glad of a good night's rest.

The next morning the 21st Corps was ordered to advance along its whole
front, and each Brigade of the 52nd Division had to take certain
successive positions. The final objectives of the 157th Brigade were on
a series of ridges about three and a half miles in front. Our Battalion,
in order to protect the left flank of the 156th Brigade, was ordered
to capture and hold a ridge on our right flank, to leave a garrison
there, and to rejoin our own Brigade as reserve.

[Illustration: JAFFA FROM THE SHORE.]

Early on the morning of the 22nd a reconnaissance of the ground over
which the Battalion was to advance was made from El Makras, but it was
very difficult to locate our objective exactly. At 9.35 the signal for
our advance, the 156th Brigade deploying from Muannis, was observed, and
we moved off in artillery formation. "B" and "C" Companies in front, "D"
and "A" in support. During the advance it was observed that the left of
the 156th Brigade would cross our front, so a slight change of direction
was made. We reached our objective about 11 o'clock, and "B" Company was
ordered to garrison it, while the remainder of the Battalion reassembled
preparatory to rejoining our own Brigade as reserve.

This was one of our bloodless victories. On our own front a few of the
enemy were seen, but they were apparently only rear parties and were
most unwilling to fight. They stood on a skyline and fired a few rounds
at us, but the range was extreme, and only three of us managed to
collect any lead and they were all very slightly wounded. After that the
enemy disappeared and was seen no more. On our right, in front of the
other Brigades, there was a little shelling, but not sufficient to do
much damage, or prevent them from obtaining their objectives.

By one o'clock we were in reserve behind the centre of our own Brigade,
but we were not required. The 6th H.L.I. occupied El Haram, a prominent
white mosque near the shore, without difficulty. The 5th A. & S.H.
passed through Jelil, a native village which had been set on fire in the
morning, without opposition. The 7th H.L.I. prolonged the line inland,
and joined up with the 156th Brigade on our right.

By three o'clock in the afternoon the whole affair was over, and we were
ordered to bivouac near Jelil. Considerable difficulty was experienced
in selecting a bivouac area which would not be in view of the enemy from
one position or another, but one was at l