New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-24
r,-t Forces Reduced to
Guerilla Warfare in
Many Districts
Several Villages Are
Taken Near Jafa
Strategic Move Threaten
ing Enemy Line of Retreat
Brings Fall of Bethlehem

y
lars 70 have begun a general ad-
-. =, Palestine. striking out at both
.,s.oft the line. near Jerusalem and on
~ coast, and meeting with slight re-
STANCE. The Turks at some points
tsr. been reduced TO guerilla warfare.
North Of JatTa, the seaport Of Jeru-
,,l,m the British forces which had
,,,rsnehed south Of the stream called
=. Nsbr el Auia TO await the result Of
bs siege Of the capital crossed this
vs.srcourse over a wide front at mid
night Of December 2o-eI.
Enemy Morale Low
The Auja enters the Mediterranean
four miles north Of Jafa. 1t is con-
,,s.rable military obstacle for armies
sol matched, but the British threw
aver RATS and light bridges and quickly
,.;,e8 several villages on the further
ado besides commanding ground three
niles TO the north. They took Sl6
,r,oners and ten machine guns. Moth
;rr is sad Of any counter attack on the
,sr. Of the German-led Turks, pointing
"a serious weakness or loss Of morale.
Al the southeastern end OF the battle
lae. beyond Jerusalem, attachments
an, the village Of Ras ez candy, two
,les northeast Of Bethany, and beat
81 thee counter attacks.
Since the beginning Of the campaign
this year the British haxe taken ninety
one guns and howitzers. 40 machine
runs. 1000 rifles, lo,5o2,Ooo rounds Of
snail arm ammunition and other items
N Importance, says the official state
ment. ...,-
On Rss e. candy is given in a Reuter-
{ispstch from Jerusalem, dated Deem
Der II.
Jerusalem they have been conducting
r.eril'e warfare 10 the north and east
n the city. splitting up into numerous
mall bodies 20 attack British outposts
70 nipe patrols and generally TO MAKE
themselves unpleasant, says the tcIe-
grsr, which continues:
aSBch tactics arc greatly facilitated
ty the fact that the country is so hlily
md intersectcd by so many ravlnes ana
snail rivers. To improve the BRUSH
position the taking Of certain ridges
has been ordered, so. that there may be
q wider range Of defence. All these
moves have been successfully carried
cut.
Seen From Mount of Olives
a remarkable opportunity 10 view
this lighting is afforded by the Mount
Of Olives. which makes what is prob
ably the most wonderful observation
rOst in the world. In the clear atmos-
phere Palestine objects 5000 70 5000
yards away look as if they were within
pistol shot The winding course OF the
Jordan is clearly visible, and motor
boats may be seen sklmming the sur
face Of the Dead Sea.
zone Of the most brilliant pieces OF
work during the recent operations was
The capture Of Bethlehem. The Turks
hau ctINIE ANl A4.IN4 tlpll' hN4'f " ANtt 90
merous field guns on the outskirts OF
the hamlet. The troons which had been
ordered 20 take the ,own depioyed by
right far 10 the left, threatening the
Turkish line Of retreat and compelling
the Turks 10 withdraw.
Welsh troops then entered Beth
lehem az daybreak."
The official statement issued here
last night by the War Office follows:
General Allcnby reports that at
midnight Of December 2O-21 our troops
crossing the Nahr el Auja -four miles
north OF Jafa on the Mediterranean
on RATS and light bridges, seized
khurbet Hadrah, Sheek Muannis, TIE
er-Rekket and r. Nakhras.
These localities are near the mouth
Of the river and include commanding
ground three miles north Of IL. They
captured 305 prisoners, eleven Of whom
we're officers. and ten machine guns.
Thirty Prisoners Taken
"0ther forces captured Rss ez
candy, two miles northeast Of Liberty,
taking thirty prisoners, two machine
guns and beating off three counter
attacks.