The sun., 1918-09-21
BRITISH CUT OFF
TURKISH ARMY
General Allenby's Victory in
Palestine Threatens Safety
of 100000 Foes.
Spec,oi Cabie Despatch 10 The sUN from fhe
London Times Serrice.

Spsc,oi Cable Despatch TO The suN from fhe
London Times Serrtce.
Copyright 1918; all rights reserred.
LONDON. Sept. o0.--Cien. Allenby's
new victory (Gen. Allenby is the British
General in charge Of the allied opera
tions In Palestine) may lead TO the de-
struction OF the Turkish army in the
Holy Land. These troops are the flower
of the whole Turkish army, whose re-
treat apparently IL cut of. The Turk
ish army Is scattered through Anatolia,
Palestine, the Caucasus and Persia and
consists of not more than 200, 900 troops.
A combined attack upon Turkey from
Palestine and Mesopotamia might follow
decisive victory. Thus Germany IL
being defeated in both her western and
eastern ambitions. although the latter
compaign is merely in the nature OF in
surance should the western defeat be
not overwhelming The eastern cam
'paign is merely supplementary to the
one in the west, from which the main
military settlement must come,
LONDON. Sept 2O,-The British VIC
tory in Palestine, in which the Turks
were driven back twelve miles on n
front of sixteen miles between Rafat
and the sea with the loss OF more than
1000 prisoners, is described in the fol-
lowing official statement issued by the
British War Office to-day:
During the night of September 10
tlSo our troops commenced a general
attack on the front between the Jordan
and the sea, East Of the Jerusalem
Nablus road British and Indian troops
advanced successfully and intercepted
the Turkish road communications lead
ing southeast from Nablus
AT 4 80 A NJ, OF the 18Th the main
attack. in which French troops par
ticipated was launched after IA sharp
bombardment between Rafat and the
coast. our infantry made rapid prog
ress. overrunning the entire hostile
defensive system on this frontage by
A, NJ, and penetrating TO a maximum
depth OF five miles before swinging
eastward
The latest available reports indicate
that Tulikeram Railway junction was
occupied by our infantry In the course
of the afternoon. while brigade OF
Australian light horse reached the
main Tulikeram- Messudieh Railway
and the road in the vicinity OF Anesta,
cutting off large bodies OF retreating
enemy with their guns and transports
Meantime strong cavalry force of
British, Indian and Australian troops
moving northward on the coastal plain
had seized the road junction at HUI
deira Lektera. nineteen miles from the
point of departure. by midday.
East of the Jordan strong detach-
ment of Arab troops OF the King of the
Hedjas, descending from the Turkish
railway junction OF Beraa. severed rail
communication leading north. south
and west from that centre.
7 Naval units cooperated with our ad-
vanced troops in clearing the coastal
roads with their gunfire.
The operations continue. BY 8 +. NJ
OF the 18th more than 5000 prisoners
had passed through our corps cages
and many more were reported as not
having been counted, Large quantities
OF material have been taken.
Hugeir Is the junction OF several roads
and its capture will prevent the Turks
from escaping eastward. There are
/ 5000 Turks on the west and 5000 on
the east. Gen. Allenby now is behind
the main Turkish force west of the
Jordan, which will have difficulty in
extricating itself. especially as the Arabs
| have cut the Nedjas Railway east OF
Lake Tberius.