THE LANDING AT GALLIPOLI

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2489, 16 June 1915, Page 9

THE LANDING AT GALLIPOLI

» WOUNDED TELL THE STORY TRICKS OF THE TURKS MACHINE GUNS DEADLY WORK (By Trooper Bluegum, for the "Sydney Horning Herald.") His arm was in a sling, and his leg was bandaged from hio to ankle. But lie was as cheerful as possible, as proud as punch, and as chirpy as a For lie was one of the heroic band of Australian infantry who landed in the Dardanelles and routed the Turks at tlie point of the bayonet. Superb Courage. Already the cables have told you with what superb courage and dash the colonials celebrated their baptism of fire. You know how nobly they played their part, and at what a cost the victory was won. Yet I would like to tell you of the little incidents here and there which the real historian must overlook; of She vignettes which supplement tbe bi<* battle pictures and the side-lights which illumine the drama and tragedy of the war in the Levant. We of the Light Horse are etill enjoying a full measure of safety, while our brethren of the infantry are at death grips with the foe. But we seo the long lines of wounded as they .are brought back to the base; we hear the stories of the wild charge they made; and we wish we had shared in the gitries of that fight. Some time ago I heard an Imperial officer newly returned from Flanders say that the Brd Australian Infantry Brigade was the finest brigade of infantry in the whole of the Allied armies. In physique they were far superior to any of the British, French, or Belgian troops. Whether this be true or not, there is no doubt that the sturdy Thirds under Colonel Maclagan fought like Trojans on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and covered themselves with glory. Incidentally I might mention some of them never fired a 6hot during the fierce fighting of April 20. They simply trusted to the cold steel, and flung themselves at the Turkish trenches. The Ist Brigade (Colonel MacLaurin), the 2nd (Colonel M'Oay), and the rest of the Australians and Netf Zealanders fought with equal valour, but the brunt of the attack was borne by the Thirds. So many hundred gallant lives was a heavy price to pay for a footing in Galtipcli, but those impetuous charges, absolutely irresistible in their fury, will bear rich fruit all the while till Constantinople falls, for the '.furks will never again withstand a bayonet charge by the Australians. It was noteworthy that only a few thousan dprisoners wore taken. I asked one of the Ist Battalion boys (Lieuten-nnt-Colonel Dobbin's command) why that was. He replied: "How could 10,000 of us take prisoners when we were up against 35,000?" I remembered the Irishman in Flanders who single-handed captured three Germans, and when his Colonel asked how ho did it, explained: "I surrounded thim, Borr." The Trloks of the Turks. The wounded Australian continued his explanation: "You see, the Germans have taught the Turks all sorts of nasty tricks. One of them is surrendering just at the last minute. One Turk in a trench shot my pal 011 my right and a chap on my left; then wheh wo got right into the trench he suddenly dropped his rifle, and ups with his hands. I reckoned that wasn t fair, so I jammed my bayonet fair into his ribs. Time and again the Turks would shoot till we were right on top of them, and then drop guns and surrender Call that fair fighting?" Another chap with his tunio all clotted with blood and his head in a bandage here interpolated:—"Say, you needn't fear the Turks' shooting. It's safer to be in the firing line than in the reserves. But look out for those machine guns; they spit death at you at the rate of ten a second. Also keep your eyes open for the snipers. We drove t'hem back for miles behind Sari Bair, but there were snipers everywhere. They never minded being killed so long as they could pick off a few officers. One black devil shot our Colonel at only 50 yards. Five of ub got to him, and gave him jii3t what Brutus and Casca gave Julius Caesar." Rifles too Hot to Hold. "We fought them for three days after landing," said a big bushman in the 2nd Brigade, 'and they made about a dozen counter-attacks. But when we had a chance of. sitting down and letting them charge ns it was dead easy— just like money from home. They never got near enough to samplo the bayonets again. But 011 the 27th they tried to got all over ns. They let the artillery work overtime, and we suffered a bit from the shrapnel. The noise was deafening. Suddenly it ceased, and a new Turkish division was launched at us. This was just beforo breakfast. There was no doubt about the bravery of the Turks. But we were comfortably entrenched, and? it was their turn to advance in the opon. We pumped lead into them till our rifles were too hot to hold. Thne and a&ain they came on, and each time wo sent them about their business. At 3 o'clock we got tired of slaughtering them that way, so wo left our little grey homo in the trench and went after them again." One of the 9tb Battalion (Queenslanders, under Colonel Leo) chipped in here. "Ever tried wading through barb-wire and water with Maxims zipping all round you?" Snipers Pick Out Officers, This pertinent question explained the severe fosses of the 3rd Brigade. The landing w_a.s effected simultaneously at several points on the peninsula, but one spot was a hornets' nest, and they started to sting when the Australians reached the beach. A couple of boats were upset and several sailors and soldiers killed. Others, dashing into the shallow water, wore canght in the barbwire. "My legs are tattooed prettier than a picture," added the Queenslander, "and I've a bit of shrapnel shell here for a keepsake,- somewhere under my shoulder." "Fancy ten thousand miles and eight months' training all for nix," said a disgusted corporal. "landed at 4 a.m. Shot at 3 seconds past 4. Back on tho boat at 0 a.m. The Turks must have been afraid I'd cut loose and stab 'em." 'Then they started to toll how the snipers picked out tho officers. The casualties amongst liho officers were tremendous. ' A cooking demonstration by electricity will be given in the Corporation Lighting Department's showroom, Harris Street, on Thursday afternoon. Mr.. ,T. H. Fletcher, proprietor of the Railway liefretjliment Rooms at Palinorston North, has an announcement in this issue. An unreserved sulo of dairy stook at Mr. Fife's fann, Minimal', will he held b.v Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., on Friday, .Tune IS. Messrs. Abrnhnni and Williams, Ltd., announce a sale of slock al Levin on Friday next. Messrs. Orbell and Co., Palmerston North, announce a cheap fattening farm for sale. Messrs. Ahrafta.nl and Williams, Ltd., •■il) liunlifm jtfltlv tff M»(! lat'.i Hods® estate it Ta Hwo on J,una 29,