at an
obstacle a wide river, such as the Vistula, proved to be to an army
when attempting to cross in the face of a prepared enemy. In the case
of the Suez Canal, although there were no strong currents, a force
attempting to cross it had to contend with two added difficulties: The
Suez Canal could not, in the circumstances be turned, as was the
Vistula by the Germans. Furthermore its defensive value was
immeasurably increased by the circumstance that it could and did carry
warships of the largest type which not only had the value of
fortresses mounting the heaviest of guns, but were mobile as well.
And finally, because of the nature of the shores of the canal, it was
possible for an attacking force to cross it at but few points.

The question of crossing the canal or dominating it in any sense was
for the Turks largely a question of bringing to bear a superior force
of artillery--a task that had only to be stated to reveal its
difficulties. No force with smaller or fewer guns would hope to cross
the Suez in the face of the concentration of artillery and naval
gunfire that the British could bring to bear at any threatened point.

The defenders on the western side of the canal had the additional
advantage of railway communication running along the entire canal from
Suez to Port Said, and connecting with interior bases.

There were five points from which, once having conquered the desert
and reached the canal, the invaders could advantageously launch an
attack or attacks upon the canal defenses. The first is just south of
El Kantara, where the old sea road crosses the Suez. Just south of
Ismailia a group of heights on the east bank provides a second
opportunity. The third is found at the point called the Plateau of
Hyena. The fourth is just north of the Bitter Lake, and the fifth is
to the south of the same body of water.

Late in December, 1914, Djemel Pasha began active preparations for an
advance upon the canal. This campaign the Turks later called a
reconnaissance in force and as, of their total strength of 50,000 men,
only 12,000 at the outside and possibly less were used, the limited
term seems justified. Although the southern route was used by the main
force, a small force eluded the watchfulness of the Anglo-French naval
patrol operating along the shore commanding the first day's march of
the northern, or sea road, and ultimately struck at El Kantara.
Furthermore, sometime before one of these two forces--the la