Syria and Mesopotamia, since these are both based upon Aleppo, which itself is threatened by this column. The direction of this blow will depend upon the measure of success attained by the other columns in Southern Palestine and the Tigris Valley. Holding the interior position with good lateral communications by means of which one column can assist its neighbor, the strategic advantage lies with the British. Midway between Bagdad and El Deir lies Hit, where there are important oil wells in which Anglo-Dutch capital is interested.

The right wing of General Maude's army was assigned the duty of clearing the Turks from the caravan route between Bagdad and Persia, and further to endeavor to hold up the retreat of their army corps in Persia before it could escape through the famous pass known

as

"the gate of Zagros." This object it was the aim of the opposing Turkish commander to frustrate. In consequence, the whole of the British centre and right wing became engaged with the enemy at widely dispersed points. The route mapped out for the Anglo-Indian centre was for one column to advance direct on Mosul by the road alongside the Tigris, but to keep in alignment with the other columns, and for another to take the road to Kifri and Erbil, which lies midway between the Tigris and the Kurd hills. This last road strikes the caravan route from Mosul to Tabriz in rear of where the Turks are holding up the main Russian left wing near Rivanduz and preventing a junction between the main allied armies.

The scheme then was for an advance in force by the centre upon Mosul and Rivanduz along three parallel routes, while the right wing secured the Bagdad caravan way into Persia, and the left wing ascended the Euphrates to El Deir and awaited further orders.

The Ottoman forces were disposed as follows: The Thirteenth Army Corps on both banks of the Tigris, the Eighteenth Army Corps between the Tigris and Diala Rivers, the Sixth Army Corps retiring from Persia by the Bagdad caravan route, and another force withdrawing before the British on the Euphrates. The

Jeb-el-Hamrin hills lay diagonally on the flank of General Maude's line of march on Mosul, and by holding them the Turks reckoned not only to delay his advance but to enable their Sixth Army Corps to make good its escape by taking a bypath through the mountains from Kasr-i-Shirin to Kifri in rear of their left flank. These expectations borne out, but under severe punishment, and it remains to be seen whether in saving the small force in Persia they have not compromised their whole army.

were

Open warfare prevails in this theatre and the scenes change rapidly. The operations consequently are of particular interest to military students. While progression may appear to be slow on the Tigris and in Syria, such delaying tactics may be considered by the British as an advantage provided their Euphrates column is making good progress toward the vital communications of the enemy. This is an unknown but all-important factor. Meanwhile, we may record the actual progress of the Tigris column.

The Advance on Mosul

The short section of the Bagdad Railway, which from this end is completed as far as Samara, about seventy miles up stream, is built on the west bank of the Tigris, but the road to that town follows the east bank part of the way. The Tigris and its tributary, the Diala, take parallel courses, about fifteen miles' distant, as they approach Bagdad, and the road to Persia, as well as the one to the north, both emerge from this narrow area with the Tahwila Canal separating them. All these roads were made use of by General Maude in his advance from Bagdad. His left centre, on the west bank of the Tigris, came up with the enemy's rearguard holding a ridge covering the railway station of Mushaidie, and attacked it during the night of March 14. The engagement was continued next day, when the position was carried and three Turkish divisions defending it retired to the north.

Simultaneously, the right wing crossed the Diala to the east bank and seized the town of Bakuba, through which the main caravan road runs to Khanikin on the Persian border. They also se

posing forces clashed near Deltawa, when the Turks were repulsed and retired across the River Adhaim, a tributary of the Tigris. The British centre continued its advance and entered Deli Abbas on March 31.

The Turkish Sixth Army Corps, in the meantime, was approaching Kasr-iShirin, whence their escape was assured by a side track to Kifri. When they took the latter road, a squadron of Russian Cossacks sped on along the caravan route and established contact with the Indian cavalry on April 2. The main Russian column deflected its course in an endeavor to intercept the Turkish left wing, which was falling back before the British, but they were held up at the crossing of the Diala. Persia is now free of the Ottoman invasion, although some small contingents were cut off in the reretirement and sought refuge in the Kurd hills to the west of Bana.

from Kut-el-Amara began, and occupied Kirind on March 17. The Turkish left fell back toward Khanikin to cover the retirement of the Sixth Army Corps. The converging Anglo-Russian armies encountered considerable natural difficulties, for while the Indian troops on the plain were delayed by numerous small canals and rivers, the Russians were traversing snow-clad mountains and confronted with the formidable obstacle of the Paitak Pass to the east of Kasr-iShirin. The Turks in the foothills were assembled in strength, for they were battling to avoid the surrender of their Sixth Army Corps, whose retreat was precarious unless the British advance could be delayed. After numerous engagements the British right pushed on, and Shahroban was occupied, fifty-five miles northeast of Bagdad. The Ottoman centre now advanced and the op

While these events were in progress the Anglo-Indian column on the west bank of the Tigris fought the Turks out of Balad Station, some fifty miles north of Bagdad. General Maude, finding his advance to the north threatened by the Turkish concentration on his flank in the Jeb-el-Hamrin hills, manoeuvred to give them battle. On March 10 he ordered his advance detachments on the west bank

of the Diala to fall back, whereupon the Turks, leaving the hills, pressed on after them. During the night General Maude dispatched another force from the east bank of the Tigris to the scene of action, and at daybreak a general engagement commenced against the Thirteenth Turkish Army Corps. The British artillery soon established an ascendency, but a mirage temporarily interrupted the duel.

