NEW ZEALAND'S SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2696, 16 February 1916, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND'S SOLDIERS

LAST DAYS AT GALLIPOLI. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. J.. Allen) lias received several interesting letters from General Godley. Writing 011 December 9 from Gallipoli, General Godley said: — "I can understand the difficulties about transports to 6end the men, and can only repeat that I think you have dono wonders to send as many as you have. "It is too much to expect better delivery of postal matter. If you saw the conditions heije you would be surprised, I think, that we are getting as much as we are. Colonel Rhodes has been able to improve and hasten matters a bit." ■ ■ Writing from Ansae on December 18, prior to the evacuation, General Godley says that this would probably be the last letter he would be writing from there. "Wo 'are all very sad, because wo know we can stick the winter out better thaji the Turks. But perhaps we may be more useful elsewhere." The spirit of the man, he said, was splendid. They were quarrelling among themselves as to who should bo the last rear party to leave the 1 trenches. At the Apex Hill, two companies of the Wellington Infantry Division were asked to supply volunteers who should be tlw last to leave. "They have all stepped fonvard like one man," wrote the General, "and have had to be told off by their officers for the duty. One man who was not asked to stay went to his officer and inquired why he had not been selected as the last to' leave, and he demanded that he should bo, as ho was one of the first to land on April 21. "I have written to General Godley," said Mr. Allen, "and asked for the name of that man, as I would like to record it. It does not require anything from me in praise of the Wellington' Battalion, but I can say that I should be proud to bo their captain." The care of the graves of fallen New Zealanders at Gallipoli was in The mind of General Godley when the evacuation of the; Peninsula took place. "I have written to the Turkish commander who will come iu when we leave," ho said in his last letter, "asking him to take steps to preserve the graves of our men. I feel sure this will lw effected, as tho Turks have been most honourable during the ei»hi; months we have been fighting them and will not do anything "to desecrate' our resting places."