Untitled

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1915, Page 12

DISPOSITION OF, THE FORCE.

"On the morning of the 11th we moved out with tihe 18th Brigade for what wag called in orders 'operations.' little did we know what it was going to end in. First we, 120 th Regiment, moved out on the left on the fine fanned by toe 110 th Bdahratta light Infantry and the 16th Brigade. The Wth Brigade moved out in the direction of the supposed Turkish camp and we formed a Irft flank guard. At about 10 am. heavy firing started on our right. Subsequently we were ordered with the SbrJfoiks to'move to the right of the 18th Brigade. As we got up into position Ihe cavalry, who were in action, retired, land we took their place. There was no fchifly-sballying; we came under fire at once and my machine-guns were the first jto come into action. The cavalry vacatjW tie knoll before we had arrived, and k rushed my machine-guns on to It, to make sure the enemy did not get there Bret. We did not stay on the hiH long, tot went on across the open plain by rushes under a heavy fire. By tfcia time it was 11.30 a.m.

MAOHINimUNS m DIFFICULTIES. "We moved straight along, not knowing what we were attacking or anything •bout their position. Straight across the open we went —there was not a blade of cover. The enemy's covering troopa retired, keeping well away from us, to tteir main position, and we were heH up mbout 800 yards from it after having Advanced a mile and a-half. We again advanced toy sections or half companies, the machinwguns being in the firing line the whole time till aibout 600 yards away and were again held up for aibout an hour -and a-half toy oblique enfilade fire from the right. We had to wait till the 110 th came up on our right and reduced their fire from that quarter. In the meantime my maabine-guns ran out ef ammunition and water and several of the gunner had been hit. One man displayed exceptional bravery throughout in bringing up relays of ammunition. Other men with great pluck emptied their water bottles into the barrel-casing eo as to keep the guns firing. The com duct of all of them was so splendid that It is difficult to particularise. It was an intensely hot day, and we were almost dying of thirst, so the action of the men who gave up their water was no mean one. They were all as cool as encumbers and one man whom I tried to get to lay down and not to be continually doing jabs for other folks, said 'the bullets are afraid of me, sahib,' and went away to dig a pit in which to place a Wounded man. He was wounded himself a short time later." '" ""

THE HN'AL CHARGE. Lieutenant ifosse mentions that he was hit in the right hand, by which on with the guns for an hour, by whicli time they were within 500 yds of tin enemy. He was again wounded in the Tight foot, but stayed on in the firing line till the guns again advanced, and the men finally charged the enemy's position. "My guns went on, game to the end," he continues, "and I watched the charge and the enemy retreating/ One of my machine guns (had five gunners out of six ■wounded, but the remaining man kept the guns in a<tion. The other gun had three out of six gunners hit. Of the II (British officers, three were killed and £hrce wounded. It is a great loss, but it waa a grand fight."

"' A THIX BED LINE." "The situation at 3 p.m. was as follows:—'Everyjman of ours was in the filing line, nothing in reserve—a thin red Jine. The NorfoMa' * right and our left intennixed, lying in the open side bv Bide. The Turks bad considerable re"serves, which we could see plainly away in the rear, and we were "wondering WbtSheir they would, put them in. Four Racbiae guns winch were playing on our fcft *nd tie Norfolks* right were doing eraelderable damage, but they were °o well concealed that we could not locate tHwan. M headquarters orders were beiog isroed tor us to retire, but before <wy Trwe despatched the Doraets, NortoVn and ourselves charged home. The fflMJkft left their position and the Nor.folks and ourselves got three machinegun* and a lot of prisoners were captur. jed. Tleir force was probably 10,000, net more; ours 5000, and we had to attack a beautifully-situated position across an open plain. "The old re'-imen'. lost three; splendid 'ofliaf-;-! rr.i .f) i,-iei- 'dllel and 1 CO were \-r---r. '•(• V l- ; ■ ■ rj' " ! '.i the show ».'■'■■■■. il: mr...f' jcti.tlv. T6e general

eaid, 'I don't mind what anyone says; no troops, black ot white, could have advanced better *eross the open under that 'Are tfaan you did.' All regiments engaged did splendidly, but I think the I good eto 120 th did best, if that is possible. In all, there were 47 officers killed and wounded in seven regiments, artillery and cavalry. The Turks have Tetired over 20 miles, and are still retiring, and the campaign here is over for the time being. It was the stiff est fight we are likely to. see, and it was touch-and-go that ike whole force iWas. not wiped out, 1 '