EGYPT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 267, 27 October 1916, Page 5

EGYPT.

THE SENUSSI CRUSHED.

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN ] London, Oct. 26th. The “Daily Telegraph’s war correspondent Mr. Massey, writes from Egypt that the occupation of Dakhla and Baharia cabled on the 23rd. recovered from the Senussi all the oases in the western desert except Siwah, and dealt a crushing blow to the Senussi’s waning prestige.

The Imperial Camel Corps, composed of British yeomenry and Australians, left Kharga accompanied by armoured cars. The. rapid movement completely surprised the Senussi rearguard at Dakhla. The prisoners included important politicals, and a considerable amount of arms, ammunition and treasure was captured.

Dakhla is an important oasis. The Senussi summered there with 2,000 troops. Owing to the exceptional heat it was impossible to send white troops there in the summer, but full preparations were made in anticipation of the cooler weather. A light railway was built over a wide belt of bad sand.

The Senussi learnt of the preparations and fled, but our advance was so rapid that their rearguard was cut off and none escaped. About 80 miles of light railway were laid towards Baharia in the waterless desert. The work proceeded during the entire summer. The Senussi army was weakened by malaria and almost deprived of camels by our attacks. They moved to Siwai subsisting on dates and olives. The coast was blockaded and the Senussi’s resources were insufficient to maintain a formidable force. Their followers seemed to have lost faith.