ON ANZAC SLOPES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 232, 23 May 1932, Page 6

ON ANZAC SLOPES

ANNIYERSARY OF FIRST BATTLE AND REPULSE OF TURKS. "GREAT GAPS IN RANKS" Wednesday was the anniversary of the repulse by the Australian Light Horse and New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigades of the heavy Turkish attack on Anzac, Gallipoli Peninsula, on May 18, 1915. This was the first battle in which the Australian and wew Zealand Mounteds fought during the Great War, and they acquitted themselves brilliantly. On May 12 the 1st Australian Light Horse and New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigades landed at Anzac, relieving the four battalions which had been sent up from Helles to replace the two infantry brigades withdrawn for the battle of Krithia. It soon became evident that the mounted brigades had arrived only just in time, as evidence began to accumulate that the Turk was about to attack. Enemy movement, especially on the roads, became so pronounced that on May 17 the ships off the Anzac position spent most of the day shelling the villages and roads in this area. The next day passed comparatively quietly, but at midnight on May 18 the Turk suddenly opened a violent artillery and small arms fire along the whole Anzac position. "Great Gaps in Their Ranks." All ranks had been warned to expect attack, so the Anzac garrison was everywhere on the alert. The position was organised in four sections, Nos. 1 and 2 being held by Australian Infantry, No. 3 by the Light Horse, and No. 4 (the left of the position) by the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. Shortly after 3 a.m. the hostile fire became teven more intense, and the Turkish in fantry at last advanced to the attack. The initial effort wafc made against the left of No. 2 section, about Courtney's Post, and almost at the same time a strong attack developed on Russell's Top by the Auckland Mounted Rifles. Tbese attacks were beaten off, but by 5 a.m. the Turk was coming on once more, this time against our whole front. The Turks in considerable strength pressed their attack with great bra very and resolution, and although our machine-gun and rifle fire swept great gaps in their ranks, there was no wav ering. The main weight of their at tack was directed against the left of No. 3 section (ourntey's and Quinn's Posts) and against No. 4 section. The extreme flank of our position rested on the coast just north of Fislierman's Hut. This was a danger spoc, ?s a successful attack here would have placed the Turk in rear of the mounted brigades, and in position to sweop ihe beach. The posts thereabouts, however, were thoroughly alert, and met the first movements of the Turk with such a heavy and concentrated fire that they broke and fled. Our Position Kept Intact. By this time the light was improvi.ng rapidly, so the effectiveness of our artillery was increasing each monent, Opposite Courtney's and Quinn's Posts and on Johnston's Jolly our artillery practicqlly broke up the Turk"sh attack. A little later some Turk- : ish reserves were located opposite Walker' s Ridge. Almost immediately They were caught by concentrated r machine-gun and artillery fire. For ■ few moments they wavered and then ' oroke, and such of them as were able fied to the rear. The rival artilleries were still heavi 'ly engaged, but the attack by this time had definitely petered out. Every-

where our position was intact, though only as the result of hard and determined fighting. The attack had been delivered with great resolution, the Turk making four distinct efforts despite the heavy casualtiss which each attack had cost him. Desultory fighting continued throughout the day, but the Turk made no further effort to attack.