ON THE CANAL FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2803, 22 June 1916, Page 5

ON THE CANAL FRONT

TOLD IN DISPATCHES By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Roc. Juuo 22, l.'lo a.m.) London, June 21. Sir John Maxwell, in dispatches, states: "General Wilson, commanding the Suez Canal defences, conducted his operations to my complete, satisfaction. "General Wilson, in. five dispatches, describes his scheine for an extensive'inundation as part of the early, organisation of the defence in the opening phase' of the campaign iu January, 1915. A force of 1500 Turks, and some Germans in Arab dress, attacked us at six points, and endeavoured to. force a crossing at 'I'ussuun. The New Zealand Infantry Brigade, and the Third Australian Field llngiueers, assisted in repulsing the attack. "From February till. August was quiet. Oil the Australians' return to ' Cairo, climatic conditions, lack of water, and pressure of other fronts prevented a renewal of the Turkish, activity. "During the third phase, , ending the March period,' when -all possible troops to Gallipoli, tried Indian units from France carried out onerous and ceaseless vigilance along hundreds of miles of canal front. "Unrest on the Western borders was acute in . November, affecting 120,000 of the Arab population. General Wallace commanded tile western forco, which included the, Australian Light Horse, Divisional Train, Signallers, the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, and subsequently the South African Infantry. The operations in the region of Mersamatruh were most difficult—hot days, chilly nights, rains, quagmires, mud, and mirages. The- main battle was fought on January 23, and our success was largelv due to tho gallantry of the Sikhs, South Africans, and New Zealanders, who fought with irivinoiblo dash and resolution throughout the day. The Semissi were dispersed.