GREAT FIGHT AT GALLIPOLI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1440, 26 August 1915, Page 3

GREAT FIGHT AT GALLIPOLI.

GLORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT BY NEW ZEALANDERS. MAORIS WAR CRY MAKES NIGHT HIDEOUS. London, August 25. Mr K. Ashmead-Bartlett, describing the recent operations in the northern portion of Gallipoli Peninsula, states that while the new landing was being successfully carried out by British troops at Anafarta Bay, the Australian and New Zealand forces at Anzac, having been reinforced, engaged in a desperate struggle to obtain possession of the main ridge running north-east from the Anzac position. No troops were ever called upon to advance over more diihcult or more broken country. The ground gradually rises in a series of hills and ridges to Kojachjen broken by deep nullahs (gullies) and dongas (dried up water courses), and covered with thick send), which affords excellent cover for snipers, and is suited to the irregular warfare in which the Turks are so skilful. Before an advance could be made towards the main heights successive Turkish lines northeast of the colonials had to be taken by assault, in order to allow them to debouch and reach the further hills, rising like giant steps to Kojachjen, which is a sinister height split into two portions by a fearful ravine that completely cuts the mountain in halves. Our fieldguns and howitzers, assisted by the guns of destroyers, cruisers, and monitors, furiously bombarded the Turkish positions north-east of Anzac throughout the 7th, and whole sections of the trenches disappeared in clouds of smoke. Then the Australians and New Zealanders braced themselves for a desperate night attack. They had long been waiting for this hour, marking the end of monotonous days of sitting in the trenches. They were confident they would carry the enemy’s works in their immediate front. Strict orders were issued that not a shot was to be fired ; they were lo rely on the bayonet alone. Exactly at 10 o’clock on the uight of August 7th the brigade of New Zealanders clambered out of their trenches and charged furiously ou the Turkish Hue with loud cheers, bayoneting all who came in their way. The Turks were apparently taken unawares and filed wildly, being quite unable to check the New Zealanders. In a few minutes all the enemy’s positions nearest the sea were in our bauds, and the was was thus cleared for the main advance. The New Zealanders only stopped tor a “breather;” then they pursued their victorious career, and rushed successively the old No. 3 outpost, Bauchop’s Hill, and other Turkish positions. The Maoris entered upon the charge with great dash, making the darkness hideous with their wild war cries and striking terror into the Turks. With the awful vigour of their onslaught, using bayonets and rifle butts with equal effect, the Maoris forged another link in the chain of the Empire, The darkness of the night, the broken nature of the ground, and the skill with which the enemy had smothered every available bit of dead ground with deadly snipers, delayed the main advance. After these preliminary positions had been successfully rushed every hill and spur had lo be picketed to keep down the live of marksmen remaining in the rear of our advancing columns. The fighting was continuous throughout the night, in the gloomy ravines the Turks were resisting courageously but despairingly, and many bloody encounters, the details of which will never be known, filled the dark hours preceding the more eventful dawn. Throughout theßth the struggle continued without intermission. The New Zealanders gained some ground, but were finally hel l up by the enemy’s machine-guns and rifle fire. Our men began a renewed advance at dawn on the 9UI, up the steep slopes. The Turks then gallantly charged from both ends. Many Turks fell, but the survivors closed with the intrepid colonials, bayonets and rifle butts being used. This was just the form of fighting the colonials like, and their magnificent physique proved its value. Although numerically few, they closed with the Turks and, furiously using their rifles as clubs, they swung them round their heads, laying out several Turks at each sweep. The Turks could not stand this rough treatment, and all those not killed or wounded fled. The New Zealanders then began hastily to dig themselves in. So lar this was the finest feat of fighting, and the highest point any troops ' had yet gained on the Peninsula. The Turks fought with the utmost bravery, but their efforts were vain. Soon not a single Turk remained. Our artillery, assisted by the cruisers and monitors off shore, checked Turkish counter-attacks, inflicting losses. Upon the left of the New Zealand advance the Australians, assisted by Indian units, fought splendidly and achieved considerable successes. The New Zealand advance resulted in the capture of a Nordeufeldt and two machine guns, with many trench mortars and 600 prisoners.