Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-06-02

such small garrison. against force
of Turks and Arabs six times their own
number, says the correspondent.
The location of defense is a small
oasis in depression in the sandy waste
about thirteen miles east of the Suez
canal. The British had erected two
redoubts and several small isolated
posts in the vicinity of a grove of date
palms. These defenses were not COM
pleted at the time of the raid.
In mist so thick that the defenders
were barely able to discern the barbed
wire fifty feet in advance of their re-
doubts. the attack began at o'clock in
the morning. Rifle fire beat back the
first assault very quickly, according to
the correspondent, the Turks retiring to
reform.
Capt. Roberts of the Royal Scots Fu-
siliers was in command. In the abb
sence Of communication trenches, he
was unable, after the mist lifted at 9
o'clock to send reinforcements, ammu-
milton and messages to the isolated
posts, as the attackers rifle and ma
chine gun fire swept the intervening
spaces. One post was held by eight
men, three of whom were wounded
early in the engagement. To the eN-
IRENE right, some Of the British lay cut
in the open and fought off enemy at
tempts to reach the rear of the de-
lenses.
Returning to the attack the enemy
brought up a mountain gun and with
| it iercely shelled the oasis. but. ac-
cording to the correspondent. the aim
was wretched and little damage was
done. From a ridge to the left a ma
chine gun raked the eastern range of
the oasis.
| The attacking force. numbered 120
! Turkish camel corps and about $50
Arabs. together with two mountain
guns and sixty artillerymen. The Brit
ish after holding their positions thru
out the day, resisted the final and most
desperate attack which began at Z
o'clock at night, this assault consist
ing of three rushes. When it had been
beaten off, most of the enemy dead
were found within fifty yards of the
British trench, one Turk being found
within twenty yards. The defenders
had suffered great many casualties.
Meanwhile news of the attack had
reached brigade headquarters. seven
miles away. and two companies of in
fantry had been sent to the garrison,
which they reached about 9 o'clock. aft
err a trying march thru deep sand. The
officer commanding these fresh troops
had orders to take the offensive at the
| first opportunity and drive off the enc
my, but found that the latter was too
strong. and further infantry reinforce
ments were dispatched from brigade
Headquarters, whileAtwo 4quadrons of
Australian Light Horse hurried up
from a place eighteen miles away.
Before the arrival of these last rein
forcements. however, the Turks and
Arabs began to fall back, and Brit
ish counter attack drove off the rear
guard. twelve Of the enemy being cap
tured.s The Australian Light Horse as
sisted in the full retreat but were I'M
able to overtake the camels on which
the enemy was mounted.
The Turks and Arabs lost 700 dead.
one wounded and 81 prisoners, accord
ing to the correspondent. who does not
state the British casualties. The lat
ter included Capt. A. C. A. Brace, of the
Army Service Corps. the only officer
of the original garrison killed. and
Lieut.. Crawford, Of the Royal Scots
Fusiliers, wounded. Captain Brace met
death while trying to rescue Lieutenant
Crawford, who was lying on the sand,
exposed toa deadly fire.
Thora ore nos mona OF or;eo IN Tihet