FIGHTING AT GALLIPOLI.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1915, Page 6

FIGHTING AT GALLIPOLI.

HOLDPG THE GROUND AT 'ANZAC. FIELD OP OPERATIONS. (Prom Malcolm Ross, War Correspondent with New Zealand Forces). Anzae Cove, July 19. Since I last wrote there has been little or no change in the position. We remain in statu quo, and though each day has its incidents and incidences, there is necessarily a great deal that the war correspondent cannot at this juncture be permitted to discuss. We are all ex-, pectantly looking forward to approach* ing events. Meantime the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps is successfully hanging on to its little bit of the [Peninsula, while the Allies in the south are hammering away at Achi Baba, which largely dominates the situation and cannot be taken without consider-. able losses on our side as well as on the sides of the Turks. | [ New Zealanders will naturally he anxious to know what their forces have been doing of late, and I may perhaps be allowed in a succeeding article to give a general narrative of the week's doings. They will already have gathered from the lists of killed and wounded cabled officially and published in the newspapers long before this reaches the Dominion that, though as yet no forward move is being made, there is nevertheless a fair amount of activity being displayed day by day and night by night in the firing line. Not only is this the case, but the whole position is daily under shell fire. Meantime our defences, though they are repeatedly shelled by the enemy, are being materially improved and strengthened. The rugged nature of the country on our front, however, gives the enemy great facilities in regard to the disposition of his artillery, and makes it extremely difficult for us to locate his guns or to knock them out once they have been located. With his wider ter. rain, also, he has the advantage of moving his batteries either by night or by day from one position to another. So far the Turk has "played the game," and the fighting has been clean. Ah exception may perhaps be made in regard to the first few days of the campaign, but it is certain that the tales one heaTd about atrocities were greatly exaggerated. The question we are now concerned about is whether, under German precept and example, the Turk will condescend to use, or be forced to use, those diabolical aids to warfare that for the first time in the world's history and in defiance of all convention, were used in Europe by the modern Hun. One feels almost certan that, if left to his own devices, the Turk would not descend to the use of such methods. [Note.—The remainder of this article has ben bodily cut out by the censor.] THE DAILY ROUND. SHELLING AND BOMBING. July 20. On July 13 two enemy mountain guns on Mortar Ridge, opposite Courtney's, opened on that post during the early morning. They were engaged by our howitzers, one shell hitting the left emplacement. Courtney's was also subjected to fire from the Turkish "seven-ty-fives." At 9.15 p.m. we carried out a "fire demonstration" with great success, heavy ineffective fire being drawn from the enemy's trenches in front of Quinn's. One of our batteries fired some well-directed shells into the enemys trenches. At 5.30 a.m., about 50ft in front of our trenches at Courtney's was blown up at a sap where our miners had broken into what appeared to be a new Turkish trench ready for opening up. This explosion blocked up for the time being the opening from our sap into the Turkish trench, There was the usual shelling during the day. Here also our "fire demonstration" was a success, and drew heavy fire from the enemy—fire that was, of course, entirely ineffective. During the demonstration the enemy trenches were lit up by star shells from the mountain guns. This was followed by artillery fire directed on "the chess-board," a position in which the Turks have crisscrossed the ground with trenches to such an extent as to well deserve the name. The slopes on the south-west of "Baby 700," a hill beyond our position on the left centre, were also shelled by our guns. On the Australian side the rifle fire drawn at night was greater than anything previously experienced on this flank. In one place Turks seen with fixed bayonets were promptly dealt with by the Australians. The gun fire generally apparently had the effect of making the enemy call up his local reserves. The rapidity oi' the Turkish machine-gun with which their field-guns were directed on positions was remarked upon. Within three minutes of the Australians opening fire the first Turkish shell was dropped on Holly Ridge, and from 250 to 300 shells fell near the trenches occupied by the 3rd Infantry Brigade. This shelling, however, was responsible for only a very few casualties. On July 14 Courtney's Post was severely shelled by an enemy 5.7-ineh £un hidden in the direction of Hill 971, but the damage done to the trenches was soon repaired. There were, naturally, a few casualties. The Turks also suffered from our shelling of one of their positions, known as "German Officers' Trench." They made great headway during the night in repairing the damage. In another section the Anafarta gun dropped a few shells at odd times during the afternoon at the foot of Plugge's Plateau. Throughout the night the enemy kept Up sharp bursts of rifle fire, and showed considerable