A GREAT BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1915, Page 5

A GREAT BATTLE.

THE BATTLE ON CALLIPOLI. A COMBAT OF GIANTS. GRAND WORK OF THE COLONIALS. London, September 2. Mr. Ashmoad Bartlett, in a dispatch dated August 19, states that since the greatest battle on Gallipoli closed on August 10 both armies have been busy consolidating their positions, replenishing ammunition, and reorganising units intermingled in the rugged, mountainous country. I visited the ground where the Anzac Corps advanced, making desperate efforts for four days to reach the crest of the Sari Bair commanding ridge, giving access to the highest peak, namely Hoja Tchemen, which is torn asunder by a gigantic ravine. The New Zealand Infantry Brigade, Gurkhas, and other battalions almost reached the objective, but were -unable to hold it through no fault of the battalion. The Gurkhas actually reached the crest of the plateau, but at the same moment the Turks, taking advantage of the confusion, counter-attached with great force and drove the Gurkhas back to lower spurn. The survivors who obtained views of the promised land describe the waters of the Dardanelles lying beneath with a Turkish transport steaming southward. They also looked down the Narrows to Kilid Bahr. There was bitter disappointment at relinquishing the crest whpn it was almost in their grasp after so many months, but there was no alternative. The Anzac men fought like lions and accomplished a feat of arms almost without parallel The climbing of those heights, although handicapped by the failure of another corps to make good its positions on the Anafarta Hills farther north for the purpose of checking the enemy's shellfire, when the details of the complicated operations are sifted, will form one of the most fascinating pages in the history of the war. it was a comlbat of giants in a giant country. The outstanding fact was the marvellous hardihood, tenacity and reckless courage of the Australians and New Zealanders. We will not forget the part played by a division of the new English Army. WORK OF THE MAORIS. Received September 3, 5.5 p.m. London, September 2. Mr. Bartlett continues:—Unaccustomed to the novel conditions of mountain warfare, unaccustomed to marching, fighting and climbing in'heat for hours, without water, they nobly supported the colonials, and suffered heavy losses unflinchingly. The Maoris skilfully crept forward over broken ground, wirecutting and preparing the way for the advance, in order to enable the forces detailed for the main movement, which had for its ultimate object the occupation of Sari Bair from Chunuk Bair to Kojacbemen. It was necessary to attract the enemy's attention towards the south, and force him to keep troops in front of our lines, while our main forces debouched from Anzac. IMPORTANCE OF LONESOME PINE. This was the reason for the Australian advance on August 0, a desperate attack on Lone Pine plateau, four hundred feet high, and of great strategic importance, opening up the main line of communication between Anzac and the Kilid Bahr plateau further south. The Turks had fortified it carefully',, and it was a veritable fortress of trenches, roofed with huge pine logs, railway sleepers, and.immense teak planks, covered with earth, making the trenches imporvious to shells, except those of heavy howitzers. PRELUDE TO THE ATTACK. The assault oh August 6 was preceded by fifteen minutes' furious bombardment, which had, however, little effect, as the Turks were safely dug' in. Therefore forcing the position devolved on the infantry. THE AUSTRALIANS' RUSH. The Australians rushed forward {<. the assault with the fury 'of fanatics, little heeding the tremendous shrapnel fire and enfilading rifle fire. The great difficulty was to force a way into the I trenches. It was a mighty physical effort to remove the obstructions. Groups effected an entrance at various points, and jumped in. The Turks were caught in a trap. Some surrendered, but the majority choose to die fighting. There was a desperate hand-to-hand fight in every trencli and'dugout. Four trench lines were captured in succession, additional infantry pouring in as advancing lines were thinned by casualties. Bombs played an important role and the Australians were only able to hold the position through an Unceasing supply. FEARFUL UNDERGROUND STRUGGLE. The Turks massed their forces, and counter-attacked desperately for three days and nights. They frequently retook sections, only to be again driven out. It was an extraordinary struggle, being almost entirely underground. Both sides showed an utter disregard of life. Wounded and dead choked the trenches almost to the top, and the survivors carried on the fight over heaps of corpses. THE TREXCJT.ES A SHAMBLE*. Despite the mo it determined courage of the reinforced Turks, the Australians held their ground, and finally the Turk.