The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1919-07-04
TURKSAND HUNS REFUSE
TOFIGHT FOR DAMASCUS
Australian Tells Of Victory Gained
Over Superior Force.
ENEMY MORALE SHATTERED
Interesting Account Of Capture Of An
Client City by Australian Forces
Gould Have Sustained
Siege for Months.

Sydney, y. s. Ws-An interesting II |
belated account of the capture Of Da-
mascus by Australian forces last fall |
Is given by a returned Australian SOL |
der In the Sydney Morning Herald. |
The narrative starts with the Aus
tralians' advance from Tiberias and
the subsequent encircling operations
which resulted In the fall of Damas-
! Gus itself
Leaving Liberals behind the Aus
tralian division pushed on northward
to Lake Huieh, where they tried to
cross the Jordan. but the enemy had
blown up the big stone bridge, and
nests of German machine gunners lined
the precipitous river banks. Up and
tered, but always they were met with
burst Of fire from the eastern bank.
But the old Jordan had to be crossed.
% the Tenth Light Horse, under cover
OF darkness, forced passage near the
lake. while the Fourteenth Light Horse
did the same further south. In the
morning they c,nverged on the enemy
from either flank, capturing number
Of prisoners. few guns. and many
machine guns The bulk Of the enemy
rear guard bottled. SO once more was
continued the great race toward Da-
mascus.
Enemy Rear Guard Routed.
AT Kuneitra the rear guard ma
chine gunners were again encountered
and once more at Sasa. At the latter
place there was stiff fighting, and we
t had some casualties, but the last Oh
$ stacle was removed. and we pushed
on to the great city.
: away TO the eastward we cOult
r rec clouds of dust rising from the
r Hedja1 road. II was the remnant o.
l. the Fourth Turkish army from Amnn
e So, In spite Of their long start. W,
e had made a dead-heat Of 1t. Thei
fate was already sealed. We ha,
g been In the saddle all the previous aft
ernoon, all night. and all the morn
l. Ing, but there was no chance Of
' halt. General HodgsOn-commandin
~ the Australian di-ision-pushed tn
- Third Light Horse brigade toward tn
:, south of the city, while he sent Ger
:. erai Onslow's Fifth brigade on a wild
: encircIing sweep to the west an
~ north Of Dumar, with view to blocl
:. lag the escape.
. The battle of Damascus, which TO
:" lowed will be studied In years to con-
as the perfect example Of the inf,
II ence Of morale. Napoleon said ths
:, morale to material is as three to or
Il, Here one found it hundred to one.
T. few thousand exultant horsemen her
Il med in and captured an army. I'll
l rity was surrounded. The roads
IS horthward were held. Having abu
I'd dance Of arms and munitions, food ar
Du water, and being in such overwheimir
sh numbers, they could have sustained
DM siege for months, even If they fear,
er to- risk battle In the open. But the
an morale was shattered.
lie "There was little fight left in the1
A fringe Of machine guns ard fe
er pieces Of artillery held Off the attac
ID. ers for an hour or SO. Then the hors
ID men broke through. The Third Lig
| doiS uAlsuNC NuptuHCu lAu
20. sands Of the Fourth Turkish army fro
AMMAN.
lis 1.-The Fourth regiment entered (
outskirts Of the city, found the big b
racks swarming with Turks and G.
unans. But they wouldn't fight a
-, the Wictorians rounded up 10000
bo them and led them away. Anotf
ic column, several thousand strong, Il,
am ing from the Arabs, tried to escape
,o+ the northern road to Honin. But
CO THIRD Light Horse brigade started
pursuit. charged the rear guard
German machine gunners and captur
-. the whole column.
~ Meanwhile the Fifth Light HoI
brigade-which used to be the can
r., corps-broke through the Gordon
~ macltire guns, hiding in the northt