AN EGYPTIAN FRONTIER FIGHT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 173, 12 May 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN EGYPTIAN FRONTIER FIGHT.

CAMPAIGNING IN THE DESERT. I The following letter from an officer in the Egyptian Frontier Expeditionary Force has been sent to the "Morning Post" for publication: The Western Frontier Force has been successful in its third engagement of importance. This time the enemy, six thousand strong, and mainly composed of Tripolitan troops under Turkish officers, were surprised twenty-five miles to the west of Mersa Matruh and compelled to retire after a determined struggle, in which our losses were small compared to those of the Arabs). The en. cmy were defeated substantially.

Aerial reconnaissance had revealed a column advancing eastward from Solium. It consisted of two thousand uniformed Regular Senussi and some four thousand Bedouin. Mach-ine-guns and two pieces of artillery were carried. The Arabs encamped twenty-five miles from Metruh, our base. Here, on January 21, our forces were assembled at four o'clock in the afternoon to march out against the enemy, and, if possible, surprise him the following morning. Our strength was four thousand infantry, five hundred horse, one battery and two guns. Our infantry had been strengthened the night before by the arrival of a splendid battalion of South Africans. They caught the eye at once as a very likely looking body, and the ribbons on the deep chests betokened past experience in warfare. With these reinforcements the Colonial atmosphere in the camp became more marked. Knots of <-d Anzacs and men who had ridden with Botha swopped their various tobacco > and experiences far into the night before the column set out. The now dismounted South Africans longed for their horses —a pity, indeed they were without them.

This is the country for flying columns. The infantry can be relied upon to drive and slaughter the enemy, but to round them up, cut off their retreat, and feed the artillery cavalry are required. The Arabs r.re impelled by fanaticism, and the only method of curing them and preventing them coming back again is the annihilation of every force encounter. ed. In the two previous engagements this had been well within the bounds of possibility.

NATURAL DIFFICULTIES. A regiment composed of Australian Light Horse, and a few Yeomanry, led the way through a gap in the wire entanglements. The Maori headed the infantry, with instructions to make the pace to the wells. 18 miles out. An hour elapsed between the time the head of the column got under way and the last of the baggage guard waved a laughing farewell to the envious garrison. And a reliable force it looked, with its lithe Indians, brawny New Zealanders, war. reasoned South Africans, clogged Tommies, care-free Australians, and canable Sudanese camel-drivers. A taut and trim outfit, ready for any old brawl that should happen along. Despite the heavy going underneath, the troops ate up the distance to the wells in fine time, and bivouacked there for the night. The present being the rainy season, the weather asserted itself, and a thorough drenching all night was the first of a series of hardships the troops endured on this sortie. At daybreak the lightlysleeping camp awoke as one man. and half an hour later the troops marched out to test the vaunted prowess of Sheikh Senussi's Regulars and other following. The route layover alternating sand and clay, and was inexpressibly heavy going. The infantry slipped and ploughed along as best it might, but even the admirable type of horseflesh the Australian Divisional Train carries could not move the heavily-laden waggons far through the slough. Vehicles became embedded axle-deep in sand f.nd clay, and further progress becoming impossible, the train was compelled to halt three miles out from the wells. The high-powered armoured cars and most of the motor ambulances could net proceed to the coming fight. At 9-30 we were within a few miles of the enemy's camp, and the opposing force could be seen hastilydisposing itself to contest our advance. The artillery opened fire at four thousand yards, but despite the accuracy of the artillery fire the enemy refused to be shaken and could be seen digging himself in. Half an hour later rifle and machine-gun fire was opened upon our cavalry screen. The Sikhs extended and formed a firing line. The South Africans in nipport suffered rather severely from bullets intended for their dusky comrades in front. A movement towards the right by the enemy was followed by the Springboks, extending on the right of the Sikhs, with the New Zealand boys temporarily in support. The artillery was now in full blast, making splendid practice. Despite their losses the enemy contested the day with the utmost determination. For four hours there was a struggle for supremacy in rifle fire which rivalled in rattle the old Gallipoli days These native troops carried as many machine-gunes as we did. and under German (two of them naval men) and Turkish officers, worked them with valour and precision. Their artillery threw poor quality shrapnel with more accuracy than hitherto. General Walker pressed our flanks forward to endeavour an encircling movement, but the superior number of Arabs enabled them to cope with anyrequired extension of front. Indeed, they endeavoured to heat us at our own game, and at cue time threatened to do so on the right flank, and again, less seriously, however, on the left. On the right three platoons of New Zealanders staved off the menacing advance of about sis: hundred Arabs carrying three machine-guns. A SUCCESSFUL RUSE. At another stage a profitable stratogem was brought off by the cavalry screen. Earlv in the day a portion of the cavalry had bpen oompellod to Tot're in the face of heavy fire. When we were more than holding our own a portion of the cavalry on Ihn left retired under orders nt a. hand gallop. Encouraged by this, the Arabs who had opposed this portion of the line pressed forward in masses, to be

