THE VICTORY AT RAFA

Otago Witness, Issue 3291, 11 April 1917, Page 38

THE VICTORY AT RAFA

BATTLE IN THE OPEN

NEW ZEALANIJERS ENGAGED. STRONG FORCE DEFEATED. Cable messages published on January 13 briefly described the operations at Rafa, on the Syrian frontier of Egypt, on January 9, by which the Turks wcro completely driven out of Egypt after they had held portion of it for two years. In a despatch published in the London newspapers, Mr W. T. Massey, the British correspondent with the forces, says the desert column's victory at Rafa was ono of the finest achievements in Egypt during the war.

By a swift 30 miles' night march across country the mounted troops got within striking distance while the enemy still slept. The boldness of their attack on the elaborate system of defences prepared by the Turks enabled them at the end of an aliday battle to overwhelm the Turks and Germans, whoso hopes were fortified by the knowledge that large reinforcements' were within three miles of Rafa. CULTIVATED COUNTRT.

The light more neatly resembled the battles of a generation ago than anything seen in this war. ' Many phases of the action could be witnessed from one spot. Mounted men were seen galloping into action within comparatively snort rifle range, and the artillery had targets which could be seen over the gun sights. There was a freshness in the scene for our troops, whose eyes, long used to the desert glare, welcomed the rolling green cultivated country round Rafa. While the Rafa garrison were entirely surprised by our appearance, they were not unprepared. Since Magdhaba was captured the Turks had rapidly entrenched a strong natural position, El Magruntain, two miles south-west of Rafa. Several lines entrenchments, six redoubts, and' many rifle pits, difficult to locate, had been constructed. MARCH ACROSS THE DESERT.

At sunset the 3th Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division, the Imperial Camel Corps, Yeomanry and Territorial horse batteries, and a mountain battery marched eastwards, tho horsemen taking a cross-country route, the guns and other wheeled traffic moving on a brushwood road made by the Turks. For about 10 miles there- was heavy going in soft sand, then the ground became harder and progress was so good that a halt of a couple of hours was made during the night. Reaching Kami Abu Musleh, a point five miles south of Rafa, the New Zealanders were detached at 4 a.m. to round up and disarm a large number of Arabs encamped at Sheikh El Sufi. This was done before daylight. The New Zealanders then made an enveloping movement to attack Rafa from the east. The Australian Light Horse moved on to Rafa from the south-east, the Camel Corps from the south. NEW ZEALANDERS ADVANCE.

A dismounted attack began an hour later. Tho New Zealanders moved very quickly over grassy ridges direct on Rafa, which, lightly held, was immediately taken. Some prisoners and a number of eamelmen making for Khan Yunus, to the north-east, were captured. One Now Zealand regiment was sent well east to protect our flank and watch the enemy movements. After events proved that this was a very "wise precaution. The rapid taking of the town was a valuable part of the day's work. It enabled the New Zealanders to get behind tho enemy position and sorely troubled him for the remainder of the clay. The Territorial Artillery pushed forward most gallantly into positions unavoidably exposed to tho enemy's mountain guns, which heavily shelled them and our advancing dismounted troops. One battery displayed splendid coolness and courage, frequently taking their light guns abreast of tho Camelry into the firing line. During the morning aeroplanes reported that the enemy were leaving tho western works in considerable numbers to reinforce his southern position. Tho Yeomanry were then ordered to attack from tho west, and at the same timo tho Anzacs and Camelry reinforced their lines. Large bodies of Light Horse and Yeomanry galloping into action presented a magnificent and stirring spectacle, while the Camel Corps moved steadily to extreme rifle range, dismounted, and made a model infantry attack. Progress, however, was slow, as the ground was devoid of cover. The Turkish works were strongly held, their machine guns, manned by Germans, being well hidden. At 3 o'clock a battery supporting tho Yeomanry and artillery of the Anzao division opened an intense bombardment and silenced two enemy guns Tho infantry advanced in rushes. often firing as they ran, but tho volume of the Turkish fire was undiminished ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS.

About.ythis timo a' regiment watching on the east side of Rafa reported that a relief force had left Shalal, 15 miles east of Rafa, when the attack began. Patrols sent clown the Shalal road and tho Khan Yunus road at half-past 4 simultaneously reported that two forces, estimated at between 30C0 and 40C0 were advancing from both places. The Yunus force was three miles from Rafa. At this critical moment the Desert Column was involved in an attack not yet completed, and found substantial forces advancing on its rear. The need for a supreme effort was urgent. The call would never bo made in vain to the Desert Column troops, and even before it had reached some sections of the lino our troops were finishing the work in the trenches. The New Zealanders dashed into the Tunics' strongest position from tho rear, two Australian brigades carried the southeastern works by an irresistible rush, tho Camelry made a very gallant and well-timed assault on the south-west, while the Yeomanry kept the western side fully employed. The whole garrison surrendered, having suffered heavily. Meantime the regiment guarding our eastern flank was doing its work most thoroughly. Holding a lonpr, crescentshaped line, it engaged vastly superior forces, and held them up till the Rafa positions were ours. Then we drove the enemy back from Rafa. TOTAL OF 1637 PRISONERS.

Tho Germans taken prisoner at Rafa included one officer, one warrant officer, and nine others unwounded, in addition to several wounded, nearly all machine gunners. The total of unwounded prisoners was 35 officers and 1602 other ranks. Between 2CO and 309 Turkish were buried. Our

casualties wore- light, considering the position and strength of the enemy, tho dead being- in much smaller proportion to thtf total than the killed among fnc Turks.