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Chapter XIII
The Armistice

After the fall of Amman the enemy made a very rapid retreat along the Hedjaz railway, but fortunately was cut off by the Arab Forces under the King of Hedjaz, which dealt a number of heavy blows.

The Anzac Division (the Australian Brigades) followed up the retreating Turks, thus blocking their last chance of escape when they were held up by the Arab Forces. The Turkish Commander had no alternative but to surrender, and on 29th submitted to the inevitable.

On the 26th September General Allenby pressed his coastal attack onwards to prevent the enemy reorganising his scattered forces, which were still in sufficient numbers to offer resistance if properly assembled.

Damascus was soon captured, and the broken enemy forces continued their wild flight northwards. Although the retiring force was estimated at about 17,000, it had now become ineffective. They were merely "a mass of individuals, without transport and without any of the accessories required to enable it to act on the defensive."

Beirout, which was already in the hands of ships of the French Navy, was reached on 8th October.

Onwards the successful British Forces swept, both in Palestine and Mesopotamia. Turkey was defeated.

Turkish plenipotentiaries arrived in Mudros before the end of the month, and on the 30th Vice-Admiral Calthorpe, on behalf of the Allied Governments, signed the Armistice, which came into operation at noon on the following day.