SOUTH AFRICANS AND EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2719, 14 March 1916, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICANS AND EGYPT

THE FIGHT AT AGAGIA By Telegraph—Press. Association—Copyright Alexandria, March'l2. The South Africans had their first fight in Egypt on February 26, ai Agagia. After four days' march westward of Mersa Matruli (170 miles west of Alexandria), the aircraft reported a considerable number of the enemy \inder Turkish and German officers. The South Africans, m the face of fierce shelling, led the way over undulating ridges with little cover. The -men Tvere dropping right and left, yet none wavered. They valiantly advanced with short rusheu and drove out the enemy, who fled pre-, cipitately.

[The High Commissioner reported on February 27: —"In Egypt an enemy column was attacked yesterday at Agagia, south-east ot' Barrani, In* General H. T. Lukin, with a column consisting of South African Yeomanry and Territorial Artillery. Tho enemy was completely routed, and fled in": scattered parties, pursued by our cavalry. Later our aeroplanes reported them eight miles south-west of Agagia, still pursued." A later report stated: "In Egypt, Saturday's battle was a decisive British success. Tho enemy, under the personal command of Nuri Bey, brotheT to Enver Paslia, held a strong position fifteen miles south-east of Bar,mi. Tho attacks of the South African infantry, under General H. T. Lukin, wore completely successful, and the charge of the Dorsetshire Yeoinanrv was brilliant and most effective. Gaafar, chief subordinate of Nuri Bey, was wounded and taken prisoner. Nuri Bey was killed The enemy left 200 killed and wounded on the ground."!