A SUBMARINE HUNT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2530, 3 August 1915, Page 2

A SUBMARINE HUNT

EVERYDAY SIGHTS AT GALLIPOLI

AFTER EIGHT WEEKS

Sergeant Keith Little, of the Headquarters (clerical) staff of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, writing from Anzac Bay (Gallipoli) on Juno 2, says:—

"Just now we are doing plenty of swimming. The enemy is not at present so persistent with shrapnel, so we are able to get two decent swims a day —ono in the morning and one in the afternoon . . . The trenches taken by the colonials are still firmly in our hands, in spite of repeated attacks, which have been repulsed. Tlio prisoners we have taken are physically a line body of men, very hard and well sun-browned, but their clothing, or alleged uniforms, are very diversified. Some wear a grey uniform, whilst others are in dark blue, and still others have no set uniform at all. Some of them have been taken in all sorts of rags. They are well treated by ns, and get all they require, and it is quite a common sight to see them accepting cigarettes from our men, who get their issue of tobacco weekly. ... I witnessed a very interesting sight the other day—a submarine bunt.. One of our aeroplanes had sighted a submarine, and ■ immediately oil the signal being given the British destroyers were scouring the vicinity like hounds after a hare. The aeroplane, like a huge bird, kept hovering aDove, performing graceful swoops as it directed the hunt. Nothing, however, came of the chase. . . . The weather conditions are perfect here for air work, and it is a daily sight to sec a couple of airships flying high above the lines and over the blue of the shimmering Mediterranean. . The musketry fire continues spasmodically, but, generally, things have, been fairly quiet lately, but for an attack . the. other night, when the New Zealanders did good work. On the whole, our position is satisfactory.

Bathing 'Midst Shrapnel. . "Juno 12. "For the last, few days we have been experiencing typical Wellington weather —line, but blowing hard from the north. The dust is singly awful, arid that, together with the flies, is making matters pretty disagreeable. We aro having; a new issue of slouch hats. Everyone wears light clothing, and 1 haven't worn a tunic since I landed, except when it has rained.' The enemy has had- "the quiets" lately with shraplwil. and hundreds have been able to bfctho, which is a as it refreshes the men, and keeps them in good nick. Yesterday afternoon the Turks took it into their' heads to firo shrapnel at tho beach and adjacent dug-outs. Had a visitor landed hero for the 'first time during the firing he would liavo been astonished at the carelessness and callousness of tho soldiers during the time tho shells were falling. No one takes the slightest notice of the shrapnel, and when-it was falling on the hillsido you could see the chaps darl> ins from, one dug-out,to the other, as if it wore a new game—actions that evoked roars of laughter from others looking 011. If tho enemy had been able to see the effect of their firo, they would liavo given it up. Last night things wero fairly lively in tho firingline. but it was only a spurt t ending in a total repulse. .. v . The time simply flies here. Days come and go, and before one realises it another week has gone. That is because we are kept very busy,: 'I-am •(enjoying the best of good health: ■ . Bread At Last. "Juno 14.

"We received our first issue of bread yesterday, and you can well imagine it was a welcome change—food for the gods we all thought itl Biscuits are all right for a time, but when you have had tliem for breakfast, dinner, and tea, and felt tliem getting more rocklike each day, one is apt to conjure up the sensation of getting one's teeth into new bread. The bread is made on an island near by .here, and is brought across by a trawler It is "ood bread, and how we did enjoy it. This morning is the eighth Sunday since we lauded. Tiie occasion was marked by our slumbers being disturbed by a i'urious bombardment at an early hour. On getting up- we found a warship firing broadside • after broadside into the enemy's position, just south, of our gully! It was terrific whilst it lasted. . . . Hourly our position grows stronger, and all manner of fortifications are being constructed."