Attack On Egypt

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 217, 20 February 1915, Page 5

Attack On Egypt

SUEZ CANAL FIGHTING. FIFTEEN THOUSAND TURKS ENGAGED. SIMILAR NUMBER HELD IN RESERVE. TURKS LOSE SIX HUNDRED MEN. Received 10, 855 p.m. Sydney, February 10. Mr Bean, official correspondent of the Australian force in Egypt, cabling under yesterday's date, says it is now certain that (lie attack on February 2rd was not a reconnaissaince but a serious attempt to cross the canal by one-third or half the Turkish army which is concentrated in Palestine. The Smyrna army did not participate, but thirty thousand troops marched across the desert to u camp in the mountains thirty miles east of Ismailia and waited whilo reconnaissances were made on El Kantara and Ismailia o n February 2nd. The feint against Ismailia was suspended owing to a dust storm. In the early hours of next morning tlie real attack started'against the bank of the canal between Toussoum and Serapetum by the mai n force of about fifteen thousand regulars, smaller forces simultaneously feinting against Ismailia and El Kantara. It was very dark, owing to a sandstorm. A Turkish brigade with boats reached the bank a little south of Toussoum, but the sentries .discovered their dark figures and fired. The enemy managed to launch several boats, but were quickly driven hack. They then lined the bank for one and a half miles, and opened a heavy fire. They fought well and remained in their position all day o„ the 3rd and part of tlie 4th. when, being surrounded, they surrendered: The Turkish reserve waiting in a valley two miles away retreated when our advancing force discovered them. The forces at El Kantara also immediately retreated to the mountains, where they now are, at least sixty miles distant. Further Turkish dead have been found every day, and tlie total is now over six hundred. Our losses were about twenty killed and'a hundred wounded.