting fruit orchards.
+
+The disgusting state in which these premises were left was
+indescribable. Rotting carcases of beasts lay all about the place, while
+other filth almost surpassed them in stench. The buildings were infested
+with flies by day and mosquitoes by night, while other forms of vermin
+carried on the good work throughout the whole twenty-four hours.
+
+A large amount of stores had been left behind and had fallen into our
+hands, consisting mainly of grain, flour, and fodder (tibbin). The enemy
+had destroyed some of the buildings, smashed up the mill machinery, and
+set on fire as much of the corn as possible. This fire lasted for days,
+until at length it burned itself out, for it was useless attempting to
+salve any portion of the grain composing the bonfire.
+
+Before we had so much as taken possession, swarms of Bedouin came
+through the premises to loot. Thieving with them is instinctive. They
+could not understand why they had not a right to help themselves to what
+the Turks had abandoned. However, a strong guard was posted at once;
+those Bedouin who had taken up their abode on the premises were evicted;
+and preparations were made to face a somewhat stormy night. All that
+night through the crack of rifles resounded. Although the bag next
+morning proved to be small, yet, for days afterwards, Bedouin kept
+dropping in at our hospitals with bullet wounds to be dressed, as to the
+cause of which they could offer no satisfactory explanation. After this
+the looting fell off considerably. Nevertheless, a certain number of
+looters, averaging about a dozen a day, were caught and put into the
+Guard Room. We were glad of their assistance, as there was much filthy
+cleaning up to be done, so, fools that came to loot, remained to
+scavenge. Once we had an awkward predicament, for the sergeant of the
+guard, having confined in the same lock-up some looters, whose detention
+should be for twenty-four hours, and some prisoners, whose detention
+should be for the duration of the war, could not subsequently tell them
+apart.
+
+The enemy left here intact an entire Turkish hospital. It was one of the
+most picturesque of Eastern sights that anybody could wish to see.
+Crowded together in one huge ward were men of every shade, in variegated
+costumes, lying on beds with coverlets rivalling Joseph's coat of many
+colours. Unfortunately, the hospital was infected, or suspected of
+infection, with typhus. Therefore, as soon as the patients and staff had
+been evacuated, it was set on fire, and the whole hospital, woodwork,
+tents and all that they contained, ascended to heaven in a great column
+of smoke. Among the contents was a nice new camp bedstead. Pending the
+decision as to the competent military authority in whose custody this
+should be placed, I gave orders for it to be transferred to my quarters.
+But, strangely enough, each senior officer that arrived considered that
+the competent military authority to take charge of this bedstead was
+himself. It must have had at least a dozen owners by the time that it
+ascended in smoke. This hospital also contained one case of sardines. It
+was wonderful how widely spread became the fame of those sardines. Every
+British officer in Palestine seems to have licked his lips and looked
+forward to a meal of sardines when he should pass through Junction
+Station. Unfortunately, nobody could find those sardines. But a week
+later, when the rush of officers had gone, it was discovered that they
+had been appropriated as medical comforts by the R.A.M.C. Now, it so
+happened, that none of the patients then arriving were on a sardine
+diet, so other measures had to be taken to ensure that the sardines were
+not wasted.
+
+As the army went forward, they sent back large numbers of Turkish
+prisoners of war. These were collected at Junction Station, where a
+compound was formed. Such as were required for labour were temporarily
+detained, while the others were marched back under guard to railhead.
+
+During this sojourn, the prisoners were usefully employed in clearing up
+the messes which had been left behind, particularly in burying carcases.
+At one place we found half-a-dozen dead buffaloes lying half submerged.
+Before they could be got at and cleared away it was necessary to drain
+off the water. A party of the prisoners were detailed for this task; a
+few hours later they were found seriously trying to drain this water
+away up-hill. Among the prisoners were a few officers. In default of
+other suitable accommodation, one of them was allowed to live in a room
+at the Commandant's house. He displayed great anxiety lest somebody
+should touch the disused telephone or other wires, fire a booby trap
+possibly left behind by his kind friends, and so blow him to eternity.
+
+There was not much time to spare for contemplation. Nevertheless, in
+this, the Vale of Sorek, I often thought of Samson and Delilah, and
+"Mon coeur s'ouvre a ton voix"; or, pictured the Ark of the Covenant
+wend its way past my very door, on a cart drawn by two milch kine, on
+that wonderful journey from Ekron to Beth-Shemesh.
+
+There was plenty of work to be done, in reducing chaos to order, in
+protecting much valuable property, in meeting the requirements of
+thousands of passing troops, and in spreading, as it were, the spawn for
+this mushroom town. It had been an important place under Turkish
+administration. It promised, under the British regime, to become the
+most important railway centre in Palestine. Consequently, schemes of
+water supply, sanitation, and town planning had to be evolved and
+installed immediately, hospitals opened in the most appropriate
+buildings, spaces set apart for camping grounds for all classes of
+troops and animals, huge dumps and supply dumps respectively, railway
+sidings laid down and cemeteries opened both for Christians and for
+Mahomedans, while roads had to be improved and sign-boards set up in all
+directions.
+
+Many and diverse were the arrivals and departures in the course of one
+busy week. Foremost came the fighting troops of the 21st Corps, the 75th
+and 54th Divisions, followed later by those of the 20th Corps, the 60th
+and 74th Divisions. With them arrived field ambulances, which took
+possession of the best of the buildings and converted them into
+hospitals. Companies of Royal Engineers arrived, and travelling
+workshops staffs of the Ordnance Department, and both of these lost no
+time in opening their workshops. Enormous supply dumps were formed and
+camel convoys, miles long, arrived with supplies. The camels were
+specially inconsiderate, and would select awkward spots, like
+cross-roads, at which to lie down and die. They were welcome to die, if
+only they could and would have first made adequate arrangements for
+their own obsequies. A battalion of British West Indians that arrived,
+aroused both sympathy and amusement. They had marched through
+torrential rain and arrived soaked to the skin. In spite of a warning as
+to what they might expect, they rushed for shelter into some of the
+buildings which had not yet been disinfected; but their exit was even
+faster than their entrance, and they preferred the wet and cheerless
+exterior to being eaten alive within. Scarcely a day's march behind the
+fighting troops, arrived a thousand or more of the Egyptian Labour
+Corps. These were immediately set to work on the roads, and such good
+work did they do that the roads were soon in an excellent condition for
+mechanical transport. Full of irony was the arrival of several guards
+and a staff of military police _en route_ for Jerusalem. It was
+believed, at this time, that the fall of Jerusalem was imminent. That
+Britain's fair name might not be sullied by any foolish misbehaviour, or
+any still more foolish collection of souvenirs, it was decided that
+guards should at once be mounted upon the Holy Places in Jerusalem.
+These guards, Christian and Moslem, collected at Junction Station, ready
+to march straight into the city; but, when its fall was postponed _sine
+die_, they had sadly but surely to return to their own regiments. The
+intention had been to surround Jerusalem with a cordon of British
+sentries; an order, accordingly, was published that any British soldier
+found within 5 miles of Jerusalem would be liable to be shot. Our
+unfortunate British soldiers fighting on Neby Samwil, which was within
+the prescribed distance, readily endorsed that sentiment, though
+scarcely in the sense implied by the authorities.
+
+Of all activities at this time of industry, none were greater than those
+of the railway development companies of the Royal Engineers. The Turkish
+line had been destroyed in several places and the rolling stock much
+damaged. Nevertheless, repairs were put in hand immediately, leaky
+engines were made water-tight, damaged trucks and coaches were made fit
+to travel, and, within a very short space of time, there was a train
+running each way between Junction Station and Deir Sineid. As being the
+services of primary importance, the first trains were confined to the
+bringing up of ammunition and the taking down of wounded. The captured
+rolling stock was limited, and so the number of trains was painfully
+restricted. Fortunately, this narrow gauge line was of similar gauge to
+certain light railways in Egypt, and rolling stock from those lines was
+brought up with all convenient speed. Moreover, two quite new engines,
+said to have been originally destined for this line but captured at sea
+during the early days of the war, were hurried up and put into
+commission. New constructional work was also put in hand at once,
+including an embankment for continuing the line northwards across the
+bed of the Wadi Surar (Sorek), the original steel girder bridge having
+unfortunately been destroyed. The fate of the bridges here was similarly
+unfortunate. The railway bridge, which should have been blown up before,
+so as to prevent the escape of the Turkish trains, was only destroyed
+after they had got away; and so the destruction of this bridge proved of
+great hindrance to us, but caused no inconvenience whatever to the
+enemy. The other bridge across the wadi was a timber bridge, which
+carried the road. As this bridge was insecure and required
+strengthening, a party of military police were posted upon it to stop
+all traffic from crossing it through the night. Seized with a brain
+wave, they lit a fire upon the centre of the bridge. This expedient
+proved so successful, that it not only stopped the traffic for that
+night, but for all time. When morning came, it was discovered that they
+had burnt away the bridge itself, and a new bridge had to be
+constructed.
+
+An armoured train was improvised from such trucks as were available, the
+sides being sandbagged and a Lewis gun mounted in front. With this, the
+railway line was patrolled towards Jerusalem for some miles, until
+destroyed bridges made further progress impossible. The result of this
+reconnaissance showed that trains could run for some distance along
+this line, and ammunition trains were pushed forward accordingly.
+
+When I left Junction Station to rejoin the fighting troops, it was well
+on the high road to importance and fame. This, however, never matured.
+It was to the policy of railway construction that this place owed its
+primary existence; it was to an extension of that policy that it looked
+for its future development; it was through a change in that policy that
+its glory soon afterwards departed.
+
+The original intention had been to adapt to our use the Turkish railway
+system, merely broadening the gauge. In that case, our own broad gauge
+line from Kantara, which, immediately on the fall of Gaza, had been
+brought through to Deir Sineid, would have been continued along the
+route of the Turkish line from Deir Sineid to Junction Station. The
+first months of working this Turkish line, still in its narrow gauge
+condition as captured, did not afford a promising outlook. These were
+months of torrential and persistent rain. The country became a quagmire.
