TRIBUTE PAID

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1932, Page 5

TRIBUTE PAID

ANZAC SOLDIERS OFFICIAL GALLIPOLI HISTORY. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON, April 5. In later instalments of the official; history of the Gallipoli campaign, Briga-dier-General Oglander, describes the Turkish defensive measures in fly; also the launching of the British holding actions at Helles on August 6th and 7th. The An/.acs undertook the main j operation, being undertaken at night. The fury and gallantry of the assault oil Sariba'ir was fully recognised, parti- J cularly the capture of log-roofed Turk-1 ish trenches at a cost of 1,700 against .the Turks’ 5,000. All of 'the Australians were worthy of the Victoria Cross. Be says that the night advance from the Anzac northern flank as marked by extreme bravery and dash of the New Zealanders. Sir J. Monash led personally across the Aghyl Dere. Heroism' attended the attack on the Nek, with the annihilation of <the first and second waves in a glorious charge of the Eighth Light Horse, which was gallantly but unsuccessfully followed - by the Tenth, resulting in the loss ■ of 650 of the 1200 troops without gain- I {ng the crest of the main .ridge. I The mistake was including Hill 373. in the first night’s objective. General : Birdwood would have been successful it) he had concentrated on capturing Shunk- j, hair, -then advancing to Battleship Hill. J , Though Chunuk Bair was captured, - the enemy outflanked and the wafers | of the Narrows seemed agleam, the Turkish garrisons on Battleship Hill !, and Hill Q recovered C’hunuk Bair. Two ' Wellington companies died fighting, j but Colonel Malone saved the- main j , line before he fell. Hill 2 was captured and lost next day, when it "as realised that the third attack. on Sari-j bair had tailed “but the spirit of the I, Anzac Generals was still unbroken, | despite the fatigue of the troops, the j; depletion of reserve, and the apparent ( stagnation at Suvla.” The Anzacs, however, were then unfit for prolonged physical strain. The British new army troops lacked the necessary experience. Brigadier-General Oglander rehearses the complete scheme of the Suvla Bay attack and analyses the reasons for the failure. He pays a high tribute to the skill of the evacuation.