HUGE BATTLE RAGING.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1915, Page 12 (Supplement)

HUGE BATTLE RAGING.

COLONIALS' GLORIOUS CHARGE. Writing to a, friend in Christchureh from the liring line at the Dardanelles. " from somewhere in the censored area," Gunner K. Owen Pierce, of Auckland, of tin! -Jnd Battery New Zealand Field Artillery, siiys:-- '• 1 am writing this where, a huge battle is raging, and the shells «w screaming overhead and bullets whistling everywhere. It is not safe to be without cover. I have had some marvellous escapes with shells whistling all round. The colonial troops have made a name for themselves which will never die, ami 1 do feel proud to lie amongst them. There was a most glorious charge the other day. when our hoys charged up a hill under murderous lire. Such a tiling has. never been done before, and it seems impossible that it could have 'been successful. The hill was an awful place, very steep and lull of hidden ambushes. The enemy ntver dreamed we could be mad enough to attempt to capture it at the point of the bayonet. When those colonial boys got going, nothing could stop them. 'J'hey did get there, but at an awful sacrifice, .khich will cause, sadness in many colonial homes. 'But (blood has never been shed under more glorious circumstances, and when people hear how the charge was miule it, will cheer them up, knowing that their b>ysTfave.il°nc their duty. SLEEPIN'G IX T A DUG-OUT. " You see the, wounded—some awful wounds—as cheerful as if they were sitting down to a goouVfneal. We, all'joke, about the. shells and bet on who is goiiig to be struck next. When anyone Is wounded, it is taken as a matter of course, a'lid They all curse because they have to leave the firing line. I sleep in a dug-out, jnsfjike a .primitive cavedweller. It is fairly comfortable, but very noisy at night. The thunderous roar of big guns and the rattle of 'Maxims and tlie of small shot is deafening, but I go to sleep in spite of it all. I 'believe if I come, through this campaign 'successfully I shall be alble to sleep anywhere. CUT OFF FROM FRIEXDS. " Some of tile, regiments have been vut up, especially tin Canterbury's, but we have thousands wift, and we are happy and sanguine is sqv.te of what "we arc going through. Things arc going well with us, and Ave expect a successful issue from our operations. Last week myself, another chap and an officer were reconnoitring in front of the firing line in a little observation station. We were laying wires to the different headquarters, when the wires were cut either by spies or shrapnel. This meant that we were cut oil' from all communication. This lasted for three whole days and nights. Xo one, could get to its on account of the heavy cross fire, and the enemy did not have a chance to get us for the same reason. I hope I will never go through such a time again. Luckily. I had our rations with us, also water bottles, and these kept us going. In (he middle of the third night, amidst the roar of firing, wc heard the hoys charging the enemy, singing "fipperury,' and to hear this song at such a. time and place was grand. What a rcci; F lion they gave the Turks!"