SIR IAN HAMILTON'S NARRATIVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2573, 22 September 1915, Page 5

SIR IAN HAMILTON'S NARRATIVE

DISPATCH CONTINUED SPLENDID VALOUR OF THE COLONIALS A MOVING STORY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright I'ollowiu'g is the continuation of Sir lan Hamilton!s dispatch covering the operations in Gallipoii from May 5 last, fcue first portion of which, dealing with tho attack by tho New Zealanders and Australians oil Krithia oil May 8, was published yesterday:— London, September 20.

"The Senegalese and Tirailleurs faced the heaviest Turkish artillery, but were compelled to retire. They rallied for another rush forward, but met with another repulse. Then a small supporting column charged along tho crest of Kereves Dere, and then darkness came. .Next morning wo learned that the. New Zealanders' lino had marched over _ the enemy's cleverly-concealed machine-guns without seeing them, and these guns, reopening on our supports as they came up, caused heavy loss, but tho first lino pressed on and arrived within a few yards of the Turkish trenches which had been holding u,> our advance! They clien dug themselves in. The Australian Brigado had advanced despite heavy losses from shrapnel, machine-gun, and rifle fire, and' progressed 300 yds. to 400 yds. "The determined valour shown by the Now Zealand and Australian Brigades, under "Brigadier-Genoral F. E. Johnston and Brigadier-General M'Cay respectively, is worthy of particular praise. Their losses were correspondingly Heavy, but despite fierce counterattacks by numerous fresh troops they stuck to what they had won with admiratjlu tenacity.

[.•Brigadier-General Johnston, who was formerly Officer Commanding the Wellington Military District, wns gazetted to his preseut rank not long ago, the appointment being dated back to September last. The cable message refers to him as Lieut.-Colonel Johnston.] A Firm Foothold. "The net result of Thursday's fighting was a gain of GOO, yds on the British right and 400 yds. on the left and centre. Tho French had captured all the ground ill front of the farm of Zjimmorman, also a redoubt from where there had been obstinate fighting for the whole of three day's. This may not seem much, but it is actually more than at first meets the eye.

"The Turks' German leaders were quick to realiso the fact, and from nightfall till dawn on May 10 efforts wore made every where'to push us back, a specially heavy attack culminating in a violent hand-to-hand conflict. Everywhere our assailants were repulsed, and now for tho first timo I felt we had planted a fairly firm_ foothold on the point of Gallipoii Peninsula. "Meanwhile in the northern zone the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps had strengthened its grip on Turkish soil. They had been defending and digging themselves in more and more firmly -on those cliffs_ on which at first it seemed that their foothold was so precarious. Their rule at this stago of the operations was,_ firstly, to keep an open door leading into the vitals of the Turkish position; secondly, to hold up-as largo a body as possible in ftont of them so,' as to lessen tho strain on Cape Hellcs. Daredevil Colonials. "In fact, Anzac was cast to play second fiddle to Cape Hellcs, but the part was out of harmony with the daredovir' spirit 'animating" tlie warriors' from tho South, and'it came about that the Australians and New Zealanders' defensive always tended to take on the, character of an attack. Their line at this period -formed a rough semi-cirelo inland from tho beach", at Anzac to cover a diameter of about 1100 yds. Tlio firing line was everywhere close to the enemy's trenches. In all sections sap.ping, counter-sapping, • and bomb attacks were incessant. As many as 140 shells an hour fell at Anzac, of all calibres, from 11-inch to field gun shrapnel. ' "Around Quinn's Post the , contest abovo and below ground .was particularly severe. We carried on- May 9 6ome of the enemy's trenches at tho point of the bayonet, established troops therein, anil sent up reinforcements. A strong counter-attack at dawn forced us to evacuate the trenches. In opposing this counter-attack. our guns did grepi execution. ■ We discovered later from a Turkish officer's diary that GOO were killed and 2000 wounded. A scrtie on tho night of tho 14th with the object of filling in the Turkish trenches failed. "Wo deeply regretted General Bridges' fatal wounded on May 15. Ho was sincere, with a single-minded devotion to Australia and his duty. His loss stands out amidst those of hundreds of other brave officers'who have gone. Fierce Attaok on Anzao.

