EL ROMANI FIGHT

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17286, 29 September 1916, Page 6

EL ROMANI FIGHT

THE OFFICIAL REFORT.

WORK OF ANZAC MOUNTED ' DIVISION. \

[Per Press Associatiox.]

WELLINGTON, September 2S.

The Minister of Defence, the Hon J. Allen, has received .from the General Headquarters of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, the following account(dated August 18), of the part taken in the recent, operations in Sinai by Uic Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division. The account was, prepared under the orders of Sir Archibald Alurray, by the General Officer Commanding the Division: “ The enemy appeared in strength in the Katin district on the evening of July 9, 1910, and from then until August'lie was watered and harassed and gradually drawn on day and night, bv the Ist and 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade (which included the V ellington Mounted Rifles Regiment-), alternately assisted by am Ayrshire battery-

“ Early on August 3 the enemy occupied Katin within 'striking distance of our position at Romani. Having in view that the morrow, August 4, was the last day of Bairat, and that the Turks would probably attack on that day. the Ist Australian Light Horse Brigade was left out to hold an outpost line of. about three miles to cover all entrances to the plateau on the south-west flank of Romani. The posi'tiou of this outpost line had to be taken up after dark on the evening of August 3. Nevertheless, it withstood ihc euemV’s main attack from 111 -midnight to 4 p.m. on August 4, when the Ist Brigade was reinforced by the 2nd, and Hlien tho two brigades, as previously arranged, pivoting on the extreme right of the infantrv position, gradually withdrew to a line which had already been decided upon covering the right finn.v and rear of the Romani position, and also the railway. _ . , Bv this time the New Zealand Mounted Rifles (which included the stli Australian Light Horse Regiment) and the sth Mounted Brigade (Yeomanry) were approaching on the high sand dunes west of • Romani and- on _ the enemy’s left flank j the regiment ot the 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade joining up with the left ot the \eoiwannT Brigade near Pelusini station (about five miles west of_ Romani). The 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade in the meantime was advancing towards the enemy’s left rear from Bir-el-Ducklar. About 11 a.m. tlie enemy’s main attack was arrested bv the Royal Horse Artillery of the Anzac Mounted Division (Territorials from Inverness, Ayrshire. Somersetshire, and Leicestershire) and by rifle and machine-gun fire, which was contributed to considerably by the infantry posts on the right of the Romani position. . “The attack appeared to have exhausted itself, but held its ground and about this time their right flank attach developed on the south-east front or the Romani position. This was, however, easily beaten back by the infantry posts. During the whole day the Romani camp was heavily shelled by the enemy., w ith guns of various calibre, including six inch .howitzers and neav> guns, and no less than seven aeroplane dropped bombs on the camp and ngli mg tbo supporting infantry (North of England Territorial) having .rot into position south ot Pelusini statioii, the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade and sth Mounted Brigade (Yeomanry) attacked tlie enemy's left flank from the west on the high sand dimes three miles west ol camp, christened a few days previous. Mount Roystom after the Brigadier of the 2nd Australian Light Horse Bn<mde. The New Zealanders and Yeomanry supported by the lemtomls, made' a very gallant attack on Mount Rpvston and it was taken with about 300 .Prisoners. , .* “ Aviiat remained, therefore, oi the cnemv’s main attack was held ui> in extremely difficult country, with ugh soft sand dunes*on two sides, by thiee brigades of the Anzac, Mounted Division. and a brigade of \eomanry. with a brigade of Territorials supposing them A counter-attack uas the launched, the mounted troops and infant rv driving the enemy back tan aids Katia until it was too dark to move The troops then lay down loi the night just where they stood. “ Before dawn tlie advance was continued. and over 2000 prisoners were taken the enemy being driven back gradually on their prepared positions at Katia. and Abu Hamra. These positions were attacked by our infantry but the enemy managed to hold on to Katia until nightfall, when he withdrew under cover of darkness. . “On August 0 our infantry occupied Katia and the moifnted troops pushed

on in pursuit, no serious engagement taking place until Bir-cl-Abd was reached, where a pitched battle was fought between the Anznc Mounted Division and the enemy’s rearguard ot 6{)00 infantry and several batteries of guns of various calibres. The 6000 infantry in trenches, supported by .the heavy- guns, proved too strong for the 3000 rifles then &vaila-t"k» in tho Alouuted Divisions. Attempts to push the enemy back, or to get round his flanks*'were stopped and the enemy made several counterattacks on our troops, the last one, made at about 6.30 in the evening on th« - centre of our line, being of a most determined character. It was in these attacks that the enemy suffered, most heavily. The division was withdrawn a short distance for the night, having inflicted severe casualties on the enemy and caused him to burn the bulk of his stores. The engagement was resumed on the following day; and was continued until' August 12, when the enemy evacuated their position during the night, being pursued to the extreme Timit of the oasis urea. *"( “ The performance of the Ist. and' 2nd Light Horse Brigade on the early morning of August 4 was extraordinary, considering that both men and horses were worn out with watching and harassing an advancing enemy for a fortnight, and'the attack of the New Zealanders and Yeomanry on Alofint Roysfcon was a very brilliant Feat. 'The shooting of the Territorial Horse Artillery was ■ most effective, and great gallantry and' endurance were -'hewn by the gunners at Bir-el-Abd on August 9. .Although-thirty-ifine horses of' the Ayrshire Battery were killed, and ■ though the enemy were within 200 yards of the guns, the gunners, assisted by the Light Horsemen, managed to get them away and into a better position. . - “TJie coolness under fire of the Divisional and Brigade signallers was remarkable, and itlie newly-formed Field Engineers squadron worked day and night- in digging and improving the wells and making areas suitable for bivouac, which otherwise would have been impossible. The work of the field ambulances and the regimental medical officers and stretcher bearer*, under most trying conditions of desert warfare, is beyond all praise, and the. efficiency of the Army Service Corps contributed very greatly to the success of ‘the operations, long convoys of camels going and coming without the slightest hitch. - V “ Throughout the enemy, true to[traditions established by them in Gallipoli, fought, like gentlemen, and prisoners have stated that any of. our wounded that have fallen into his hands, and very few prisoners were, taken, are being well treated. “ A message was left on a notice board at Oghrat-in saying that Lieutenant ——, of the Now Zealand Mounted Rifles,, was a prisoner and was a gentleman and was dining in their officers’ mess. The equipment of the enemy appeared to have been excellent iu every detail, particularly liis hospital equipment. Two complete field hospitals fell into the hands of the mounted division, <

Congratulatory messages were received from liis Majesty the King, from his Highness the Sultan of Egypt, from the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, from tho Sirdar of the Egyptian Army, from General Birdwood and front General Russell (commanding the New Zealand Divisions in France).”