EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1916, Page 5

EGYPT.

THE BATTLE OF Oi'A, 11. ANZACS WORK DESCRIBED. ' AN INTENSELY TRYING EPISODE. Received August 10. S.lO p.m London, August 10. Mr. W. T. Massey, in a communication from Romani, states that he can now give 'nllcr details of the An/.ac Mounted*' sterling work. These magnificent troops fought with a tenacity, courage and endurance comparable 'with their greatest deeds at Gallipoli. Their part in the overthrowing of the Turkish attempt to reach the Canal will stand out as one of the finest achievements of the colonials during the war, and illumine the pages of the Anzacs' short, but illustrious, history. The Australian Light Horse was in touch with the enemy lor about 48 hours, two brigades taking turn and turn about. The first brigade came into contact with the Tuiks at midnight on Thursday, and the two brigades fought them, without interruption, until darkness on Saturday. The horses were for hours without water, and the men had little food and scarcely a drop of water till Saturday, to relievo the agony of thirst in the desert. The first brigade held off 3(100 Turks in the darknes on a four-mile line, retiring very slowly, thus preventing the Turks obtaining the undulating ground south-east of Romani, the success of which would have enabled the enemy to cut the railway, isolate the Romani garrison, and stop reinforcements bv rail. The first brigade held on doggedly, staving off the Turks. The second brigade reinforced them at daylight. Both brigades then held the Wellington ridge, a mile west of Gamiit, for several hours, in face ol heavy artillery and infantry fire, with desperate Turkish attacks at intervals of 100 yards. FURTHER DETAILS. ' DESPERATE FIGHTING. ANZACS DECEIVE THE TURKS. JVceived August 10, 9 p.m. London, August fl. Mr. Massey continues: Though the Turks occupied Mount Meredith, two mile:-, south of Gannit, and .Mount Royston, three miles west and north-west oi Gannit, th»y never secured the Wellington ridge. The Australian -Light Horse's success paved the way for our triumph, and the battle of Romani made absolutely sure of success when the N"w Zealandcrs drove the enemy from Mount Roysfon. and the infantry thrust them towards Katia. Desperate fighting occurred early in the morning, when the enemy's strong advance line threw themselves" furiously against the Light Horse, shouting their battle cry of '"Allah!" At the finish the Australian Ligh Horse regarded the cry with immense amusement, shouting derisive answers, and showed that thev were more than a match for the Turks with studs. "I saw the Light Horse at Wellington ridge, when the enemy's shrapnel was bursting with wonderful accuracy, but the Australians showed not the "slightest sign of movement until the enemy rushed them. The Light Horse poured in a terrible fire, and the appearance of the battlefield subsequently supported the talcs about the Australian marksmen's acuracy. TOO QUICK FOR TURKISH GUNNERS On Saturday morning both brigades, with the. New Zealand Mounteds on the right, worked down the battlefield, while the third Light Horse, on their flank, attacked Hamisah, two miles south of ■ Katiaoaih. During the combined attack on Katia at two o'clock in the afternoon the three brigades galloped three-quarters of a mile into action across cvtrcuiely heavy country. The horses carried the cheering men at such a pace that the Turkish artillery, in attempting a barrage, never found the range. CHARGE ON THREE MILE FRONT. The charge was made on a three-mile i front, and filled the men with enthusiasm. At thi s point the Warwickshire and Gloucester Yeomanry entered the action and advanced across the swam]) being for several hours under heavy gunfire. The action was discontinued at dusk us it was seen to be impossible to capture Hamisah before darkness. The wisdom of the desert charge was shown by the Turks flying with a helter-skelter rush from their positions, the enemy doubtless fearing the. mounteds would use steel, as on the previous day a few of the Light Horse charged with fixed bayonets, using the rifles as lances. v A, LAX BUT HEROIC TROOPER. A story is told, typical of the spirit of these Light Horse. A trooper, who bad been awarded the D.C.M. at Gallipoli, smuggled himself aboard a transport and reached France recently, He was discovered and sent back to Egypt, rejoining his regiment. At the very outset of the battle he was placed -in the guard tent, but broke out of the tent and tramped into the hottest centre of the engagement, and rescued fourteen wounded and an ambulance man, but was himself killed whilst rescuing the fifteenth. ?HE PANGS OF THIRST. Cairo. August fl. The Turks suffered mostly from thirst flu the march to Romani. They killed camels and drank their blood. EGYPTIAN ARMY CONGRATULATED. ' London, August 0. The King has telegraphed to General Sir Archibald Murray: "Convey to all ranks England's appreciation of the efforts which have brought a brilliant success, won at the height of the hot season, in desert country."