The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-08-10
TURKS BEATEN AMI
DRIVEN BACK INTO
DESERT NEAR SUEz
Attack on Canal Beaten Off.
After AssaiIants Had Been
Led into Trap BY Brit
isn Cavalry.
GERMANS AMONG CAPT|VEs
Only Available Water Supply
Captured By Defenders
Fourth Of Expedition
Is Wiped Out.
GERMANS AMONG CAPT|VEs

London. Aug. S.-The recent attempt
IF the Turks to reach the Suez canal
has proven greater failure than the
earlier reports indicated. Lieut.. Gel.
Sir Archibald James Murray, comman-
Ter Of the British troops in Egypt, re-,
ports today that the British has taken
5000 prisoners in the battle with the
Turks at Romani. his forces inflicted
7ery heavy losses on them and had
continued the pursuit Of the retreating
troops for IS miles, clearing the Turks
rom the Katia Oasis.
Military writer's are unable to fathom
he reason why the Turks ventured
Upon their attack The only conclusion
cached is that the Turkish military
authorities were misled as to the Brit
sh preparations for the defense of the
ANAL and hoped to make an impress
non on the rebellious Arabs who are
extending their hold on important
places in Arabia
The Turkish advance as far as Ro-
mani was made in the face of the
greatest difficulties, their six-inch
guns being dragged across the desert
by oxen after relays of planks had been
placed to prevent the wheels sinking,
into the sand.
LED INTO TRAP.
London, Aug. IA description OF
now the Turks were drawn into a trap
ut Romani by British cavalry is given
n a Cairo dispatch to the Exchange
Telegraph company. The dispatch says
The cavalry was sent out to entice the
enemy who had shown a disposition to
assume the offensive. The British
'ofselnen fought an admirable .ear
guard action, says the dispatch, draw
ing on the Turks until their flanks were
turned by the mounted division. A
whole brigade was compelled to sur
render. Among the prisoners were 10
Gernans, including SO officers A COM
'lete battery OF German guns was also,
aiken.
The number of unwounded Turks
captured by the British at the battle
II Romani was 3,145, according to an
offlclal statement issued by the war
office today. The statement says that
the Turks were pursued for Is miles.
me pursuit continued beyond Katia.
which is 80 miles east of the Suez
canal.
The net results of the battle of Ro-
mani are the destruction OF more than
one-fourth of the Turkish electives
and the pushing Of the remainder out
into the blazing desert beyond the
rice. director of military operations of
the imperial general staff, to the Asso-
GATED Press today, of the significance
OF the latest operations in the near
east ,ll7.
Odds with Turks Before.
You will recall" he continued, that
In the previous attacks on the canal
we were busily engaged elsewhere
Consequently, we were acting on the
defensive in Egypt in positions pre-
pared for that purpose behind the
canal. Since then we have advanced
our position into the desert as fast as
physical conditions warranted
Ihe katia oasis pOSSaesas q c,,r
pris1ng quantity Of water, but it is
brack1sh and has a disastrous effect
on Europeans The Turks, however.
suffer no evil effect from this This
TACT gave the enemy considerable adj
vantage However, by advancing slow
~ we. established ourselves firmly in
entrenched portions behind Ronani
and awaited the Turkish advance from
Eharish an advance of which we had
constant news from our airships.
The Turks not only made a frontal
attack on our entrenched positions, but
attempted to get around our left flank.
Our artillery, infantry and cavalry CO.
operated not only in repeling but in
attacking the enemy with such satis-
factory results that he is liable to have
an uncomfortable time recrossing 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
on the canal in an effort to prevent us
from sending any Of our forces to the
western front. but the disastrous re-
suit shows we have provided ade-
quately for the safety of the Suez
canal. In accomplishing this we suf-
fered comparatively few casualties,
mainly Of which consisted of slight
wounds"
BRING IN PRISONERS.
Cairo Egypt, Aug 7--(via Loncion)-
Sixteen hundred Turkish prisoners
have arrived here. They are part of the
army which attacked tho British posi-.
tons at Romani.