Colonial Forces in Gallipoli

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 October 1915, Page 3

Colonial Forces in Gallipoli

* (Special to The Christian Science Monitor.) Loudon—The special correspondent acting oil behalf of the London press has forwarded under date Dardanelles, May 22, an interesting account of some recent work ot the Australian and N M.Zealand forces in Gallipoli.

The ground occupied by the colonial corps, he says, consists roughly of two semi-circles of hills, the outer higher than the inner, and rising in places to over GOO feet. A great valley, known as Shrapnel valley, runs northeast up the centre of the position, roughly dividing the position into a northern an.l southern sector, both of which aie rough and broken ground, consisting of lesser hills and deep gullies covered with thick shrub or bare yellow earth of the color of sandstone.

The enemy is intrenched almost rig'it round the position, except where rh<> ships' guns keep them off the coast. (Jen orally speaking, to the north and northeast his trenches are on higher ground, while to the south and southeast they Tie lower than ours. The distance between the two front lines varies from about a quarter of a mile to 20 yards at one point, and the average is about 200. Retween Walker's ridge and Pope's hill the enemy is strongly in trenched; ho can look right down the valley and snipe all those going up it at long range. Rut if the actual area of ground held b> the Australians and New Zealanders remains the same, the general aspect Ins changed, and instead of resembling the temporary home of a vast number of shipwrecked mariners, the cliffs have the appearance of being a prosperous mining camp in full swing. Good roads have been made from the foreshore up to the front lines, and in these places where you are exposed to shrapnel or sniping they have been banked to give some protection. For. although the Turks have made no attack until the one T shall attempt to describe, for some time, they have never ceased (o shod tlie wTiole position.

The front trenches are now very different from what they were when I last visited them. Every precaution has been taken to render the position impregnable: every section is self-con-tained, and unlimifed supplies of ammunition are ready at hand.

The presence ot the Australians and New Zealanders north of Gaba Tope is a thorn in the side of the Turks which handicaps all their operations against our forces in the south Gallipoli, lo"whenever lie attempts an offensive movement in the south or is called up to resist an attack in force. Sanders Pasha is obliged to leave a very high proportion of his forces facing Hie colonials, wlio. unless they are held trength, might cut right across his lines of communication. Therefore, as a'pi,.liminary measure before attempting a further offensive against our forces .it the southern end of Gallipoli, General von Sanders seems to have made no his mind on a final effort against tnis position.

For this movement the Germans seem to have brought up from Constantinople at least five fresh regiments, including a "copps cVclite" of picked gendarmes, who wear a light blue uniform of much the same color as the new French cloth. General von Sanders himself directed the operations. On May 18 various movements' of troops were reported by aeroplane reconnaissance and by the ships observing at various points along the coast. Nat only were the enemy seen to to disembarking men from steamers in the Straits, but a general movement wa? reported from north to east of Krithia towards the west. Further evidence that some new move was meditated was the heavy bombardment opened on the position throughout the 18th, not only from field guns, but from 12-inch and U-ineh guns and howitzers. The writer then goes on to doficr'be the struggle which developed. It was the usual kind of warfare which tho last ten months have rendered familiar, and it ended in all attacks by the Turks being repulsed with heavy loss The effect of this success, ho says in conclusion achieved at such a small cost on the Australians and New Zealaulers has been very great. Hitherto they have been lighting under most difficult conditions against great 'id<h and their losses have been heavy.

After the attack General Bird woo'l took me all round the front lines with

him, and it at once became evident that the troops were more contoured with themselves than they have boon for a long time past. The men were resting after their exertions of the last few days, lying m their bomb-proof shelters, consuming large quantities ol tinned meat, biscuits and jam, of which they are extremely fond. There are many signs the writer adds. £hat -he moral effect of this repulse on the Turks has been very great. They are continually asking for armistices and are busily digging themselves in as if it was their intention to reman strictly on the defensive.