"On May 18 Anzac was subjected .to a heavy bombardment at midnight. The most violent machine-gun and rifle, fire yet experienced broke out, and heavy Turkish columns assaulted our left on No. 2. • The action was beaten off with loss. There w : as another attack before daylight on the centro of this section, which" was repeated four times, but always repulsed with heavy loss. At 5 o'clock the battle_ was fairly joined, the enemy gun's including 12-mcli and 9-inch." There was a furious cannonade at 9.30, the Turks pressing against our left at Courtney s Post, and our right at Quinn's Post. In this attack they were unable to face our fire from tho right, and swung round to the left, where -they, suffered severely from the trenches beyond Quinn's Post, giving way, under their heavy losses. According- to prisoners reports, thirty thousand men, including five fresh regiments, were used. General vori Sanders himself was commanding. There were over three thousand dead enemy lying in tho open, within view of our trenches. _ A large proportion was due to our artillery fire. Our casualties wero about a hundred killed and' five hundred wounded. "On May 20, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, white flags with crescents began to appear all along the line. Ma-jor-General Walker met tho Turkish officers halfway between tlie.. trenches. They asked for a suspension of hostilities for the removal of tho dead and wounded.

< Burying Their Dead. "Major-General Walker said ho had not tlie power to grant this, but would exchange letters at 8 o'clock. Meantime hostilities were recommenced. Within ten minutes of hearing of these movements, General Birdwood ordered the trenches to bo manned against possible attack. Tlie enemy's concentration continued, and pointed to tho Turks' intention to uso tho last of the daylight to get their troops into position without being shelled. A. message was sent across that clearing tho dead and wounded would not be allowed during the night. Immediately fire broke out on tho front and our right section. Masses of Turks advanced behind lines of unarmed men holding up their hands. The firing became' general_ all along tho Turkish line, accompanied by a heavy bombardment. Evidently tho attack was prearranged. "As tho Turks seemed anxious to bury their dead, and human sentiment and medical science both favoured tho course, I sent General Braithwaito to flaunt CJn.udfijl liii'dwood in iiinknifj nrjwegaont?, 'Aa a, : rauli Jfeia jba a

suspension of arms on May 24 from 7.30 to 4.30. Three thousand Turkish dead, killed on or since the 18th, were removed or buried. At Quinn's Post. "The fighting from May 28 to June 5 seemed -to concentrate round Quinn's Post. Enemy galleries were detected there; work on them was stopped by counter-mines, killing twenty Turks and wounding thirty, but one gallery was overlooked and a mine sprung at 3)30 on tho morning of May 29, in the centre of Quinn's Post, followed by a very heavy bomb attack, before which our left centre subsection fell back, letting in a Turkish storming party, and isolating tho subsection on the left from tho two on tho riglit. At 5.30 we coun-ter-attacked, and in-half an hour the position was retaken with tho bayonet by the 15th Australian Infantry, led by Major Quinn, who, unfortunately, was Wo killed or captured all the Turks in the trenches, and the work of restoration was commenced.

"The Turks again attacked at 6.30, supported by artillery and maclime-gun and rifle fire, and showers of bombs from tho trenches. The of the infantry was fine, and the shooting of our guns enabled us to inflict a bloody repulse, demoralising the enemy to such efFect that their second' line of bomb-throwers flung their missiles into the middle of their own first line. At 7.15 the attack slackened, and at 8.45 had practically ceased. Our casualties were two officers and thirtynine men killed, and twelve officers and 1.76 men wounded. The enemy's must have been serious. ■ Except for the first withdrawal, in the confusion of tho mine explosion, all ranks fought with the greatest tenacity and courage. "On May 30 two parties from Quinn's Post went forward, cleared two of the enemy sapheads, and penetrated to tho trenches beyond, but were gradually driven back by a counter-attack, despite our heavy supporting fire. Our casualties wera chiefly caused by bombs, of which the enemy see.ms to have an unlimited supply.

