AN OLD-FASHIONED BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3035, 23 March 1917, Page 6

AN OLD-FASHIONED BATTLE

CAVALRY CHARGE AT RAFA

DESERT .VICTORY

(From W. T. Massey.)

El Arish, January 12,

The desert colu pin's victory at Rafa is unquestionably one of the finest achievements in Egypt during the war. By a swift thirty miles' cross-country night march, mounted troops got within striking distance while the enemy still slept, and the boldness of their attack on an elaborate system of defences enabled them at the end of an all-day battle'absolutely to overwhelm the Turks and Germans. The figlti, though- rnider the new conditions of warfare, more nearly resombled the battles of ,a generation ago than anything seen in this war. Many phases of the action could be witnessed from 'oqe spot. There were cases of mounted men galloping into action within comparatively short rifle range; the artillery had targets which could be seen over tie gun-sights. . Tlie fighting was watched' by many Bedouins, some of wiiom actually tended their herds between our firing line and the enemy trenches, either ignorant of their peril or submitting their fate to Allah. Nfeht March. ._ At sunset on the .Bth tho Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division, the Imperiavl Camel Corps, with Yeomanry, Territorial horse batteries, and a mountain battery of artillery marched eastward. Reaching the Kami Ida Musleh Point, five miles south of Rafa, on the borders of Egypt Mid Syria, the New Zealanders detached at 4 a.m. to round up and disarm a large number# of Arabs. The New Zealanders made an enveloping movement to., attack the town from the east, the Australian Light Horse moved on Rafa from .the south-east, and the Camel Corps from the south. ->. The guns .registered after .deployment, and,the infantry attack began. An hour later the New Zealanders moved very quickly over tho grassy ridges direct oil Rafa, ' which lightly held,' was • immectia.tely taken, some prisoners and a number of o.imelmen who were making for Khan Tunus, to the north-east, being captured. One New Zealand regiment was sent well east to protect the flank and watch the enemy litovements. After events nroved that this was ;i very wise precaution. ■ , , * . : Behind the Enemy. The rapid taking of the.town was a valuable part of the day's work, and enabled the New Zealanders to get behind the enerav position, and they sorely troubled him for the remainder of the day. The Territorial artillery pushed forward most gallantly into positions unavoidably exposed to the. enemy's mountain guns, which heavily shelled them, and our advancing dismounted troops and a. battery likewise displaced splendid coolness and courage, frequently taking their light guns abreast of the camelry firing line. " During tho morning aeroplanes reported that the enemy was leaving the western works in considerable numbers to reinforce the southern positions, and the Yeomanry was ordered to attack from the west. At the same time the 'Anzacs and the Camelry reinforced their lines.' Largo bodies .'of ; Light Horse and Yeomanry galloping into aotjoii presented a magnificent and stirring' spectacle, while the Cnjnel Cores moved steadily to extreme "'fle range, dismounted, and made a model infantry attack. German Marksmen. Progress, however, was slow, because the ground was absolutely 'devoid, of cover,, the Turks' works were strongly held, and their machine-guns, manned by German marksmen, were well hidden. .At three o'clock the battery supporting the Yeomanry and the artillery supporting the Axizao Division opened an intense bombardment and silenced two of the enemy's guns, the accuracy of the fire, being evidenced' by the state of the trenches later. The infantry advanced in rushes, often firing as.thev ran, but the volume of Turkish, fire was 'undiminished. About this time the regiment watching on the east of Rafa reported that the '.relief force had left Shellal, fifteen miles east of Rafa, when the attack began. Patrols were sent down the Shellal Road and the Khan Yunus Road, and at half-past four they simultaneously reported that two forces, estimated at between 3000 and 4000, were alvancing from both places. The Yunus force , was within three miles of Rafa:

-At this critical moment, when, the General was involved in.. an attack which was not yet completed, and had substantial forces • advancing on his rear, the necessity for immediate and supreme effort was urgent. A call would never be made in vain to the desert column troops, and oven before it had reached some sections of the line our troops were finishing the work in I the trenches. The New Zealanders I dashed into the Turks' strongest position from the rear, . two Australian brigades carried the - south-eastern works by an irresistible, rush, the Camelry made a very gallant and welltimed assault on the south-west, while the Yeomaury kept the western side fully employed. The whole garrison surrendered,? having suffered heavily. In the meantime, the regiment guarding the eastern flank was doing its work most thoroughly. Holding a long, crescent-shnped line, it engaged vastly superior forces, which it held up till the Rafa positions were ours. Then it drove the enemy back on Rafa. Our Total Captures. It was announced, recently by the Secretary of the War Office that'the total captures made by our troops at Rafa are as follows:— Prisoners 1 7 Krupp mountain' guns 4 . Machine guns 7 ' Rifles •' —■■■■ ci a 4 rounds 40,U00 Camels '83 Horses and mules 58 Camel and pack saddles ... 134 Also a large quantity of miscellaneous equipment.