EGYPT AND PALESTINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 6 (Supplement)

EGYPT AND PALESTINE.

CAMPAIGNS RECALLED. OFFICIAL HISTORY PUBLISHED. WOftK Or COLONIAL TROOPS. The different campaigns which collectively make tip the Great War each had its own particular difficulties. The series of campaigns in Northern Africa and Western Asia and adjacent lands with which these books* deal, and which in their general effect were onlv second

in importance to the war waged in France, were difficult both on account of the nature of the country and the character of the enemy. Most of the area over which the fighting took place was a waterless desert of widely separate] distance#. Consequently the greatest problems were transportation and water Rwpp]y.

Both these hooks are well written and intensely interesting. That by Colonel W'nvoll is more brief, and is an admirable summnry of the whole of this part, of the war right to its triumphant conclusion, and should he read prior to starting the other. The Official History is n splendid work, which ends, however, with the deadloek before Gaza, the struggle in Palestine proper and Syria being left for a subsequent volume." It might be expected that such a book would tie stodgy and a mere series of extracts from dispatches, etc., but it is, though solid, eminently readable, and one looks forward with pleasure to the continuation.

Britain's Task. At the outset of the war England's Immediate care wa? concerned with the protection of the Suez Canal. This waterway wag of vital importance to her, and she had to use the utmost vigilance to ensure that it still remained open. Till Turkey actually took part as Germany's Ally the task was fairly simple, though even before then preparations were made in view of the possibility of attack. Once the Turk was an enemy the situation changed. Although a tract of desert traversed by few routes separated the Canal from the Turkish border, it was by no means impossible to cross it with an army large enough to gain possession of a part of the Canal for a few hour 9 in which It might be made useless to shipping for many months or even years.

From October 1914, till the end of 1915 operations were purely defensive. The first two or three months were utilised in preparing for the expected attack which duly took place in February, 1915, and was hurled back with comparative ease, by a small forco consisting of English, Colonial and Indian troops. Nothing further was attempted for two reasons—the need for organisation and the Gallipoli campaign. The firstnamed was, unlike the other, not spectacular, and the world heard little of it, but it was a tremendous task.

The Oallipofi adventure was organised from Egypt nnd though it distracted the attention of the Turks from the Canal, yet to carry it out the troops in Egypt were reduced to a minimum, adding very much to the anxiety of those responsible. With the evacuation of Gallipoli Egypt once more became the focus of the Eastern operations. The Turks, relieved of anxiety as to the safety of their capital once more turned their attention to the task of crippling England on the most vital point in her communications, while the British military authorities devoted renewed energy to making the Canal safe. But when next the Turks with a much larger and better equipped army essayed an attack they found they were running their heads against a stone wall. In addition to lines of defence a commencement was made with the railway which was ultimately to connect Egypt with Palestine. This involved the laying of a pipe line to carry water for the use of troops and transport animals as well as engines, for the water in the different oases was not always suitable. In a short time the defenders of the Canal became the aggressors, and in the spring of 191fl preparations were made for an advace toward Palestine. Battles for Gaza.

All through 1016 the iritish lines were pushed on until Rafa, the town on the border, fell into our handa, and preparations were made to storm the Turkish lines at Gaza. The story of the first battle and the retirement when success was within the grasp of our men, is well told. The first battle of Gaza is one of the most hotly debated questions of the whole war, and praise or blame may never be rightly assessed. The soldiers who had done all that could be expected of them right from the beginning of the campaign, here fought as doggedly as anywhere, but it would seem that there was not sufficient co-ordina-tion between the dilferent detachments and the supreme command. A second battle over the same ground was fought, as obstinately as before, but the Turks hod been reinforced and had strengthened their position and tlie attack was a costly failure. It was reserved for Allenby to achieve the success which was denied Sir A. Murray and his subordinates. With this battle the official history ends.

Value of Colonials. To us in this country, apart from main features of the campaigns, the chief interest lies in the doinys of th.* Australian and New Zealand Mounted Brijfinli-'i, jiii'l the part they took was a very ii i porta at one—;intleed without them the () f the iiritish commanders would have been far greater. I'n' cavalry regiments yielded nulling to the colonials in bra.. i y tl ey were inferior to them in 'e pfill :fiilnr work which was so noces-*n'-v " w,lr "f thin cJmraeter. The V ' 7" onuit ' (l l " Liu- elimaie iieccKunrily insepar-tlK-.r work. ihey were the arm . v - Al,i o »„ n<i« j0..s p--ed, it was u.-uall\ ," ' " ,- "t communication-', cap i v 111,1 ' ,arr y '-''treats, and! • . ■ mt.. the ;r work with what 1 _ "" ''"J".- "lent, whfel, their I ' ••■'••••» eould not shire ' • l "' 1 eril 'Umuce turned the < ••• •• than i, lie l>f»ttlfe, d „,| ; "I ami ftafa the vie d r ' 't' tL " :l/ - a 'hey m v,v;u"T' ! ' uttfcrr, »« s »t. and it i '• ' note in |,a«si r ,;v l:ft_ port "my to cro s, the ti'rnKry." i „ •" M,,Hary ( >T«-ratlrfM m t >TOt an. | Palestine, From the outbreak of war witt ILI eu tenant -Oe npra 1 1 Wr^Jiow'"Sra'Af nr\ k s^ssasK,"^