tty little place, and another example of the Zionist
movement. Here are large wine distilleries, and very good wine they make
too! Before the War large quantities were regularly sent to England.

The next morning (November 27th), the Brigade returned to Zernuka (close to
Akir[7]). They arrived about midday and watered. Late in the afternoon
Lieut. Oakley arrived, bringing 40 remounts and reinforcements for the
Brigade (none for this Squadron unfortunately); he had ridden the 70 miles
from Belah in 30 hours, and had, in fact, only left Cairo at 18.15 on the
24th.

FOOTNOTES:

[5] _Ramleh was a city of the Crusaders, and suffered in the wars
between the Franks and Saladin. During the French invasion Napoleon
made this town his headquarters._

[6] _Naane; Naamah, see Joshua xv, 41._

[7] _Akir = Ekron, see Joshua xv, 11, 45, xix, 43; I Sam. vi; III Kings
i; Jer. xxv, 20; Amos i, 8; Zeph. ii, 4; Zech. iv, 5._

THE BEIT UR ET TAHTA OPERATIONS.

The British line had been advanced and now extended from the River Auja
north of Jaffa on the coast, south-east to a few miles north-east of
Jerusalem and thence due south. The Turk at this time, although greatly
demoralised, was making some desperate counter-attacks.

At 17.00 on November 27th, orders were received for a move that night at
21.00. The Brigade was required, in a great hurry, to fill a gap in the
line that the Turks had discovered, and of which they appeared to intend to
take advantage.

Of the Machine-Gun Squadron, only Headquarters and three sub-sections ("A"
"D" and "E") were to go, but were made up to working strength by men from
"B" and "C" Sub-sections. The Officer Commanding, Capt. Marshall, was
there, and the "second in command," Capt. Davies. Lieut. Price, M.C., still
commanded "E," but Lieut. Cazalet being sick, Lieut. Hibbert took his place
in command of "A". "D" Sub-section was under Sergt. Fleet, who had just
been notified that he had been awarded the Military Medal for his splendid
work at Hudeiwe and elsewhere.

The forced march to Tahta (a distance of 22 miles), all through the night,
after the previous operations, was "killing". The horses, however, stood
the fast going over rocky ground remarkably well, and a part of the
distance was even covered at the canter! A faint glimmer of dawn was just
visible over the tops of the surrounding hills when the Brigade, on the
morning of the 28th November, arrived, tired, du