SPLENDID SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2662, 6 January 1916, Page 7

SPLENDID SERVICE

OF NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY

WORK OP THE GUNS

Comparatively little information has been published regarding the service of the New Zealand Artillery in the Anzac campaign. A lengthy description of its work has been received by tlie Minister 1 of Defenco, Hon. James Allen (says She Auckland "Herald"), from an officer of. high rank, and in .'giving somo extracts from the letter for publicatoin, Mr. Allen remarked that the artillery had performed splendid service, and. was entitled to recognition for it. It is noteworthy that the artillery remained on, tho peninsula until the evaouation, and therefore did not have the respite of six weeks wliioh tho other •arms of the service were given, when they were withdrawn to Lemnos. The Work of the artillery has been unostentatiously carried out, but it has •been most useful," the officer wrote. "We have gradually built up our number of guns, and they did. the bulk .of the work during tlie heavy fighting 'in August, when we attacked the Chunuk Bair ridge. The artillery packed up the attack, and they did nobly, backed up also by several ships' guns. .We could see everything very plainly' as our people were attacking up a steep liill, and, of course, it was necessary for the guns to follow them'up and shelter them.. We did great execution. "Some of the Turkish gunnery is distinctly good, but not so good as ours. 'A good deal of it, fortunately for us, is bad. Our difficulty is to locate their guns holding the long Sari Bair ridge. All, their gun 3 are hidden behind the crest, and we' cannot see them. Occasionally when wc are attacking they come a bit forward, and then we give them beans, and very , soon silence them." Writing of the demeanour of the artillery, the officer says: "Thoy are cool, calm, and brave iu action, full of resource and initiative, and altogether the young New Zealander, with his intelligence, forms excellont material for artillery. You might take - them for pirates as, stripped of all clothing except trousers and boots, and in some cases not even tho latter, thoy serve their guns. Sometimes the other arms are not conscious of. the quiet and good work done by the guns as they search the country far and wide and prevent undue. activity on the part'of tjie Turks. I notice that our men seldom write sensational letters' to the papers. Several times. I think they have done dashing work, notably, 'when tho Australians attacked Lone Pine. In this attack the Ist Battery cut away the wire entanglements that prevented the Australians advancing,, and also covered and protected them during the attack. Again during tho attack/ on Sari.Bair, when we borrowed eight 18poundprs, in addition to all our own, which had just ' been landed without men for Kitchener's • brigade of the K.F.A.,, -we fought them for several days in'support of our infantry attack with great effect. In the attack. ou Hill 60, which was carried out by our division, we delivered the preliminary bombardment. "I suppose the Chunuk Bair affair was the bloodiest battle fought on-this peninsula, and one of "the most important," the letter proceeds. "It was altogother carried out by the New Zealand Artillery and the guns attached to it." Referring to another engagement, the writer remarks: "I was rather afraid the gunners were getting too inUch exposed to cover .the' infajitry. However, it is the gunner's duty to . in every way shield and cover his. infantry." "I have just been "attending- service," ho wrote on a- Sunday. "It' makes a pleasant little peaceful interval after the no'ise and strain. of the week, although during the service, you hear the boom of guns, as they fire at one i another. This is a duel which never ceases here, and wherever you go, at all times, a shell may fall at your feet-.. It is hard to sit down and .write a letter. However,' we in the artillery are merry and bright, and I hope, do our share, and although unlike tlie infantry, unable to be relieved, stick it out Well. We have been longer, here than any other unit." A brief reference _to Sir Alexander Godley is contained in the letter. 'The officer thus estimates his soldierly qualities:—"The G.O.C. '/ a very -brave man, .and never hesitates to ""expose himself when, necessary. All the strain never affocts his coolness and judgment or determination."