+Landslips along the permanent way, and the washing away of culverts,
+became of such frequent occurrence, that it was decided to abandon this
+portion of this line altogether. Committed, therefore, to no
+predetermined route, the engineers were left with the whole country open
+to them to choose a course for their new trunk railway to the north.
+They chose a line much nearer the coast, and approximately followed the
+border line between the fertile plain and the sand dunes from Deir
+Sineid as far north as Yebna, thence bearing north-east towards Ramleh
+and Ludd. This had the effect of making the future railhead at Ludd.
+
+Situate at the cross-roads where the Valley of Ajalon debouches upon the
+Plain, and the ancient route from Jerusalem to Jaffa crosses the yet
+more ancient route from Egypt and Gaza to Acre and Damascus, the
+neighbourhood of Ramleh and Ludd has for many centuries been the site of
+an important town. In Biblical days it was Ludd; in Crusading days it
+was Ramleh. The towns are but a couple of miles apart. And so it came
+about that now, once again, this spot became the great traffic junction
+of Palestine.
+
+As time passed on, and as, through the spring and summer of 1918, we
+held a line across Palestine to the north of and covering Jerusalem and
+Jaffa, railway development proceeded apace, being focussed on Ludd. In
+spite of the difficulties of railway engineering in the mountains, the
+broad gauge line was carried from Ludd through Junction Station right up
+to Jerusalem. Well-constructed narrow gauge lines were laid down between
+Ludd and Jaffa, and between railhead and various distributing centres
+close behind the front line. The line from Junction Station to Beersheba
+was changed from narrow to broad gauge and extended to Rafa. Thereafter
+the line was double from Kantara to Rafa. From Rafa, one single line
+went forward, by Belah, Gaza and Yebna, to Ludd, while another single
+line went forward to Ludd by way of Beersheba and Junction Station. The
+advantages of a double line system north of Rafa were thus secured at
+times of pressure by working the full freight trains forward to Ludd via
+Gaza and Yebna, and working the trains of returned empties back again by
+way of Beersheba.
+
+Ludd developed apace. Soon were seen all the evidences and activities of
+a great advanced base and distributing centre. Huge ordnance and supply
+dumps arose, workshops and depots were to be seen on all sides, a great
+bakery was installed and even a mineral-water factory. The importance of
+Ludd far eclipsed the quondam glory of Belah, and came nearer to
+rivalling that of Kantara.
+
+To an Englishman, the chief interest of Ludd lies in its being the place
+of martyrdom and burial of St. George. Was it not appropriate that the
+victorious British armies in Palestine should have been provided and fed
+from beside the very tomb of their own Patron Saint?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE JORDAN
+
+
+Jerusalem having surrendered on the 9th December, the enemy lay round
+about in an encircling line on the north and east. The first thing to be
+done was to make good our hold upon the city. Accordingly, a series of
+minor operations took place, with the object of clearing the enemy from
+any points of vantage that he held and driving him further from the
+city.
+
+On the night of the 26/27th December, determined counter-attacks were
+delivered by the Turks. They attacked the 53rd Division at points east
+of Jerusalem, and the 60th to the north, their principal objective being
+Tel el Ful, a conspicuous hill 3 miles east of Neby Samwil, from which
+Jerusalem and the intervening ground could be overlooked. On the morning
+of the 28th, a lull occurred in the fighting, followed by an attack of
+unexpected strength against the whole front. The successes gained by
+this attack were short-lived. A counter-attack by the 74th and 10th
+Divisions, further to the left, now made itself felt. This was launched
+against the enemy's reserves, and thus deprived the enemy of the
+initiative. The Turkish attack being spent, a general advance northward,
+took place, not, however, without further heavy fighting. Pursuing our
+advantage, we further advanced our line on the 30th, and occupied a line
+from Beitior (Bethel), 2 miles north-east of Bireh, to Janieh and Ras
+Kerker, 7 miles west, north-west of Bireh. Bireh, which had been our
+objective in November, was, at last, securely in our possession. The
+Turkish attempt to recapture Jerusalem had ended in crushing defeat.
+
+Throughout the winter months the weather was miserably wet, and the
+troops in Palestine, whether engaged in active operations or merely
+holding the line, suffered intense discomfort. The mails brought us
+letters from our friends at home, saying how much they envied us who
+were spending Christmas in the Holy Land. But those who were up the line
+spent Christmas Day soaked to the skin in a gale of wind and rain, while
+their Christmas dinner consisted of half-rations of bully beef and
+biscuit. They were wishing themselves anywhere else upon this earth. The
+appalling weather conditions made it impossible to get more than the
+bare necessities of life forward from railhead, and tons of Christmas
+luxuries sent from England through Egypt lay soaked and rotting in dumps
+at Deir Sineid.
+
+January was much too wet for operations in this country. In February,
+however, General Allenby determined on the capture of Jericho. The
+country from round Jerusalem slopes down, as we have seen, very abruptly
+to Jericho and the Jordan Valley. Precipitous slopes, rocky ridges and
+narrow ledges, confined the advance to definite lines on which the enemy
+could concentrate fire. The advance began on the 19th, and, by the
+evening of the 20th, the 60th Division had reached a line 4 miles west
+of the cliffs overlooking Jericho. In the meantime, the mounted troops
+were working on the right or south of the infantry, towards the
+commanding position of Neby Musa, near the north-west corner of the Dead
+Sea. This advance was held up at the last wadi which was directly
+overlooked by, and subjected to, a heavy fire from Neby Musa. Other
+mounted troops, further to the right, discovered a way down to the
+Jordan Plain, where they were firmly established by dusk. That night the
+Turks withdrew, and our mounted troops, moving up the Plain, entered
+Jericho on the morning of the 21st.
+
+There are two or three routes between Jericho and the summit of the
+Judaean plateau. That by which the British had now come down was not the
+route followed by Joshua and the Israelites. They, on the other hand,
+ascended by a route farther north, through Mukhmas (Michmash) and Beitin
+(Bethel), thus reaching the summit near Bireh. The route followed by the
+pilgrims was that of the main road, which hereafter became the main line
+of supply of the forces operating in this direction.
+
+Having secured Jericho and the low country beyond as far as the Jordan,
+operations were now commenced with the object of pushing the enemy
+northwards, and clearing him from another substantial portion of
+Palestine. This would, at the same time, broaden the base for future
+operations which were contemplated across the River Jordan.
+
+Operations on a large scale were commenced on March 9th. Both the 20th
+and 21st Corps were engaged. We will, however, consider here only the
+operations of the 20th Corps, leaving those of the 21st until a
+subsequent chapter. The reader is already familiar with the type of
+country, which resembled that between Jerusalem and Jericho. The
+downward slopes were exceptionally steep, in places precipitous. The
+slopes were swept by machine-gun and rifle fire, and the beds of the
+wadis were enfiladed. The ascent on the far side was steeply terraced.
+Men had alternately to hoist and pull each other up under fire, and
+finally to expel the enemy from the summits in hand-to-hand fighting.
+Under these conditions no rapid advance could be looked for.
+
+The 60th Division, by night, crossed the Wadi el Auja, north of Jericho
+(not to be confused with the wadi of the same name to the north of
+Jaffa). This Division seized a position astride the Beisan-Jericho road.
+The 53rd Division captured Tel-Asur, a conspicuous landmark among a mass
+of high hills, which mountain the enemy tried repeatedly, but in vain,
+to recover. Farther to the left, a counter-attack was repulsed by the
+10th Division. At the conclusion of the operations, the high ground
+covering the approaches to the Jordan by the Jericho-Beisan Road had
+been secured, and also, farther west, linking up with the 21st Corps,
+the high ground stretching across the hills of Mount Ephraim.
+
+We come now to the passage of the River Jordan and the operations in
+Eastern Palestine. It will be remembered, from what has already been
+written,[9] that active operations were in progress about this time
+between the Turks south-east of the Dead Sea and our Arab allies, the
+troops of the King of the Hejaz. The Turkish line of communications ran
+down the Hejaz Railway through eastern Palestine, temptingly near our
+forces at Jericho. It will also be remembered,[10] that the Jordan
+Valley, and ascent therefrom into the hills of Eastern Palestine are
+unique. It would therefore have been difficult or impossible to cut the
+Turks' Hejaz communications by maintaining a permanent garrison astride
+the railway, such garrison being based on Jericho with an extremely
+vulnerable line of communications across the valley. It was thought,
+however, that much useful service might be rendered to the Arabs if a
+raiding force were to cross the Jordan and destroy the railway in the
+neighbourhood of Amman.
+
+The country between the Jordan and Amman offered many obstacles to our
+advance. There were the marshes of the Jordan Valley to be crossed,
+ridges of clay to be surmounted, scrub to be negotiated, followed by an
+ascent of 3,500 feet. The metalled road to Amman crosses the Jordan at
+the Ghoraniyeh Bridge, and reaches the hills at Shunet Nimrin. It then
+winds up a wadi to Es Salt, whence it strikes due eastward to Amman.
+
+The operations commenced in the latter part of March. No serious
+obstacle was encountered until the crossings of the Jordan were reached.
