I NEWS OF OUR TROOPS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2544, 19 August 1915, Page 6

I NEWS OF OUR TROOPS

j LETTER FROM GENERAL BIRDWOOD OFFICERS PRAISED Some interesting news is contained in a letter from General Birdwood to the Hon. T. Mackenzie (New Zealand Commissionor). An extract from tho letter follows: — "At the time you were writing your letter it so happened that we were being subjected to a most violent attack hero—in fact, the biggest which the Turks have so far attempted to launch against our troops anywhere in tho Peninsula. At tne time I was temporarily reduced to 10,000 rifles and about 30 guns, as 1 tad had to send two of my brigades (including tho New Zealand Infantry Brigade) and five batteries to co-operatc with Sir lan Hamilton's main force in the south. It was while wo were so temporarily reduced that General Liman von Sanders attacked us with about 33,000 men and 90 guns on tho evening of the 18th and throughout the 19th. Had lie come on in very great strength at one of tho weakest spots of my line he must almost of a ccrtainty have got through. As 15 was he went in for disjointed attacks of a more or less general nature, each of which wo were able to beat off comfortably with heavy loss to him, A few days later wo had to ask for an armistice to bury ihe dead, when we actually buried about 4000 men in front of our trenchcs. Ours, lam glad to say, numbered only 500. "During their absence from here tile New Zealand Infantry Brigade, under Johnston, came in for some very heavy fighting near Cape Helles, where I am glad to say Sir lan Hamilton, reports to mo tliey did quite excellently, as, of course, I knew they would, and I am also glad to say that some little timo ago they returned to my fold. Stewart, of the Canterburys, you will have seen, was killed on the day wo landed here. In speaking of the wounded, General Birdwood says:—"l have formed a very high opinion of Chaytor, who, I am sorry to say, was severely wounded a short timo ago with a bit of shrapnel in the shoulder, aud is now in hospital at Malta.' Colonel Malone, of the Wellingtons, has done excellently, and is a first-class man in whom I have tho greatest confidence. Colonel Plunge, of tho Aucldands, is also exceptionally good. Ho has twice been wounded, tho first timo getting a bullet through the forearm, when he quite refused to leavo duty. The second time he was wounded was when the brigade was away from me, and as he was sent straight away to hospital—l think in Egypt—l have not seen him since, but I know his value. I had the misfortune to be slightly wounded myself. Going around tho trenches one day, whon a bullet caught me in the top of the head, but as it failed to fracture the skull it did no harm, I know how sorry you will have been to hoar of poor Bridge's death. Ho was going along a path Which w© use daily, when a stray bullet hit him iu tho thigh, unfortunately severing both the femoral vein and artery. He is a vory great loss, which I feel much."