EAST OF SUEZ

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2749, 18 April 1916, Page 5

EAST OF SUEZ

AUSTRALIANS AT WORK

By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright

™ ™ „ London, April 16. Official.—The Commander-in-Chief in Egypt reports that on April 13 the Australians made a successful reconnaissance at Jifjaffa, and attacked and occupied the enemy's camp after a brisk fight. The enemy's known casualties numbered six killed and five wounded, and an Austrian lieutenant and thirtythree Turks were taken prisoner. Only two mounted men escaped. The only Australian casualty was a non-commis-sioned officer killed. The Australians have occupied the Katia Oasis, near the Mediterranean coast, about' twenty nules east of the Suez Canal. THE CANAL DEFENCES. A REASSURING REPORT. \ (Rec. April 17, 9.15 p.m.) London, April 17. Apropos of the Australian success at' Jifjaffa, the latest telegrams from' Eastern Egypt state that the Turks pursue their - preparations in a halfhearted fashion, less for the purpose of damaging the ■ Canal than for keeping the Bedouins restless, and influencing the Arab population in Asia and Africa. I Meanwhile we are pushing on, and have made the Canal so secure that passengers sleep in the state rooms as soundly as in peace time. The defences, which nave been completed with a speed high. I.V nreditable to tho British Territorials,, Indians, Australians, and New Zealanders, extend so' far into the desert that the Turks cannot even see the waterway. - A vast s.ystem of road and railway communication has been dug deep across the eastern side of the Canal. A year ago it seemed that the I Canal -was to be defended on watei, but now the Britishers are far in the direction of the Turkish base.