World War, 1914-1918 -- Australia; World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Palestine
The Australians and New Zealanders complained about their luck. But
their task made one strong appeal to them. Twice before they had been
across the Jordan, and twice they had returned leaving not a few of
their men in enemy graves. The two great raids over the river, early in
the year, were brilliantly successful, as raids. Each time our purpose
was achieved. But each time our men broke off the fight strongly against
their inclination, and prayed for the day when they would get orders to
go over and see the job through, and stay. Old Amman, the ancient
Philadelphia, was especially coveted by our men. There, in March, 1918,
we had fought for days over sodden ground in extreme winter weather and
come away, the railway having been well broken, just after the New
Zealanders had won into the town. This time, Australians and New
Zealanders competed, in a sporting way, for first entry, and the 5th
Light Horse Regiment, from Queensland, narrowly gained the honour.
At the outset, the Anzacs, and the small infantry force operating with
them, made up chiefly of the Jewish Battalion, the British West Indians
and troops from India proper, had no chance of breaking out of our
bridgeheads east of the river. Their orders were to keep in very close
and firm touch with the enemy, and to demolish him as soon as he began
to withdraw in consequence of his defeat on Samaria. Also, this Jordan
Valley force was to push northwards up the Valley, and complete the
cordon round the two Turkish armies on Samaria. Both missions were
admirably accomplished. While the New Zealanders and infantry were
advancing up the Valley, the Australians were probing the strongly
entrenched and wired positions along the Moab and Gilead foothills,
across the river. As soon as the Turk moved the two Australian Brigades
pounced upon his rear-guard, and fought him as he climbed the narrow
wady tracks up on to the tableland. Meanwhile, the New Zealanders,
crossing away to the north at Jisr el Darnie, ascended the goat-track
which leads from there to Es Salt, and, for the third time in the
campaign, that old stone-built town was in Australasian hands.
All the way our men had evidence of the success of the British bluff.
The Turks’ defences on the foothills, and higher up, were particularly
strong. Had our main attack gone that way, the fight would have been
very bitter, with the enemy in a strong natural position. But now the
Turks were compelled to abandon their stronghold because of their
disaster in the west, and, also, because the Arabs had broken their
communications to the north, and were joining hands with a British and
Indian cavalry Division right across those communications. As the
Australians passed Shunet Nimrin, they discovered a long-range navy gun
lying on its side, a piece known to them as “Nimrin Nellie” and “Jericho
Jane,” with which the Turk had often made our camps near Jericho dusty
and unpleasant.
[Illustration:
ORANGE SELLER, JAFFA
]
[Illustration:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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