ANZACS THE HEROES OF THE EGYPTIAN FIGHTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16309, 16 August 1916, Page 7

ANZACS THE HEROES OF THE EGYPTIAN FIGHTING.

ENGAGED WITH ENEMY INCESSANTLY FOR EIGHT DAYS ENEMY'S RAPID RETREAT PREVENTS USE OF INFANTRY. Australian and K.JS. Cabl* Association. LONDON. August 14. Writing from the Eastern Egyptian front of the recent fighting, Mr. W. T. Massey, correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph, states: "The third of the three Turkish infantry attacks was the most formidable, and impetuous, but it suffered defeat owing to the heavy shrapnel fire and steady disciplined fire of the Anzacs. The Turks crept away in the moonlight, leaving numerous dead. There is no doubt that the Turks lost more than a third of their effectives. "The enemy's rapid retreat prevented the employment of a susbtantial portion of our infantry, and the Anzacs were obliged to fight continuously for eight days. This is the finest tribute that can be paid to the Anzac mounted men. They bore the heat and burden of eight days' incessant fighting after a fortnight's constant engagement with the enemy's outposts. It, is the unanimous opinion in Egypt that no troops in the world could fight better than the Anzacs. Their training in this barren country has enabled them to endure fatigue which would have overwhelmed most men. "No troops surpassed their brilliant achievement, which made El Romani one of the most important victories of the war. The Anzacs bore the entire weight of the enemy's attacks from the moment when the infantry were compelled to abandon the pursuit almost to the end of the struggle. The Turks were always in superior numbers, but the Anzacs' initiative, and ability were more than a match for the large battalions."