When the infantry was brought into action the enemy abandoned their positions, ten miles northeast of Deltawa, and retired rapidly on the Jeb-el-Hamrin hills, leaving 300 dead on the field. Their casualties are reported as 700. The British centre now continued its march, and on the night of April 17 forced the passage of the River Adhaim, which was held by a detachment of the Eighteenth Turkish Army Corps; next day a battle ensued on the east bank of the Tigris,

when the Turks were again routed and 1,250 prisoners taken, but their guns escaped, owing to the exhaustion of the pursuing cavalry from the intense heat and their arduous advance.

Capture of Samara

The operations of the next few days were directed against the enemy's positions on the west bank of the Tigris between Istabulat and Samara. Severe hand-to-hand fighting took place with numerous counterattacks, but in the end the Turks had to yield their carefully prepared intrenchments, together with a 5.9 howitzer, 14 Krupp guns, and 687 prisoners. Their demoralization was due to the enfilade fire of the British artillery posted on the east bank of the river and the threatening manoeuvres of the Indian cavalry on the other flank.

On April 23 Anglo-Indian troops. entered Samara, and at the railhead captured 16 locomotives and 240 trucks, while in the town a large quantity of military stores and munitions was secured. The Bagdad-Samara railway is now entirely in the hands of the British and will soon be available to bring up munitions and supplies from Bagdad.

The Turks depend on river transport from Mosul to meet their requirements, but this service is liable to constant attack from British flying squadrons. The Thirteenth Turkish Army Corps ventured to leave the Jeb-el-Hamrin hills in an attempt to relieve the pressure on their

Eighteenth Army Corps, and, marching southwest, came in conflict with the British centre. A force detached from the latter made a night march on April 24 and surprised an Ottoman division on the west bank of the River Adhaim, about seven miles north of its junction with the Tigris. The Turks were routed with the loss of 150 prisoners and many transport mules, ponies, and camels.

A moving fight ensued for the next few days, while the Turks were falling back upon their prepared positions on either side of the River Adhaim where it issues from the Jeb-el-Hamrin hills, ome twenty-five miles southeast of Kifri. Early on the morning of April 30 the major portion of the British column, which had crossed the river during the night, stormed and carried the first two lines of the Turkish defenses, including a fortified village, but during a sandstorm they were driven out of the village, only to return and recapture it. The whole of the Thirteenth Turkish Army Corps then retired into the Jeb-el-Hamrin hills, covered by strong rearguards. Their known losses include 359 prisoners and 182 dead. The prevailing duststorm seriously interfered with the artillery and flying corps, and facilitated the Ottoman retreat.

The Eighteenth Turkish Army Corps, after its defeat at Samara, continued its flight to Tekrit, thirty-two miles further up stream. The total loss of this corps during the fighting from April 18 to April 22 is reported as 4,000.

What a marvelous change of scene! They are in Palestine. Behind them is a hundred miles and more of monotonous sand. Before them, as far as the eye can reach, is unfolded a picture of transcending beauty. No wonder, when the troops come up to Rafa and look over the billowy downs, they break into rounds of cheers.

Before and around us everything is green and fresh. Big patches of barley, for which the plain south of Gaza is famous, shine like emeralds, and the im

mense tracts of pasture are today as bright and beautiful as the rolling downs at home.

I have been out on a reconnoissance over ground evacuted by the Turks and toward positions which the enemy at present holds. The high minaret of Gaza showed itself to us from above the dark framework of trees inclosing the town. That mosque was formerly a Christian church built by the Knights Templars in the twelfth century, when the Crusaders fortified themselves within Gaza's walls, but Saladin drove them out.

(Napoleon's

After many centuries, hold on Gaza was merely temporary,) British forces are within sight of the town. Away on our right over the abandoned Turkish stronghold of Wali Sheikh Narun is Beersheba, tucked in the plain beneath the southern end of the hills of Judea. These two of the most ancient cities of Palestine-it was in Gaza that Samson was betrayed by Delilah to the Philistines, and Abraham dug the "well of the oath" in Beersheba-have been seen by some of our troops, and the Desert Column is exceeding glad.

The Battle of Gaza

The fighting for Gaza developed into a pitched battle and then settled into trench warfare. Following is Mr. Massey's description of the battle of Gaza, written on April 21, 1917:

The biggest battle in all Palestine's long history is being fought at Gaza by bodies of troops on both sides immeasurably larger than any armies which have taken part in the countless campaigns of the Holy Land. Though we have only fought the first phase, it is clear that we are engaged upon the hardest struggle in this age-worn battle area. We have gained our first line, which we are consolidating, but apparently there is a period of trench warfare before us ere we reach the important system of trenches which has lately been cut to turn Gaza into a modern fortress of great strength. We paid a price for our gains, but we inflicted very heavy casualties on the Turks, whose counterattacks were repulsed with sanguinary losses. With the conditions pre-eminently favorable to the

defense, an early decision before Gaza must not be expected.

