Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-27
STORIES OF THE WAR
In the Suez Canal Zone.

None of the theatres of war fur nishes more interesting fC1tures than the zone along the Suez Canal where the British have set up a barrier against invasion of this most inn portart territory by the Turks. Off, ficial communiques have given but small idea of the wonderful military organization which has been built up here in the desert.
 When Lieutenant General Sir Archi- bald Murray last January assumed charge as Commander-in- Chief of the British forces in Egypt they were oc- cupying positions along the canal it. self. Virtually the only avenue of ap- proach for the Turks was across the sandy wastes of the northern half of the peninsula, the lower part being mountainous and ilnpracticable for movement of troops. Up to this time it had been thought that no military force could cross the desert during the hot season (from March until No venlber) and that the canal therefore would be entirely safe from attack during the summer
 General Murray however after look ing over the ground decided that while no army ever had crossed the water less tracts in summer, yet it was pos Sible. Accordingly he began to thrust his defenceG5 out from tb5 east bank of the canal until at present he has a fortified line established at un average distance of about ten miles from the waterway and some 90 miles in length almost as long as the British front in France.
 General Murray's policy was vindi- cated early last month when an army of 14,000 Turks did succeed in crossing the desert, engaging the British at Romania where they met with dis astrous defeat Had this fight been waged on the banks of the canal, even with the same result, shipping neces- sa1ily would have been greatly delayed As it was the canal was as quiet as woodland stream.
 In the organization Of h,s defences in the Canal Zone, General Murray has made use of the training he had early in the war in France when, as chief of the general staff, under General French, he played leading role in the Sk1lful British retreat from Mona. An opportunity to study the organi- zation and to see every feature of the defences of the canal was given to a | representative Of The Associated Press just transferred from the British front in France to the blistering heat and the shifting sands of the Sinai desert General Murray is wagipg what might be called constructive warfare" In order to establish and maintain his troops In the desert it has been nec- essary to construct highways and railways many miles of which will be
 
 war, for wherever possible he is build ing with the idea of permanency. For example, within a comparatively short time, should the operations continue Port Said. Ismailia and Cairo will be linked by a rock-ballasted highway which would do credit to any country All told, the commander has built - (deleted by censor) miles of highway and railroad, and the work is being pushed steadily forward in many places.
 The outer line of defence consists of series of fortified positions among the sand dunes. The same type of trenches as are found in Europe have been used. excepting that there are few dugouts. The soldiers live mainly under canvas or in wooden Buildings Beyond these, extending the entire length of the canal is an almost solid line of barbed wire entanglements. The correspondent covered many miles of this territory on horseback, and every where was seen the same detailed pre-