EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1916, Page 5

EGYPT.

AUSTRALIANS ENGAGED. A CAMP CAPTURED. London, April 16. Official: The Commander-in-Chief in Egypt reports that the 13th Australians made a successful reconnaissance at Jifjaffa, and attacked and occupied the enemy's camp after a brisk fight. The known casualties are six killed and live wounded. An Austrian lieutenant and 33 Turks were taken prisoner Only two mounted men escaped. The Australian casualties were a non-com. killed. The Australians occupied the Katis oasis. THE CANAL SECURE. TURKS HALF-HEARTED, j BRITISH OPERATIONS EXTENDING. Received April 17, 9.15 pjn. London, April 17. •Apropos of the Australian success at Jiff-jaffa, latest telegrams from eastern Egypt state that the Turks pursue their preparations in a half-hearted fashion, with less purpose of damaging the Canal than ,o keeping the Bedouins restless, and influencing the Ayab population in Asia and Africa. Meanwhile we are pushing on, and have made the Canal so secure that passengers can sleep in their statei room s as soundly as in peace time. The defences have been completed at a speed highly creditable to the British territorials. The' Indians, Australians, and New Zealanders extend so far into the desert that the Turks cannot even see the waterway. A vast system of road and railway , communication was dug deep across the eastern side of the Canal a year ago, when it seemed that the Canal was to be defended on water, but now the Britishers are far in the direction of the Turkish base.