ATTACK ON EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 1 February 1915, Page 4

ATTACK ON EGYPT.

Tlic thicatencd attack on Egypt is as - j sinning doliiiite form. This morning's j wins show tliat the outposts of the i Turkish and British armies have been ! in touch, the invaders getting the worst! of tin; encounters. Behind the patrols is | no doubt the Teuto-Turkish army, j which we were told some weeks ago • was leaving Damascus to descend upon Egypt. On the eastward side lies a desert over a hundred miles in extent, and it was argued by some writers that this would prove an insuperable obstacle to the Turks seriously molesting the Suez Canal. But the Germans, who li.vgciy ollicer the Turkish army, are energetic and resourceful, and | are doing precisely what Lord Kitchener did in the Soudan—• I constructing a railway, on which ii in and supplies are being conveyed. Tiie Sinai Desert has a hard, smooth, level surface, and should present no dii- ! iicuities to motor transport. The fact ! tuat the Turks are within twelve miles o£ the Canal shows* that the transport j problem lias been solved. Fighting in ! plenty there will be for the New Zeai landers and the other troops in Egypt. J.iust what our total force there is has i:ot vransjired, but it must be considerj able. British Territorials to the num- ' ber of over 100,000 are said to be sta- | tioned there, as well as a large force of | Indian troops. The Australians and .New j Jv-alamlers number well over IK),000. I » .Ur the native Egyptian army, which I probably has been brought up to over i 100,000, it looks as ii our forces will tie ' ample to deal with the invading hosts, | whose numbers have been given at ! 200,01)0 The Turks tire great lighters, [ as history proves, especially when well I ied. They are oilicered by Hermans, who i certainly know their work, and as they l place no particular value on tneir o>vn I ii\es, believing that deatli ou tiie batt'iej lie 111 is a sure passport to the Better I Land, they are a force to be seriously reckoned with. Tiie. odds, however, are greatly against them. They will have to uttaek strongly forliiied positions, and contend not oniy with an army feverishly anxious to show tlieir metal, but with the warships of the Allies. It may be taken for granted that the big naval j guns will be brought to bear upon the | advancing army. The Teuto-Turks | have in iiand a very tough pro- ' position, as they will realise fully be- : fere they are many dayp older. A new ' chapter in history is about to be un- ! folded, and it may be taken for granted I that the people of -this Dominion will I follow with the keenest interest the • course of events, but never for a mo- | meiit doubting tile ability of their sons | t.j wortiiily uphold the Empire's Hag or i tiie outcome of the campaign.