SIR JOHN MAXWELL'S DESPATCHES

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 147, 22 June 1916, Page 7

SIR JOHN MAXWELL'S DESPATCHES

EXCELLENT WORK BY1 .FORCES' ENGAGED. '

LONDON, 21st June.

Sir John Maxwell, in despatches, states: General Wilson, commanding the Suez Canal defences, has conducted his operations to my complete satisfaction.

General Wilson, in,.ftve despatches, describes his scheme for an extensive inundation as part of the early organisation of the defence in the opening phase of the campaign in Januarj", 1915. A force of 1500 Turks, and some Germans in Arab dress, attacked us at six points, and endeavoured to force a crossing at Tussoum. The New Zealand Infantry Brigade and the 3rd Australian Field Engineers assisted in repulsing the attack.

From February till August was quiet. On the Australians' return to Cairo, climatic conditions, lack of water, and pressure of other fronts prevented a renewal of the Turkish activity.

During the third phase, ending the March period, when all possible troops were sent to Gallipoli, tried Indian units from France carried out enormous, and ceaseless vigilance along hundreds of miles of front along the canal.

Unrest on the western borders was acute in November, affecting 120,000 of the Arab population. General Wallace commanded the western force, which included the Australian Light' Horse, Divisional Train. Signallers, the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, and subsequently the South African Infantry. The operations in the region of Mersa Matruh" were most difficult—hot days, chilly nights, rains, quagmires, mud, and mirages. The main battle was fought on 23rd January, and our success was largely due to "the gallantry of the Sikhs, Souti^ Africans, and New ZeaJanders, who fought with invincible clash and resolution throughout the clay. The Senussi were dispersed..