Egypt

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 31, 8 February 1915, Page 5

Egypt

THE TURKISH ATTACK ON THE CANAL. Times and Sydney Sun Service. London, February 6. Italian papers.state that the lurks .marching to Egypt number 90,000, together with 20,000 Bedouins. They jfound it necessary to leave their 50centimetre guns behind, taking only the 15-centimetre. The main body is at Moyaharah. Water has to be carried in tin receptacles. It is insufficient in quantity, and almost undrinkable. EFFORTS TO CROSS THE DESERT. - United Press Association. London, February G. The Morning Post’s Alexandria correspondent says that considerable surprise was felt when 12,000 Turks reached the Canal, lacking commissariat and transport. It is conjectured that the main army may succeed in crossing the desert, since the Germans are making tremendous efforts at building a railway to the frontier via Sebasties. Lydda and Gaza. A thousand laborers are breaking up the rails of the Haifai-Damasens and Jaffa-Jeru-salem railways for the new railway. THE ATTACK ON TOUSSOUM. Cairo, February G. It is understood that an Arab regiment attacked Toussoum. The Sikh regiment withheld their fire, and allowed the enemy to come to close quarters, when they vigorously • attacked, completely routing the enemy, who employed a heavy gun, with much expenditure of ammunition but little result. i

CAMPAIGN CREATES FAVORABLE IMPRESSION. DEAD-BEAT PRISONERS. (Received 8.45 a.m.) London, February 7. The Daily Chronicle’s Rome correspondent says the fighting in Egypt has caused a notable change in the attitude of the war correspondents in Egypt who had hitherto been alarmists regarding the situation. Nine German officers are included in the prisoners, the , latter being chiefly Syrians and Arabs, who were dead-beat and exhausted owing to defective victualling. NO AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIGHT. Sydney, February 7. Cabling on Saturday. Mr Bean (the Australian official reporter attached to the expeditionary forces), says that obviously the Australians must be content with very little news of their own force during thfe approaching weeks. It is possible, however, to state that no Australian troops were engaged in the fighting on the Canal, described in the cables to date. He adds that there was no fighting on the canal yesterday. The force which attempted to bridge the Canal was part of the 25th Turkish division, which had marched from Beersheba, via Elarish, being thence brought to the coast by cars drawn by oxen and buffaloes. Two non-com. prisoners state that 600 reached the bank of the Canal where they were received by a well-trained heavy fire and they surrendered. A captured officer declared that iu spite of the fierce rifle fire he managed to launch a boat, but as it approached the other side it was riddled and sunk, he and one boatman only being landed and surrendered. DEATH OF NEW ZEALANDERS. London, February 7. Obituary.—Captain J. A. Bell, of the New Zealand Medicil Corps, in Egypt. Dunedin, February 7. Hon. Mr Allen has received a cablegram from Cairo .informing hi in of the death of Private Ham, of Motueka, wlo was dangerously wounded in the 11 ck at Sorapeum on the 3rd inst. PRISONERS’ REPORTS OF THE ATTACK AT TOUSSOUM. (Received 11.-15 a.m.) London, February 7.

The Press Bureau states: The officers taken prisoners at Toussoum states that the division subdivided at Katab el Klier when four hours from the Canal, in order to attack at different points. Six hundred attacked Toussoum. When they reached the Canal they encountered a hot but well-aimed fire. They suffered many casualties and then surrendered. The commandant, Aris Bey, was wounded and was carried off the field, and the second in command was wounded and taken prisoner.

CENERAL.

Cairo, February 7

A German major, who was shot at Serapeum, was found to be carrying a white flag, folded inside a special wallet. The streets are full of newly-arri-ved Australasians. The city has not lost its gaiety. Crowds of natives wait at the station for hours, in the hope of seeing the prisoners. High native dignitaries, who have hitherto been pro-German, now wholly support the British. Dunedin, February 7.

Hon. Jas, Allen has received cable advice that the Auckland, Welling-

toll, Canterbury and Otago battalions all took part in last week’s engagement against the Turks at the Suez Canal.

In the Suez Canal the Turkish Army against Egypt will find a serious military obstacle. It is 65 yards aoroSs, 29 feet. deep, and 100 miles long. The Canal, taking it from north to south, runs for 25 miles from Port Said to Kantara through Lake .Monzaleh. Its banks are low and commanded by naval gun-fire. From Kantara to the Bitter Lakes,, for .TO miles the Canal passes through deep, but readily defensible cuttings, and also Lake Timsah. A railway along the Canal here facilitates the defence. The Bitter Lakes, traversed by the Canal for the next 25 miles, are impassable without a supply of boats, and the pontoon bridge, the only means of crossing in the final 20-miles stage to Suez, has, of course, ceased to exist.