23 JANUARY 1915, Page 2

The flower of the German Army has not found it

easy to carry trenches with a rush in Belgium and France. Why should we suppose taking trenches will be rapid work in Egypt P But if it ie not rapid work the Turks will die of thirst in the desert or else will surrender by the thousand. Of course, it is possible that the Germans have got some new device for getting water out of sand, and we certainly do not mean to boast of what we are going to do before the event. Still, se thinga stand, it would be absurd to pretend that the Turkish prospects are bright. But if the invasion of Egypt miscarries, what is left for Turkey P