Second Edition. The Dardanelles.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 42, 25 January 1916, Page 6

Second Edition. The Dardanelles.

HOW HELLES WAS LOST.

AN EYE-WITNESS’ STORY

A GREAT SPECTACLE.

United Press Association. (Received 10.25 a.m.) London, January 24. - A Reuter message from an eye-wit-ness of the evacuation of Hellos givls a vivid description of the last hours there. The Turks, after their experience at Anzac, knew our trenches were and the roads blocked hy harked wire, while the open ground was sown with trip-mines. There was not a kick left in the Turkish infantry. Their first line army had melted away; and only a mixed assortment of halttrained men remained, who kept in their places largely by the promise that the British were soon departing. After the evacuation of Anzac, the Turkish artillery doubled the weight of the tire on Holies, but as there were no obvious signs of our departure the tire slackened,’ the Turks evidently fearing to deplete their .stock ot ammunition. The heavy guns on the Asiatic shore were now concealed by f tunnels from whence they are run out to be hied, and it was almost impossible for our ships to get a shot. Practically all the animals were taken off. Those unfit for further service were shot, and this hard recompense for faithful service was perhaps the saddest incident of the evacuation. W aggons were broken up or turned over the cliffs, and abandoned stores were soaked in petrol ready for the valedictory bonfires. Meanwhile the troops continually passed,to the lighters and trawlers without delay. The last ditches in the firing trenches kept up a normal sniping, and even had a few machine-gunsin case they should need them. Only the destruction party remained on the for the final blaze,'v and as the • last trawler drew off the flames appeared and stores of explosives caught fire. A mighty conflagration lit up the eli fts and there was even a larger glow on ” beach, which appeared a sea of fire Then a huge explosion rent the air. and the flames towered sky high, while one wondered at-the beauty and terror of the spectacle. Another explosion, thrice as fearful, tore up the beach, and from the sky a shower of wieckage fell into the sea, the burning fragr ments covering hundreds of yards. A vast pillar of smoke hung above, casting all sorts of sinist.3" shapes. 1 hat infernal burst was the death-throes of the expedition. Meanwhile the Turks realised the happenings and now red lights sprang up in their trenches and guns poured shells into our trenches and on the burning beaches. The enemy kept tiring until daybreak. It was an impressive moment when our warships blew to pieces the glorious and battered old hulk, River 'Clyde, a relic of- thQ heroic hin ting, but the saddest thought t-; all was that we were leaving twenty-thousand graves in the keeping of the Turks.