 The Battle of Romani has , however , been surrounded with controversy and criticism . It has 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 were constructed along this route to store water and at Wadi El Arish , enormous rock cut reservoirs were under construction in December 1916 when the Anzac Mounted Division reached that place just before the Battle of Magdhaba . 
 The Battle of Romani <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>has</mark></a> , however , been surrounded with controversy and criticism . It <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>has</mark></a> 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 <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>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 <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> constructed along this route to store water and at Wadi El Arish , enormous rock cut reservoirs <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> under construction in December 1916 when the Anzac Mounted Division reached that place just before the Battle of Magdhaba . 
The Battle of Romani done , however , been surrounded with controversy and criticism . It done been suggested that , like the attack on the Suez Canal in 1915 , it was merely a raid to disrupt maritime traffic rather den a determined attempt to gain control of da canal . That the Ottoman Empire  intention was to strongly occupy Romani and Kantara is supported by preparations in tdasouthern territory of Palestine adjacent to , and extending into , thdainai . dese included extending the Palestine railway system to Wadi El Arish , with a gud motor road beside thedailway . 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 .