EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1916, Page 5

EGYPT.

THE SUEZ CANAL. AX ATTACK IK THE SPRING. BY TURCO-GERMAN FORCES. Received Feb. 8, 10.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. S. Le Temps' Geneva correspondent says til fit Prince Leopold,of Bavaria is about to command the Turco-German army to attack the Suez Canal in the spring. It is reported between thirty thousand and forty thousand troops are concentrated at Smyrna. Artillery of all calibres has been sent to Syria, and a motor road lias been opened between Damascus and Jerusalem.

THE BRITISH DEFENCES. SURPRISES FOR THE ENEMY. WILL GERMANY GO AHEAD? Received Feb. 8, 10.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 8. Le Temps says Germany lias been boasting that a hundred thousand Germans and half a million Turks are about, to invade Egypt. If this is so they will find the defence of the canal, on i which the British staff has lavished every effort during the year, includes a network of railways, and there will be a greater nutnber of troops at all the weak sports than the Turks will be able to command. In addition there will jie more and heavier artillery and an ,abundance of ammunition. Despite the boastings everything shows that these preparations have discouraged Germany, who is ready to abandon the expedition. M. Marcel Hut in, in the Echo de Paris, declares that the defences of the Canal in Egypt are most formidable, and the Turco-Germans will never be able to storm them. The Germans know that the task is impossible, and the announcement of an offensive is intended to pacify the Turks.

A CONFLICT OF PLANS. i | EGYPT OR MESOPOTAMIA [ Received Feb. 8, 11.50 p.m. London, Feb. S. Mr. Ward Price, writing from Salonika, under date of January 19, says the eyes of the Turks are 'turning ambitiously towards Egypt. It is doubtful whether this accords with the German plans, as it is considered Mesopotamia is likely to be the principal German objective. The nearest line of communications from Constantinople towards the Tigris is less exposed to an Allied attack than the route to Egypt through Syria, and across the Sinai Peninsula.

It is reported from Constantinople that two Turkish divisions which fought at Gallipoli are already on their way to Mesopotamia.