THE ATTACK ON EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 244, 24 March 1915, Page 2

THE ATTACK ON EGYPT.

TURKS' FOOLISH ADVANCE.

REASONS FOR ADVENTURE.

DEFENCE FOUND ADEQUATE.

The recent advance of a comparatively small Turkish force against Egypt.appears to have been uncommonly foolish, writes the military correspondent of the London Times. It was known some time ago that approximately 65,000 Turkish troops were assembled in Southern Syria for the purpose of the expedition, and that: ;they were distributed on the line Qaza-Becrsneba Maan. On January 28 the Gaza troops, or at least an advanced party of the Turkish right column, penetrated to Katieh, came in collision; with a Ghurkba post ccst of El Kantara, and were easily beaten off. At the same time a small hostile party attacked >.he Kubri pott, near Suez, and farcd.no better. These movements appeared to lliovt thai the T-.irks intended ;o follow the two wellknenn routes a.toss the 'desert, and no wore! reached m that o.n iiyinsj inl-n h.ijl (liscovered any chimin on the r..»rrii to the West.

THE MAIN AITAC It- ■ Djemal Pasha, the Turkish comnii).rider, appears to have formed the design to march the main'body of his advanced guard from UiicMlmlw to Jialir el'Auja, and thence along the Wad d Arlish towards Ismailia and TouUsouJn. Tl)iS; ; )ine,, though more difficult and witcrless than the others, is less exposed to attacks in flank from the sea, anil it. may 1 'hp,ye been 'Selected on this account. The centre qolumn undoubtedly cteli vered the main attack on February 2 find 3. It was only a flanking party which attacked El Kantara the same , day, .while on the NakM route only partisans made their appearance, and also haye been intended to .flank ,the main column of attack; '■ In'view'of thp strength of our garrison in Egypt the attack was an; act of folly, and the Turks deserved even greater punishment than they received. Tln»e reasons mjiy be .suggested'for the .character of the attack. First the Turks and their Gorman advisers may have been ignor : ant of our strength''in Egypt. Secondly; they 1 may''naVe I 'hoped for Assistance from the Egyptian population. Lastly, they may have found in practice that thb difficulties of the' march : prevented them! from bringing up. all their men, and the attack actually delivered may f have been a mere, act of desperation, ;j prosecuted on the advice oi the Germans i with the purpose of retaining in Egypt as| many British troopsiasl:posßiblei . ;■"' Tho- Turkish troops actually engaged belonged to the 25th or' Damascus division of the Bth : Turkish.'Army Corps, • arid some troops of the 4th or Andrian- ' ople Arjny Corps were alsp present. The • Turks approached the canal on Februj arV 2. They were heavily shelled by i limd guns,, and also by ships, amongst 1 which latter the French appear to lave •, figured prominently.

NO ORGANISED PURSUIT. Despite this warm reception, the Turks came jlown to the canal, during the night of February 2 and '3, arid attacked at a point a little to the south ofiLakeiTirhkih. Bringing up the pontoons which had been dragged across thh desert, the-;. Turkish. 7ith : and 75th Regiments made valiant efforts to cross, but were swept away by,fire, and.their pontoons broken up.' At dawn the' artillery joined in, and a Turkish Gin gun is said to have been in action against! thfc old Indian Marine Transport Hardinge,. but a French warship promptly silenced the Turkish, gun/; Undeterred by their failure, the . Turks deployed against the line of. the canaj, on the front opposite Toussotim arid Serapeum, but they were overwhelmed at all points by: superior: force,; nvhile a secondary! attempt opposite Ismafliarhad no' better luck.

The Anglo-Indian troops,, do not appear to have advanced across the canal in any great' strength until the morning of: February- 4. 'They then collected a fe-ff- hundred "prisoners, but the bulk of ; the assailants had got away with their guns, and escaped something of the chastisement which thejc- temerity had deiervcd. By February $ there were no Tu|rks within 20 miles of, the ..canal, .and cv6n at this point were-'only Small rearguards which were making the best of their.Way horde, ', There appears to have been no organised pursuit, but the 1000 casualties which we accounted for in dead and prisoners are evidently not tho whole, loss, which, the, enemy suffered. Thus 'failed, this muclj-heralded attack, and the banquet which Djehial Pasha' promised to tho-jfe'dpteW-ilie Lebanon after his return from, yictory must be postponed. Sir John' Maxwell's prepara-' tions for'the defenccof : Egyjc>t ifive been tested 'and have been found satisfactory; It is clear that the defence is adequate" and tins trial gallop of the defenders will finable them, to understand the Strong awl weak/points of their position. .'...■