THE BATTLE IN PALESTINE. 8,000 TURKISH LOSSES.

Yesterday evening the Secretary of the War Office issued the following from the Commander-in-Chief in Egypt describing the action south of Gaza on March 26-27.

“The primary object of the operation was to seize the Wadi Guzzee so as to cover the advance of our railway. The Wadi was occupied without a fight, under cover of advanced troops. It appeared to Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Dobell, who was in command, that the enemy might retire without fighting, and in order to force them to stand he decided to attempt to capture Gaza by a coup de main.

“On the morning of the 26th a dense fog delayed operations, and it was not possible to attack the Gaza position until the later afternoon, when the enemy first line trenches were captured and more than 700 prisoners were taken. The German commander, Von Kress, meanwhile moved up three columns towards Gaza to support his troops there. These columns were admirably delayed by our mounted troops and armoured cars, and heavy losses were inflicted upon the enemy at slight cost to ourselves. The commander and staff of the 53rd Division were captured during this fighting.

“The time during which the operation could be carried out was limited by the supply of water available for the troops, the infantry being dependent upon what they could carry with them. Owing to the delay caused by the morning fog the supply of water with the troops proved insufficient to allow the attack to be continued, and our troops took up a defensive position from a point just south of Gaza towards the Wadi Guzzee.

“This position was attacked on the 27th by the Turks, who were everywhere repulsed with heavy losses, our camel corps completely defeating the Turkish cavalry division. On the 28th our infantry were withdrawn to the Wadi Guzzee, our cavalry remaining in contact with the enemy’s main position, the enemy showing no desire to resume the offensive.

“The enemy’s total casualties are estimated, by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, to be 8,000. We captured 950 prisoners and two Austrian howitzers. Our total killed amounted to less than 400. Some small parties of our men, numbering less than 200 in all, who are believed to have fought their way into Gaza, and been cut off, are missing.”