The Egyptian Gazette of November 4, 1955 reported on its front-page another Israeli attack, this time at Sabha, an advanced Egyptian outpost, six kilometres southwest of Al-Auga demilitarised zone. Describing the battle ‘the heaviest fighting since the Palestine War', the paper said under a banner headline: Israelis Routed in Big Border Battle: 200 killed Egyptians recapture outpost after savage fighting “Egyptian troops, supported by armour and heavy guns have recaptured Sabha from the Israelis, an Egyptian military spokesman announced in Cairo last night. He said that 200 Israeli soldiers were killed and a n umber taken prisoners during night-and-day fighting at Sabha, an advanced outpost, six kilometres southwest of Al-Auga demilitarised zone in the Sinai desert. “A huge quantity of arms and ammunition were also captured from the routed enemy, the spokesman added. He said that Egyptian casualties totalled 70 killed and missing. “The Egyptian outpost was stormed last night by a large Israeli force backed by field artillery, mortars and antitank guns. The attackers overran part of the Egyptian lines which were manned by a company of infantry men. The Israelis attacked in brigade strength. “The spokesman said that the small Egyptian force put up a stubborn defence in the face of superior numbers and weapons. The defenders were forced back from parts of the position but held on grimly to the rest for 15 hours. At 11 a.m. today, the Egyptians counterattacked and succeeded in recapturing Sabha and clearing the area from the enemy after fierce fighting." Premier Nasser himself was quoted by the same issue of The Egyptian Gazette as saying that the statement of the Israeli Prime Minister David Ben Gurion offering peace talks with the Arabs was but a ‘smoke screen' to cover the attack on Sabha. The Gazette said: “The battle of El-Sabha, southwest of Al-Auga, is still going on", the Egyptian Premier Gamal Abdul Nasser made this statement to Tom Little of the Arab News Agency, at noon yesterday after receiving the latest information from the frontier. “This," Colonel Nasser commented “is an excellent demonstration of the genuineness of Ben Gurion's offer of peace talks. Within ten hours of Ben Gurion's statement to his parliament, he launched a strong attack on an Egyptian position. His force consisted of one heavily armed brigade supported by his Air Force against an Egyptian frontier post manned by a company. The fighting is now taking place inside Egyptian territory. “The situation on the frontier is as follows: The Israeli forces have abandoned the disguise of policemen and are now occupying the demilitarised zone of Al-Auga. This small place is an important strategic point on the desert crossroads between Beersheba and Ismailia. In view of this, the Egyptian troops dug trenches on the Egyptian side where there are two hills occupied by small forces, a company on one and a platoon of troops and National Guard on the other. Our striking force is much further back. It is against one of these hill positions that the Israeli attack was directed." Colonel Nasser pointed out that this was the second major attack launched by the Israelis in seven days. He said ‘Far from hiding the fact, the Israeli Radio had boasted that Israeli forces have been able to attack twice within a week.' “I feel that far from wanting discussions, Ben Gurion wants to force a peace. His statement was clearly intended to deceive world public opinion. It was a smoke screen put up in the day to hide an attack by night." The Egyptian Gazette of November 6, 1955 reported the emotional funeral led by members of the Revolution Command Council and other top officials as the nation mourned martyrs of the Sabha battle. [email protected]