+A small party was sent in motor-boats across the Dead Sea to dispose of
+any enemy who might be in the district to the north-east of the Dead
+Sea, but they met with few traces of the enemy. The enemy had destroyed
+the bridge at Ghoraniyeh early in the month. Other means had therefore
+to be devised for effecting a crossing. "Jordan overfloweth all his
+banks all the time of harvest." On the 28th March, owing to heavy rain,
+the river rose 9 feet. Floods had, therefore, to be contended with. The
+current is at all times rapid, and the banks, on account of the floods,
+are boggy and difficult for the approach of transport. On the night of
+the 21st/22nd March, the main crossings of the river were attempted,
+both at Ghoraniyeh, and a few miles further south at Hajlah, where the
+Pilgrim Road from Jerusalem reaches the Jordan. At the former point
+three attempts to swim the river were made, under fire, by men with
+ropes attached to their bodies, but in each case the swimmers were
+carried away by the strong current and found it impossible to reach the
+opposite bank. Then a punt was launched, but this was no sooner launched
+than it was swept away. The attempt was commenced in the bright
+moonlight, but was much hampered by enemy fire. It was renewed after the
+moon had gone down, but then it was impossible to find the easiest route
+or to negotiate the current in the dark. Farther down stream, however,
+the efforts met with better fortune. A small party succeeded in swimming
+across in the dark and landing on the left bank. These towed a rope
+behind them, by which, after landing, they hauled across light rafts.
+The crossing by the raft-loads of men had to be carried out in the face
+of some hostile fire. Portions of the scrub had been set on fire by the
+enemy, and these fires to some extent lit up the rafts as they were
+being pulled across. By daylight, 300 men had been got across, and a
+small bridge-head established. A barrel bridge was without delay
+constructed by the Engineers. Very little progress could be made that
+day as the scrub was infested with enemy machine guns. On the following
+night, however, a rush was made, and the bridge-head enlarged to a width
+of 1,500 yards. That night the Engineers constructed a steel pontoon
+bridge, and an entire cavalry regiment was passed over by dawn. The
+cavalry soon cleared away the enemy, not only from Hajlah, but also from
+in front of Ghoraniyeh. Bridges were built now at Ghoraniyeh and the
+passage of the river assured.
+
+Having successfully crossed the Jordan, the force pushed on eastwards
+across the low country, meeting with some opposition. Eventually we
+reached Shunat Nimrin. The enemy retreating up the Es Salt road were
+bombed and machine-gunned by our aircraft. Part of our force, following
+on their heels, entered Es Salt on the 25th, while, on the 26th, our
+mounted troops occupied Amman. The railway to the south of the station
+was successfully cut, but north of Amman the cutting was not complete.
+Consequently, the enemy were able to receive considerable
+reinforcements. Before Amman could be attacked in strength some 4,000
+Turks were in position covering the viaduct and tunnel, while 2,000 more
+were moving on Es Salt from the north. Five miles of railway line were
+however, destroyed, while much other damage was done to the railway
+line. But, in view of the strength of the enemy and the difficulties of
+our communications (we had only been able to bring forward
+mountain-artillery), our force withdrew.
+
+The raid had not entirely fulfilled its object, but much good work had
+been done, and it had materially assisted Sherif Faisal with his Hejaz
+troops in his operations further south against Maan.
+
+Our force returning from Eastern Palestine did not abandon the
+hardly-won eastern bank of the Jordan. Bridge-heads were retained. The
+Turks, however, became aggressive, and, on the 11th April, attacked our
+bridge-head at Ghoraniyeh. They were repulsed from here and driven back
+to Shunet Nimrin, which they strongly garrisoned.
+
+On the 30th April another raid was made across the Jordan. This time our
+infantry attacked the Shunet Nimrin position, while the cavalry,
+intending to cut off the garrison, moved round the flank and reached Es
+Salt. But a strong Turkish force, crossing the Jordan from the Nablus
+area at Jisr ed Damieh, drove back the cavalry, who lost nine guns in
+their retirement. This raid had been planned to co-operate with the Beni
+Sakr Arabs. Their promised assistance did not materialize, and the whole
+force was brought back to the crossings of the Jordan.
+
+Thenceforth, until the sweep of the following September the Jordan river
+and bridge-heads remained our front line.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 9: See before Chapter III.]
+
+[Footnote 10: See before Chapter IV.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE WADI DEIR BALLUT
+
+
+In the last chapter we saw how, after the capture of Jerusalem, the 20th
+Corps proceeded to improve the line on the right. We will now follow the
+operations of the 21st Corps on the left.
+
+The first operation of importance was that carried out by the 52nd
+Division on the extreme left. On the night of the 20th/21st December,
+1917, crossings, partly by fording and partly by rafts, were effected
+over the Wadi Auja, a few miles to the north of Jaffa. The high ground
+overlooking the wadi from the north was rushed before dawn, and a line
+was consolidated which effectually deprived the enemy of all observation
+from the north over the Valley of the Wadi Auja. Incidentally, the
+distance between the enemy and Jaffa was increased from 3 to 8 miles.
+This safeguarded Jaffa and its harbour, and the main Jaffa-Jerusalem
+road. Further adjustments of the line were made, including the capture
+of Rantieh on the railway and El Tine and Bornat to the right, which
+gave commanding views over the forward country and increased elbow room
+to the troops covering Ludd and Ramleh.
+
+As the result of these operations the line ran, at the beginning of
+March, approximately as follows. The 60th Division on the right had
+reached the Jordan, our line running along that river as far north as
+the Wadi Auja and then bending westwards. On their left came the 53rd
+Division, a little to the north of Bireh, and on their left again the
+10th Division completed the front of the 20th Corps. They joined up the
+75th Division, whose frontage ran from Midieh (the Modin of the
+Maccabees) through Kibbiah to the foot-hills at Et Tireh; from here the
+54th Division extended across the Plain; while the 52nd Division held
+the sector close to the sea, a little to the north of the other Wadi
+Auja.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Except for occasional rains, our soldiering in the 75th Division sector,
+throughout February and the early part of March, was campaigning _de
+luxe_. The enemy had gone right back to the line of the Wadi Deir
+Ballut, leaving a No Man's Land in front of us about 4 miles across. He
+held advanced posts a mile or two in front of our line, but his guns had
+been taken well back out of range. We therefore enjoyed immunity both
+from sniping and shelling, and could move about in front of our line
+without anxiety, even in broad daylight. The observation posts that we
+occupied commanded extensive views across No Man's Land, and we should
+have had early intimation had there been any considerable hostile
+movement.
+
+We thus had opportunities for training, and preparing ourselves for the
+next forward push. The whole battalion was put through a course of
+musketry. The forward slopes of our position provided an admirable field
+firing range, with all No Man's Land for the stray bullets to spend
+themselves upon. How it must have made the Turk itch to see men lying
+about in platoons in the open before his very eyes, and how he must have
+longed to have had a gun within range, and to have dispersed us with a
+few rounds of shrapnel. We also instituted a very successful
+shooting-gallery. In the front line beer was seldom procurable, though
+much appreciated. Such as we were able to obtain from the canteen was
+taken to the rifle range. An empty bottle was set up 200 yards in front
+of the firer and a full one behind him. If he hit the former he became
+entitled to the contents of the latter. Each man was entitled to one
+free shot, and as many more as he liked at a cost of a penny each. The
+result was, that, at a very nominal cost to the canteen funds, the
+individual shooting of the battalion considerably improved.
+
+Aerial activity was interesting. We soon became accustomed to the
+distinctive hum of the Hun machines flying high above us, followed by
+the barking of our "Archies." Then we could trace the track of the
+planes across the sky by the line of white smoke puffs left by our
+bursting archy shells. Archy seldom reckons to get a direct hit on a
+plane, but, by the expenditure of quantities of ammunition, he makes the
+Hun fly too high to see anything of value or to drop bombs with much
+hope of success. More tangible results were obtained by our fighting
+planes, which engaged the Hun in the air. A pretty little fight took
+place a thousand feet or so above our heads, between two of our planes
+and a couple of Huns. After preliminary circling and manoeuvring for
+place, during which one Hun machine discreetly went all out for home,
+one of our planes swooped straight on to the remaining Hun, pouring a
+burst of Lewis gun fire into the pilot and observer at short range.
+Badly wounded, the Hun pilot turned his machine full speed for home. But
+our other plane, which had retained its altitude, hovered over him,
+headed him off from home, and shepherded him down on to the Plain, where
+he was forced to land and was captured. On another occasion, we were
+puzzled to see a Hun plane, returning from our lines, pitch in enemy
+territory, and, though unattacked, go up in smoke and flame. Subsequent
+reports furnished an explanation. The Hun pilot had descended without
+being very sure of his whereabouts. The Turks, mistaking him for a
+Britisher, opened fire upon him with a machine gun. Thereupon, believing
+himself to be in hostile territory, the pilot burnt his machine and
+surrendered--to his own friends!
+
+Campaigning _de luxe_! The wild flowers did all that lay in their power
+to add to the luxury. The warm sun of February and March, following the
+drenching rain of the winter, produces in Palestine a profusion of
+beautiful flowers that is probably surpassed nowhere. The country-side
+was literally carpeted with choice flowers of sweet smell and varied
+colour. To mention but a few--there were red, white, and blue anemones;
+cyclamen, white, pink and mauve; aromatic herbs; poppies and
+corn-flowers; scarlet tulips; pink phlox; blue irises, velvety arum
+lilies, black and crimson, tall, stately hollyhocks. And the catalogue
+is scarce begun. Truly a floral Paradise!
+
+Early in March came rumours of a forward move. The nominal pretext was
+an improvement of our line. Other motives may possibly have been
+influencing the higher authorities, such as keeping the initiative in
+our hands, fostering an aggressive spirit, and feeling the strength of
+the enemy with a view to subsequent operations on a larger scale.
+
+Almost opposite Jaffa the central range of Judaean hills is cleft by a
+great gorge. Starting at a point on the edge of, and almost overlooking
+the Jordan Valley, it runs approximately due east and west, with many
+turns and even hairpin bends, until it debouches on the Plain at Mejdel
+Yaba, thence forming a main tributary of the River Auja. In the days of
+the Maccabees this gorge formed the frontier between the Jews and the
+Samaritans. This gorge is the Wadi Deir Ballut. The sides of this wadi
+are at all points steep, at some precipitous, presenting in places an
+almost sheer drop of several hundred feet. The bed of the wadi is from a
+hundred to a couple of hundred yards wide and the surface level. Thus
+the Wadi Ballut formed an admirable defensive line for the Turk; after
+it had passed into our hands, it provided us with an admirable line of
+communication.
