The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-02-24
CAVALRY WON WAR
IN THE HOLY LAND
-,
Delivered Master Stroke of
That Campaign
THEY ROUTED THETURKS
U. S. Officer Home From Ser
vice With Arm es Other
Nations
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch

o., Washington. D. c., February 23.-
Cavalry won the war-at least so
much oil the world conflict as was
fought out in Notwithstanding 10
Lieutenant Coloae! Edward Davis,
United States army, who has Just re-
turned " Washington To present 10 the
general stan his observations on more
2 IMAM six years service with the arm
les or other nations.
Before the entry of the Unite 1
States in the world war, and after
o. wards, Col. Davis served with the
forces OF Great Britain, France, Rus
sia, Italy, : Ibia and Greece. Later
lie served as military attache in Hot
Davis his most valuable military eX-
perienCe was with the British cavalry
during the Jerusalem campaign, AMI
he stated he was surprised TO ind
that so little was known in the United
States regarding the facts OF General
Alenby's two remarkable campaigns
In the holy land, each OF which he
" characterized as IAN exquisite exam
pie of the combined operations OF all
arms OF the service under a master
Strategist and a great natural leader
OF men,"
% Cavalry Delivered Master Stroke
~ IN both the Jerusalem and Damas
Gus campaigns, Col. Davis said, the
master stroke was delivered by the
cavalry. He described several OF the
mounted squadron was sent to bite OF
forces, and explained that the most
striking results were attained by
those swift and unexpected blows at
enemy infantry and artillery groups.
After the British had reached what
locked like stalemate on the GAIA
Beeisheba line Col. Davis said, 1T
was decided TO employ cavalry III a
final effort TO pierce the Turkish de-
-'ieusC5. The British strategists de-
elded cavalry could operate best
against one end of the line, and a
mounted squadro was sent to bite on
an end OF the entertainments that mad
resisted every effort at capture. With
IN an uour the cavalry had effected
contact with the Turks, and then be-
gan a process that might best be de-
scgibed as rolling up that thin line
that so long had resisted every effort
rat assault. The operation was a coIn-
piete success, and the entire line W Is
an British control within ten hours.
The value Of cavalry against heavy
rartillery was Strlkingly demonstrated
81 Huj. where the sIXtieth division WAS
engaged. The cavalry under Colonel
SHEA charged twelve cannon protect
ca by machine gun nests, and in ten
minutes had captured eleven Of the
zig guns and cleaned out the nests.
Ine success OF that operation was re-
peatCI N the charge TO the top OF A
IiL 125 feet high. with a twenty per
cent grade and leaping over series
o. trenches captured three Krupp IT'S
anG nearIy a score of machine guns.
Cavalry Made Long Marches
WITHOUT water, without baggage of
any sort, the cavalry made long hard
marches and Outtianked the enemy
column again and again. Finally, on
the plain of Armageddon, the last
stlugg.e took place. During the first
stage OF that battle the Turks fought
wen but were steadily forced back.
Presently the Turkish front between
the sea and the Jordan was broken,
and through the gap along the sea
coast Allenby launched his cavalry
which swept northward and then east
ward to Nazareth, across the rear OF
the whole Turkish host. Inc German
commander Lman Won Sanders. bare
'Iy escaped from the net by precipitate
flight, but what was lett of the TURK
ish armies, more than so 1000 men and
400 guns fell into Alenby's hands. A
month later Turkey capitulated.'