HOW GENERAL BRIDGES DIED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2476, 1 June 1915, Page 6

HOW GENERAL BRIDGES DIED

FEARLESS, AISD ALMOST RECKLESS ON THE FIELD. Sydney, Jlay 31. Captain Bean, the official reportor with the Australian troops, reports that General Bridges was wounded while en route to tlio firing lino. He was usually careless of his personal safety to tlio point of recklessness, and would 6tand in full view of the enemy's position. He' had often been chaffed by moro careful members of liis staff. On the first day a man standing alongside him was shot dead. Latterly he had- been more careful, and had consented to taxo ccver when the shrapnel was breaking right over him. On the morning of his death ho was noticed to be especially cautious. _ "\\ hen approaching a position ho would inspect it, and acting on advice ran across exposed positions. He was making ona of these runs with his staff when bo was hit by a bullet, which cut two large arteries in liis leg. Help was instantly at hand, and he was brought to cover, and but for the prence of a doctor would have died in a few secouds, so great was the loss of blood. Tho General's first words were: "Don't carry me down. I do not want any otf you fellows to run into dangor." His opposition was overcome, and while the party wero returning the Turks, porliaps realising h© whs a wounded man, did not fire. . Captain Bean .adds: "I noticed that v/hilo not alwavs a scrupulous and hnmane fighter, the Turk sometimes acts very fairly and humanely." Goneral Bridges's last words beta® being placed aboard ship were: ' An.y liow, I commanded the Australian division for nine months." Captain Bean pays a tribute to fceucral Bridges as an able and strong commander, wholly without fear. _ . Brigadier-General Walker, originally chief of General Birdwoods staff,, succeeded to the command of the dnision.

His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) returned from Auckland yesterday afternoon, and wiU resume tho hearing of cases on tho Supremo Court civil list to-day. Word reached the Defence .authorities yesterday that Lieutenant P. Logan, who was reported oil May -3 as having died of wounds, died, on May 20, and was buried at sea. Lieut. Logan was a son of Colonel It. Logan, Administrator of Samoa.

Mr. A. do B. Brandon, junior, left for London by the Turakina on Saturday, in order to qualify for a commission in Kitchener's Army. Air. Michaol Coylo, a well-ki.own ln-mbor of the Working Men's Club, and a familiar figure among the watersiders, died in (lie Hospital on Sunday after a week's illness. Tho flag of tho Working Men's Club was flown at halfmast yesterdav. out" of respect to the _d«»ased».