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[Page 45]
Sept. 28.
The balance of the Brigade followed the 8th and 10th Regiments across the river and after a night march over extremely rough and hilly country, shortly before dawn was collected about Deir Es Saras. The 10th and 8th Regiments reached this place before midnight. An enemy ammunition dump was found here. Horses were watered and fed, and visual communiation established with Divisional Headquarters west of the river. Owing to the bridge being broken, all wheels including Notts Battery, R.H.A., had to be left on the western side. At 0600 three enemy aeroplanes the first seen in the air since operations commenced, passed overhead. Aeroplane reconnaissances reported that about 1200 enemy were holding the high ground about Kuneitra. At 0930 the Brigade moved off for this place, the 8th Regiment and 6 machine guns providing the advance guard. Anywhere off the road the country was extremely rough and stoney, and flankers could only move slowly across it. By 1140 the head of the main column had reached Tel Abu Ell Khanzie and the vanguard was climbing the slopes of Tel Abu en Neda which overlooks Kuneitra. Eight Circassion horsemen who had sniped at our scouts were captured here. They were fine looking men, well mounted, and armed to the teeth. Fifty enemy cavalry were seen retiring from Ayun Suaan but Kuneitra was occupied by 1300 without opposition. Horses were watered in the village and at 1600 the Brigade moved on to the vicinity of Jeba and bivouaced for the night. 35 Miles had been covered by the Brigade in 34 hours, some of it over very rough country and in the face of enemy opposition. Except for two hours at Deir El Saras horses had been saddled for the whole of the time.
Sept. 29.
At 1500 the Brigade moved off, remainder of the Division following at 1700. The 9th Light Horse Regiment and 6 machine guns were advanced guard. The objective was Damascus in order to cut off the Turkish 4th Army retreating through that place from the south. The general situation was that Chaytor's force had on the 27th captured Amman and on the evening of this day - the 29th - captured 4,564 prisoners 20 miles south of Amman, being the southern part of the IV. Turkish Army. Our 4th Cavalry Division and the Sherifian army were pursuing the remainder of the IV Turkish Army northward along the railway towards Damascus. The 5th Cavalry Division was moving in rear and in support of the Australian Mounted Division. A reconnaissance in the morning by armoured cars had reported a force of enemy estimated at 300 with machine guns and 2 guns astride the road about 4 miles south of Sasa. One squadron of the 9th Regiment and 2 machine guns were pushed on in advance to reconnoitre enemy's position. The remainder of the Brigade reached the Nahr Mughaniye and there watered. From here it could be seen that enemy were shelling the advance squadron with at least one battery and a report was received that the enemy were in position, and had at least 6 machine guns. It afterwards appeared from statements of Officer prisoners that their strength was 1 company of German machine gunners, about 300 strong, 1,200 Turkish infantry and 4 guns. They considered that they would undoubtedly hold the Division up as they thought it impossible for mounted men to travel anywhere off the road. On one part of the road they had laid 5 machine guns with the centres of their cones of fire 50 yards apart. They were sure that nothing alive could pass through that. Major Parsons, O.C. "B" squadron, 9th Light Horse Regiment reported enemy holding very strong position astride road approximately between Kanikir and about 2½ miles S.W. of Sasa. Earlier in the evening this squadron engaged the enemy to find out his strength and dispositions of flanks. The enemy were occupying a low chain of hills astride the main road on a frontage of about a mile. On approaching this position over extremely rocky country, "B" squadron came under very heavy machine gun fire and the right flank was cut off. This action had the effect of making the enemy expose the position of his left flank. At 2030 "A" and "C" squadrons, with Major Daly, D.S.O., in charge, moved around the left flank of enemy position with orders to fire a green flare when the hill on extreme left of enemy position was gained and cleared. It was a difficult movement over extremely rough country composed of lava formations with large