Fight on the Suez Canal

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 205, 6 February 1915, Page 5

Fight on the Suez Canal

■NEW ZEALANDERS UNDER FIRE. THE BATTLE OF TOUSSOUN. TURKISH ARTILLERY ENGAGED. ENEMY EVERYWHERE REPULSED. London, February 4. General Maxwell, commander of the forces in Egypt, lias cabled to the Hon. T. Mackenzie that the New Zealand infantry were under fire on the Suez Canal and earned the good opinion of all. There were two casualties.

February, 4. The enemy advanced upo u Toussoun at daybreak o n Wednesday. Their artillery bombarded Toussoun and Serrapeum.

Our artillery also the ships in the Canal, replied. The enemy, railing to cross the canal, retired at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The casualties included eight officers killed. Six batteries and 1200 Turks participated in the attack on Kantara (20 miles north of Ismailia). Twenty-five were taken prisoners. [Toussoun is just south of Ismailia, roughly halfway between Suez and Port Said.]

London, February 4. Turkish rafts attempted to cross the Canal at 'Toussoun on \Yednesda.y, but were repulsed with heavy losses and 282 were taken prisoners. Two British officers and thirteen men were killed and fifty-eight men were killed and fifty-eight wounded.

The enemy was repulsed at Kantara with twenty-one killed and many wounded.

The 'Evening News' Cairo correspondent says the Turks resinned tlie attack on Wednesday, bringing up ammunition and trying to construct trenches. "The fighting lias not affected the traffic nn the Canal end railways. There was heavy fifing on Wednesday and the pilot of a vessel was wounded. There are great difficulties in the way of Turkish transport. Many camels are dying and others are being brought up from Asia "Minor. It is stateTl that General Kressenstcin is among the invaders. The 25(1 Kantara prisoner-! look more Ifkc ragmuffins than soldiers. OUT! MEN ANXIOUS FOR WORK. TURKS NOT TAKEN" SERIOUSLY. Sydnev, February 5. Major MeClyniont has arrived, en route for New Zvaland. He declared that the behaviour of the troops in Egypt was rjuite satisfactory. The stories that a couple of men had been murdered for taring the veils off w:>mcn were absolutely untrue. The troops were having a good time, but were an xious for real work to begin. The organisation of the British and Australasian camps was splendid, and work ivas proceeding with the utmost smoothness. The Turkish army was not taken seriously. The general opinion was that it was not keen to fight; anyhow the British were ready to give them all they wanted. .AUSTRALIANS UNDER FIRE.. THEIR CONDUCT PRAISED. Received 5. fl.lo p.m. Melbourne, February 5. General Maxwell lias cabled to Mr. Pearcc: "Australian engineers were employed in the defence of the Canal under fire. They comported themselves as you would wish." A DAYBREAK ASSAULT. POOR GUNNERY OF THE ATTACKERS. BRITISH PUT ENEMY TO FLIGHT. Received 5. n.30 n.m. Cairo, February 5. The official announcement sums up the fighting thus: "The invasion of Egypt takes the form of Turkish prisoners being brought to Cairo." The report adds: "The forces engaged were truly Imperial. The conduct of the troops was excellent." Other accounts state that the Turkish infantry attacked Toussoum at 3 o'clock in the morning, during a sandstorm. They jnade a resolute attempt to cross the Canal, covered by heavy Maxim fire. The bombardment of Toussoum and Serapenna followed till daybreak, the Turks being prodigal with their ammunition, but their shooting was very bad. Fighting continued until 3.30, when the advanced British infantry from Serapcnna compelled the Turks to fly, leaving many dead on the desert below the sandhills cast of the Canal. The warship Hardin"o was twice hit by shells, ten being wounded. The British wounded included a few of the Egyptian Field Artillery near Serapeum. They behaved with splendid courage. Two thousand Turks were discovered entrenched at the Ismailia ferry. ISOO yards in front of the rßitish line. They kept up an intermittent fire every time the Turks attacked the British outposts at EI Kantara. but in the early morning they were quickly driven off. losing killed. 25 wounded, and 3f> prisoners. A i British officer and - iS Indians were killed and wounded. The Turkish prisoners were marched through the street of Cairo, roped together. Some were deserters, who belonged to the body of irregulars forcibly pressed from the Bedouins in Southern Palestine by Muntaz Pasha. Envoi - Bey's aide-de-camp, who was imprisoned for murdering a brother officer at Salonika. Muntaz escaped, and became a highwayman ill Palestine. TTo is now leader of the Turkish advance guard. A UARGE TURKISH FORCE. Received 5, 7.35 p.m. London. February S. Twelve thousand Turks participated in the Suez Canal fighting. TnE WOUNDED NEW ZEALANDEPS. ; Lawrence. Last Night. The Minister of Defence has receive! the following message from the assist-ant-Adjutant of tlie expeditionary force: "Following are the casualties: — Twelfth Nelson Company. Sergt. A. W. Williams, slightly wounded in the ' shoulder. Private W. A. ITam. dangerously wounded in the neck. Williams' parents like in London, an-,1 Hani's people belong to Motueka. Nelson. Mr Alle n has sent a message to the latter's parents, informing them of the - nature of the casualty to their son.