+
+The Turk, at this time, held the line of the Wadi Ballut with such
+advanced posts as could deny to our patrols all access to the wadi.
+Available information about the wadi was thus restricted to reports and
+maps, and was none too ample or reliable. The intermediate country
+consisted of approximately flat "merjs," intersected with wadis, and
+dotted about with hills, villages, and other features of tactical
+importance. At this time of the year it somewhat resembled the general
+appearance of Exmoor. For several days prior to the advance patrols were
+sent out into No Man's Land, that as much as possible might be
+ascertained about, and as many as possible be made familiar with, the
+terrain over which we had to operate.
+
+On the 12th March, the whole 75th Division, in co-operation with the
+Divisions on its flanks, moved forward. The operations of this day were
+perhaps little more than minor operations, certainly not one of the
+decisive battles of the war, although their effect in drawing
+reinforcements to Palestine may have had far-reaching results in other
+zones such as Mesopotamia. Nevertheless, as they formed such a pretty
+field day, so like our manoeuvres at home, I venture upon a short
+description, in the hope that it may be of interest to those whose
+soldiering experience has been confined to the home front. There was no
+horrid barbed wire to contend with, nor gas. There were not even
+trenches, for the Turks' defence work here consisted only of stone
+walls, technically known as sangars. During the commencing stages we
+were not even shelled.
+
+Shortly after dawn, our heavy artillery opened the ball by shelling the
+advanced posts of the enemy. At seven o'clock the whole line moved
+forward. Our first objective, a prominent knoll, was 4,000 yards away,
+and no previous opposition was expected. Having assumed the appropriate
+formation before crossing the crest, we moved forward in "artillery"
+formation, that is to say, in lines of platoons in file. For the
+non-military reader, it should be explained that this is the formation
+in which troops are considered least vulnerable against artillery or
+distant rifle and machine-gun fire. Great care was taken to ensure that
+direction was maintained, an officer with compass being specially
+detailed for this purpose, and that touch was not lost with the units on
+either flank. A battery of field artillery had been detailed to support
+the advance of this battalion; the forward observation officer went
+forward with the infantry; the battery, less one section temporarily
+left behind, moved forward close behind us to a previously selected
+position from which the Deir Ballut Ridge would be within easy range. A
+section of machine gunners moved forward close behind the leading
+companies. In a fold of the ground, some 1,400 yards short of the first
+objective, the infantry shook out into lines of skirmishers. They
+continued their advance, and occupied the knoll which was their first
+objective without opposition.
+
+Meanwhile, after a concentrated bombardment on the left, the first and
+second of the enemy's forward posts were captured without serious
+opposition; it appeared probable that these had been occupied mainly for
+observation and that his principal resistance was to be offered upon the
+Ballut Ridge.
+
+After a short halt on the first objective, to conform to the time-table,
+we moved forward again in the same formation against our second
+objective, a ridge which seemed to overlook the Wadi Deir Ballut. We
+still met with no opposition, until we put our heads up over the ridge,
+when we were greeted with a torrent of bullets from machine guns posted
+on the opposite side of the wadi. This wadi, it will be remembered, was
+to us _terra incognita_. The first thing to be done therefore was to
+make a hurried reconnaissance, and decide on the best method of getting
+down and across. It was found that the descent was almost a sheer
+precipice, and that we had not one but two wadis to cross; a smaller
+tributary wadi, scarcely marked on the map, forming, in fact, a rather
+serious obstacle. Carrying out such a reconnaissance, upon a forward
+slope, under machine gun fire from across the wadi, was none too easy.
+It had been intended that the leading company, which took the ridge,
+should at once open covering fire across the wadi, whilst the company
+following should pass through them and cross the wadi under cover of
+their fire. However, the difficulty of taking up suitable positions for
+seeing the target, and the extremity of the range (about 1,500 yards),
+made it inadvisable for the infantry to fire. But the machine gunners
+attached to us soon brought their machine guns into action, while our
+artillery f.o.o. took up a position on the ridge from which he could
+fire his guns to good effect.
+
+About this time, away to our left, developed the attack on Mejdel Yaba.
+This village occupies a commanding position overlooking the Plain, and,
+in Crusading days, was a fortress. That phase of the battle proved an
+artillery action pure and simple. The whole artillery of a Division,
+with several heavies added, was concentrated on that luckless spot. It
+afforded a spectacle not soon to be forgotten. When the infantry
+arrived, they found the work all over; the Turks had all been killed by
+the bombardment or fled from the village, most of the latter having been
+cut off and killed by our machine guns. Before leaving, the Turks had
+taken the precaution of interviewing the headman of the village and
+cutting his throat.
+
+To return to our own corner of the picture, under cover of the fire of
+our own artillery and machine guns the first company went forward.
+Slipping down that mountain side was a veritable case of running the
+gauntlet. But, once the bottom of the first wadi was reached, some cover
+was afforded for a breather. Almost in front of us, on the far ridge,
+lay the village of Deir Ballut, on which the enemy evidently intended to
+base their strongest resistance. On our left, the infantry were making a
+good pace; on the right they were held up, but, seeing us going forward,
+they pushed forward too, so that pressure might be maintained all along
+the line. The enemy had organized his defences and placed his machine
+guns with great skill. The slopes of the wadi were too steep for good
+shooting straight down the slope. So he had taken full advantage of the
+curves and hairpin bends of the wadi to place his machine guns in
+position sweeping the spurs and giving each other mutual support. Our
+leading company lost no time in getting to work. They dumped their packs
+and set out at once to storm the ridge. Meanwhile, our infantry
+advancing on the left, had taken some of the enemy machine guns in
+flank, forcing them to withdraw, which materially assisted the advance
+of the leading company. And so the leading company, closely followed by
+companies in support, established itself on the Ridge.
+
+The fiercest of the fighting, however, was yet to come. A great burst of
+machine-gun fire caused the leading platoon to take cover under one of
+the terraces. Hence they were at once led forward again. The Turks now
+delivered a strong counter-attack. Seeing this, the leading platoon
+dashed forward with their bayonets, led by the company cook, and the
+Turks were put to flight. The Lewis-gunners caught them as they were
+getting away and effectually quenched all desire to renew the
+counter-attack. Then the company pushed forward, and, ignoring the
+village of Deir Ballut, with its machine guns tried to get across the
+line of retreat from the village. Seeing this, the Turks evacuated Deir
+Ballut, and, under cover of machine guns posted on the further ridges,
+those left alive made good their escape. That evening found us in
+undisputed possession of Deir Ballut Ridge from beyond the village of
+Deir Ballut down to the Plain at Mejdel Yaba.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE MOUNTAINS OF EPHRAIM
+
+
+We now found ourselves well established in the Mountains of Ephraim, and
+at no great distance from the enemy. After the taking of Ballut Ridge he
+had dropped back, and was soon seen to be entrenching and sangaring a
+new line from 2,000 to 4,000 yards further north. Ballut Ridge had been
+fixed as our final objective. Had there been possible roads by which
+guns and supplies could have been brought forward, an immediate pursuit
+or attack of the enemy might have proved successful; but, with such
+hopeless communications, deliberate action was a necessity.
+
+After the Ridge had been captured, the enemy were pursued with all the
+fire from rifles, machine guns and artillery that could be brought to
+bear. Cavalry, or even infantry pursuit across these mountains was out
+of the question. An outpost line was established and the troops settled
+down to a wet and somewhat cheerless night. The mountain sides had been
+so steep that it had been impossible to bring up any comforts, and even
+the camels bearing the reserve supply of ammunition could only be got
+forward with extreme difficulty. Except for shelling, we were left
+unmolested during the night and next morning, which gave us the
+opportunity of constructing sangars, making tracks for the pack
+transport animals, and generally making ourselves more comfortable.
+Patrols were sent forward, and it was ascertained that the country to
+our immediate front was clear of the enemy.
+
+The effect of this advance was to draw down reinforcements into this
+sector, and to divert into Palestine reserves of Turkish troops; these
+came largely from the Caucasus, where the total collapse of Russia had
+set many good Turkish troops at liberty. There was evidence that these
+troops had been intended for an offensive campaign in Mesopotamia. It is
+probable, therefore, that this advance, indirectly, yet substantially,
+contributed to the defence of Mesopotamia, for the Turkish offensive in
+that area never materialized. Two or three German Divisions came down to
+stiffen up the Turks, and from this time forward the resistance which we
+had to face became unmistakeably hardened. The days of campaigning _de
+luxe_ had gone for ever. Before our "archies" could get forward, the Hun
+aeroplanes had very much their own way, and, flying low, dropped bombs
+and machine-gunned us in a manner that was most uncomfortable. Enemy
+artillery shelled any movements on the forward slope, and brought a
+searching fire to bear, in the hope of damaging our bivouac areas behind
+the crest. The manner in which the front line was held in the mountains
+by the Turks as well as by ourselves, was as follows. Strong sangars
+were constituted on the forward slope of a hill or ridge. By day these
+were occupied only by a small and well-protected observation party, at
+times supplemented with a Lewis gun team; and the remainder of the
+garrison were withdrawn behind the crest to bivouac areas on the reverse
+slope. At dusk, the garrison moved forward and manned the front line,
+being withdrawn again during the half-light of dawn. Thus the hostile
+artillery could never see a target upon which to fire. Searching a steep
+reverse slope with guns is almost impossible while, even with howitzers,
+unless observation can be obtained, an enormous amount of ammunition has
+to be fired to secure any result.
+
+Meanwhile, preparations proceeded apace. With a genius little short of
+that which has made roads across the Himalayas and the Alps, roads were
+soon engineered down and up the steep sides of the Wadi, so that within
+two or three weeks it was possible to bring guns across the Wadi and
+over the Ballut Ridge. Water supplies, of which excellent springs were
+discovered in the bed of the wadi, were developed; later, the cisterns
+on the hills were closed down to prevent mosquito breeding and malaria.
