Topic: BatzS - Suez 1915
Suez Canal Attack
Egypt, January 28 - February 3, 1915
The Times, 4 February 1915
The Times, 4 February 1915, p. 8
The account is transcribed below.
TURKS AT THE CANAL.
FUTILE ATTEMPT TO CROSS.
BRIDGING MATERIAL LOST.
FUTILE ATTEMPT TO CROSS.
BRIDGING MATERIAL LOST.
The Turks have at Last, made a serious attempt to crows the Suez Canal.
On Tuesday night they arrived opposite Tussum which lies at the southern end of Lake Timsah. Earlier in the day they had been near Ismailia, at the northern end of the lake, where they were driven off after a skirmish. At Tussum they had brought bridging material. They were allowed to start bridging operations, and the British force then opened an attack which proved irresistible. The Turks precipitately fled, leaving the whole of their bridging material in our hands.
Yesterday morning he enemy also attacked further north at El Kantara, the scene of last week's encounter) but were repulsed without difficulty.
This is the first noteworthy encounter between the British and the Turks in the neighbourhood of the canal. As the Turks had guns, it must be presumed that: they have arrived in some force. The place of their appearance suggests that after leaving El Arish they have followed a south westerly course across the desert, probably passing near Bir Matha. It has always been expected that they would strike at Ismailia, where the railway branches off to Cairo.
A map showing the lines of approach to the Suez Canal will be found on the previous page.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
CAIRO, FEB. 3.
An official communiqué states that last night the enemy attempted to cross the Canal near Tussum.
They were allowed to bring their bridging material to the bank unmolested. When the bridging operations had actually started tea attacked them. Our attack was completely successful. The enemy fled in disorder, leaving the whole of their bridging material in our hands, and some of the enemy were drowned in the Canal.
The enemy also attacked us on the El Banters front at daylight to-day, but were easily repulsed.
The loss of the enemy was 16 killed and wounded, and 40 prisoners. Our casualties were three wounded.
CAIRO, FEB. 3.
Yesterday British forces met the enemy in the vicinity of Ismailia, near the centre of the Suez Canal. A sandstorm checked the enemy's ardour. Their shooting both with guns and rifles was bad. The enemy retreated.
The British losses were six men wounded. Reuter.
Further Reading:
Suez Canal Attack, Egypt, Contents
Where Australians Fought, Sinai, 1916-1917
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: Suez Canal Attack, Egypt, The Times, 4 February 1915
Posted by Project Leader
at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Saturday, 25 April 2009 10:01 PM EADT
