LANDING AT GALLIPOLI.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 233, 24 June 1915, Page 3

LANDING AT GALLIPOLI.

A MOST DIFFICULT UNDERTAKING

MAJOR GENERAL BIRDWOOD’S ADVICE.

Prior to the landing at Gallipoli, Ma. jor-General Birdwood, commanding the Australian and New Zealand divisions, issued to his men a few final words of warning as to the dangers and difficulties o? the task before them, and a few hints regarding the necessity ofconserving their food, water, and ammunition.

“Officers and men,” said Major-Gen-eral Birdwood, .“in conjunction with the Navy, we ar© about to undertake one of the most difficult tasks that any soldier can be called upon to perform, and a problem w,hich has puzzled many soldiers for years past. That we will succeed I have no doubt, simply because I know your full determination to do so. Lord Kitchener has told us that he lays special stress on the role the Army has to play in this particular operation, the success of wjiich will b e a very severe blow to the enemy—indeed, as severe as any she could receive in Era nee. It will go down in history to the glory of the soldiers of Australia and New Zealand, Befcjre we start,, there are one or two points which I must Impress on all, and I most earnestly beg every -single man to listen attentively and take these to heart. We are going to have a real hard and rough tim e of it until, at all events; we have- turned the enemy out of our first objective. Hard, lough times none of us mind, but to get through them successfully wo must always keep before us the fclloAving facts. Every possible endeavour will be made to bring up transport as often as possible; but the country whither we ar e bound is very difficult, and w 8 may not be able to get our wagons near us for days, so men must not think their wants have been neglected if they do not get all they want. On landing it will be necessary for every individual to carry with him all his requrement's in food and clothing for three days, as we may not see our transports till then. Remember, then, that it is essential for everyone to take th e very greatest care, not only of his food, but of his ammunition, the replenishment of which will be very difficult. Men are liable to throw away their food the first day out, and to. finish their water-bottles as soon as they start marching. If you do this now, we cannot fight, and you must make an effort to try and refrain from starting on yoifr waterbottles until quite late in the day. Once you begin drinking you cannot -.ton, and a-water-bottle is soon emptied.

“Also, as regards ammunition, you must not waste it by firing away indiscriminately at no target. The time will ccm. ; . when w e shall find the enemy in well entrenched positions from which T "o shall have to turn them out, then all our ammunition will he required: and remember, concealment wherever possible—covering fire always—control of fifr e and' control of

men —communications- never to be ne glected.”