+
+On the 14th March, the enemy moved forward to counter-attack the Ballut
+Ridge line, but were caught in close formation by our artillery and the
+counter-attack never developed. On the 19th, a slight advance was made
+on our right, which brought the village of Beit Rima (possibly the
+Ramathaim of the Maccabees) within our line. Another forward move was
+evidently in the wind and patrolling activity increased all along our
+line.
+
+A detailed account of one of these patrol incidents may be instructive
+as affording an example of how such a patrol should be handled. The
+patrol commander was an experienced soldier who had seen service with
+almost every battalion of the regiment and in most of the theatres of
+this war; his sleeve was covered with wound stripes, and hostile snipers
+only made him angry.
+
+The orders which he received were to patrol as far as Ikba, and to
+protect some senior officers, who wished to make a reconnaissance and
+for whose safety he was responsible. He had under his command one
+platoon, consisting of three sections of riflemen and one of Lewis
+gunners; also one other officer to assist.
+
+A glance at the sketch map will show Ballut Ridge, which formed our
+front line, and Three Bushes Hill, the most forward position held by the
+enemy. Ikba, or to give it its full name, Khurbet Umm el Ikba, thus lay
+in No Man's Land at no great distance from the enemy. Though standing on
+a hill and commanding an admirable view of the surrounding country, it
+is overlooked at a range of a mile from Three Bushes Hill, and also at
+shorter distances within effective rifle range from the points marked A,
+B and C, and, to some extent, from the point marked E. F is a lower
+knoll, commanded from Ikba. Both E and F are commanded from A.
+
+Moving forward before dawn, the patrol commander led his patrol forward
+down the Wadi Ikba. Each section was kept apart, and moved forward in
+single file under its own commander. To each section commander were
+given precise orders as to the position which he was to occupy, what he
+was to do, and when he was to withdraw. One section moved down the ridge
+on the right of the wadi, and took up a position at the point B. One
+section, with the junior officer, moved first along the wadi bed, and
+then, while it was still only half light, ascended the left-hand spur
+and took up a position at A. The Lewis-gun team occupied the hill at C.
+The remaining section, which had been kept in reserve at the hills about
+D, now moved forward and occupied Ikba. All being reported clear, the
+senior officers moved forward, arriving at Ikba just as the daylight
+became strong enough for them to obtain the forward view of the enemy
+country which they desired.
+
+An even better view of the country seemed probable from the spur at A.
+So across there went the officers, including the patrol commander. By
+the time they arrived, rifle reports were cracking, and the situation
+was becoming interesting. The reconnaissance finished, the patrol
+commander gave the senior officers five minutes in which to withdraw,
+before the expiration of which he would not begin to withdraw his
+patrol.
+
+Meanwhile, the enemy upon Three Bushes Hill, had espied the party in
+Ikba, and set out to capture the patrol. Creeping along under cover,
+they established themselves at the point E. Thence they started to move
+on to the point F, but came under fire from the section on point A. It
+became a case of running the gauntlet, but the section were shooting
+well and dropped their men. The section at Ikba was withdrawing; the
+enemy, failing to realize that the spur A was occupied, rushed across to
+A intending to shoot up the wadi at the section withdrawing from Ikba.
+They were greeted with a warm reception from the section already at A
+and beat a hasty retreat. The section at A now withdrew up the wadi,
+covered by the fire of the section still in position at B and by the
+Lewis gunners at C. The reserve section from Ikba, who had been the
+first to withdraw, had meanwhile taken up another section in rear, and,
+under their protection, the section at B and the Lewis-gunners from C
+withdrew up the wadi. The enemy had apparently had enough of it, for the
+pursuit was not pressed. A few rounds of shrapnel were fired at us as a
+parting present, but no casualties were sustained. This patrol commander
+had paid attention to, and illustrated the soundness of, the cardinal
+principles of mountain fighting, namely, the necessity for seizing and
+piquetting the commanding heights, and the support of the movement of
+one party of troops by the fire of other parties already in position.
+The plan of using the Lewis gun as a reserve of fire, kept well back to
+cover the retirement of the remainder, was undoubtedly sound. Had the
+commanding heights not been first secured, it is difficult to see how
+the patrol could have withdrawn in the face of the enemy without
+confusion and without casualty.
+
+On the 27th March the whole line moved forward. The advance was only
+intended to be for a depth of about a mile, in order to secure a better
+tactical line for defence. None of the objectives were believed to be
+held by the enemy. Accordingly, the advance was carried out by night. A
+full moon, giving light throughout the night, facilitated the operation.
+As soon as daylight was gone, the whole line crept noiselessly forward,
+with bayonets fixed ready to meet any possible opposition with cold
+steel. Away to our right, the enemy detected movement, and put down a
+barrage. But their firing was somewhat wild; the barrage came down
+behind the advancing troops and caused no casualties. On our front the
+enemy had not awakened to what was taking place, and our objectives were
+attained without molestation. It was realized that our new positions
+would be overlooked from the enemy's observation posts on Three Bushes
+Hill and on Arara, and that, when they saw us by daylight occupying the
+nearer ridges, they would shell us unmercifully. Accordingly, the
+remainder of the night was not devoted to sleep, but to the intensive
+building of sangars on the new defensive line, and the preparations of
+bivouac areas in such few spots as might be under cover from view and
+from fire. When morning came, the enemy commenced to shell, but the
+night had not been wasted, and our fellows had made themselves secure.
+
+This new line was not very comfortable. To such an extent was it
+overlooked by the enemy that all movement by day was out of the
+question, and even incinerator fires had for a time to be forbidden. The
+enemy attacked this new line a few days after it had been taken up.
+However, our artillery caught the enemy's troops in close order before
+they had been deployed, and so we experienced no greater inconvenience
+than a bombardment, doing no great damage. It was not expected that this
+new line would have to be held for any great length of time. Already
+preparations were being pushed on for another encounter with the enemy.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+RAFAT
+
+
+We have seen, in an earlier chapter, that throughout the campaign in
+Palestine the left British flank, near the sea, was at all times much in
+advance of the right. We have already discussed the cause and
+advantages; there was one distinct disadvantage. As the trend of the
+country sloped up from the Maritime Plain, the enemy on our right front
+was on higher ground and had the advantages of observation. If there
+were a commanding position to our front, and we moved forward and
+captured it, we found that there were yet other positions beyond, from
+which that position was itself commanded. Our positions on the Ephraim
+Mountains along the Ballut Ridge were at this time overlooked from three
+commanding hills in the possession of the enemy, known as Arara, Rafat,
+and Three Bushes. Further to the right were the villages of El Kep and
+Berukin, also on high ground. Owing to the conformation of the country
+the key of this district was Arara.
+
+In order to improve the general line, and in preparation for a further
+advance, it was decided to move forward and to capture all these
+commanding positions. Accordingly, on the morning of the 9th April, the
+line moved forward. The village of El Kep was a nest of machine guns.
+After heavy bombardment it was captured after stubborn resistance.
+Berukin was also captured after sharp fighting, but further progress in
+this locality was held up. Next day these villages were heavily
+counter-attacked, and, though they were firmly held, further progress
+was out of the question.
+
+Meanwhile, a battalion of Somersets had captured Rafat, and a battalion
+of Dorsets Three Bushes Hill. Enemy shelling now became intense,
+followed up by counter-attacks, all of which were repulsed.
+
+The intention had been that the Somersets should capture Rafat first and
+then take Arara, the main objective of these operations. The capture of
+Three Bushes Hill was necessary to secure Arara and Rafat from reverse
+fire. But, to enable Arara to be held, it was also necessary to capture
+other heights to the south-east, notably one called The Pimple. Most of
+these heights were captured, but, although determined efforts were made,
+the enemy could not be dislodged from The Pimple. Nevertheless, the
+Somersets moved forward from Rafat and successfully established
+themselves upon Arara. Here they were fired at from all sides. They
+found that Arara was itself commanded from a height called Sheikh
+Silbih, a thousand or two yards beyond, while the reserve fire from the
+machine guns on The Pimple soon made their position on Arara untenable.
+They fell back upon, and firmly established themselves in, their
+positions at Rafat. One lad, who was left behind in this retirement, had
+a terrible experience. Wounded in three or four places, he was unable to
+withdraw with the remainder of his company. He lay out on Arara for
+three days, after which he was discovered by some Turks. These proceeded
+to strip him, whereupon he made known to them that he was still alive.
+They then bayonetted him, and left him for dead. He lay out there for
+yet another day, now naked, when he was found by a German
+stretcher-party. These took pity upon him, and removed him to a hospital
+where he was nursed back to life.
+
+The position on Three Bushes Hill had become interesting. If left in our
+undisputed possession, it would have rendered the main line of enemy
+trenches untenable. On the other hand, if the enemy could drive us off,
+he might from there roll up Rafat and our other positions. He therefore
+made several determined attempts throughout the day to retake this hill.
+The position was not altogether unlike that on Spion Kop. Each side
+clung to the slope immediately below the summit, the forward slope being
+untenable through shell fire; our guns were unable to silence the
+hostile batteries. There was this difference, however, from Spion Kop,
+for here there was no question at present of withdrawing. The
+difficulties of bringing supplies, water and ammunition up, and the even
+greater difficulty of carrying the wounded down a pathless precipice 400
+feet high, can be better imagined than described. This work had mostly
+to be done by night, for our communication line was under enemy
+observation. The last of the ambulance camels, which were evacuating
+wounded from the regimental aid post had not crossed the Ballut Ridge
+and got out of sight before dawn, and were shelled accordingly.