Three Enterprises. "Oil the might oE June 1. two Now Zealand sappors crept out and laid a charge of guncotton against the timber and sandbags of a bomb-proof, which was completely destroyed. "At sunset, on June 4 the Anzacs carried out tlirco surprises. In compliance with my order, the_ enemy's attention was distracted while ail attack was being delivered in the _ southern zone —firstly, by n demonstration in the direction of Gaba Tepe, the Navy cooperating, and bombarding the trenches; secondly, by a sortie at 11 o'clock at night towards a trench two hundred yards from Quinn's Post (this failed, but in a'second sortie a hundred men at 2.65 in the morning penetrated tho trench, demolishing the machine-gun emplacement, and withdrew in good order); thirdly, at 11 o'clock at night a Quinn's Post party of sixty men, accompanied by bomb-throwers on either (lank, stormed an enemy trench, bayoneted many, and captured twentyoight. A working party followed up tho attack. Meanwhile we heavily attacked the Turkish trenches on the left, our machine-guns and grenades drawing a very heavy fire. After daybreak the Turks strongly attacked, and captured the 1 trench, using a heavier type of bomb than, liitherto. At 6.30 we were obliged to abandon the trench and-retire to our original fire trench. Our casualties were eighty, but those of the enemy were considerably heavier. On June 5 two officers and one liun-, dred men of the Ist Australian Infantry sortied from Quinn's Post, their objective being the destruction of a machmegun in a trench. It was_ known that there wore German officers in the trench. A special party of men under Lieutenant Eric Lloyd dashed for the machinegun. One managed to fire three- rounds into tlie gun at a range of sft., another fired three at the same range through a loophole. The darkness 'of the trench and the overhead cover 'prevented the use of tho bayonet, but some damago was done by shooting down over a parapet. As mucli of the trench as possiblo was dismantled. The party was enfiladed all the time by machine-guns on either flank. The aim of the gallant assault being attained, the party withdrew in good order with their wounded._ The total casualties during the sortie were thirty-six. . . i

Enver. Pasha's Effort. Incessant attacks and counter-attacks till the end of June grievously swelled the casualty list. Several of these daily encounters would have been the subject for separate dispatches in the campaigns of my youth, but I cannot even so much as mention them here. I briefly mention one examplo eacli from the French and British' Anzac spheres, so that you may understand the nature of the demands made on tlie troops' energies and fortitude. Oil the night of June _ 29, the Turks under Enver Pasha's direct personal order to drive us all into the sea, made a big attack on Aczac, principally that portion' of "the line under Major-Gerieral Godley. From midnight till 1.80 musketry gunfire of tho greatest intensity was poured on our trenches. Heavy columns then advanced to the assault, but were completely crumpled up by our musketry and the machineguns of the 7th and Bth Light Horse. An hour later another. grand attack against our left was equally cut to pieces by our artillery and riile fire. The enemy's casualtios may bo judged by the fact that in areas exposed to view between four hundred and five hundred wore actually- seen to fall. British Commander's Eulogy. Sir lan Hamilton eulogises General Gourand'sdaring in'time of danger, and his calm in time of crisis, General Hunter-Weston's resolutte genius for war, General Braithwaite's untiring loyalty, and General Maxwell's remarkable administrative abilities in Egypt. General Birdwood ; says Sir lan Hamilton, has been the soul of Anzac. Not for a' single day has lie quitted his post. Ho is cheery and full of' human sympathy, and has spent many hours out of each twenty-four in inspiring tlio -defenders of the front trenches. If he is not known to every .soldier in his force, at least every, soldier believes he Is known to his chief.

General Hamilton concludes: I must refer to tile sliadow cast over tho whole of our adventure by the loss of s$ many gallant, true-hearted comrades. Somo wo shall never sco again; some have the mark of the Dardanelles set upon them for lifo; others, thank God, by far the greater proportion', will be hack in due course at the front.

THE ATTACK ON SARI BAIR A BRIEF DISPATCH COLONIALS ATBLONE PINE London, September 20. Sir lan Hamilton, iu a Special Order issued ,011 Soptetuber 7, says:—"l desire to record a fine feat of arms by General Birdwood's command. During the battle of Sari Bair the fervent desire of all ranks was to close with tho enemy. Tile impetuosity of their onset and tlio _ steadfast valour with which tlioy maintained thoir long struggle, theso, surely, will appeal to their fel-low-countrymen tho world over. The gallant capture of the almost impregnable Lono Vine trenches by the Australian Division and tho equally gallant defence of tho position against repeated counter-attacks are exploits which will live in history. The determined assaults carricd out' from othor parts of the Australian division's line woro also of inestimable service, preventing the movement of.lnvno reinforcements to Ilia northern flank.

