GALLIPOLI LANDING.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 January 1919, Page 6

GALLIPOLI LANDING.

TURK COMMANDER’S REVEW OPERATIONS CRITICISED. BRAVERY OF TROOPS PRAISED LONDON, Dec. 27. The special commissioner in the Mediterranean for the Sydney Sun’s cable, service telegraphed from Constantinople on December 14:' — It is a most curious atmosphere here, an atmosphere of extreme politeness, with the Turkish leaders trying to insinuate cordiality and an everlasting friendship for B'ritain. I found the sensation of interviewing Mustapha Kcinal Pasha, commander of the Anzac and Suvla Turkish armies in 1915, drinking coffee and smoking fine cigarettes, in his luxurious apartments, curious indeed. ‘'The Australians are very good fighters,’ ’ he said in French. ‘‘ I often spoke to my men about them, and they thought them terrible, but Brave, ” Keinal commanded the Anafarta and Anzac regions from the landing until a fortnight before the evacuation, when he fell sick. He describes the plan of attack as a good and strong idea, but said: "It was a mistake to make the naval first nd then go away and return. If a landing had been combined with the first naval attack it ,would have succeeded, and you would have "captured Constantinople. However, we got warning and prepared strong defences.

W knew weeks before that the British intended to make a permanent landing, hence the strength of our defences. I thought that a landing at Anzac would be impossible. ‘'You made a mistake in trying to hold too largo an area. If the Australians had occupied a smaller area they would have held it se'curcly, with less loss. I saw the mistake immediately and sent my main force round the left, driving in the flank, while a small holding force opposed your centre.

"We had very heavy losses.” he said, "but we almost destroyed the attacking force, and drove it into a tiny arc On the coast-, where it was Hinder the protection of warships. It was a very daring adventure, and if more men had been employed at Anzac it -would have succeeded. Only the bravest troops could have accomplished what was done. We feared failure for some weeks, but then our confidence became absolute, and after the Suvla landing we always had the best of the position.”

General Keinal admitted that the Turks were short of ammunition, but he claimed that there was always enough to keep going. They were always short, but never exhausted.

He later commenced talk of the Caucasus, and of Syria, It was difficult to realise that one was in the presence of a man who had fought us latterly. He spoke so sincerely of the courage and resourcefulness of the Australians that before departing I found myself saying that if lie ever visited Australia he would find many •old opponents glad to see him.