+
+The enemy delivered counter-attacks again in the night; these also were
+repulsed. Next morning he changed his tactics. Continuing to shell the
+back areas, he now pushed up snipers, who established themselves where
+they could fire at any movement. In so far as the snipers near the
+summit of the ridge were concerned, a service of counter-sniping was
+established. But, what was more difficult to deal with, he established
+snipers on the lower slopes of his own side of the ridge, who could look
+down upon, and make themselves unpleasant towards, Rafat. Accordingly,
+it was decided to clear the forward slope.
+
+The Dorsets had now been fighting on the hill for forty-eight hours.
+Accordingly, on the night of the 10th/11th, they were relieved by an
+Indian battalion, the Outrans. Just before dawn this battalion moved
+forward, surprised the Turks, drove them down the hill and consolidated
+a line along the forward slope, with observation posts and Lewis
+gunners, withdrawing the remainder of the battalion behind the crest.
+
+The sniping had thus been stopped for the time, and the day was passed
+in comparative quiet. At dusk, that evening, down came one of the most
+furious bombardments put down by the enemy in Palestine. Guns from all
+quarters concentrated on the hill, and practically blotted out the
+devoted band that were holding the forward line. The bombardment was
+followed up by a determined counter-attack, but this was repulsed, the
+battalion of Dorsets being brought back to support the Outrans on the
+hill.
+
+It was now realized that the only way by which the Arara position could
+be captured and held, was by a general advance of the line to at least a
+thousand yards farther to the north, so as to capture The Pimple, Sheikh
+Subih, and the enemy works beyond Three Bushes. Accordingly,
+preparations were put in hand, and all was ready for this further
+advance, when there came--the disaster in France.
+
+The great German offensive in France had commenced on the 21st March,
+and, a few days later, occurred that great break through which very
+nearly altered the whole complexion of the war. At first this was not
+allowed to prejudice the operations in Palestine. But, as the
+seriousness of the situation in France became realized, no effort was
+spared to collect more men to fill the gap. Orders were given to cease
+all further active operations on a large scale in Palestine, and to send
+to France all the men that could be spared.
+
+Accordingly, there was no alternative but to consolidate, to heavily
+wire and sangar in upon the line that had been already reached, making
+such tactical readjustments as were necessary.
+
+It might appear at first sight that the net result of these operations
+was negative, and that the poor fellows who had given their lives here
+had died in vain. But this was not so. Rafat was destined to become
+famous. It was fortified on an almost impregnable scale, thousands of
+pounds were spent, and a couple of million sand-bags were worked into
+its defences. A veritable fortress was established which overlooked much
+of the enemy positions. More than once was this fortress attacked by the
+Turks, but in vain. It ultimately formed the firm pivot on which was
+based the great sweep which conquered Palestine.
+
+Feeling between the Turks and the Germans was growing intensely bitter.
+Germans were not allowed to walk about singly behind the Turkish lines,
+for fear of assassination. In an attack made by them in the Jordan
+Valley in July, not only did the Turks fail to move forward in support
+of the Germans, but they actually fired upon the Germans, when, through
+lack of that support, they were compelled to retire. It was a case of "a
+house divided against itself" and it could not therefore hope long to
+stand.
+
+Active operations on a large scale in Palestine having been stopped, the
+army was not reorganized. It was a matter of keen regret to many who had
+followed the fortunes of this campaign since the days of Gaza, that they
+and their battalions were not to play a part in the final act. The 52nd
+and the 74th Divisions were withdrawn entirely, their places being taken
+by the 3rd and 7th Indian Divisions from Mesopotamia. All those
+remaining, except the 54th, were converted into Indian Divisions, 75 per
+cent of their battalions being withdrawn and replaced by fresh
+battalions from India. Those withdrawn were, in some cases, sent to
+France, in others, broken up and used for reinforcements in the country.
+Hitherto the army in Palestine had consisted mainly of Territorials.
+Henceforth it was to consist mainly of Indians.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE CROWNING VICTORY
+
+
+The Turkish forces in Palestine, in the autumn of 1918, consisted of
+three armies, the 8th and the 7th, plus one added Division on the west
+of the Jordan, and the 4th army on the east. All were under the supreme
+command of the German General, Liman von Sanders.
+
+The line held by the enemy west of the Jordan extended roughly from the
+sea, south of the Nahr el Falyk (some 14 miles north of Jaffa), across
+western Palestine approximately east, south-east to near Rafat, thence
+easterly and south-easterly, across the Nablus-Jerusalem Road, and so
+down to the Jordan Valley. Thus, a portion of his force was entrenched
+across the Maritime Plain, while the remainder was in the mountains of
+the Central Range. These mountains of Ephraim and Samaria form a rugged,
+isolated plateau, which is bounded on the north and east by the
+low-lying Valleys of Esdraelon and the Jordan. North-west, the mountains
+continue in a broken chain, till they fall precipitously to the sea at
+Cape Carmel.
+
+There were two or three routes available to the enemy for supply or
+retreat, behind the Samaritan plateau. Most important of these was the
+railway, which, leaving the main Damascus-Hejaz line at Deraa, ran
+westwards down the Yarmuk Valley to the Jordan, thence through Beisan,
+and up the Vale of Jezreel and along the Plain of Esdraelon to Haifa.
+From El Afule, a junction in the middle of the Esdraelon Plain, the
+south-bound line branched off, and, passing through Jenin (close by
+Jezreel), wound its way among the mountains up to Messudieh Station,
+close to Samaria. Thence a short line ran on to Nablus, while the main
+line continued down the slope of the Wadi Shair to the Maritime Plain,
+which it reached at Tul Keram. The advanced enemy bases at Nablus and
+Tul Keram were served also by good roads. That from Tul Keram followed
+the line of the railway up to a point near Samaria, where it joined the
+main north-bound road leading from Nablus down to Jenin and El Afule.
+From El Afule it would be possible to go down the Vale of Jezreel (along
+the road where Jehu drove furiously) to Beisan, and thence northward up
+the Jordan Valley. But the better road from Jenin and El Afule leads
+across the Plain of Esdraelon to Nazareth and Tiberias and round the
+northern side of the Sea of Galilee to Damascus. Another road from
+Nablus leads eastwards, and, dropping steeply down along the Wadi Fara,
+leads to the Jordan, which it crosses by a ford at Jisr ed Damie. The
+places of tactical importance on the enemy lines of communication behind
+his advanced bases were, therefore, the railway junctions at Deraa and
+El Afule, the ford of Jisr ed Damie, and the towns of Beisan, Jenin and
+Nazareth.
+
+The broad outline of General Allenby's plan of operations was an attack
+in overwhelming force against the enemy's positions on the Maritime
+Plain, followed by a right wheel of his left flank on a front of 16
+miles from Rafat to the sea, thereby rolling up the Turkish line and
+driving them all into the Samaritan hills; meanwhile, his cavalry were
+to dash for the tactical points behind the Turkish line and so close all
+enemy lines of retreat.
+
+Some weeks before the date fixed for the commencement of operations, the
+several Divisions were by turn withdrawn behind the line and put through
+a three weeks' course of intensive training. Then a rearrangement of the
+line took place, whereby an overwhelming force was concentrated on the
+left. The 60th Division, and most of the cavalry, were moved across to
+the extreme left from the Jordan Valley. Divisions in the line were so
+rearranged that the line from Rafat to the right was only held thinly,
+while the garrison of the line from Rafat to the sea was doubled by the
+addition of three more Divisions, including the 60th on the sea and a
+French Division at Rafat. All these movements were carried out with the
+utmost secrecy. The fact that the push was coming along the Maritime
+Plain was successfully camouflaged, and the enemy led to believe that
+the push would come up the Jordan Valley. The hotel at Jerusalem was
+closed, and got in readiness, ostensibly for occupation by G.H.Q. Empty
+lorries were run up and down the Jordan Valley. Tents were left standing
+there and dummy-horse lines arranged. Dummy horses were left in the
+Jordan Valley to convey to enemy aerial observers the impression that
+cavalry were still there in strength. All the marching towards the
+Jordan Valley was by day; all the marching towards the Maritime Plain
+was carried out by night, while by day these troops were hidden in the
+olive and orange groves that abound on this portion of the Plain. So
+successful were these ruses, and so complete the surprise, that enemy
+aerial reconnaissances, made a day before the attack, reported that
+there was unusual movement in the Jordan Valley and that there was no
+unusual movement on the coastal sector. The whole of the operations were
+a triumph of secrecy and of organization.
+
+On the day before the main attack, a small advance was carried out by
+the right wing just west of the Jordan, occupying El Mugheir. This place
+is the junction of several roads leading from the west to the east of
+the Jordan. The object of this preliminary move was to prevent the Turks
+west of the river escaping by this route to the east, and also to draw
+the attention of the enemy towards the Jordan Valley and distract it
+from the coastal sector.
+
+By the night of the 18th/19th September, our troops were in position.
+The Divisions occupying the line from the sea on the left were the
+60th, the 7th and the 75th on the Plain, the 3rd where Plain and hills
+meet about Mejdel Yaba, the 54th and the French at Rafat. Thence the
+line was held by the 10th Division, assisted by a composite force, and,
+on the extreme right, about the recently captured Mugheir, by the 53rd.
+Cavalry were concentrated behind the 60th Division ready to dash forward
+directly the line should be broken.
+
+At 4.30 on the morning of the 19th September, there suddenly opened an
+intensive bombardment of the enemy's coastal positions, carried out by
+all the artillery, trench-mortars and machine-guns that could be
+concentrated in this small sector, the navy also co-operating. After ten
+minutes' bombardment, the infantry moved forward and assaulted the
+enemy's front line positions, which were carried with but little
+opposition. Thereafter the barrage lifted and crept, being supplemented
+in places by smoke barrages dropped from aeroplanes. The infantry pushed
+forward and captured the enemy's second and third lines and strong
+points in rear. Shortly before seven o'clock, the 60th Division had
+broken right through the enemy defences by the sea, and had reached, and
+established a bridge-head at the Wadi Nahr el Falyk, a mile or so behind
+the enemy line. Engineers and pioneers got to work at once, and in a
+very short space of time had made roads and bridges through the enemy
+trench system, and over the Nahr el Falyk, by which cavalry and guns
+could be pushed forward. At 7.30, the cavalry passed through on their
+dash for the tactical points behind the enemy's lines.
