THE CONQUEST OF SINAI

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3131, 9 July 1917, Page 5

THE CONQUEST OF SINAI

STORY OF A DIFFICULT CAMPAIGN DISPATCHES FROM EGYPT

(Rec. July 8, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 6. Sir Archibald Murray, lately Comnian-der-iii-Chief in Egypt, in dispatches covering the period from October 1, 1916, to February 28 last, mentions tho names of 129 Australians and 43 New Zealanders. He specially comments on .the Australian and New Zealand mounted troops arid the skilful occupation of El Arish. aud Masmi on December 20, ending in Major-General Chnuvel's fine march on Magdhaba, where 1282 of the enemy wero taken prisoner. We.lost only 154 killed or wounded. The brilliant dash of tho New Zealand mounted men, which included Chetwode'e column, in advancing on Rafa on January 9, was the outstanding feature of the action. It resulted in tho capture of the entire Turkish .force of 1600 men, and was the iuaiu factor in the success in conquering tho Sinai Desert. ,

"Intense and unremitting work wasinvolved in the construction of hundreds of miles of roads and railways, tho installation of filters for supplying 1,000,000 gallons of water per day, and the transportation of quantities of stone from the distant quarries. Kantara. was transformed into an important railway, and water terminus. Hundreds of miles of ■barbed-wire entanglements was transported and fixed; aerodromes, wireless stations, and sanitation works were necessary to make the desert habitable. Tho work of the Camel Corps, including the Australian and New Zealand units, was excellent throughout. They" have dono great work in supplying the troops." . ~ Sir Archibald Murray pays a tribute to the excellent organising powers of Lieu-tenant-General Dobell in maintaining his troops in a waterless desert well ahead of tho railway; General Chotwode, who commanded the desert column with great foresight and decision; and Major-General Chauvel's skilful leadership—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.

SITUATION UNCHANGED. London, July 0. An official report from Egypt states:— "The situation is unchanged. Thero has been considerable artillery fire. The health of the troops is satisfactory, and the admissions to hospitals show the lowest average for Egypt since five years before the war."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter.