 At the beginning of July , it was estimated there were at least 28 @,@ 000 Ottoman troops in the Gaza – Beersheba area of southern Palestine , and that just before the battle began at Romani , there were 3 @,@ 000 troops at Oghratina , not far from Katia , another 6 @,@ 000 at the forward base of Bir el Abd , east of Oghratina , 2 @,@ 000 to 3 @,@ 000 at Bir Bayud to the south @-@ east , and another 2 @,@ 000 at Bir el Mazar , some 42 miles ( 68 km ) to the east , not far from El Arish . 
 At the beginning of July , it was estimated <a href='dey_it' title='1'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> at least 28 @,@ 000 Ottoman troops in the Gaza – Beersheba area of southern Palestine , and that just before the battle began at Romani , <a href='dey_it' title='3'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> 3 @,@ 000 troops at Oghratina , not far from Katia , another 6 @,@ 000 at the forward base of Bir el Abd , east of Oghratina , 2 @,@ 000 to 3 @,@ 000 at Bir Bayud to the south @-@ east , and another 2 @,@ 000 at Bir el Mazar , some 42 miles ( 68 km ) to the east , not far from El Arish . 
At the beginning of July , it was estimated it was at least 28 @,@ 000 Ottoman troops in the Gaza – Beersheba area of southern Palestine , and that just before da battle began at Romani , it was 3 @,@ 000 troops at Oghratina , not far from Katia , another 6 @,@ 000 at tdaforward base of Bir el Abd , east of Oghratina , 2 @,@ 000 to 3 @,@ 000 at Bir Bayud to thdaouth @-@ east , and anotha 2 @,@ 000 at Bir el Mazar , some 42 miles ( 68 km ) to thedast , not far from El Arish .