POSITION IN TURKEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1915, Page 12

POSITION IN TURKEY.

•■W NO MISAXS NEAR ITS END." CHANGE OF EGYiPTIAN ATTITUDE. Sydney, August 2.9. Sir Joseph Oarruthers, M.L.C., is in receipt of a letter from JjieuenanitColonel Dr. , who is serving at the military hospital at Cairo. The letter, which is very lengthy and informative, mentions, amongst other things, that the e'hairge of the Australian troops at . Gallipoii 'was one of the tilings that experts regarded as amongst the im> possible, as they defied at close quarters the murderous fire of magazine rifles and machine guns in the hands of well-train-ed and brave soldiers of the Turkish 'army. Most of the men (wounded) told 1 Dr. that they charged without once firing their rifles, and when they reached the summit only used their Bayonets. The troops gained in about half an hour all, if not more, of the eneany'R country than they held at the date of the letter, or <55 days aifter the memorable charge. The task before the Allies in the Dardanelles cannot lightly be regarded, and is by no means near its end. Even the guns of the Queen Elizabeth, after persistently shelling a spot on a hill till it was considered that no one could live within three miles of the bombard,ed space, had .little effect, since within half an hour aifter the firing ceased the Turks swarmed over the bombarded area. Colonel warningly writes against under-estimating, the numbers or the character of the Turkish soldiers and the Turks generally. It is fast becoming a unanimous opinion that the Allies must meet the - enemy with equal or better brainy ind scientific organisation not merely of men, but of fighting methods and implements. The training that the Australian troops have undergone in Egypt .prior to their removal to Gaihpali 'brought them to a, fine .condition, and it is necessary that all reinforcements should arrive in time to have months of similar training in Egypt. Colonel ■ mentions most disquieting facts with regard to the attitude of tne Egyptian populace. His own words are: "What is thought here of the progress of the Allied armies against the Turks? Were one guided by the published news, we would formulate the same opinions as do the people in other parts of the world. . We have, however, under our eyes the Egyptian people, who are brotEer-Mohammedans to the Ottoman subjects, and who are In close daily communication with friends and relatives at Constantinople and elsewhere. Their behaviour towards us in the streets, i.e., to officers of the British forees, is enough to indicate how, in their opinion, the tide of fortune flows with the contending armies. A few months back officials, police and civilians were overawed by the stalwart, hard-faced man in khaki who filled the streets of Cairo, and in lordly manner frequented the hotels, filled the motorcars, and lolled back in the garrys. They made way in hurried manner for the ambulances and the automobiles. Not 90 are they now. On the footpath a big Egyptian will dare to bump an officer of our forces in the streets; the motor engines have often to be slowed down for natives, who now will not get out of the way, and the disdainful look that greets a uniform is not uncommon. Drivers of the motors tell me that the change is very .apparent to them." Dr. urges that we should understand the .position, and leave no stone unturned to send along men and equipment until the critical stages p%«s by. He pays a, high testimony to the motor ambulances given by Australia, and says they Oiave done wonderful work, and saved hundreds of lives, as well as diminished suffering.