THE FIGHTING ON GALLIPOLI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1449, 21 September 1915, Page 4

THE FIGHTING ON GALLIPOLI.

THE DAILY ROUND. SHELLING AND BOMBING. TRENCH WARFARE AMONG THE HILLS. (From Malcolm Ross, War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces.) 20111 July. In my last article I gave a shor! description of the position west and north of An/.ac Cove defended by the New Zealand and Australian Division of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, I purpose giving now some idea ot a week’s doings in regard to these positions, insofar as the present situation will permit. On 13th July, two enemy mountain guns on Moitar Ridge, opposite Courtney’s, opened on that post during the early morning. They were engaged by our howitzers, one shdl hitting the left emplacement. Courtney’s was also subjected to fire trom the Turkish “seventy fives.” At 9.15 p.m. we carried out a “fire demon stratiou” with great success, heavy ineffective fire being drawn from the enemy’s trenches in front of (Quinn’s. One of our batteries fired some well-directed shells into the enemy’s trenches. At 530 a.m., about 50IL in front of our trenches at Courtney’s was blown up at a sap where our miners had broken into what appeared to be a new Turkish trench ready for opening up. This explosion blocked up for the time being the opening from our sap into the Turkish treuch. There was the usual ‘•helling during the day. Here also our “lire demonstration” was a success, and drew heavy fire from the enemy—fire that was, of course, entirely ineffective. Daring the demonstration the enemy trenches were lit up by star shells from the mountain guns. This was followed by artillery fire directed on “the chess-board,” a position in which the Turks have criss-crossed the ground with trenches to such an extent as to well deserve the name. The slopes on the southwest of “Baby 700,” a hill beyond our position on the left centre, were also shelled by cur guns. On the Australian side the rifle fire drawn at night was greater than anything previously experienced on this flank. In one place Turks seen with fixed bayonets were promptly dealt with by the Australians. The gun fire generally apparently had the effect of making the enemy call up his local reserves. The rapidity of the Turkish machine gnu fire was noticeable, and the rapidity with which their field guns were directed on positions was remarked upon. Within three minutes of the Australians opening fire the first Turkish shell was dropped on Holly Ridge, and trom 250 to 300 shells fell near the trenches occupied by the 3rd Infantry Brigade. This shelling, however, was responsible for only a very tew casualties. On 14th July Courtney's Post was severely shelled by an enemy 5.7 inch gun hidden in the direction of Hill 971, hut the damage done to the trenches was soon repaired. There were, naturally, a few casualties. The Turks also suffered from our shelling ol one

of their positions, known as “German Oflicei s’ Trench.” They made great headway daring the night in repairing the damage. In another section the Anafarta gun dropped a few shells at odd times during the afternoon at the foot of Plugge’s Plateau. Throughout the night the enemy kept up.sharp bursts'of rifle fire, and showed considerable uneasiness. It is possible that several of their trenches were filled with new troops. One of onr howitzers replied to the Turkish “seventy-five,” and silenced it for the time being. .The enemy’s heavy howitzer firing at Courtney’s Post was engaged by the Australian Field Batteries and the 5-inch howitzers. On Hie Australian side the enemy’s fire was active during the night, with occasional heavy bursts, A patrol encountered five Turks who refused to surrender. These were dropped by the Australians at close range, and lire others also appeared to have been hit. Subsequently thirty or forty Turks tried to rush the Australian patrol of six, but the latter withdrew safely. Later, in another position, a Turkish patrol was forced to retire by heavy ritie fire. On the 15th July Couitney’s was shelled by a 0-inch gun hour the direction of Battleship Hill, to the north. One shot landed inside the post and did some damage, bnl there were no casualties. At 3 p.m., the mountain gun on Mortar Ridge also shelled this position, and the 6-inch gun again opened, causing some damage to the trenches on the right ol Courtney’s, but no casualties. There was rather more rifle tire than usual from the enemy during the night. In section—there was a very quiet day, with little nhelling. During the afternoon there was a great deal of sniping along the beach on the left wing from rough, scrubby country north ol Walker’s Ridge. Bayonets which had not been seen tor some time, were noticed in the enemy trenches opposite the nek between 9 and 10 p.m., indicating that new troops had been moved up. Our bomb-throwing made the enemy nervous, and they tired a good deal at nothing in particular. One of our batteries fired at the trenches and barb wiie entanglements on the Turkish position on Lonesome Piue, and, at the request of the O.C. section, devoted special attention to the enemy’s second trench from the front. Thirty-four rounds were fired. Our Howitzer Battery also came into action at the request of the O.C. -—section, firing at the Turkish “U” trench opposite Russell’s Top. This day Capt. J. 3. Campbell, medical officer Sth Australian Light Horse, had both legs blown off. (Continued in our next issue.)