The Mena weekly star., 1916-08-10
TURKISH FORCES
 SADLY DRUDDED
British Defending Suez Canal En- ilicted Heavy Losses. Captured B. 900 and Chased Rest for Miles
 How Guns Were Brought Up.

London, Aug. 7.-The most recent attempt of the Turks to reach the Suez canal has proven a greater fail- ure than the earlier reports indi- cated Lieutenant General Sir Ar chibald James Murray, commander of the British troops in Egypt. re- ports Monday that besides taking more than 5000 prisoners in the battle with the Turks at Romaani, his force inflicted very heavy losses on them. and had continued the pur- suit of the retreatlng troops for IS miles, clearing the Turks ftom the hatia basin
 Military writers are utn~p to iatn0m the reason why tiIt Turks ventured upon the attack The only conclusion reached is that the Turkish military authorities were misled as to the British prepara- ti0ns for the defense of the canal and hoped to make an impression on the rebellious Arabs who are ex- tending their hold on important places in Arabia.
 The Turkish advances as far as Romaani was made in the face of tlit tobtct ltlGlI SlA- inch guns being dragged across the desert by oxen after relays of blanks had been placed to prevent the wheels sinking into the sand.
 London, Aug. 7.-"The net results of the battle of Romaani are the destruction of more than one-fourth of the Turkish electives and the pushing of the remainder out into the desert beyond the Katia oasis, ' said Major General F. B. Maurice, director of the military operations of the imperial general staff, in ex- blaming to the Associated Press on Monday the significance of the latest operations in the near east
 You will recall he continued, that in the previous attack on the canal we were busily engaged else where. Consequently we were act ing on the defensive in Egypt in po- sitlons prepared for that purpose behind the canal. Since then we have advanced our positions into the desert as fast as physical con- ditions warranted.
 The katia oasis possesses a sur prising quantity of water, but it is Drackish and has a disastrous ef- feet on Europeans. The Turks, however. suffer no evil effects from it. This fact gave the enemy con- siderable advantage, However, by advancing slowly we established ourselves firmly ln entrenehed po- sitions behind Ramaani and awaited the Turkish advance from Fl Arish, an advance of which we had con- stant news from our air service.
 The Turks not only made a from tai attack on our entrenched posi- tions, but attempted to get around our left Hanks. Our artillery, in- fantry and cavalry co-operated, not only in repelIing, but in attacking the enemy with such satisfactory re- suits that he is liable to have an uncomfortable time re-crossIng the desert at this season of the year.
 Our advance has reached within a short distance of the edge of the Katia oasis There is no question the Germans encouraged the latest Turkish attempt to prevent Us from sending any of our forces to the western front but the dlsas- trous results shows we have pro- vided adequately for the safety of the Suez canal In accomplishing this we have suffered comparative ly few casualties, many of which consisted of slight wounds.
 The official statement says
 Tn reference to the fighting in the Katia district, the general off, cers commanding g-in-chief in Egypt reports that the artillery. rifle and maehine-gun fire was most etfec- tive and that the Turkish losses in killed and wounded appeared from all accounts to have been very heavy.
 Late on the evening of the fifth of August territorial infantry gall lantly carried strong rear guard position. Our pursuit of the Turks have been continued for a distance of iS miles and they are now well clear of the Katia- -Umaisha basin. The number of unwounded prison CTS taken by US now amounts to 45l officers and 3,f00 men and they are a very fine body of nten.