BIG BLUFFS IN WAR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 165, 14 April 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

BIG BLUFFS IN WAR.

SOME OCCASIONS WHEN THEY HAVE SAVED THE SIT CATION.

The secret evacuation of Suvla and Anzac by our army of occupation in.der the very noses of the Turks—"the biggest bluff in war's history, as it has not inaptly been termed, bears a close resemblance to the similar abandonment of the Redan by tl:o Russians during the Crimean Wa.\

For months our heavy guns bad been pounding unavailing!}- at thb; exceedingly strong fortress- Twice we had tried to storm it, only to be repulsed with great slaughter. A third attack bad been ordered to take place 011 Septembere 1 Sth, but on the early morning of that date, before daybreak, Corporal Ross, of the Royal Engineers, who was in charge of one of the advanced saps, noticing that the place was strangcl> still, crept forward to investigate. lie found the works untenanted, save by dead men, and ?. few badly wounded, and hastened back to report to the British Commander, who at first was frankly Incredulous. Bu investigation soon proved ihe truth

Lady (singing at local concert) : " I wonder if you'll miss me sometmes— Long-suffering; man in the audiem e: " 'Ere, let me got hold of this flowerpot, and I'll tal\> jolly good aire 1 don't miss ver once!"

of the plucky corporal's statements. The ent're garrison had been quietly withdrawn under cover of darkness to the Xorth Foris, leaving the road to Febastopol open. Ros-j was awarded the Y.C.. and w.is known thenceforward throughout the British Army as "Redan Ross."

CHt RCII BELLS HELP TO FAYE THE TOWN.

When the armies of Napoleon wert over-running Europe. General Massena, with IS,OOO men, appeared suddenly before the Austrian tou'n of Feldkirch. and demanded its surrender. Instead of complying, the burgomaster issued orders that the church bells were to be set ringing, and that the burghers, their wives, and daughters, clad in holiday attire, were to assemble in the market square and there make merry. The :es'jlt was exactly what he had hoped for. Massena heard the somds oi' rejoicing watched from ine he : ghts overlooking the town the gathering throngs in the streets, and came to the conclusion that ;ke townsfolk must have received gence t 1 at the Aistrian Army, winch was lul-i.ived to Le somewherj in th:j vicinity w:-< .vi\ancing to their icv

A - t<- give battle there and t'ovi'K , i,c part of Napoleon's general plan of action, Matsena ordered a retreat. Feldkirch was saved, an l by blr.it, f.~r as a matter of fact no relieving force was anywhere near at the time.

I'AITEi C,NA 'VAS WON BY \ CLEVER RFSE.

A l.luff that was eminently sii"cessfrl n suited in the Earl of Peterborough securing possession ol' Ban clone, in the early part cf the eiKhie'jnth century. The defen;es of the city were at that t'liic exu-edingly strong. Peterborough had with him barely ;!,000 ndiffi l ent.ly armed troops, and two small cannon. Halting his force some miles away i;i the hills, lie rod" forward, attended only by a email escort bearing a flag cf truce, and demanded an audience with the governor

To him the Earl explained that he had been ordered to take the city by assault, but being wishful it. avoid useless bloodshed he preferred te allow him to surrender it of his o vn free will. Incidentally, he mentu.no 1 that the force at his disposal :>.mo:;nt- ( I to i),00o men and a powerful .''.lego-train.

Incredible though it may seem, tbir, most colossal of bluffs "came off." Tlio governor, after some parlev'n,?, Hi:reed to ai("|;t the British gineral'ii aitunative, ;inll by nightfall Barcelona was ours.