uneasiness. It is possible that several of their trenches were filled with new troops. One of our howitzers replied to the Turkish "seventy-five" and silenced it for the time being. The enemy's heavy howitzer firing at Courtney's Post was engaged by the Australian Field Batteries and the 5-inch howitzers. On the Australian side the enemy's fire was active during the night with occasional heavy bursts. A patrol encountered five Turks who refused to surrender. These were dropped by the Australians at close range, and the others also appeared to have been hit. Subsequently thirty or forty Turks tried to rush the Australian patrol of six, but the latter withdrew safely. Later, in another position, a Turkish patrol was forced to retire by heavy rifle fire. On July 15 Courtney's was shelled by a 6-inch gun from the direction of Battleship Hill, to the north. One shot landed inside the post and did some damage, but there were no casualties. At 3 p.m. the mountain gun on Mortar Sidge also shelled this position, and the 6-ineh gun again opened, causing some damage to t the trenches on the right of Courtney's,

but no casualties. There was rather more rifle fire than usual from the enemy during the night. In section there was a very quiet day, with little shelling. During the afternoon there was a treat deal of sniping along the beach on the left wing from rough, scrubby country north of Walker's Ridge. Bayonets, which 'had not been seen for some time, were noticed in the enemy trenches opposite the neck between 9 and 10 p.m., indicating that new troops had been moved up. Our bomb-throwing made the enemy nervous, and they fired a good deal at nothing in particular. On July Ml further repairs were made to the trenches at Courtney's Post. At 7.30 p.m. the enemy was heard working underground some distance from our mines. The enemy 5.7 gun again opened fire in the evening, but the shells appear, ed to fall into Steele's (Post, occupied by the Australians. A (Turkish bomb, apparently thrown from a mortar, landed on the left of Pope's Hill, but did not explode. Heavy bombing took place at Quinn's between 5.30 and 6.30 a.m. The enemy were heard digging within a few feet of the tunnel, in sap No. ■ , so a chaTge of ■ was fired to disturb their proceedings. A Turkish gun from the Chocolate Hills shelled our support trenches at the north-west of Russell's Top, damaging the parapets but inflicting only two casualties. On July 17, in the early morning, there was constant bombing at Quinn's, In the evening the enemy 5.7-inch fired a few shots into Courtney's Post. There were no casualties from this shelling, but slight damage was done to the trenches. In the evening a mine was successfully exploded an front of No. —;— Post at Quinn's. At Quinn's our people also bombed the enemy and drew short bursts of rifle Are. At 7.30 p.m. the mountain guns fired three shells into a Turkish machine-gun emplacement on "Baby 700," a high point on the left flank. Our mountain batteries have been doing excellent work. On July 18 the enemy mountain gun shelled Courtney's, but did no aamage'. The enginers exploded a mine in that post which exposed a Turkish trench not 'hitherto located. From No. —— section a body of enemy infantry estimated at about a battalion, was seen manoeuvring about the Chocolate Hills, and another party—about one company—was seen marching from Kutchuk Anafarta to Biyuk Anafarta villages to the northeast of our position. Mounted Turkish troops were also seen patrolling in a northerly direction. In Anzac Cove a Taube flew lower than usual over the position, dropping two bombs, one of which exploded, but did no damage. This bomb, which burst near its base,, was pyramidal in form, and made of bronze. It was stated to be the same type as was recently used in trie German rail on London. On the Sunday morn< ing one of our aeroplanes scouted high over the Turkish position at the back of Anzac Cove. An enemy gun on two ocasions burst shrapnel under her, but she was much too high to be hit by these guns. We had the usual shelling on the beach and a mortar dropped a few 11-ineh shells into our gully. The shell was a round one. Apparently both mortar and shell were of an old pattern, but the shell had evidently been refilled with a high explosive, for it burst with a loud report, and chunks of blackened iron were thrown about. To-day we can hear the booming of the guns at Achi Baba. Opposite our bay the balloon is up, and a cruiser and two monitors are planting shells from their heavy guns on to the mainland at long range. Thus day by day and night by night we do our daily round. There are rumors of a new Turkish army of 100,000 men making a final effort to drive us into the sea. This is the time of the religious festival of Ramadan—a favorable time to play upon the fanatical feelings of the Turks. We are all hop. ing they will attack. CONTINUED TRENCH WARFARE. NEW ZEALANDERS STILL HOLDING THEIR GROUND. July 24. There has been no material change In the situation and Turks and Australasians are still facing each other in the trenches they have occupied for some time past. The operations at Quinn's and Courtney's continue to be the most interesting. Indeed, they are fascinating, for, a3 has already been stated, they are really unique in warfare. As you walk through trench after trench and sap after sap at Quinn's, or creep doubled up along