Egypt

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 11, 11 August 1916, Page 3

Egypt

THE BATTLE OF ROMAN I.

THE WORK OF THE MOUNTEDS.

Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. London, August 10. Mr W. T. Massey, in a eoniniuniea-

tion from Rbmani, states that lie can now give fuller details of the Anzac Mounteds' sterling' work. These magnificent troops fpught with a tenacity, courage and endurance comparable with their greatest deeds at Gallipoli. Their part in the overthrowing of the Turkish attempt to reach the Canal will stand out as one of the finest achievements of the colonials during the war, and illumine the pages of the Anzacs' short, but illustrious, history.

The Australian Light Horse was in touch with the enemy for about -18 hours, two brigades taking turn and v turn about. The first brigade came into contact with the Turks at midnight on Thursday, and the two brigades fought them, without interruption, until darkness on Saturday. The horses were for hours without water, and the men had little food and scarcely a drop of water till Sat-

urday, to relieve the agony of thirst in the desert.

The first brigade - held off 3000 ••'Turks in the darkness on a four-mile line, retiring very slowly,' thus, preventing the Turks obtaining the undulating ground south-east of/ Romani, the success of which would have enabled the enemy to cut the railway, isolate Romani garrison, and stop reinforcements by rail. The first brigade held on doggedly, staving ofj the Turks. The second brigade reinforced them at daylight. Both brigades then held the Wellington ridge, a mile west of Garinit, for several hours, in face of heavy artillery and infantry fire, with desperate Turkish attacks at intervals of 100 yards. ui j jr •Though the Turks occupied Mount' Meredith, two miles'south of Gannit, and Mount Royston, three miles west and north-west of Giinnit, they never secured the AVellington ridge. The Australian Light Horse's success paved the way for our triumph, and the battle of Romani made absolutely .sure of success when the Xew. ZeaJamlers drove the eiierivy from' Mbttrib itoyston, and the infantry thrust • them towards Katia.

'" Desperate fighting occurred early in' the morning, when the enemy's strong advariee line threw themselves furiously against the Light" Horse, shouting' jihe'ir battle cry of "Allah!" At tho fiinisl\ the Australian Light Horse regarded the cry with immense anriise- ! merit, shouting derisive answers, and showed that they were more tha'n a match for the Turks with steels.

"I saw the Light Horse at Wellington ridge, when the enemy's shrapnel was bursting with wonderful accuracy, hut the Australians showed not the slightest sign of movement until the enemy rushed them. The Light Horse poured in a terrible fire, and the appearance of the battlefield subsequently supported the tales about the Australian marksmen's accuracy. Oil Saturday morning both brigades, with the New Zealand ftjdunteds on the right, worked down the battlefield, while the third Light Horse, on their flank, attacked H'amisah, two miles south of Katiabaih. Dvjring the combined attack on Katia

at two o'clock in the afternoon tho three. brigades galloped three-quar-ters of a mile into action across extremely heavy country. The horses carried tho cheering men at such a pace that the Turkish artillery, in attempting n barrage, never found the range. • The charge was made on a threemile front, and filled the men with enthusiasm. At this point the Warwickshire and Gloucester Yeomanry entered the action and advanced across tho swamp being for several hours under heavy gunfire. The aetiori was discontinued at dusk as it was seen to be impossible to capture Ilamisah before darkness. The wisdom of the desert charge was shown' by the Turks flying with a helterskelter rush from their positions, the enemy doubtless fearing the mounteds would use steel, as on the previous day a few of the Light Horse charged with fixed bayonets, using the rifles as laiices. .

A story is told,' typical of the spirit of these Light Horse. A trooper, who had been awarded the D.C.M. at Gallipoli, smuggled himself aboard a transport and reached France recently. He was discovered' and sent back to Egypt, rejoining his regiment. At tho very outset of the battle he was placed in the guard tent, but broke out of the tent and tramped into the hottest centre of the engagement, and rescued fourteen worittded and an ambulance man, but was himself killed whilst' rescuing the fifteenth.