The sun., 1918-09-23
DISORDERED TURKS
~ FLEEING TO HILLS
Allenbys Victory Appears co
Be Complete.


Be Complete.
LONDON. Sept. 22.--Ftrther informa-
tton received concerning the dramatic
advance of the British army in Pales-
ttine, begun during the night OF Septem-
Der 10, serves to confirm the complete
ness OF tho surprise and the magnitude
of the success. A special correspondent
at Gen. Allenby's headquarters writes;
THE victory Is much more important
than the number of prisoners at present
reported indicates. for the Turk has had
a smashing blow and Is retiring into the
hills as fast as his weary legs will per-
init. The British are pressing him with
splendid energy. delivering overpowerins
blows in every attempt to resist.
THE situation Is most promising. 1t
Is certain that Gen. Allenby will now
deliver another large portion OF Palestine
from the dominion Of the Turks, as well
as tnflict on the enemy a severe defeat.
Troops Moved by Night.
preparations for the battle entailed a
good deal Of marching. The troops were
always moved by night and remained
hidden in the orange and olive groves In
the day time. The British mastery or
the air prevented enemy observers from
seeing any change In the dispositions
and movements of large columns.
Troops OF all arms were thus concealed
skilfully IN country where the march
ing Of men raises huge columns of dust.
and the Turk. too, possessed positions
that commanded a wide range. But he
remained mystifed. which Is the finest
tribute that could be given to the work
OF the British staff.
THE infantry opened a way for the
cavalry to pass through. and then there
was a wonderful spectacle OF long
columns Of British yeomanry and Aus
tralian light horse and picturesque ln-
dian cavalry moving over wide ex-
panse Of country throughout the coastal
sector of the plain Of Sharon to get to
the enemy's rear"
Omcial British Report.
An official statement given out this
evening by the British War Office says
BY . o'clock on Saturday night on
our left wing the infantry about Bra.
fur had reached the line Beitdajau-
6amaria -Birafur. shepherd!ng the en-
envy on the west Of the Jerusalem
Nabulus road into the arms of our
cavalry operating southwark from
Jenin and Brisan.
Other enemy columns vainly at
tempted TO escape into the Jordan Val
ley In the direction Of isr-ed-Dameer.
which still Is held by US. These col
umns suffered severely from our air
craft, which constantly harassed them
with bombs and machine gun fire from
low attitudes.
In the vicinity of Lake Tiberius our
cavalry detachnients hold Nazareth
and the rail and road passages over
the Jordan at Jisr-ed- Dancer.
Already $4,000 prisoners have been
captured and 100 guns collected.
Left Wing Alone Held. ,a;,f
An earlier official statement reads:
By S p. NJ. on September 90 the
enemy Resistance had collapsed every
! where save on the Turkish left, in
the Jordan Valley.
Our left wing. having swung
around to the east, had reached the
line OF Bidieh. Baka and Messudleh
function. and was astride the rail-
and roads converging at Nabulus.
Our right wing. advancing through
difficult country against considerable
resistance. had reached the line OF
Khan-Jibeit, one and a quarter miles
northeast OF El-Mugheir and Es-
Sawieh. and was facing north.
astride the Jerusalem Nabulus road.
ing the Field of Armageddon. had
occupied Nazareth. Afule and Beisan.
and were collecting the disorganiZed
masses OF enemy troops and trans
ports as they arrived from the south.
All avenues of escape open to the
enemy. except the fords across the
Jordan between Beisan and Jisr-ed-
Dancer, were thus closed.
Arabs Destroy Railway.
East. of the Jordan Arab forces OF
the King Of the Hedjaz had effected
numerous demolitions on the railways
radiating from Deraa. several impor-
tant bridges. including one in the Yur-
max Valley, having been destroyed
Very severe losses have been in
flicted on the masses OF Turkish
troops retreating over the difficult
roads by our air services.
A German airplane, later ascertained
60 have been carrying malls. landed in
the midst of our troops Mt Afule. The
pilot, who believed the place still TO be
in Turkish hands, destroyed the ma
chine and its contents before he could
be secured.
Version of the Turks.
The following official communicated
Issued by the Turkish War Office Fri
day was received here to-day:
On the evening Of the 18th the ex-
pected British attack began on a
wide front east OF the jerusalem
Nabulus road. The first onslaught
failed. thanks to the bravery Of our
troops. Fighting with constantly re-
enforced troops continued the night
long with extreme violence. At dawn
the attacking force was broken and
the attack brought to a standstill on
the Jalud Wady-Abs Uzorka line.
Meanwhile on the coastal sector the
British opened "A violent artillery bonn
bardment, aided from the sea by their
naval guns. After two hours OF ar
tillery preparation there was desper-
ate hand to hand fighting and the en-
envy succeeded In penetrating our
positions between the coast and the
Lydda-Tulkeram railway. Yielding
to the pressure Of great numerical su-
perority we moved our troops into
positions at Tulkeram, where fresh
enemy attacks are expected.
On the Jordan in the Wady Au1a
and Jericho districts we caught The
enemy under an effective fire.