TURKEY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 20 February 1915, Page 5

TURKEY

ATTACK ON SUEZ CANAL A SERIOUS ATTEMPT TO CROSS. SEVERAL BOATS LAUNCHED, ENEMY FINALLY SURROUJSTDED. SYDNEY, Feb. 19. Captain C. E. W. Bean, official correspondent with the Australian Expetionary Force, cabling under yesterday's date, says it is now certain.' that the attack on February 3rd was not a reconnaissance, but a serious attempt to cross j the Canal by one-third or half of the Turkish army which, was concentrated in Palestine. , . ' The Smyrna army did ito.t participate, but .30,000 troops max-ched across the desert to a camp In the mountains thirty miles east of Ismailia, and waited-there while a reconnaissance wasi made at El Kantara and Ismailia. On Februry 2nd the. feint against Ismailia was suspended owing to a dust storan. In the early hours of the next morning the real attack started against the bank of. the Canal between Toussbum and Serapeutn by the main force of about 15;000 regulars, smaller forces simultaneously feinting against Ismailia and El Kantara. • It was very dark, owing to. the saruLstorm, and the Turkish " brigade with boats reached the bank "of the. Canal a little south of Toussbum, but the sentries discovered the dark figures, .and fixed. " . >"-•■■■, I-The enemy managed to launch .several boats, but "they wero quickly driven back. They then lined the bank for a mile and a-half and opened a heavy fire. They fought well, and remained in their position all day on the 3rd •"'■nd part of tie 4th, when.they were surrounded, and surrendered. • .The Turkish reserve waiting in the valley two miles away retreated when oiir advancing- force discovered them. The forces at El Kantara also immediately retreated to the mountains, „where they now are. at least sixty miles.distant. • Further Turkish dead, have been found everv day. and the. total is now over 600." Our losses were about twenty killed and 100 wounded.