AT GALLIPOLI

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2539, 13 August 1915, Page 3

AT GALLIPOLI

. LIFE IN THE TRENCHES. Private Barker, 'of the Dimedin Signalling Company, writing to his sister, Nurse Barker, of the Wellington Hospital from Gallipoli Peninsula, says:— c 5?. c °nld write much of tho novelty ot this place and the great work done, and yet before ns, but censors forbid of many and lengthy epistles. Last night (written on June 4) about 6.30, when despairing of a shift, wo got a few minutes' notice and wore off. Of our trip one cannot say much, hut that it was perfect—just a little cold and cramped. Time sped, however, and at . very early morning we came into tlie sound of steady firing and the throb of machine-guns. It was. very silent - though, and breaking dawn- saw us ashore, wit'h the ping of fir© well overhead. "This is a great and picturesquo ■country, very broken, rough, and steep, covered thickly with, four or live i'eet of prickly scrub, which in many cases has pretty pink flowers. Wo found a quaint town in all manner of dug-outs on a steep face 400 or 500 feet high,rising straight from the water. This is where tho famous, first rush took place, but now how different the Eccne. ; Thick scrub, cliff broken up into a large town of'-diverse troops, each with its own title, and everywhere numerous paths, offices, etc. This picturesquo . jo'wn was asleep on our early morning arrival, and we-met mates and hunted round and yarned till breakfast time. Just provio-is to breakfast, with three others I climbed to the top of our. ridge to an old trench, and got a view of the country being. acted -upon. Olio could see, over a mile away, our trenches and dug-outs, only a few yards away from the Turks, in somo "laces, and on the vory top. The extensive view was most interesting and picturesque, with every scrub-covered, hill on either side. just one mass of dug-outs and trenches, etc. 'Bullets ricocheted end . whizzed overhead, seeming close at times, but wo - were safe. Behind mie looked down on a blue calm sea, with Capo Hejles in the dim distance, and Imbroso (island) • showing out of the mist. There, too, only a mile or so out is a buoy marking where the .Triumph came to a sad end, as pearly seen from our head-' quarters. She just calmly heeled over on her side and 6ank. Looking towards Imlroso to one's right one sees a green valley, and on . either side very broken scrub country. To tho left the country is verv much, less broken and steep, and rolis up in , gentle downs. After a good look round we tumbled down to breakfast, and to meet the sleepy ones. . Tea- is made for tho mob, and onions and bacon given out for each dug-out to cook for itself. iWo had our tea and ate biscuits and ■ bully beef.. While having our aftermeal smoke we -were introduced' to "Tucker-time Lizzie," who regularlyshells headquarters and beach after, breakfast and tea, and a few days ago got a bag—some prisoners, too, luckily. Shooting from tho enemy was really bad. but comes from a well-concealed . gun, and cannot, be dislodged. She is believed to be on rails and runs out from behind a hill and fires. Near by a loud report shakes us up, and is our gun answering. 1 am. at present about ono aud a half miles Out. and about 500 yards or .less from the Turks, who command the ridge at the head of our valley with snipers. We are cosy and safe in our dug-outs, but in a warm corner, and have to run across the paths for safety, as they command and watch our corner. Our section No. 2, which connects Brigade Headquarters to trenches by telephone, has been spelling i for two 'weeks,: but to-morrow we go out to advance station in trenches. This , part is' a great sight, with trenches, ' .dug-outs, and sunken tracks, and all the one and a half miles from the beach is safe now by a sapped road 4ft. or so wide. The trenches vary from 100 or loss yasds. to 200 or so apart, and warfare is mostly by bombs. Incessant rifle fire also, goes on, and an occasional Jiowitzer bangs behind us, or gives the. aervous ones a start. The Turks are iaid to, be very .short of ammunition, jmd we/ire doing all we can to make them expend it. To-day there has.been : terrific bombardment from the sea some-' .where.' i Food is very good np here really. We see no bread, only hard biscuits, which are playing np with the chaps' teeth cruelly, but we see a fair amount of fresh meat, potatoes, onions, cheeso, jam, etc. June 7-—Things have been very merry here at times, and I .have had several fairly close shaves. I have been down to the beach for a swim every day, and it is great. We never get Water to wash in| and suffer very much in consequence from insects of all degrees and . sizes. Had a great .battle the other night for twelve hours, from-11 p.m. till 11 a.m., and it was fun .crouching close in dug-outs and sleeping through a great-and ceaseless din. It is very spectacular at times, .especially after •dark. As one chap says: "They seem to take,a Turkish Delight in annoying Vs." ' Bamboo trees do not blossom until •they, attain their 30th year.