The Daily News. FRIDAY. JUNE 18, 1915. THE COST OF THE DARDANELLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 318, 18 June 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY. JUNE 18, 1915. THE COST OF THE DARDANELLES.

One of the most heroic feats in the annals of warfare was that performed by the New Zealandcrs and Australians in landing at Claba Tepo in the face of strong opposition and in the absence of *over. Many of our men were laid low before reaching land, but those who got ashore were undaunted in dashing across the open under a merciless hail of bullets and slirapnel'and storming the positions held by the enemy. To old campaigners and well-seasoned troops facing (such an ordeal might well have struck terror into their hearts, yet the comparatively recent recruits who had been leading civilian lives and were totally unacquainted with the horrors of real warfare braved all opposition—deadly as it was —and pushed their way forivard in a manner time would have done credit to Napoleons Old Guards, whose motto was: "We may die, but will nevr surrender." Ft was an achievement th:\t has send the blood th.'illing through the. Veins of i lie citizens of Auslralas'a, whose pride at the exploit was onlv marred by the terrible cost of life resulting from its performance. Our men died like heroes, and the wounded consoled themselves with the precious thought of duly nobly done. Bur whal of tlie mothers ami fathers and the other tinxious ones kept in suspense for over six weeks as to what had happened to the one or more members of that valiant band whose marvellous work will live in liistorv for all time? Little by little

Ihe casually b-J- have been made known in \.-v.- Zealand, gradual].- growing in extent, but not yet by any means exhausted. V,Y may well ask why the Hgoin of wailing should have been so long prolonged. It will n,,|, soften the 1d.",-, to air, or tliosc who bavc grown wear, of waiting' for now- and are rent

lisunder with the constant evpootnthm

"lira . heart, J men and women \v!:o i-niild have -toed the shook of bad nevs with I'orlili'de weeks ago arc having their coerar- t;i. '-nam. .1 by the agar,;, of ,-iisucu-o. In the name of hiimanilv>

have |,eeu jiisl and right; that every cil'orl should Inn,, been made by (V> Imperial authorities to forward (he full casualty list ~i the earlie-! possible moiiient. There must, of eouv-c, he

dilucullio.- in ihe way of compiling a (mi list of casualties immediately after an engagement, but to send forward

scrappy insta lmcnls over a period 0/ six weeks and then leave a large number to be accounted for shows that tiio authorities in charge of this important duty are either supremely callous or woefully incompetent. The duty of the Prime Minister of New Zealand would seem to be as clear as it. is urgent. The Imperial authorities should be made to understand that, so far as the dominions are concerned, the men at the front should not be regarded with the same cold official eye that controls the 'communications of casualties to the relatives of the British Tommies. The dominions have gladly sent the flower of their manhood to the Empire's aid in its time of greatest need. They are volunteers who have willingly and eagerly left their home and country at the call Of the Empire, and surely their relatives are entitled to know in reasonable time what has befallen their absent ones. We knew that the toll of life at the landing at the Dardanelles was heavy, but what ever -ic in the Dominion is anxiously awaiting is the full list of casualties. It is beyond all reason that the unjustifiable delay still continues, and it is high time that a strong presentment should be made by our Government against a system of unpardonable procrastination which is causing endless suffering to relatives and friends. That it can be remedied is obvious. We are not regarding this matter from, a local aspect, but from a national standpoint. Tt should, under the circumstances, be a special point of honor to satisfy all concerned at the very earliest possibls date as to what has happened to our boys in the fighting line after every engagement. We have a right to demand that much at least, if only by reason of the many sacrifices that have been made. The present unsatisfactory practice is no credit to the authorities and it should be drastically altered, even if it involves a radical change in the personnel of the staff that is now engaged on the work. The operations at the Dardanelles are likely to prove of great magnitude, and the same may be said of those in the Western area. To keep the people, of New Zealand in suspense such as we, have been undergoing is as unnecessary as it is callous.