- 1 wearied ef the struggle. The trendies were now merely battered shambles. The removal of the 'dead and wounded occupied days. The bodies of thousands of Turks and Colon ials were removed from the trenches, and thero were hundred* more outside. 'Die Turkish losses in their section alone are estimated at five thousand, chiefly incurred in the counter-attacks. BRINGING UP MUNITIONS. The Australians' most advanced outpost was beypnd Fisherman's Hut, in an intervening gap in flat ground, connected by a wide gap that it was impossible to cross, except by daylight. 'Millions of rounds of ammunition and thousands of Bhells were carried to the advanced posts along the gap by daytime, or along the beach at night-time. This operation, together with the arrival of strong Australian reinforcements, was kept a profound secret. Before the Australians could deploy over the wide front of spurs and ravines giving access to Sari Bair, it was necessary to take a number of outlying posts. This involved a preliminary- move due

north, over ibroken ground, in total darkness, and then a wheel due east for the purpose of assaulting the main ridge. HOODWINKING THE ENEMY. As on the previous nights, the warships showed their and 'bombarded the Turkish positions. The Turks had not suspected an infantry attack, and when the searchlights were playing in another position the Australians dashed forward, capturing in succession the outposts. At daybreak the whole force was : slovvly moving towards the main Sari Bair position in the face of great difficulties, being harassed Iby snipers, checked by difficulties of ground, and a scarcity of water. At dawn on the seventh the left of our line reached the Asiuadere position. The Indians had advanced a long way ; towards Chunuk' Bair and had reached \ a farm, whilst the New Zealanders were on Rhododendron Spur Ridge. Then it was decided to postpone a further advance until nightfall. Turkish snipers everywhere, harassed our lines throughout the day. THE AUSTRALIANS CHECKED. The advance was resumed at four o'clock in the morning of August 8. The Australians on the left advanced from Asmadere to Abdelrahma Bair, whence, it was hoped they could wheel to the right to attack Kojaohemen. Little or no progress was possible, in this attack. The Turks, in great strength, at. one time threatened to surround the. force, which had withdrawn to its original position on Asmadere, where they held out ail day long- against deiennin-' ed attacks. RHODODENDRON RIDGE. Throughout the day and night the New Zealandens, although thoroughly exhausted, maintained their hold at Chunuk Bair. Two other regiments relieved them during the night. The Turks, strongly reinforced, desperately! attacked at dawn on the 10th, from Chunuk Bair hill, hurling themselves regardless of their lives against the two regiments, who desperately resisted, (but were driven by artillery fire and sheer Weight of numbers further down the slope. The Turks, following up this success, charged right over the crest towards the gully southwards of Rhododendron Ridge, with a view' of penetrating between their own line and the the Anzac position, but they reckoned without our artillery and ships' guns. The New Zealanders dcterminedyl assaulted Rhododendron crest, and gained the southwestern slope of Chunuk Bair. The Indians were advancing on their left, but exhaustion, scarcity of-water, and their numerous wounded, compelled a cessation until nightfall. A FINAL ASSAULT. It wasi-then planned that three columns, the New Zealanders, Indians, and another brigade, should finally assault Chunuk Bair at daybreak on the 9th, 'preceded by a naval and land bombardment. The advance of the third column was delayed by broken ground and the enemy's resistance. Meanwhile the Gurkhas gallantly! swarmed the slopes, 'and had a vision of the other side. Unfortunately they were unable to retain the position in the face of violent counter-attacks, and shclllire. Meanwhile a great Turkish force counter-attacked, and compelled the other brigade upon the left to withdraw to the lower slopes. "NO FINER FEAT." Although the capture of Lonesome Bine was the most desperate hand-to-hand fight there has yet been on the 'Peninsula, it was merely a diversion and a preliminary to the main movement northwards, which commenced the same evening under cover of darkness. There has been no finer feat in the whole war than the manner in which the troops destined for the main movement against Sari Bair deployed for the attack. A direct attack was not at'teniptcd, as it would have entailed immense losses, and probably been a failure, because the 'tucks posted on the hills surrounding Anzac held tho inner position in a vice. 