The Battle of Romani have , however , been surrounded with controversy and criticism . It have been suggested that , like the attack on the Suez Canal in 1915 , it was merely a raid to disrupt maritime traffic rather than a determined attempt to gain control of the canal . That the Ottoman Empire 's intention was to strongly occupy Romani and Kantara is supported by preparations in the southern territory of Palestine adjacent to , and extending into , the Sinai . These included extending the Palestine railway system to Wadi El Arish , with a good motor road beside the railway . Cisterns and other works was constructed along this route to store water and at Wadi El Arish , enormous rock cut reservoirs was under construction in December 1916 when the Anzac Mounted Division reached that place just before the Battle of Magdhaba .