+
+Meanwhile, all along the line our infantry had taken their first
+objectives with little opposition, the enemy having been taken
+completely by surprise. The whole line advanced to a maximum depth of 5
+miles, and then swung to the right, pivoting on Rafat. Such opposition
+as was encountered was met with at the strong points well behind the
+front line, where the enemy had had the time and opportunity to man his
+defences. For example, both at El Tireh and at Kalkilieh, stubborn
+resistance was encountered. Thus the line swung right-handed into the
+hills, crumpling up the whole enemy line west of Rafat. The 60th
+Division, after their break through, marched for the greater part of the
+day, and, by 5.30 in the afternoon, had reached Tul Keram. Our line,
+that evening, ran approximately south and north from Rafat to Tul Keram.
+
+The cavalry passing through the gaps broken at the sea and close to
+Tabsor, pushed rapidly northward along the Coastal Plain. Some of them
+made for Tul Keram, and, passing thence up the Valley towards Nablus,
+had already reached Anebta before dark, cutting off large bodies of the
+retreating enemy with guns and transport between Tul Keram and the
+railway junction at Messudieh. Another strong cavalry force moved
+farther north. They passed through the mountains east of Mount Carmel
+that night, by the Musmus Pass (Megiddo), and, early on the following
+morning, the 20th, they charged the enemy holding the northern exit of
+the Pass and debouched on to the Plain of Esdraelon (Armageddon).
+
+These seized the railway junction at El Afule. Some pushed on eastwards
+towards the Jordan and captured Beisan (Bethshan), some northwards and
+captured Nazareth, while some, turning southwards, took Jenin in
+reverse. By nightfall on the 20th all these tactical points were in our
+possession.
+
+Yet another exploit remains to be chronicled. Far away across the
+eastern desert, but beautifully co-ordinated, and working as part of one
+great machine, moved a raiding force of the Arab troops of Hussein, King
+of the Hejaz. At the critical moment these swooped down upon the
+junction at Deraa, where they destroyed the railway in all directions,
+completely depriving the enemy of their main line of retirement.
+
+Throughout the operations our airmen had the time of their lives. Some
+hovered all day over the enemy aerodrome at Jenin, and effectually
+prevented enemy machines from leaving the ground. Some maintained
+contact between the infantry and the higher command. Some, flying low,
+bombed and machine-gunned the retreating Turks, and completed their
+confusion.
+
+The advance was continued on the 20th. On this day, the 10th Division,
+which had hitherto remained stationary to the right of Rafat, moved
+forward in a north-easterly direction, taking in rear the strong enemy
+position at Furkha. The whole line was now advancing and driving the
+retreating Turks towards Samaria and Nablus, and down the roads leading
+northwards and eastwards from these points. By the evening of the 20th,
+the Turkish resistance had collapsed everywhere on the west of the
+Jordan, except on the Turkish left in the Jordan Valley. Our right wing
+had advanced slightly, and occupied a line from near El Mugheir to Es
+Sawieh, while our left wing had swung round and reached the line
+Bidich-Baka-Messudieh Junction--that is to say, we were gradually
+closing in on Nablus from the south, south-west, and west. Owing to the
+tactical positions behind the enemy lines having been seized by our
+cavalry, all avenues of escape which might have been open to the enemy
+had been closed, except the fords across the Jordan between Beisan and
+Jisr-ed-Damieh.
+
+By the 21st, the retreating Turks had become a demoralized rabble,
+fleeing to the fords of the Jordan, like the discomfited Midianites,
+under Oreb and Zeeb, had fled more than three thousand years before from
+the pursuit of Gideon. Those who fled down the northward road were
+captured and collected by our cavalry at Jenin. Those who fled down the
+eastward road by the Wadi Fara, hoping to reach the still open ford at
+Jisr-ed-Damieh, met with a more cruel fate. This road led down a steep
+and narrow gorge, dominated by the heights east of Nablus. A brigade of
+the 10th Division was rushed forward by a forced march, and seized these
+heights, effectually closing the trap. Our airmen had already got the
+situation well in hand here, and the road soon became a veritable
+shambles. The enemy had been forced or shepherded by our infantry into
+this bottle-neck, and our airmen, swooping down to 200 feet and bombing
+the head of the column, soon made the road impassable. That
+accomplished, they flew up and down the struggling column, bombing and
+machine-gunning without let or hindrance. It seemed as though the
+unspeakable Turk had at last been delivered over to vengeance in this
+Valley of Death. An eye-witness[11] describes the scene.
+
+"In no section of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow could there have been a
+more terrible picture of hopeless and irretrievable defeat. In this area
+alone, eighty-seven guns of various calibres, and fully a thousand horse
+and oxen-drawn vehicles, nearly a hundred motor-lorries, cars,
+field-kitchens, water carts, and a mass of other impedimenta blocked the
+road, with the carcases of thousands of animals and the bodies of dead
+Turks and Germans."
+
+On the 22nd, our cavalry moved up the Jordan Valley and seized the ford
+at Jisr-ed-Damieh, thus cutting off the last possible means of escape.
+Prisoners were surrendering in thousands. They looked weak and
+exhausted; in many cases they had fled over a parched country and
+beneath a burning sun for three or four days, without touching a drop of
+water. Their plight was pitiable. By that evening, the Turkish armies
+west of the Jordan had ceased to exist.
+
+There still remained the Turkish 4th army in Eastern Palestine. An
+expedition, consisting largely of cavalry, was sent against them. These
+crossed the Jordan Valley, and, moving up the eastern slopes, on the
+23rd September captured Es Salt, and, on the 26th, Amman. A day or two
+later, the Turkish force south of Amman, about 10,000 strong,
+surrendered. The remainder of the Turkish 4th army tried to withdraw.
+They were closely pursued by our cavalry and airmen, and, to some
+extent, cut off by the Arab forces of the King of the Hejaz. Many
+prisoners were taken from this army, while, such as could do so, made
+their escape to Damascus.
+
+The whole of Palestine, south of, and including the Plain of Esdraelon,
+was now in the hands of the British and their Arab allies. But there was
+still work to be done in a sweep forward towards Damascus. The Turks had
+some reserves at Damascus, and with these, and the remnants of their 4th
+army, they attempted to check our advance against that city.
+Accordingly, they sent a small force down to the Upper Jordan, that is,
+to the river north of the Sea of Galilee. This force, which consisted of
+Germans, Turks and Circassians, was rushed down from Damascus in
+motor-lorries, in order to deny the crossing at Jisr Benat Yakub. They
+blew up the bridge and covered the crossing with machine guns. On the
+27th our cavalry, pushing north from Tiberias, swam the river both to
+the south and to the north of this crossing, and surprised and captured
+many of the enemy. They then, with armoured cars, pushed forward along
+the main Tiberias-Damascus road.
+
+On the same day, other cavalry joined hands with the Arab army at Deraa.
+From this point, also, cavalry and armoured cars pushed northward. It
+seemed a question whether this force or that from Jisr Benat Yakub would
+be the first to reach Damascus, as both forces were rapidly approaching
+the city from the south and south-west respectively. The advance was
+still disputed by enemy rear guards, from whom prisoners and guns were
+captured. The enemy rear-guards were defeated, and, by the evening of
+the 30th, the city was partially surrounded.
+
+Early on the morning of the 1st October, a British force and a portion
+of the Arab army of King Hussein occupied the city of Damascus.
+
+In the course of a fortnight the enemy line had been broken; Samaria,
+Galilee, Eastern Palestine and Damascus had been conquered; three
+Turkish armies had been destroyed, with a loss of their entire war
+material; and over 350 guns and 71,000 prisoners had been captured.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 11: Mr. W. T. Massey, Official Correspondent with the E.E.F.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+Serious fighting had practically finished with the capture of Damascus.
+The northward flight of the Turks continued, closely pursued by our
+cavalry and armoured cars. A Division of infantry was brought forward in
+support, but the difficulties of supplying a large force so far away
+from a base made it impossible to bring forward the infantry in any
+strength. Australians rounded up a Turkish column some miles north of
+Damascus, and a few thousand more prisoners were captured. Beyrout, the
+port of Damascus, was abandoned without a blow, and, on the 6th October,
+was occupied by the allies. A Division of French troops was landed here,
+and, thereafter, this port became the main channel of supply for the
+troops operating in Northern Syria.
+
+Our forces pushed on northwards, meeting with little or no opposition,
+and occupying Baalbek, Tripolis and Homs. A Turkish force, under General
+Liman von Sanders, and estimated at about 12,000, concentrated a few
+miles south of Aleppo, where they threatened to offer some resistance.
+The advance northward was, however, unopposed. The enemy had constructed
+trenches covering Aleppo, and at first showed signs of holding them.
+But, after our armoured cars had got into touch, and our airmen had
+bombed them, the enemy decided to evacuate, and withdrew to the hills
+towards Alexandretta. Aleppo was entered by our cavalry on the 26th
+October, and the station was seized at Muslimie, the junction of the
+Baghdad Railway. By these captures we had made ourselves masters of the
+main line of communications with Constantinople of the Turkish armies in
+Mesopotamia.
+
+Their armies virtually destroyed, the Turks now concluded an armistice,
+which took effect as from the 31st October. Their allies, the
+Bulgarians, who had suffered disastrous reverses in Macedonia, had just
+concluded an armistice; the Austrians were being badly beaten by the
+Italians and were clearly nearing the end; and the Germans were fast
+retiring from France and Belgium: so, with all hope of succour gone, the
+Turks had no alternative but to conclude an armistice, the terms of
+which practically amounted to unconditional surrender.
