Egypt

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 32, 9 February 1915, Page 5

Egypt

FURTHER FIGHTING ON THE CANAL. [United Press Association.] Cairo, February 8. Official: There has been further fighting on the Canal. Besides Arabs, a number of Anatolian and Turkish soldiers are deserting and surrendering to the British. Tney are very despondent over the failure of the attack on the Canal. Some stated that they attempted to rejoin their regiments, but they saw the German and Turkish officers shooting runaways and decided that it would be safer to return to the British lines. During the recent fighting none of the enemy reached the left bank of the Canal except prisoners and four soldiers, search for whom is proceeding. Ismailia is undamaged, no shells having reached the town. The enemy’s arrangements for travelling the desert were good. They marched well, covering the distance from Beersheba to the Canal in ten days. The chaplains were instructed to warn the soldiers that victory or paradise awaited them in Egypt, death or hell if they retreated. The Syrian troops advanced bravely on the warship, a shell from which wiped out a party of officers. The latest news indicates that the enemy’s advanced guard is in full retreat.

ON THE TRACK OF THE ENEMY.

(Received 8.12 a.m.) Cairo, February 8

Cairo is fortified by official data, which takes a contrary view to those who consider Djemal Pasha with a majority as advance guard took the more difficult line of advance from Hafir, Elandja, Na Wada, El Arish, and Libui to Ismailia and Toussoun. A comparatively small force marched from El Arish toward Kantara, while bodies of partisians, following the Akaba Nakul road, made unimportant demonstrations on the Suez and near I'oa. Generally, they arrived in good conditions, and the officers spread the idea that the crossing of the Canal was easy. Lying articles from the newspaper Taniu, asserting British atrocities, were distributed among the ranks of the advance guard belonging to the army corps under Djemal Pasha. Little was seen of the boasted Bedouin allies. The reported huge levies either did not exist or had evaporated. British airmen kept in -touch with the advance and dropped bombs. IN A WATERLESS DESERT. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.in.) London, February 8. The Times, in a leader, says: When the big Turkish attack comes, the fight will be repulsed without great difficulty, and thereafter we may expect to see Egypt deft in peace. T}ie Turks have plenty of courage, but the utmost bravery will not enable them to maintain themselves long in the trenches in a waterless desert.