The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, MAY 11th, 1922.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, MAY 11th, 1922.

XICW ZEALAND AT GALLIPOLI. The London Daily Mail notices a popular history of the New Zealanders at Gallipoli in very friendly terms. The paper records the reception from the. Hi 'h Commissioner of the Dominion of New Zealand, the first volume of a popular history of New Zealand effort in the war, entitled ‘‘The New Zealanders at Gallipoli”, and written by Major F. Waite, of that gallant and famous division. It is an admirable piece of work and is excellently illustrated. The "hole history will ho completed in four volumes. Wherever they veiit. the New Zealand troops left a reputation second to none. They were loved by their friends, feared by t-heir enemies and honoured for their unllinohing courage and discipline.,by the British people. Not without reason do Sir lan Hamilton and Karl Haig pay them in inis work the warmest tributes Lord Haig, indeed, states that “no division in France built up for itself a finer reputation, whether for the gallantry' of its conduct in liattle or for the excellence of its behaviour out of the line.” Sir lan Hamilton reminds the world that the “superb land” from which these incomparable soldiers cairn lost from a population of one inilli..n 15,000 killed: "Whereas, to take other standards, the Belgians, justly famous ns having fought so long and so valiantly for the freedom of Europe, lost 13,000 killed out of a population of 7,000,000.” At the Dardanelles the casualties of the New Zealanders were terrific. The total strength landed was 8,556, and the losses, excluding sick were 7,447. These, then were iron troops, purged in the fires of dentil; and their reputation was not lightly earned. On Apiil 25, 1915, they landed at Anzne on the Gallipoli peninsula : “Everything was strange and astonishing to these hoys from the green, well, watered islands of the south,” says Sir Inn Hamilton, “the enemy, the p.e. ipices, tne thirst, the wounds and de.Al around them, but no veterans have ever done better than they did during those first few hours.” Re-embarkation »“.< suggested after the desperate fighting which acconi) nnied the landing and the tragic slaughter, but the final deeis:on was to hold on. Cruel were the suiferings of the wounded: ‘‘There weie lew medical officers. Naval surgeons and dressers left their battleships and toiled heroically among the wounded Colonials. In the old British way, we wei‘e paying for unpreparcdneis w.ili the ilesh and blood of our willing young men. In one ship the only man with any know ledge of medicine was the veterinary officer, who saved dozens of lives. A Full account is given of one of the curious episodes of that epic conflict—Armistice Day, May 24, 1015— arranged with the Turks and honorably respected by them, for tlie ‘burial of the dead on either side. The conditions at Anza c were alwayß horrible: “A perisenpic view of No Man’s Land was a terrible sight—littered with jam tins meat .tins, broken rifles, and discarded equipment—every few yards a dead body and hosts of buzzing Hies. Chlorof lime, with its hateful associations, was scattered thickly on all decaying matter and the scent of Anzac drifted ten miles out to sen.” Strange creatures bore tile troops company in their struggle. Great vultures hovered overhead. The common tortoise, a friendly little tiling, crept into their dugouts: “On the prickly scrub, the little praying mantis insect hold up her supplicating green hands and prayed as if we were all far past redemption.” But of all the horrors, the greatest was that of thirst; and it was experienced to the full by the New Zealanders. The tale of the evacuation is well told. It was prepared for by a 72-hours’ period of absolute quiet, so as to puzzle the Turks, and finally carried through some days later with a success that has mystified the world. This is a fine book dealing with a worthy theme!