+
+The terms of the armistice included the following. Immediate
+demobilization of the Turkish army, except troops required for the
+surveillance of the frontier and the maintenance of internal order; the
+surrender of the garrisons of the Hejaz, Assir, Yemen, Syria and
+Mesopotamia, and the withdrawal of troops from Cilicia; the surrender of
+all ports there; occupation by the Allies of the Taurus Mountains tunnel
+system; the allied control of all railways; occupation by the Allies of
+any strategic points considered necessary for their security;
+prohibition of destruction of military or similar material; all Germans
+and Austrians to quit Turkey within a month; Turkey to cease all
+relations with the Central Powers; all allied prisoners in Turkish
+possession to be handed over unconditionally, but Turkish prisoners in
+the Allies' hands to be kept at the disposal of the Allies. In addition,
+all war vessels in Turkish waters were to be surrendered, the
+Dardanelles were to be opened, and free access secured for allied ships
+to all Turkish ports and exchanges and to the Black Sea.
+
+A few days later, Austria threw in her hand, and, on the 11th November,
+an armistice was concluded with Germany. The Central Powers had
+surrendered. The greatest war in the history of the world had been
+brought to a close.
+
+Will our campaign be passed down to history as "The Last Crusade"?
+Presumably not. Throughout the campaign there was little or no religious
+animosity, except that the Moslem Turk extended no quarter to the
+Hindoo. To speak of this as a campaign of The Cross against The Crescent
+is untrue. The Turkish high command was controlled by Germans, so-called
+Christians. The British soldier fought with no less zest than when
+opposed to Turks. At the final battle, the Moslems, serving in our
+armies, by far outnumbered the Christians.
+
+The close of the great war forms a fitting point at which to bring our
+story also to a close. Its aim has been a blend of history and
+reminiscence. Much has been set down here which would have been omitted
+from a history; much more has been omitted which a complete history
+would have contained. In particular I plead guilty to omitting names of
+units deserving of special mention. Generally their names have not been
+known to me; in such cases as they were known, I have feared that to
+mention them might have caused more jealousy than satisfaction. We each
+of us think, and rightly so, that our own unit does better than any
+other engaged. So, many a reader may be disappointed at finding no
+mention of the unit in which he is particularly interested. I can only
+refer him to the congratulatory telegrams which his unit received in the
+field, and which are doubtless preserved among the records of the
+regiment.
+
+We have now completed our brief review of this campaign. We have seen
+its small beginnings in the defence of the Suez Canal, when Turkey,
+leaning upon Germany, a broken reed, vaunted herself in an attempt to
+conquer Egypt. We have traced the footsteps of the British army as,
+pushing back the invading Turk, it crept across the Desert. We have
+watched its struggles on the frontier of Asia, culminating in the
+victory of Gaza and Beersheba. We have followed its progress in the
+onward sweep, which conquered Jerusalem, and watched it through
+succeeding months of trial, patience and disappointment. Finally, we
+have seen it destroy the remnants of the Turkish armies, and, in one
+great rush, conquer the whole of Northern Syria. Proud, indeed, should
+those of us feel who have been privileged to play a part in this
+campaign.
+
+
+
+
+INDEX
+
+
+Abd, 15
+
+Abu Aweigila, 16
+
+Abu Hareira, 45
+
+Ain Karim, 83
+
+Ajalon, 71
+
+Akaba, Gulf of, 4, 26
+
+Aleppo, 23, 143
+
+Alexandretta, 143
+
+Ali Muntar, 38
+
+Amman, 114, 141
+
+Anwas, 73
+
+Apex, The, 46, 50, 59
+
+Arara, 131
+
+Armageddon, 33
+
+Asluj, 54
+
+Atawinah, 45, 58, 59
+
+Auja, 5,14
+
+Australia Hill, 39
+
+
+Baalbek, 143
+
+Baghdad, 22
+
+Baha, 45
+
+Baku, 23
+
+Beersheba, 39, 45, 51, 56
+
+Beihesnia, 75
+
+Beit Dukka, 75
+
+Beit Iksa, 83
+
+Beit Hanun, 45, 58, 63
+
+Beit Jibrin, 67
+
+Belah, 38
+
+Bethel, 109
+
+Beth-horon, 71
+
+Bethshan, 139
+
+Bireh, 72
+
+Bir-el-Abd, 14
+
+Bir-es-Sakaly, 54
+
+Bitter Lakes, 5
+
+
+Constantinople, 7
+
+Ctesiphon, 22
+
+
+Damascus, 142
+
+Dardanelles, 6
+
+Dead Sea, 112
+
+Deraa, 142
+
+Dueidar, 13
+
+
+Egypt, 1
+
+El Arish, 5
+
+El Burj, 80
+
+El Kep, 130
+
+El Kubeibeh, 67
+
+El Mesmiye, 68
+
+El Mughar, 68
+
+El Tine, 45
+
+El Tireh, 138
+
+Emmaus, 78
+
+Enab, 75
+
+Ephraim, 124
+
+Erzerum, 24
+
+Esdraelon, 135
+
+Es Salt, 114, 141
+
+
+Gallipoli, 7
+
+Gamli, 46
+
+Gaza, 37, 51, 56
+
+Gezer, 69
+
+Ghoraniyeh, 113
+
+
+Hajlah, 113
+
+Hareira, 58
+
+Hejaz, 25
+
+Hill 1070, 54
+
+Homs, 143
+
+Huj, 63
+
+
+Ikba, 126
+
+In Seirat, 39
+
+
+Jaffa, 69, 116
+
+Jericho, 111
+
+Jerusalem, 79, 84, 86
+
+Jiddah, 25
+
+Jisr-ed-Damieh, 141
+
+Jordan, 32, 109, 112
+
+Junction Station, 36, 66, 68, 101
+
+
+Kalkilieh, 138
+
+Kantara, 12
+
+Katia, 13
+
+Katrah, 68
+
+Kauwukah, 57
+
+Khalassa, 54
+
+Khan Epenus, 5
+
+Khan Yunus, 19
+
+Khasim Zanna, 54
+
+Kosseima, 5
+
+Kut el Amara, 21
+
+
+Latron, 73
+
+Ludd, 69, 101, 108
+
+
+Maan, 25
+
+Mageiba, 14
+
+Maghdaba, 16
+
+Magruntein, 17
+
+Mansura Ridge, 40
+
+Mazar, 15
+
+Mecca, 25
+
+Medina, 25
+
+Mejdel Yaba, 122
+
+Middlesex Hill, 58
+
+Mosul, 23
+
+Mount Carmel, 29
+
+Mount Royston, 14
+
+Mudros, 7
+
+Muslimie, 143
+
+Muweileh, 56
+
+
+Naaneh, 69
+
+Nablus, 139
+
+Nasiriyeh, 21
+
+Nazareth, 139
+
+Neby
+
+Musa, 110
+
+Neby Samwil, 71, 76, 80, 81
+
+
+Oghratina, 13, 15
+
+Outpost Hill, 58
+
+
+Palestine, 28
+
+Philistia, 30
+
+Plain of Sharon, 30
+
+
+Rafa, 4, 16
+
+Rafat, 130
+
+Ramadi, 23
+
+Ramleh, 69, 108
+
+Rayak, 35
+
+Romani, 12, 13
+
+
+Shatt-el-Arab, 21
+
+Sheikh Hasan, 55
+
+Sheikh Zowaid, 16
+
+Shellal, 17
+
+Sheria, 57
+
+Shunat Nimrin, 114
+
+Suez Canal, 2, 4
+
+Suvla Bay, 7
+
+
+Taurus, 35
+
+Tel-el-Kebir, 2
+
+Tel-el-Saba, 54
+
+Three Bushes Hill, 126, 131
+
+Towal Abu Jerwal, 56
+
+Trebizond, 24
+
+Tripolis, 143
+
+Tul Keram, 139
+
+
+Umbrella Hill, 55
+
+Umm Jerar, 48
+
+
+Wadi Auja, 116
+
+Wadi Deir Ballut, 116, 119
+
+Wadi Ghuzzeh, 38, 44
+
+Wadi Hesi, 58
+
+Wadi Nahr, 138
+
+Wellington Ridge, 15
+
+
+Yemen, 25
+
+
+_Printed in Great Britain for_ ROBERT SCOTT, _Publisher_, PATERNOSTER ROW,
+LONDON, _by_ BUTLER & TANNER, FROME
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
+
+LIST OF FIXED ISSUES
+
+p.   v--typo fixed, changed "Judaean" to "Judaean"
+p.  vi--typo fixed, changed "Khuweilfah" to "Khuweilfeh"
+p. vii--typo fixed, changed "Tamberlane" to "Tamerlane"
+p. 019--typo fixed, changed "Weli Sheikh Nura" to "Weli Sheikh Nuran"
+p. 029--typo fixed, changed "Keran" to "Keram"
+p. 039--typo fixed, changed a comma into a period after "Ali Muntar
+and Gaza"
+p. 054--inserted a missing period after "in our hands"
+p. 056--inserted a missing closing bracket after "farther west"
+p. 073--typo fixed, changed "via" to "via"
+p. 078--inserted a missing period after "his positions"
+p. 097--typo fixed, changed "Napolean" to "Napoleon"
+p. 112--typo fixed, changed "garrision" to "garrison"
+p. 114--typo fixed, changed "Hajleh" to "Hajlah"
+p. 135--typo fixed, changed "Nahr el Falik" to "Nahr el Falyk"
+p. 147--typo fixed, changed "Abou Aweigila" to "Abu Aweigila"
+p. 147--typo fixed, changed "Birel Abd" to "Bir-el-Abd"
+p. 147--typo fixed, changed "Beth-Horon" to "Beth-horon"
+p. 148--typo fixed, changed "Maza" to "Mazar"
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of With the British Army in The Holy Land, by
+Henry Osmond Lock
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE HOLY LAND ***
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