In front
of Romani, in the region of the Katia oasis, mobile outposts furnished
by the Australian Light Horse were driven in after hard fighting, and
they fell back to other positions on the high sand hills to the south of
Romani, covering the right flank of the 52nd Division. Meanwhile a
frontal attack was delivered upon the redoubts occupied by the latter,
and the enemy made many brave attempts to reach the summit of Katib
Gannit, a high hill, in shape similar to the Matterhorn, which dominated
the whole desert. He gained a footing nowhere, however, and exposed to
merciless rifle and machine gun fire from the Scotsmen, suffered heavy
casualties. A similar reception was afforded him by the Welshmen of
158th Brigade further north towards Mahamadiyeh.
It was apparent, however, that the enemy's intention was to force his
way around the southern side and cut the railway and water pipe near
Pelusium behind Romani, and in this part of the battle the Australian
and New Zealand Light Horse, who had had to discard their horses and
fight as infantry, found it difficult to hold their own against repeated
assaults. More terrible than the Turk was the heat and the lack of
water.
Such is a rough outline of the situation when the 7th Manchesters along
with the remainder of the 127th Brigade were suddenly ordered to
concentrate at Pelusium. The morning of August 4th opened quietly for
us, although gunfire could be heard, and bursting shrapnel could be seen
in the direction of Duedar.
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