We had to dispose the British forces on a sixteen-mile front, practically the whole of which the Turks had intrenched deeply. The positions we had to attack on the Gaza front could not be stronger if the whole country had been built up for defense. There are sand dunes two miles deep between the sea and the town and an extraordinary variety of redoubts, trenches, and pits covering the western town, while Samson Ridge, 3,000 yards to the southwest, is strongly held to secure the enemy observation posts.

Southeast of Gaza there is a green plain a mile and a half wide and six miles deep inclosed on the sea side by sand dunes, on the north by the town, and the east by a range of hills running to Alimuntar, the spot where Samson displayed his prodigious strength. The plain is intersected by the Wadi Ghuzze, a ravine with precipitous sides, through which the Winter rains on the Judea hills pour in terrific torrent to the sea. It is now dry, but crossings have been made for guns, cavalry, infantry, and supply columns. The northernmost part of the plain is covered with trenches protecting the town, and for two miles to the southeast of Alimuntar the enemy on the irregular hills and deep woods, at one spot, prepared an intricate system connected up with trenches of great defensive power. Mounted Troops Engaged

Three miles due south of Alimuntar is Mansura Ridge, facing another important series of defenses. About a mile further to the east is Sheikh Abbas Ridge, backed by ground torn and cracked as if by an earthquake, and looking over the country rolling to the Beersheba road. East by south are the tiny villages of Sihan, Atawinieh, Aseiferieh, and Munkheileh, near which our cavalry fought strong actions against infantry counterattacking from Hareira Sharia.

The whole country is extremely difficult for cavalry, as it constitutes a continuous bottle neck, full of deep ravines, but the part played by the mounted troops under these disadvantageous circumstances was superb. Soon after daybreak on April 17 our movement began.

A war vessel assisted the shore batteries to cover a short advance of infantry to take up positions from which we might hope to secure our first objective at a subsequent date. The operations were brilliantly successful. We got to our mark on the sand dunes quickly, reached the positions in front in a few minutes, and took Sheikh Abbas Ridge by halfpast 7, with remarkably small casualties. The cavalry were out on the right during this blazing hot morning, but it was impossible to hide them owing to every movement raising dense columns of dust. A wet night would have been of immense advantage, but throughout the operations rain was denied to us.

On April 18, while the country was obscured by dust clouds, we made ready for the next advance, sending much supplies forward. The whole terrain was covered with supply columns, and when the wind decreased an enormous pall of dust hung over the area. An occasional motor rushing across country raised a trail of dust like steam issuing from an express train. Bombardment of the outer trenches of Gaza began as the sun lifted over the black hills of Judea on the 19th.

Infantry and a "Tank

Infantry attacks were launched at 8:30 o'clock. On the left they gained Samson Ridge and found the trenches full of Turkish dead. The enemy observation posts were seized. Toward Alimuntar and south of Gaza progress was more difficult and slower, but Scottish troops went forward with splendid steadiness under a desperately heavy machine-gun fire, and ultimately advanced 2,000 yards to Outpost Hill, south of Alimuntar, where they have consolidated their gains. There was also considerable progress from Sheikh Abbas Ridge. Between 9 and 10 I saw a 66 99 tank go into action against a green hill near a warren in front of the Alimuntar. She stood with her nose posted in the air across a trench, down which her crew poured rapid fire right and left. Then she crossed the trench and turned south. The Austrian gunners with the Turks

soon found the range, and turned an immense volume of fire on the tank, which seemed completely surrounded by bursting high-explosive shells. For several minutes I lost sight of her, but presently she emerged, pursuing the uneven tenor of her way toward our lines. Then a second succession of rapid artillery fire again enveloped the tank. When the fire ceased she had disappeared. I thought she had been smashed to pieces. But I learned she dropped back into the trench we had captured.

During the day, particularly in the afternoon, our mounted troops were heavily engaged. The Turks made five desperate counterattacks with infantry against the mounted troops and camel corps. Though inflicting considerable losses on us, they must have suffered very severe casualties.

Heroic Camel Corps

One heroic episode I did not see, but I repeat it from the evidence of competent witnesses. It was an effort by sixty men of the Camel Corps. The enemy had concentrated considerable forces at one spot to break through. A junior officer of the Camel Corps saw the preparation and took his men forward, with two machine guns, up a grassy slope, to prevent the advance, with absolutely no cover. His small party crept on stealthily, undeterred by a murderous machinegun fire, in what was a forlorn hope. A tremendous shellfire fell about them, but the party, gradually becoming smaller through inevitable losses, pressed on until within 300 yards. The crest was lined with scores of machine guns and hundreds of riflemen. There they stopped, and kept the Turks from issuing to attack by sound and accurate bursts of fire every time the enemy showed themselves. For an hour and a half this gradually reduced band staved off attack until every one was hit. Most of them were killed, and the wounded fell into Turkish hands. It was too late in, the day for the Turks to get through. My informant declared that every Camel Corps man in this section deserved the Victoria Cross, whether he be alive or dead.