blown to pieces by three of our guns ! just then placed in a new position. All this time the crackle of rifles went on with undiminished intensity. The eye could distinguish the shells cutting great gashes in the enemy's firing line. Large numbers cf Arabs were continually carrying away their dead and wounded. Concentrated rifle fire blotted out several of the Senussi's machine-gun crews. Their artillery wo could not locate accurately. A mirage, which hung over the rear of the enemy's position made range-taking there a task of great difficulty. Early in the afterncon we dominated the enemy's fire, and detached bodies began to move of- in a north-westerly direction.

For an hour the retneat was dogged, but by four o'clock we were advancing steadily. Our troops passed through the hostile camp, and found every evidence of European supervision." Opportunity had been taken by the enemy during their determined resistance to remove much booty, but a good deal remained to be destroyed by the victors. Half a mile of Bedouin encampments went up in smoke. The closing shot of the battle was fired at half past four. The British force built a rectangular wall that night, and bivouacked inside it. Tired out, chilled to the bone, and wet through, with -either overcoats nor blankets, these hardfighting men laid down to rest, but not to sleep. That was impossible in the bitter wind that swept off the Mediterranean. All provision was made to ward'off a night attack, but none came; the enemy did not stop retreating till twenty miles away, as the aerial report next day showed.

PLUCKY SOUTH AFRICANS

Xcxt morning, January 23, the return march was commenced, the march to the waggons, to the overcoats, wet blankets, bully beef, and water. But thirst could be satisfied; witness those men drinking from a limber-wheel rut in the ground. Most of the wounded had to be carried, and many a comrade straggled along with a dead mate that the body might be buried in Matruh. The plight of the horses, artillery and cavalrv, was pitiable. They sniffed in vain at the greedy sand and taunting mud. No water had passed their muzzles for 3G hours, and not grain enough to feed a broody hen. But for the untoward rain all would have been well and the waggons would not have been bogged. The column made the we'ls that night. With the aid of eight horse teams all the waggon; and motors were hauled in today (January 24), and the final ISmile stage was covered. As they trudged along the last few miles in a sand-laden gale the trials of the past four days were seen in both horses pnd men. The men thought fit to laugh their troubles off, and few there were who would accept a ride in a waggon. The South Africans felt the strain the most, though their indignation would be unbounded if one suggested it to them. However, most of' them were originally cavalry: this was their first marching for many weeks, and their feet, not their strength, gave out. But mark you. ,i v yj.:i c advamang on the enemy's position on'the day of Hie struggle some hundred Springboks were sent back as unfit to march any further, but when the flr-st boomed they halted undecided. ■ Then the wind wafted down their battalion's weird war cry on its wings. Catching up the echo, thev 'about-turned" with a rear, and,'boots carried in their hands, they struggled back to the opening fray, and saw it through to a finish —a likely looking lot these. The Sonussi losses were estimated :.t 500 wounded and 160 killed.