Ceneral Codloy's Command. "Tlio troops .under General Godley, particularly the Now Zealand and Australian Division, wore called oh to carry out tlio most difficult 'military operation ever attempted—a night march _ and assault by several columns in intricate, mountainous country, strongly entrenched and held by a numerous and determined enemy. Their brilliant conduct during these oporations and the success achieved won for thom a reputation of which any country must bo proud." ■ To the Australian and Now Zealand Corps and the Maoris, the Sikhs, tho Gurkhas, and the new British troops associated with this famous corps at Sari Bair, Sir lan-Hamilton tenders his admirntion for their gallantry and his thanks for their achievements. It is a high honour for liirn to command 1 a forco numbering such men. TOLD BY TROOPER CLUTHA MACKENZIE HOW THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S SON WAS BLINDED. London, September 20. Trooper Clutha Mackenzie (son of the New Zealand High Commissioner), who lost his sight at tho Dardanelles, has been interviewed. "The New Zealandore and Australians," he said, "wore given a special job on the. night of August B—namely, an attack on tho foothills leading to Sari Bair, which is the key'to the situation. Tlio fighting was terrific. During the night we advanced two miles and took all tho ridges of the foothills leading to tho main.Turkish position. Meanwhile tho British had landed several regiments at Suvla Bi/.

Regiment Practically Wiped Out. "The following day we reached a hilltop, after fighting of the most awful character. My regiment ivas practically wiped out. Many othor Now Zeaiandere, including the Maoris, fared just as "badly. • Tho scone on tlio sumpiit was beyond description. _ There were acres of ground covered with dead wd dying. "Upon tho left the Gurkhas and Australians advanced .well out toward tho Annfarta ridsjo before they were driven back. The Turkish machine gunnery was wonderful. Apparently; they had an -unlimited number of machine-guns. Tlio Turks are proficient in bombing, and did terrible execution on tho hilltop. We advanced until the end of our line was ten yards from tho crest, and wo were right up on the Turks, wlioso trenches were fully manned, despite tiio warships' previous heavy bombardment. Tho Turks wcro throwing hundreds of bombs right and left. There was hand-to-hand fighting of tho most sanguinary character. Blinded.

"A liigli explosive hurst immediately in front of me, blowing in both my eves, othorwiso I was not scratched. "I crawlcd over heaps of dead towards tlio rear, and was then assisted by a stretcher-bearer, who was heroically- exposing himself to the awful fire while attending to the wounded, many of whom lay for forty-eight hours without water in the blazing sun.- I was tho only one able to walk. I reached the hospital ship thirty hours after being wounded; some of my "comrades did not reach the hospital ship for three days. The Turks unsuccessfully shelled the hospital ship.". Trooper Mackenzie paid a tribute to the clean Turkish methods. PROGRESS OF THE CAMPAIGN VON HINDENBURG'S NEW FIELD TO COMMAND THE GERMAN ARMY FOR TURKEY ("Times" and Sydney. "Sun" Services.) London, September 20. The German newspaper, "Leipziger Nachrichten," commenting on Enver Pasha's speech about the arrival of German armies in Turkey, says that the army for Turkey will be entrusted as soon as possible to Field-Marshal von Hindenburg, whose work in ■ Russia is finished.

TURKISH HEAVY GUNS FOR GALLIPOLI ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. September 21, 4.35 p.m.) London, September 20. "The Tiines's" correspondent at Salonika states that 'the local Germanopliile papers have published a telegram from Sofia announcing that tho Turks are transporting'all the heavy artillery at Adrianople, _Kirk Kilisse, and Chatalja to Galupoli.' TURKISH CLERGY REBEL TURKS HIGHLY IMPRESSED By IWerreph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. September 21, 9.25 p.m.) Paris, September 21. The "Daily Telegraph's" Rome correspondent learns that the Turkish clergy has revoltod against the Young Turks and Germans, and have excommunicated Enver Pasha, and his companions. The clergy's action has made a great impression on the people and the army. It is believed that the majority of the members of the Committee of Union and Progress, will, oppose the continuation of the war.' THE WINTER BOGEY GERMAN PRESS ON THE HORRORS IN STORE. (Rec. September 21, 10.10 p.m.) Amsterdam, September 21.. The Berlin newspaper "Lokal : Anzeiger," in a roview of the Gallipoli fighting, says:—"The approach of the equinox, with its south-westerly storms,' will not give. the Allies much time. Honce tho Turks expect a general offensive immediately. Later tho weather will improve, and it will bo calu\ for the winter. Although tho sandy ground offers good anchorage, the strongest ships can only stay ,in t.lio_ Gulf of Saros during a storm by straining their engines to tho utmost. Activity' by tho lighters will be out of the question for days and weeks. It is easy to see what this moans for an army on a small strip of land. Tho conditions of the Anglo-French camp after a fivo days' storm will be terrible to contemplate. Ilenco one great attack is expected, and then —Finis. The elements mil do tho work, supported by tho bayonets of tho gallant Anatolians."