THE ORIENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1915, Page 5

THE ORIENT.

THE FIGHT FOR KRITHIA. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEFS REPORT. London, Sept. 20. Sir lan Hamilton's dispatch Continues: Tlie Senegalese Tirailleurs faced the heaviest Turkish artillery and were compelled to retire. They rallied, made another rush forward and sustained another repulse. Then a small supporting column charged along the crest of Kerevesdere, and then darkness came.

Next morning I learned that the New Zealanders' firing line had marched over the enemy's cleverly-concealed machineguns without seeing them. The ma-chine-guns, re-opening fire on our supports as they came up, caused heavy loss, but the first line pressed on, arrived within a few yards of the Turkish trenches which had been hilding up our advance, and then dug themselves in. The Australian Brigade had advanced, despite heavy losses from shrapnel, ma-chine-guns and rifle fire, and progressed 300 or 400 yards. Determined valor was shown by the New Zealand and Australian Brigades under Colonels Johnston and McCay respectively. They are worthy of particular praise. Their losses were correspondingly heavy, but, despite fierce counter-attacks by numerous fresh troops, they stuck to what they had won with admirable tenacity. The net result of Thursday's fighting was a gain of 600 yards on the British right and 400 yards on the left and in the centre. The Frencli had captured all the ground in front of the farm at Zimmerman, also a redoubt for which there was obstinate fighting for the whole of the three days. This may not seem much, but is actually more than at first meets the eye. The Turks and (their German leaders we're quick to realise the fact, and from nightfall till dawn op the 10th efforts were made everywhere to push us back, a specially heavy attack culminating in a hand-to-hand conflict. Everywhere the assaults were repulsed. Now for the first time our left had planted a fairly firm foothold on the point of the Gallipoli Peninsula.

COLONIALS DIG IN, Meanwhile in the northern zone the Australian and New Zealand army corps strengthened its grip on Turkish soil. They had been defending and digging themselves in, more firmly on those cliffs on whiclr at first it seemed their foothold was so precarious, Their role at this stage of the operations was firstly to keep open the door leading into the vitals of the Turkish possessions and secondly to hold up as large a foody as possible in front of them, and so lessen the strain on Cape Helles. In fact Anzac was cast to play second fiddle to Cape Helles, but the part was out. of harmony with the dare-devil spirit animating the warriors from the South. It has come about that the defensive of the Australians and New Zealanders always tends to take on the character of an attack. Their line at this period formed a rough semi-circle inland from the lieach at Anzac, covering a diameter of about 11:00 yards. The firing line was everywhere close to the enemy's trenches. In all sections sapping, counter-sapping, and bomb attacks were incessant. As many as'l4oo shells an hour fell on Auzac. They are of all calibres, from 11-incbers to field shrapnel. Around Quinn's Post the contest above and below ground was particularly severe. We carried on May 9 some of the enemy's trenches with the bayonet, established the troops in them, and sent up reinforcements. A strong counter-attack at dawn forced us to evacuate the trenches. In opposing this counter-attack our guns did great execution. We discovered later from a Turkish officer's diary that GOO were killed and 2000 wounded. A sortie on the night of the 14th, having for its object the filling in of the Turkish trenches, failed.

ANZAC ATTACKED. I deeply regret General Bridges' fatal wound. He showed sincere and singleminded devotion to Australia and to his duty. His loss stands out amongst hundreds of other brave officers gone. On the 18th Anzac was subjected to a heavy bombardment at midnight, and the most violent maeliine-gun and rifle fire yet experienced broke out. Heavy Turkish columns assaulted the left on No. 2 section. The attack was hearten off with loss. There was another attack before daylight on the centre of this section, which was repeated four times, but was always repulsed with heavy loss.

At a o'clock the enemy guns, including 12in. and Din. guns, began a furious cannonade. At !U0 the Turks were pressing against the left at Courtney's Post and on the right at Quiun's Post. This attack was unable to face the fire from the right, and swung round to the left, where it suffered severely from tile trenches beyond yuinn's Post, giving way under heavy losses.

According to prisoners' reports 30,000 men, including five fresh regiment-, were used, with General von Zanders himself commanding. Over ;iOOJ enemy dead were lying in open view from our trenches, a large proportion of the losses being due to artillery fire. Our casualties were about liw billed and 500 wounded.

On tlic 20lli, ;it 5 o'clock in tin' aftcr--110011, white flag's ami crescents began to appear all along the line. MajurUcneral Walker met the Turkish officers half-way between the trenches. Thev asked for a suspension for the re moval of the dead ami woumle,!. General Walker sail lie had no power to grant 111 i-•, hut would exchange letters at 8 o'clock. Meanwhile hostilities recommenced for ten minutes. Hearing of these movement-: (General Birdwood ordered the trenches to ho inam.ed against a possible attack. The enemy's concentration continued, and everything pointed to the Turks' intention to u-.e

the last of the daylight to -ret the troops in position without being shelled. A message was sent across that the cleaving of the dead and wounded would not be allowed during the night. Immediately fire broke out in front of our right section, and masses of Turks advanced behind lines of unarmed men holding up their hands. Firing became general all along the Turkish line, accompanied by a heavy bombardment. Evidently the attack was prearranged. ARMISTICE ARRANGED. As the Turks seemed anxious to bury their dead, and humane sentiment and medical science both favored the course, I sent General Braithwaite to assist General Birdwood in making arrangements. The result was a suspension of arms oil the 24th from 7.30 a.m. till 4.30 p.m. Three thousand Turkish dead —killed on or since the lSth —were removed or buried.

