THE EGYPTIAN FRONTIER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 742, 3 February 1915, Page 2

THE EGYPTIAN FRONTIER.

On November 20th Captain Chope, of the Bikanir Camelry, and Egyptian Lieutenant named Aniß, with twenty men of the Bikanir Camelry and twenty Coastguard : Camelry, were patrolling between Bire el Nuss and Gatie. At seven in the morning Captain Chope, with hig Bikanirs, pushed on to gain touch with the Coastguards, who had camped half a mile in front of him, but on arriving at the Coastguards' camp he found nothi-g except traces of a fairly large number of tracks. Captain Chope proceededjeast. An hour later he saw ahead of him a party of twenty men on white camels. The riders were waving white flags and, thinking that th6y were the Camel Corps, Captain Chope allowed them to approach. When within thirty yards, however, the approaching force raised their rifles and were seen to be enemies. Thereupon Captain Chope ordered his men to fire, and nearly all the enemywere killed. Another party of the enemy then attacked, but was similarly disposed of. Captain Chope, thinking that all was over, advanced towards Gatia, when suddenly he saw about 150 horseman trying to move round his right flank and a like number working round his left flank. He therefore retired, dismounting and firing as the opportunity offered. The enemy fired from horseback. Lieutenant Anis was shot during this period, and one of the Bikanir Corps hoisted him behind on his camel, but both were shot later. Captain Chope suceeded in returning to his support after beating off tho enemy. Our losses were Lieutenant Anis and Subadhar Abdukhan and twelve men killed and three wounded. Nothing further has been seen or heard of the Coastguard patrols.— Reuter.