FIGHTING NEAR SUEZ CANAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2379, 8 February 1915, Page 5

FIGHTING NEAR SUEZ CANAL

BRITISH CAPTURE GUNS A® AMMUNITION TURKISH CASUALTIES ESTIMATED AT 2400 Cairo, February 5. The British troops captured three machine-guns, ninety camels ladeu with Btores and ammunition, and sis hundred prisoners. • The Turks abandoned four hnndred dead. Their casualties are estimated at 2400. HOW AN ARAB REGIMENT WAS ROUTED. (Rec. February 7, 3.30 p.m.) Cairo, February 6. It is understood that an Arab regiment attacked Tusum. The defending Sikh regiment withheld their fire, and allowed the enemy to come to close quarters, and then vigorously attacked, completely routing the Arabs.' The enemy employed a heavy gun. There was much expenditure of ammunition with little result.' MAIN TURKISH ARMY MAY REACH THE CANAL'. (Rec. February 7, 5.5 p.m.) ' _ London, February 6. ■ The "Morning Post's" Alexandria correspondent says considerable surprise is expressed that twelve thousand Turks reached the Canal, though lacking commissariat arid transport. It is conjectured that the main army may succeeded in crossing the desert, since the Germans are making tremendous efforts iu building a railway to the frontier via Sebaste, Samaria, Lydda, and Gaza. A thousand labourers are breaking up the rails on the Haifa-Damascus and, Jaffa-Jerusalem railways for the. new railway. NINETY; THOUSAND TURKS MARCHING ON EGYPT. (Rec. February 7, 5.5 p.m.)' London, February _6. Italian papers state that the Turks marching on Egypt number ninety thousand, and there are also twenty thousand Bedouins. It has been found necessary to leave the thirty-centimetre guns behind, taking only fifteen-centimetres. .. . , • The . main body is at Magbarah. - - Water is being carried in tin-receptacles, is of insufficient quantity, and almost undrinkable.—-"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. i FRENCH WARSHIPS ASSIST IN THE CANAL FIGHT. (Rec. February 7, 3.30 p.m.)' Paris, February 6. The warships remain. The D'Etrecasteaux assisted to defend the Canal, silencing the enemy's heavy guns and dispersed large forces.of the enemy. The warships were undamaged. . 1 The D'Entrecasteux is a second-class cruiser of 1995 tons, built in 1898. and carrying two 9.4 in. and twelve 5.5 in. guns. She has a complement of 650 ■ men. , BRUSH WITH THE TURKS WILL STIMULATE RECRUITING, Sydney, February 6. ■ Senator Pearce, Minister of Defence, anticipates that the Australasians' brush with the Turks in Egypt will result in a notable revival in recruiting. He points out that with the departure of the April contingent, the Expeditionary Forces, including those in the Pacific, will reach a total of sixty thousand. Tho new contingent does, not mark the limit of. Australia s effort. DEATH OF PRIVATE HAM. ' Dunedin, February 7„- midnight. The Hon James Allen, Minister of Defenoe, has received a cablegram from Cairo informing him of the death of Private W. A. Ham, of Motueka, who was dangerously wounded in the neck atSerapeum on February 3. Private W. A'. Ham joined the Expeditionary Force from- Ngatimoti, and his home is in Nelson. A brother is in the employ of Messrs. Ross and Glendining in their Nelson branch. DEATH OF ANOTHER NEW ZEALANDER IN EGYPT. (Rec. February 7, 11 p.m.) * London) February 7. The death is announced of Captain J. A. Bell," of the New Zealand Medicap Corps in Egypt. , .

The late Captain J. A'. Bell was m charge of the bearer subdivision of Section B of the Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance. He was m practice mChristchurch prior to the war. NO AUSTRALIANS ENGAGED IN CANAL FIGHT CAPTAIN BEAN'S OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. February 7, 11 p.m.) . • Sydney, February /. Cabling on Saturday, Captain Bean, the Commonwealth official correspondent, says: "Obviously the Australians ■ must be, content .with.very ttle news of their own force during the approaching weeks . It is poss ble, hofl ever, to state that no Australian troops were engaged in the fighting on the Canal described in the cablegrams td date," and adds: "There was no bgUt IBg to bridge> the Canal was part of fifth Turkish division which £ad marched from Beersheba, v» B ansh, and was thenco brought to the const in car s drawn by oxen and b u. "Two prisoners, non-commissioned officers, state that six tho bank of tho Canal and received a well-trained heavy lire and surrendered ° r that in spite of,the fierce rifle fire lie to launch a boat; as it approached tho other side it was riddled and sank. Ho and one boatman only landed and surrendered. ALL THE NEW ZEALAND BATTALIONS WERE ENGAGED. A Press Associaloin message from Dunedin states that tho Hot, J. 'Allen has received cable advice that the Auckla-nd, Wellington, _Cant ~ ■ Otigo bnUalioiic all took part In last week & caKafismont against the Turn at .Sues Oanai.

DEAD GERMAN OFFICER WITH THE WHITE FLAG.. ■ (Rec. February 1,i11.10 p.m.) *' Cairo, Fobroaiy, 7. A Gorman major shot at Scrap on mt was found to bo carrying a whiter flag folde'd inside a special wallet. The streets aro full of newly-arrived Australasians.: Tho city has not lost jits gaiety. . Crowds of natives wait abont tho station for hours in &>pes-<rf seeing tho prisoners. , ■ High nativo dignitaries hitherto ,pro-(iennan ai q. nor? support of- - tho British. SOUND ADVICE BY THE'DEPOSED* SULTAN (Roc. February.-?, 3.30 p.m.) Buchar€Bt, :< P«bMarp-6. - Ex-Sultan Abdul Hamid lias advised tho Young Turks to coiiclnde pcacfi' with tho Entente as tho only means of preserving Turkey's independence. ; Ha suggests that the Allied Fleet be-all owed to appear at ConstantinopL' )