ended
them, however! The whole party was captured a few days later.[1]

The following is the official account of this adventure:--

"To assist in completing the rout of the Turkish troops retiring
from Beersheba, a small mobile force on camels, consisting of Lewis
gunners, machine gunners, and a few Sudanese Arab scouts, under
Lieut.-Col. S.F. Newcombe, R.E., D.S.O., left Asluj on October 30.
It had a number of machine guns and Lewis guns, a large quantity of
small-arms ammunition, and carried three days' rations. Moving
rapidly, it established its headquarters at Yutta, and on October
31 occupied some high ground west of, and commanding the road
between Dhaheriyeh and Hebron. It was hoped that the Turks,
retiring by night from Beersheba, would encounter this force,
which, taking them by surprise, would, by its large fire-power put
them to rout, and cause a general debacle on the Turkish left-wing.
However, as the Anzac Mounted Division had cut the road further
south, the Turkish forces from Beersheba retired north to Tel esh
Sheria. The force, nevertheless, succeeded in intercepting and
capturing the motor transport with supplies, which was endeavouring
to reach Beersheba from Jerusalem.

"The Turks were surprised by the appearance of this force, and
having no idea of its numbers, despatched the 12th Depot Regiment
from Hebron, and the 143rd Regiment from Tel esh Sheria--six
battalions in all--to dislodge it. It held out resolutely, but,
after sustaining heavy casualties and having exhausted all its
ammunition, was obliged to surrender on November 2 or 3."

The personnel (32 O.R.'s) and equipment of "F" Sub-sections, were sent to
"Brigade Details" at Gamli under Lieut. Millman, no horses being then
available.

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[1] _Note: (Lieut. Macmillan returned to Alexandria on 21st November
1918 from Smyrna, as a repatriated prisoner of war.)_

PART II.

The Beersheba Campaign.

MARCH TO ESANI.

On the morning of October 28th 1917, the Squadron marched from Amr, across
the 16 miles of desert to Esani. It consisted of--

Seven officers, 182 men, 10 guns, 156 riding horses, 70 draught and
31 pack animals, 13 donkeys; with transport of ("A" Echelon), water
cart, 12 limbered G.S. wagons; ("B.1" Echelon) three L.G.S. wagons,
carrying reserve day's f