TURKISH ATTACK ON SUEZ CANAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2390, 20 February 1915, Page 7

TURKISH ATTACK ON SUEZ CANAL

NOT A RECONNAISSANCE A SERIOUS ATTEMPT BY REGULAR TROOPS , (Rec. February 19, 8.55 p.m.) .. , Sydney, February 19.1 Captain Bean, official correspondent with the Australian _ Expedifcicnaiy, Force, cabling under yesterday's data, sayslt is now certain that the attack on February 3 was not- a reconnaissance but a serious attempt to cross, the Canal by one-third or half of the Turkish army,' which jm Palestine. The Smyrna army did not participate, but thirty thousand troops marched across the desert.to a camp in the mountains thirty miles east of Ismailia, and waited while reconnaissances were made at El Kantara and Ismailia on February 2. A feint against Ismailia was suspended owing to a dust-storm. In the early hours of next morning the real attack started against'tlie bank of the Caual, between Tusun and Serapeum, by the main force of about fifteen thousand regulars, smaller forces simultaneously feinting against Ismailia and El Kantara. It was very dark owing to a sand-storm. A Turkish brigade with boats reached the bank a little south of Tusun, but the sentries discovered the dark figures, and fired on the enemy, who managed to launch several boats, but was quickly driven back. They then lined the bank for a mile apd a half, and opened a heavy fixe, and fought well. They remained in this position all day on February 3 and part of February 4, when they were surrounded and surrendered. ' . The Turkish reserve waiting in.the valleytwo miles away retreated when; our advancing force discovered them. Th 4 forces at El Kantara also immediately retreated to the mountains, where they now- are at least sixty -.miles distant. ' . . , , .. . Further Turkish dead are being found every day, the total is, now over six hundred. Our losses were about twenty killed and a hundred wounded.