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Through Palestine with the 20th Machine Gun Squadron by Unknown
page 87 of 169 (51%)
Before daylight we were saddled up and "standing to"--a vigorous
bombardment of the Turkish trenches (which we had been told the previous
night to expect) was in full swing. Suddenly, it stopped! Who was there
among us who did not think of the part the infantry were then playing, and
upon whose successful attack so much was to depend?

When would orders arrive for us, on the beach, to move? Patiently waiting
and expecting, nothing however came! Suddenly at 07.00, the troops in front
were seen mounting, and at length the surprising order came through to us
that the entire Division was _to make its way to Nazareth_--quite 50 miles
behind the enemy's line, as the crow flies!

The 13th Brigade, being on the sands in front of the 14th, was to lead this
movement. The Poona Horse were to be the leading regiment of the 14th, with
ourselves (the 20TH MACHINE-GUN SQUADRON) immediately behind them.


"GET BACK OUR GUNS".

Upon advancing a short way up the coast, we reached what had been the
British front line, and evidences of the morning's action were to be seen,
as here and there several dead men and mules were lying about. As we passed
by this spot, an officer of an Infantry Machine-Gun Company called out to
us: "Good luck, get us back our guns. They raided us this morning and
captured two!"

A few yards further on, the old Turkish line was reached and a number of
killed and wounded Turks and animals were to be seen here also.

Right along the coast we went, "without let or hindrance," the high cliffs
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