Passing through El Fule the 15th and 14th followed the railway
for some distance, then bearing off to the right they joined the main road
from Nazareth to Haifa along the hills bordering the plain.
From Sheikh Abreik[24]--the highest point on the road--the sea could be
seen in the distance, a beautiful blue, whilst a refreshing breeze met the
face. A short distance further on, a halt was made. During this the sound
of guns was heard in the distance from the direction of the sea. No
opposition having been expected, all sorts of reports came down the column
concerning the cause of the firing, such as--
(1) British destroyers in the bay have mistaken the 15th Brigade for the
enemy!
(2) The enemy have got a naval gun with which they are shelling the head of
the column!
But all rumours proved to be false. What _was_ really happening was the
Turkish garrison at Haifa (about 1,000 strong) with field and machine-guns
were defending the town against our advance--a hopeless affair, considering
that they were entirely cut off, without any chance of obtaining supplies
or reinforcements.
FOOTNOTES:
[24] _In the days of the Romans Sheikh Abreik was the headquarters of a
Tribune.
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