'Therefore the only attacks were from Lonesome Piue and sorties from Quinn's Post, Kusscll's Top, and Pope's Post, northward of Anzac, in order to hold the enemy in the trenches. GREAT CHARGE BY THE TURKS. ARTILLERY'& DEADLY WORK. The warships and land batteries plainly observed the Turks' great charge.; Four successive lines of infantry, in close formation, were caught in a trap, and the momentum down hill prevented a recoil. 'Die Turks were swept. away by hundreds by a terrilic storm of high explosive shrapnel and common shells from the ships' guns, howitzer*, and field pieces. Never since the commencement oi the campaign has such a target delighted the hearts of our gunners. Huge shells from the warships threw huge cbuiiks of soil skyward, mingled with human bodies, which fell into dvep ravines. Even this concentration of artillery might not have checked them, Ibuf ten machine-guns rattled at short range until the guns smoked with heat. Hardly a Turk reached tlie hills .again. Their lines got mixed up, and those seeking to retire clashed with the others pressing forward. Some fled back over the crest towards the safety of tho trenches, and others dashed down,wards to the ravines, where shrapnel searched them out. The entire division was broken up in a few minutes, and the Turks thus paid a terrible price for their success in regaining the crest. Portions of the line at Rhododendron ilidg'' were compelled to gi>e ground, ■l-ho Harks fighting most desperately. realising tho precariousuess oi' their position. OFFICERS' MAGNIFUibINT CONDUCT. The magnificent conduct of our officers saved the day. Generals and colonels fought with bayonets alongside privates. Nobody knew how a. comrade was faring amongst the scrub, and .many commanding officers were killed. MOST FEROCIOUS BATTLE SINCE INKERMAN. Gradually our lost ground was regained, and at nightfall on the 10th fighting had dwindled down from the sheer exhaustion of both armies, and the impossibility of further .physical effort. Thus ended the most ferociously sustained soldiers' battle since liikrrmami, that lasted a few hours, .but Englishmen Australians, New Zealanders, Maoris, ■'Gurkhas, and Sikhs were engaged in this terrible combat on the bloodstained hills for four days and four nights, at a Sicight of nine huudreit feet, whither supplies had to be carried along .paths that did not exist except on the map.

RESULT OF OPERATIONS. The operations resulted in an extension of the Anzac position, and thero is jio longer a stifled feeling that the troops are crowded in a restricted area The line now runs northward until it links up with the Corps before Anaiarta. We hold the foothills and arc established beneath the crest of Chunuk 'Bair, and aro securely dug in on the summit of Rhododendron Ridge, awaiting events complacently. , It is characteristic of the Colonial Britisher that he is not downhearted, [and is willing for another try. The incompleteness of our success was not the fault of these troops advancing from Anzac. A little less dead weight of numbers would have enabled the Anto consolidate the short desperate grip theji had at Chunuk Bair. It is a scene of desolation between the lines. •Wsses of Turks lie where they fell, and • many bodies have been thrown out of the trenches to make room for the living. On one point bodies of the Australian, ' Englishman, Maori, and Gurkha are lying side by side, marking the highest point that the Imperial forces have attained on the Peninsula. IN THE DARDANELLES. FOUR TRANSPORTS SUiNX OTHER VESSELS DAMAGED. Paris, September 2. A French communique states: —It was very calm on the southern' front at the Dardanelles last week . The British, in the northern zone, delivered successful attacks and gained possession of a mountain ridge west of Biyuk Anafarta, which was much disputed. Besides the transport which an aeroplane sank on August 20, British submarines have torpedoed four transports, two anchored at Aobashi Liman and two between Gallipoli and Nagara. j The guns of the warships struck several 'vessels anchored in the Straits. TURKISH REPORT. MINE-SWEEPERS DISTURBED. Constantinople, September 2. A communique states:—The enemy's left wing at Seddul Bahr, with a great waste of ammunition, unsuccessfully attempted to destroy our trenches. The batteries on the Straits last Monday forced the mine-sweepers, which approached the Dardanelles, to retreat and dispersed other mine-sweepers near Seddul Bahr. They also successfully bombarded 'the enemy's infantry at Seddul Bahr.