New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-15
One British Cavalry Divi-
sion Alone Captures
LOO in a Day
Allenby Advances
Seven Miles on Coast
Reaches Biblical Brook of
Kedron; Destroyer and
Monitor Lost

LONDON, Nov. 1.-The British
forces in Palestine have driven seven
miles further northward along the Med
iterranean coast and have carried their
left wing to the Wadi Surar. the Bibli-
cal Brook Kedron. Immediately cover
ing Jaffa and the railway to Jerusalem.
This was announced to-day by General
f. B. Maurice, Chief Director of Mill
tary Operations at the War Office.
The Turkish force confronting Gen
eral Allenby. the British commander,
had now lost half its entire electives.
General Maurice said. The number of
prisoners taken in yesterdays attack
has not been reported but the general
stated that one cGvalary division, which
was only small part of the force en-
gagged, took LOO captives, two heavy
guns and fourteen machine guns.
At the same time it was announced
that one British destroyer and small
monitor had been sunk by an enemy
submarine while cooperating with the
land forces in Palestine, thirty-three
men being lost.
With the further extension of Cen
eral Allenby's lines on the west, while
his right wing remains comparatively
inactive, the nature of the British com
mander's strategy in the Palestine OPP
erations is fully revealed. Instead or
driving on Jerusalem from the south, 1t
is evidently his intention TO advance
eastward from the coast. after taking
the only railway which runs through
the whole region that from Jatfa to
the Holy City.
He is now within few miles of this
railroad at its southernmost loop near
the coast. The capture of the city from
this direction would imperil the entire
Turkish army TO the south of the city
and doubtless would result in their
capture. Jerusalem, however, is said
to have been strongly fortified by the
Turks. and the task of the British
commander will by no means be easy.
The ancient brook of Kedron. along
which runs the new British line, Is no
more than a dry bed at this season OF
the year. only heavy winter rains send
a torrent through ii. If General AL
lenby fails in his attempt to capture
the Jaffa-Jerusalem railway, it will be
possible for him to advance down the
valley of the Kedron almost to the
gates of the capital.
The brook flows between Jerusalem
and the Mount of Olives. 1t was
crossed by David in his fight. and by
the Saviour on His way to Gethsemane.
In the time Of Josiah it was used as
the common burying ground OF the
city. and at the present day Is marked
with thousands of excavated tombs.
Discussing the situation in the East,
General Maurice said:
"The keystone of our operations o.
the Eastern theatre is the defeat of Won
Falkenhayn's preparations for the re-
capture of Bagdad. General Maude's
latest move up the Tigris succeeded
in destroying the Turkish stores Of
ammunition piled up for this enter
prise. Having accomplished this, Maude
has now fallen back to his old position,
as there is no point in prolonging COM
munications to no purpose.
Meanwhile General Allenby has
been striking powerful blow on
the Palestine front. The forces oppos
ing Allenby have been very roughly
handled They have lost half of their
electives. and must be reinforced from
the army which Won Falkenhayn has
been preparing at Aleppo for the Bag
dad attack"