the outpost-line there.

Lieut. Macmillan and five O.R.'s (Ptes. J. Howlett, A. Jacques, S. Morris,
A. Tivey and E.A. Riley), who were chosen as stout-hearted men, reported to
Col. Newcombe, R.E., D.S.O., at Gamli, for special duty. Bad luck attended
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 débâcle 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