ATROCITIES IMAGINARY AND REAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2641, 11 December 1915, Page 14

ATROCITIES IMAGINARY AND REAL

1 TUBES ARE CLEAN FIGHTERS. <J3y Malcolm Ross, Official Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces.) October 16. From time to time one continues to find in New Zealand and Australian newspapers references to alleged atrocities committed by tho Turks on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The statements are generally made in soldiers' letters, which, as often as not, contain ludicrously inaccurate statements. In practically every case of alleged atrocity that has been charged against the Turk in tho Gallipoli campaign, close enquiry has proved that the charge had no foundation in faot. In tho first days of the sovero hand-to-hand fighting, no doubt, things were done in hot blood that would not be done in the more regular fighting that has prevailed for months past; the character of the-first fighting made it a necessity that little quarter should bo given. Thero is one case in particular that ono heard often quoted in tho. early days, and which, on tho face of it, did seem a Teal one; but when one became aware of the surrounding circumstances it was clear that the Turks wore quite blameless. The man referred to had simply put an end .to his own miseries, as he previously had told his friends he would do tmder such circumstances.. In those days, elso, thoro were stories of torture by fire. In these cases it would be found that burns on bodies'were simply the. result of shell fire. In short, "of the many stories one heard of Turkish atrocities, only in two or three cases did there appear to be any proof that there was ground for complaint. Even in these few cases, we do not know what provgeation may have been given. On the other hand, we know of many instances in which the Turks have treated our wounded and cur prisoners in tho mo6t considerate and humane manner. They have given them of their own food and water, and have drossod and bandaged .their wounds, even when under our fire. There are, of course, many instances: in which our dressing-stations have been hit by shell fire and by bullets, and oases in which our wounded in being carried down to safety or to the evacuation jetties hnvo been further wounded, and even killed, but we all recognise the probability that in not a single instance has this been intentional. It was a necessary disability of tho circumscribed area in which we had to conduct our operations. Similarly, our hospital ships have always been respected. We know from prisoners we' have interrogated that both our wounded and our prisoners who have fallen into the hands of the enemy have been well treated; and these statements are confirmed by the word of the American Ambassador at Constantinople. In' this war one has already seen thousands of dead and wounded; but in no single instance has one seen any evidence of atrocities committed. Sly own experience has been the experience of the other war correspondents, and of our own. soldiers. The stories that aopear to bo curront in Australia and "New Zealand one never hears mentioned on the Gallipoli Peninstik!' On tfTo contrary, both officers and men have come to reigard the Turk as a clean fighter, ohd as a fooman worthy of their steel. ____ ( .