THE TRAGEDY OF WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1500, 22 January 1916, Page 4

THE TRAGEDY OF WAR.

GRAVES OF THE FALLEN,

INCIDENT ON GALLIPOLI. The following description of an impressive inspection of the graves of the fallen at the Dardanelles comes from the special correspondent of the Melbourne Argus, who wrote from “the Near East,” on December i : There were eight perfect rows, each soldier’s place being immediately behind the other in front. At intervals there were gaps, but new arrivals were constantly taking up the vacant spaces. That very morning seven of the spaces had been filled. It was not everyone who was accepted, one necessary qualification being that each nominee should have been under fire. Some of the men in those regular ranks had taken part in a dozen desperate fights; two had been awarded the Victoria Cross> and at least a dozen bad been “mentioned in despatches.” Every soldier in that group was an undoubted hero. Selection had not, however, been confined to particular units or to special arms of the service, practically every brigade and every battalion being represented. All of them were Australians. “The Roll of Honour.” A Commonwealth general, who himself showed scars from many engagements, was making an inspection. A sergeant at his elbow held a book, containing every valiant man’s name and record — it was called “The Roll of Honour.” Turkish guns boomed, and were being answered on the ridges, while rifles snapped and cracked viciously. Bullets that had failed to find a mark in the firing line came roaring down into the valley, to kick up bubbles of dust in the well ordered lines. The staccato notes of machine guns chopped spasmodically into the medley of sound. The general took no notice. The noise was familiar enough. Anyway, he was engrossed by the business in hand. Starting from the left the general strode along the front, while the sergeant read aloud from the open book : Many Heroic Deeds. “Burns. —Member of landing parly ; led number of patrols into enemy territory; example throughout inspiring to comrades ; hit by bomb at Steele’s Post.” “Where did this man enlist ?” inquired the officer. “Sydney, sir—mother lives at Maitland.” “ Simpson. Conspicuous bravery following the landing. Rescued 16 wounded men under fire. Made a great many trips daily with injured down Shrapnel Valley when enemy guns weie most active. Hit by sniper from the Bloody Angle.” “How did he move the wounded men ?” “On a donkey, sir. Everyone here in the early days knew Simpson. He was a wonder.” “Hogarth. Fearless in the most trying circumstances. His confidence was contagious. Went single banded into scrub to find a machine gun, and came back riddled with bullets to report.” “That was at the beginning ?” “Yes, sir. He was mentioned in despatches —a school teacher in Victoria —one of the bravest,” Grief and Pride.

So the inspection went on, first one line and then the other being viewed. The general halted in front of each soldier’s portion in turn to hear his personal story. The general passed along with a sigh. His heart was beating fast, stirred by mixed emotions, in which grief and pardonable pride stiuggled for supremacy. A great many of the men had been in his own command. Now and then he stood longer than usual, asking for further particulars, with his head turned to one side so as to catch every word. “It is wonderful,” he would say. Sometimes the general lemarked, “And one of mine !’’ Inside the hour the final name in the last rank had been read. The general walked back to the starting point. His face was very serious, and he could not trust himself to speak for some minutes. Then he said simply : “What brave fellows they all are !” The bugler bad bis heels together and his head up. The sergeant closed bis book. “Australia Should be Proud of Them.” “Sound tbegeneral salute !” the officer said.