FIGHTING IN EGYPT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 592, 3 January 1916, Page 7

FIGHTING IN EGYPT.

THE CHRISTMAS DAY BATTLE. ENEMFS DISORDERLY RETREAT. CAIRO, January 1. Details of the fighting on Christmas Day show that the enemy's losses were greater than at first reported. We occupied the enemy's 1 positions and a camp westward of Mersa Matruh. The Senussites fled in a hasty and 'disorderly retreat, losing 400 men killed and 82 prisoners. A considerable number of camels and sheep were captured, and a quantity of ammunition and stores was destroyed. We also disabled an enemy gun. His retirement was so hurried that the Commander, Garraf Pasha, left in his office his private papers. Our losses were 10 men killed and four officers and 49 men wounded. Another column on December 28 dispersed the Bedouins under Sayed Harun, south-east of Mersa Matruh, and occupied the enemy's camp, and captured his water supply. The High Commissioner reports: LONDON, January 2. A report from Cairo states that an advance was made from Matruh to Harun's camp, our troops capturing a month's supplies and live stock and ammunition. CAIRO. January 2. It is officially stated that the Senussites at Harun abandoned one month's supplies, 400 sheep, and 30 camels. The booty captured at Majid included 12,000 rounds of smallarm ammunition, 300 sheep, and 84 camels. AMSTERDAM, December 31. A Turkish communique says:— "In the lighting near Matruh, the Senussites captured 130 English prisoners."