31 MARCH 1917, Page 1

A S we go to press splendid news comes from Syria.

The British troops were heavily engaged on March 26th and 27th with a Turkish army twenty thousand strong. Our troops advanced fifteen miles nearer to Gaza and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. Nine hundred prisoners were taken, including the General and all the Staff of one division. The few lines we can spare to record this event are by no means commensurate with our sense of its great importance. The Turkish troops are approaching demoraliza- tion. The results will be wide and deep. We may expect to see them very soon.