EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1916, Page 4

EGYPT.

THE FIGHT AT KATIA. DETAILS OF ENGAGEMENT. NEW ZEALANDER'S SMART WORK. TURKS PUT TO HEADLONG FLIGHT. Renter Service, Received August 12, 5.35 p m. Cairo, August 11. Details of the fighting at Ivatia on the 4th state that early in the morning the Turks attacked Et Maler in force. Two regiments of Nc,v Zealand Light Horse were ordered to a ridge about a mile from lit Maler, and tliov held the enemy lor two hours when they retired in accordance with the plan. The Turks then attempted a flanking movement Jrom the north-west, being supported by a heavy and accurate artillery fire. The enemy was gradually drawn on by the New Zcalanders, who were then ordered to assault Mount Royston, the key of the Turks' flanking movement. This they successfully accomplished and secured the British flank. An advance was ordered in the early innrnin? of the fifth. Two regiments' of Light Horse and tile New Zealand regiment charged and dismounted over a thousand yards in face of heavy rifle, machine-gun, and artillery fire. The Turks stuck till the Anzacs were sixty yards distant, and then bolted to the main body. By ten o'clock they were in headlong flight towards Katii, three, Light Horse regiments, the Light Horse, brigade of New Zealand, and a regiment of Yeomanry attacked the enemy's rearguard, but the Tmks had time to get to cover. To enable a break of the enemy's defence, next morning the Territorials advanced, but found that the Turks had evacuated their position.

TROOPS IN EXCELLENT SPIRITS. *id by monitors, Tleceived August 12, 5.H!) p.w. Cairo, August 12, The troops are in excellent spirits. All traces of the desert fatigue have (lisappeared. The wounded have arrived in Cairo. The proportion of serious eases is not high. Monitors did enormous execution during the battle. TURKS HANDLED SEVERLY. A THIRD PUT OUT OF ACTION. A TRYING MARCH, TERRITORIALS PRAISED. Tleceived August 12, 8.30 p.m Cairo, August 12.

General Lawrence's force put out ol action more, than one-third of the invaders. Those who escaped suffered a s-ivere handling. The Territorials and Anzacs delighted in participating in the cmshing Turkish defeat, the Territorials pursuing the Turks beyond Oghratina. They undertook trying inarches, with long, periods of fighting, crossing the heaviest sand belt on the Sinai Peninsula in the fiercest heat. They were compelled to carry all their water. Thousands of camel caravan stretched across the desert like veins in a.l directions. The Anzac mountods were er.thusiastid over the work of the Territorials and Horse Artillery, especially the Scottish battery, which supported them magnificently in the hottest periods of the Ro,nani fighting.

TURKISH REARGUARD ATTACKED. ENEMY LINE THREATENED. Heuter Service. Received August 13, ii.ii p.m. Cairo, August 12. General Murray reports that his cavalry are coming in contact with the Turkish rearguard at llodelhisM, northward of Birelabo, and threatening Hie enenly line at various points. The enemy are constantly employed to remove the dead.