EL ARISH AND MAGDHABA OPERATIONS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2963, 29 December 1916, Page 5

EL ARISH AND MAGDHABA OPERATIONS

MASTERLY SURPRISE STROKE ENEMY COMMUNICATIONS WITH RAILWAYS MENACED (J>ec. December 28, 5.5 p.m.) - London, December 27. Th'o El Arish and Magdhaba operations were oonducted under the orders of General Sir Philip Clietwode, who last year commanded the 2nd Cavalry Division. The victory was daie to a masterly surprise stroke. The British force, consisting of tho "Anzac" Mounted Division, under General H. G. Chauvel (a Queenslander), with the Imperial Oamel Corps,' Australian Naval Bridging Train, and Territorial Artillery, covered twenty miles of difficult and sandy ground 1 mostly at a rapid trot, in four hours. A portion of the El Arish garrison fell hack to a strong position at Magdhaba, consisting of several well-situated redoubts, and did uot anticipate the' British would be so soon in action. Before daybreak ono redoubt was speedily demolished, and- the others, in a more difficult position, resisted longer. Tho white flag was hoisted at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The British casualties wero 5 officers and 7 men killed, and 17 officers and 117 men wounded. Tho losses were insignificant considering,the strength of tho position, and this was due to the skilful handling of tho troops, the accuracy of the artillery fire; and tho close co-operation of_ the aircraft. .Tho present position menaces the communications with the railways remaining to the onemy garrisons in Sinai, and therefore they are rapidly, withdrawing. Further south, after crossing the Mitla Pass, the British' pushed on and Uurned the onemy camp at 48 miles from Suez, also a camp eastward on the road towards Nakhl.—Reutor. . SITUATION ON SINAI PENINSULA DEVELOPING SATISFACTORILY. . Cairo, December 27. The situation on the Sinai Peninsula, is developing satisfactorily. The mounted troops are well beyond El Arish, and the southern portion of Sinai ia being cleared, —Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6sn.