Egypt

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 42, 20 February 1915, Page 5

Egypt

THE TURKISH ATTACK ON THE CANAL. United Press Association. Sydney, February 19. Captain Bean, official correspondent at' the Australian force in Egypt, /aiding under yesterday’s date, says it is now certain that the attack on /ehruary 3rd was not a reconnaissance, but a serious attempt to cross die canal by one-third or half the Turksh army which is concentrated in hilestine. The Smyrna army did not participate, but thirty thousand troops narched across the desert to a camp ,i the mountains thirty miles east of smailia and waited while reconnais.inces were made on El Kantara and ismailia on February 2nd. The feint .gainst Ismailia was suspended owing o a dust storm. In the early hours of next morning he real attack started against the ,ank of the canal between Toussoum md Serapteum by the main force of :bout fifteen thousand regulars, small, .)• forces 'simultaneously feinting igainst Ismailia and El Kantara. It dark, owing to a sandstorm. A Turkish brigade with boats reach, •d the bank a little south of Toussoun, )ut the sentries discovered their dark gures and fired. The enemy managed o launch several boats, but were prickly driven back. They then lined lie bank for one and a half miles, .nd opened a heavy fire. They fought veil and remained in their positions ;11 day on the 3rd and part of the' 4th. vhen, being surrounded, they surrendered. The Turkish reserve waiting in a valley two miles away retreated when Hir advancing force discovered them. Hie forces at El Kantara also imnediately retreated to the mountains, vhere they now are, at least sixty niles distant.

Further Turkish dead have ‘been bund every day, and the total is now >ver six hundred. Our losses were ibout, twenty killed and a hundred rounded.