the dark mining galleries, your interest is quickened, and though you never quite know when a bomb will come hurtling over the parapet or when a mine may be exploded above or below or at the side, you become so interested that fear vanishes. The genial colonel who is in charge ana who shows you round was n well-known Taranaki barrister, and his motto is that the art of war lies in the cultivation of domestic virtues. Therefore, he is transforming Quinn's into a model workshop and dwelling-place wherein vou can even drink a cup of tea in" peacer Seriously speaking, he has worked wonders at Quinn's, and the Quinn's of today 39 safer and more habitable than was the post of earlier days. It is only when the gallant colonel gets one of his men to throw a bomb across the wry few yards of intervening space between you and the Turkish firing-line and there is a loud explosion, the while you wait expectantly for a like favor from the Turks, that you realise you are up again3t it." It is a still stranger sensation at the end of a narrow dark tunnel to listen to some solitary Turk working industriously with his pick only a few feet away from where you are crouching. As you hear him tap-tap-ping like a woodpecker in a hollow tree you begin to wonder what he is thin*. ing about, and what will be the end of all his 'hard, uncomfortable labor. Generally speaking, it is the miner and not the counter-miner, who wins out in the end in these attacking operations Ths particular fellow has had his tunnel blown in upon him three times, yet here he is, again picking away in the'hope of undermining our position! DEAD TURKS. Another important post that is interesting is held by the Now Zealandera and a section of the Australian Llglit Horse. Here you find yourself in a perfect labyrinth of deep "trendies, with, at intervals, sand-bagged parapets. The position is in charge of a Brigadier. General, well known in the Hawke's Bay district. Deeply-carved shelters are cut into the earth from the trenches, and in these the men can rest and Bleep in safety, if not in comfort. The "shelters" are all numbered. Along the trenches also are little niches, such as you might see in a church wall for sacred images. These, with their blackened clay, are the little recesses where, under tiny fires men do their cooking in their "dixies." You come upon "Main Street," and "Broadway," and ''Whitelane," and one sign points to "Happy Valley," which is, no doubt, a haven of rest for weary troops. All this is on Bussell's Top, a prolongation of Walker's Ridire. Telephone wires and barbed

wire and wire-netting enter into" the scheme of defence. . The trenches are clean, but the smell of the dead killed in the last Turkish advance still hangs about them. We have come to a, place whore we are within a few yards of the enemy's rifles, and yon dare not show an inch or two of your head above the parapet for fear of being' sniped. Our friend tile enemy has to be equally careful. We take a periscope, and putting tlhe top glass above the trench carefully examine the Twlriah position. Between our trench and theirs are a number of empty tine that the Turks have thrown away, and in amongst these, and quite near us, are some strange little heaps that look like the discarded clothes of a number of tramps. Looking at them more intently you note that some of the ragged bundles have just a suggestion of human shape. They cover the bodies of dead Turks, the attenuation of which in this everlasting hot summer eun proceeds somewhat rapidly, if unpleasantly. They are the remains of Turks shot down in the last attack, and neither side dare go out to bring the bodies in or to bury them. In the end they will become skeletons, and eventually one side or the other, after an advance, will gather the littie heaps together, and consign them to a common shalow grave. It was at this spot, a few days ago, that one of our staff—a member of the j House of Commons—did rather a daring thing. A' wounded Turk had lain for some time in front of our trench, and our men dared sot go out to make him prisoner nor his friends to rescue him. The M.P., who speaks Turkish, essayed the task, and brought the man into our lines. tf&W^a^S) A BUGLER BOY. The other day some of our men came | upon a small skeleton beyond one of our trenches. The identification diac showed that tlhe khaki uniform contained the mortal remains of abugler of the Canterbury Regiment. He had been posted as missing. The remains were gathered together, and New Zealand soldiers gave him decent burial on the hills of Gallipoli, far away from his home and his native land. It was strange that this boy had not been discovered before, especially during the armistice. Poor lad, he must have fallen nobly in the front line during those critical days, when our men gained a footing, and held their ground. From another position we gain a glorious view across a bit of level land and a beautiful curving bay to Suvla iPoint. The sea is a deep blue. Imbros and Sanothrace lie not far across the water in the (haze of a summer-moon. Here, for the first time, our Maori friends have come into the firing-line. They look fi£, and well, and their discipline is good. At any moment now they may be called upon to defend their lines or to make an advance against the enemy. The colonel in command Is confident that they will fulfil the traditions of their race.