THE SYRIAN CAMPAIGN.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 12 January 1917, Page 5

THE SYRIAN CAMPAIGN.

BRISK ENCOUNTER BY COLONIAL TROOPS. | . ENEMY BADLY BEATEN. Received 1.0.15. LONDON. Jan. 11. An official message from Egypt states ■ —On Tuesday we captured a strong 'position, six lines of entrenchments, six main redoubts, and a central keep, covering Rafa, north-cast of El Arish. The Anzac Mounteds and the Imperial Camel Corps attacked the position,, and carried it after a daylong fight. After the engagement the Turkish reliefs were encountered and entirely destroyed four .miles from Rafa. Further details will be sent later. The prisoners totalled IGOO. Four mountain guns were also captured. The enemy killed and wounded number GOO. RAEA CAPTURED. 21500 KILLED AND CAPTURED. Received 11.50. LONDON, Jan. 11. The British mounted force left El Arish on January S, marched thirty miles in twelve hours, and attacked the :TlurkilEh /position >covtfri*g •' Rtaf a. at dawn on the 9th. The enemy numbering approximately 2300, were all killed or captured,, including a few Germans. Our casualties were light. Sinai is now clear of the enemy. A Turkish force coming to the relief of Rafa in the afternoon were engaged and obliged to withdraw. BELGIAN DEPORTATIONS. BELGIANS ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE. Received 8.50. AMSTERDAM, Jan 11. The Governor-General of Belgium in a decree, states that a hundred Belgians, some armed, attempted tc cross the Dutch frontier by force. Thirty-seven were arrested and court-martialled, and thirty sentenced to death. Four youths were sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment. The Governor-General is commuting the death sentence to life servitude, because the offenders had not realisec the gravity of the offence. He warns others that no mercy will be showr for a repetition of the offence.