THE EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3280, 24 January 1917, Page 21

THE EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN.

THE RAFA FIGHT. Details of tho Rafa fight disclose a brilliant victory, attributable to the dogged perseverance of the Australian Light Horse and tho New Zealand Mounted Rifles, supported by a British Yeomanry Brigade and Camel Corps, and the Territorial Horse Artillery. Tho action lasted from 10 till dusk. The Australians and New Zealanders won tho trenches at sunset, just as 3000 to 4000 Turkish reinforcements appeared three miles cast of Rafa. Tho troops upheld their most gallant traditions. The attackers at tho finish, with only a few seconds to spare, carried an exceedingly elaborate system of six lines of entrenchments. Many of the enemy were concealed in rifle pits almost to the last. Tho Mounteds moved out of El Arish at four o'clock in the afternoon of January 9, tho horsemen giving tho road to tho guns, and themselves travelling across country. It was heavy going in sand-dune country for 10 miles, but (hereafter the ground was harder, and the progress so good that a long rest was given tho horses at night. Two hours before dawn tho New Zealanders surrounded a large camp of Bedouins, whose attitude was unknown, disarming and preventing their participation in tho action. Thereafter the New Zealanders proceeded eastward of Rafa to attack the town on that side. Two Australian Light Horse Brigades operated against tho south-eastern trenches two miles from tho town, the camelry against the south, and the Yeomanry from the west. Tho Turks fought desperately, the deep entrenchment." preventing rapid progress over tho ground. There was not the slightest cover. A 3 they were 30 miles from their base, it was necessary to redouble their effort* ir the afternoon and finish the action before nightfall. After an intense bombardment at three o'clock, in which tho trenches were battered to pieces and two guns silenced. tho advance- gave signs of success. The

approach of reinforcements was reported an hour later, while tho Wellingtons were splendidly holding an enemy six times their own strength. Tho remainder of the Now Zealanders, who occupied the town of Rafa, captured tho main trenches from the rear. Tho Australian Camelry entered the trendies from tho front. The whole garrison i< maining unwounded then surrendered. Our casualties were astonishingly light considering the strength of the position, which was well placed for machine guns manned by German marksmen, of whom all wero killed, wounded, or captured.. Egyptian official: The total captures at Rafa on Tuesday were 1002 prisoners, four ICrupp monutain guns, seven machine guns, and a quantity of other material. Mr Massey (correspondent for The Times), describing tho Rafa light, says: "It was ono of the finest achievements in our Egyptian campaign, A swift march brought tiie mounted men within striking distance while the enemy slept. Tho whole battle resembled old-timo warfare. Many Bedouins watched the fight. Some wero tending their flocks between our firing lino and tho enemy trenches, cither ignorant of their peril or submitting their fate to Allah. The New Zealanders detached from the column five miles south of Rafa, on tho border of Syria, and rounded up and disarmed large numbers of Arabs whose attitude was unknown. They completed this operation before daylight, and then made an enveloping movement from the east, the Australians attacking from tho south-oast, and the Camel Corps from the south. Tho guns were registered, and after deployment they dismounted. The attack began an hour later. The New Zealanders moved very quickly over tho grassy ridges direct on Rafa, which, was lightly held and immediately taken, the prisoners including fleeing camel men. Ono New Zealand regiment was sent well to the cast to protect the flank, and this proved a very wise precaution. Tho rapid taking of the town was a valuable part of tho day's work, and enabled the New Zealanders to get behind the. enemy position, sorely troubling them for tho remainder of the day. Whilo the fight was in progress the. approach of a relief force was reported. It was a critical moment. The general called for an immediate supreme effort, and before it reached some sections of the lines tho troops wero finishinir their work in tho enemy trenches. The New Zealanders swooped into the Turks' strongest, position from tho rear; two Australian brigades carried the southeastern works; thp camelry gallantly assaulted on the south-west; while the Yeomanry kept the western side fully employed. Meanwhile the New Zealanders * east of Rafa wero holding a long crescent line, being engaged against vastly superior forces, which wore trying to escape, and threw them back. Great booty was secured. Tho prisoners include 11 unwounded German machine gunners. The Turkish prisoners included some from formations not previously used in South Syria. Tho War Office is telegraphing its congratulations to General Murray on his expulsion of tho enemy from Siinai. It is added that tho operations promise further successes. The cavalry continues to round up stragglers.