THE "CONQUEST" OF EGYPT.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15453, 4 December 1915, Page 9

THE "CONQUEST" OF EGYPT.

• « HISTORICAL TURKISH ARMY ORDERS. DJEMAL PASHA'S CONFIDENCE. (from ope own correspondent.} LONDON, October 22. Djemal Pasha, who led the Turkish expedition against Egypt, was very optimistic over the prospects of his invading army. On January 30th ho issued orders dealing with the preparations for the attack on Toussoum, which was attempted on February 2nd. The orders were found on a dead Turkish officer, after the fighting, and run: — To-night, in accordance- with the arrangement of Kaim, AH Fuad Bey, the following detachments will move towards Bir el Murra :— Staff of Goth Regiment, 7oth Regiment. Field Artillery Company, 2 heavy batteries. The Engineer Battalion and the bridge squads and the Supply Column Detachment will, on arrival in the vicinity of Bir el Murra, immediately fortify this place with a front facing Toussoum. The A.C. Hcadquparters, with the Cavalry Cjrjuadron, under its orders, will move to-morrow morning at 4 o'clock to Bir el Murra. The Imam must explain to soldiers that, when they have crossed tie Canal, they will not be in an enemy country, but in a country belonging to our dear

fellow-countrymen. "Wc arc not making war against our co-religionists, the Egyptians: we are fighting the English, the enemies of the clear religion of Islam. .\o attacks arc, therefore, to bo made on Moslems or others, cxceptthe English, French, and Russians, and even the wives and children of these latter are on no account'io be touched. «5. Officers must on no account have their note-books, containing special notes which they have made, on thcir> persons during the attack. C. Abdulla-oghlu-Andul-Kadir of Derras, Sergeant in the 2nd Company, Ist Battalion, 75th Regiment, is awarded the Iftikhar medal for his bravery during yesterday's reconnaissance. Djeihal's order. Xo. 21, makes interesting reading in the light of the fact that the Turks were allowed to bring their bridging material to the banks of the Canal, and actually to begin buildine the bridgo before the British attacked them. The fact, also, that the Turks' rifles were not loaded, must have lost them many men. They fled, leaving their bridging materia? in our hands. Order 21 reads:— Bir el Murra, February Ist, 1910.

During to-day's and to-morrow's advance upon the Canal, absolute silence must be preserved by both officers and men. There must be no coughing, and commands are not to be given in a loud voice. Fortifying (entrenching) tools and water flasks arc to bo tied m such a way that they will make no sound during the march. There is to be no cigarette smoking.

On the eastern baulc or the Canal no rifles are to be loaded. On tiie western bank of ttie Canal niles are to be loaded oa tne coinuiands ot tne outers, lielore beginning tiie advance, tne com-

pany commancieis wnl poison ally inspect tae rincs and malic tuemseives absolutely certain that tney arc not ioaucd. .Later, ttic squad outers will oxaiimie ritics to see tuat tiiey me not ioaucd. 'ine embarkation ou to. and tnc disembarkation lrom, the nuts anil oontoons is to he carried out noiselessly and speedily. Soldiers must tn>. tola olf to man the raits and pontoons. Disembarkation on to the opposite bank is to be accomplished witnout noise.

'ihe ammunition in the war baggage will be distributed to the soldiers in the forenoon, and it is to be carried by them in their bread sacks and pockets. Empty ammunition boxes and cases are to bo handed over to the soldiers' supply column. It is to bo explained to the soldiers that the ammunition is sufficient for requirements, and, further, that they are to take ammunition from soldiers who may be killed. Haversacks and overcoats are to be left at the camp. Two soldiers (from tho weak and ill) from each company arc to be left with the baggage. Rations will be carried by the soldiers in their bread sacks and pockets. Ration sacks will bo collected by the battalion and will be handed over tomorrow forenoon to tho supply column. Communication and company baggage will bo collected by the regiment and left at the camp in the care of an officer unlil further orders. The cases, boxes, and stretchers of tho Sanitary Corps are to be conveyed by the soldiers of that corps. Before leaving camp soldiers will have their waterflasks filled.

If the detachments which cross the Canal meet the enemy in the vicinity of the Canal they arc to attack and dispcrso him.

On tho day of attack provisions will not be sent to the soldiers. Accordingly, I allow them one day's rations.

All officers and men will attach a white band to the upper part of their arm as a distinguishing mark. On tho night of the attack the password will bo the "Sacred Standard" (Sanjak-T-Shcrif). The password "Sacred Standard" is given "in order that friendly detachments may bo able to recognise one another in the dark. One pontoon and two rafts will he given to each full company designated for the attack. Rafts will also be given to the two weak companies, according: to,the number of rafts available. Eighteen soldiers must be designated to carry or convey each pontoon. and twelve soldiers to carry or convey eacli raft. These soldiers are to be changed every half-hour. To-morrow, at o p.m., •the squads of bridgemakers are' to present themselves at the supply column.

The rifles wi'! be carried by the other soldiers. _ A few engineer soldiers arc to bo assigned to each raft and pontoon. The Army Corps Commander. DJEJIAL. "By the Grace of Allah." Army Corps Order No. 23 bears no date, but as Ordor No. 21 was issued on February Ist, this date may also bo assigned to No. 23. It outlines the operations to be undertaken. These were subsequently attempted in tho manner indicated, and everywhere t.ne Turks were severely defeated. Tho Order reads:— All the detachments of the enemy have been pushed the western bank of the Canal. A part of the eastern bank of the Canal, between lsmailia and the Large Bitter Lake, is occupied l>y a. few sentries of the enem.v., The enemy's warships are in Timsah Lake and the Largo Bitter Lake. By tho, Grace of Allah, we shall attack the enemy on the night of February 2-3, and seize the Canal. Simultaneously with us the column will attack Suez, and one company Kantara. The GSth Regiment will attack EI Ferdan (?) and Ismailia. Tho left column will attack ftuez. and one company from the 10th Division will attack Shiufeg (? Rhallwfa). The Champions of Islam (Hujania) from Tripoli, in Africa, from the left wing, will advance on Serapeum and the south of Serapeum. To act as ft reserve during the attack, the 10th Division will ta?Tc up a position in advance of its present camp. .As soon ns it is dark, the henvy artil'ery Jnttery. with tho Ist Battalion of the 75th Infantry Regiment, will take up it« position in the vicinity ol B'r Fuad (?) and Bi»- el Murra h batlalion from the 10th Division will be assigned to the heavv battery to assist it during the march. Its task is to destroy the "nnrnv's worship* in Lnke Timsah. If it frets the opportunity, it is to s>nk a shin at the entrance of the CVt.nl. *fter executing this task, it will immeflinte'v mom south and subject the onemy's worships in the Large B'tt«r Lake to its fire. The infantry to- be ready to mnrr-h r>t 6 o'clock this evening, formed up facing the west.