1 JULY 1916, Page 9

In the minor theatres of the war there is little

or nothing to record, except that the forces of the Grand Shereef are stated to have taken Medina. It must not of course be expected that the Turks will sit down and see the Holy Places wrested from them without a struggle. Whatever the cost, they are certain to make a violent effort to regain control of Mecca and to break the rebellion of the Shereef. It is to be hoped, however, that their preoccu- pations elsewhere will delay their attack until the Shereef has been able to consolidate his power.