THE BATTLE AT QUINN'S POST. The fighting from May 28 till June •5 seemed to concentrate round Quinn's Post. Enemy galleries were detected and their work on them Btopped by counter-mines, killing 20 Turks and wounding 30; hut one gallery was overlooked, and the mine was sprung at 3.30 on the morning of the 29th, in the centre of Quinn's Post. This was followed by a very heavy bomb attack, before which our left centre sub-section fell back, letting in a Turkish storming party and isolating the sub-station on the. left from the two on the right. At 5.30 we counter-attacked, and in half an hour the position was retaken with the bayonet by the 15th Australian Infantry, led by Major Quinn, who unfortunately was killed. Wo killed or captured all the Turks in the trench, and the work of restoration commenced.

The Turks again attacked at 0.30, supported by artillery, machine-gun and rifle fire, and showers of bombs from the trenches. The steadiness of the infantry and the fine shooting of our gun 3 enabled us to inflict a bloody repulse, demoralising the enemy with such effect that the second line of bomb-throwers flung missiles into the middle of their own first line. At 7.15 a.m. the attack slackened, and at 8.45 practically ceased. Our casualties were two officers and 39 men killed, 12 officers and 170 men wounded. The enemy's loss must have been serious, as, except for the first withdrawal in the confusion of the mine explosion, all ranks fought with the greatest tenacity and courage.

On the 30th two parties from Quinn's Post went forward and cleared two enemy sapheads and penetrated the trenches beyond, but were gradually driven back by a counter-attack, despite our heavy supporting fire. The. casual-' ties were chiefly caused bv bombs, of which the enemy seems to have an unlimited supply.

On the night of June 1 two New Zealand sappers crept out and laid a charge of gun-cotton against a sandbag bombproof and completely destroyed it.

At Sunset on June 4 the Anzacs carried out three enterprises in compliance with my order that the enemy's attention should 'Je distracted while the attack was delivered in the southern zone. They made first a demonstration in the direction of Gatia Tepc, the navy co-operating and bombarding the trenches. Secondly they made a sortie at 11 o'clock at night towards a trench two hundred yards from Quinu's Po3t. This failed, but a second sortie of a hundred men at 2.55 in the morning penetrated the trench, demolished the machine-gun emplacement, and withdrew in good order. Thirdly, in the night, at Quinn'a Post, a party of sixty, accompaied by bomb-throwers on cither flank, stormed an enemy trench, bayonetted many ' and captured 28. A working party followed up the attack.

A SORTIE. Meanwhile we heavily attacked the Turkish trenches on the left with ma-chine-guns and grenades, drawing very heavy fire. After daybreak the Turks strongly attacked and captured a trench, using a heavier type of* bomb than hitherto. At 6.30 we were ohliged to abandon the trench and retire to the original fire trench. Our casualties were eighty, hut those of the enemy were considerably heavier. On the sth two officers and a hundred men of the Ist Australian Infantry made a sortie from Quinn's Post, the objective being the destruction of a machine-gun in the trench known as the German officers' trench. A special party of men, under Lieutenant Eric Lloj'd, dashed for the machine-gun, One managed to fire three rounds into the gun at a range of five feet, and another three rounds at the same range through a loop-hole. The darkness of the trench and the overhead cover prevented the use of the bayonet, but some damage was done toy shooting down over the parapet. As much of the trench as possible was dismantled. The party was enfiladed all the time by machine-guns on cither flank. The object of the assault attained, the gallant party withdrew in good order, with the wounded. The total casualties in the sortie were thirty-six.

ATTACKS MAINTAINED. Incessant attacks till the end of June grievously swell the casualty list. Several of these daily encounters would have been the Bubject of a separate dispatch in the campaigns ofjmy youth. But I cannot even so much as mention them here.

I briefly mention one example each from the French and British Anzac spheres, .so that you may understand the nature of the demands made on the energies and fortitude of the troops. On the night of June 29 the Turks, under Enver Pasha's direct personal order to drive us all into the sea, made a big attack on Anzac, principally on the portion of the line under Sir A. Godley. From midnight till 1.30 musketry and gunfire of the greatest intensity poured on our trencher. Heavy columns then advanced to the assault, but were completely crumpled up by the musketry and machine-guns of the 7th and Bth Light Horse. An hour later another grand attack against our left was equally cut to pieces by artillery and rifle five. The enemy's casualties may be judged from the fact that in the areas exposed to view between 400 and 500 were aetuallv seen to fall.

PRAISE I'OK SUBORDINATES. Sir lan Hamilton eulogUos General Gouraml's daring in danger ami his culm in a crisis, General Iluntcr-Westou's resolute genius lor war, General Bruithwaite's untiring; loyalty, and General Maxwell's remarkable administrative abilities in Egypt. General Binhvood lift.') been tbe soul of Anzac. Not for a single day has lie c\.r quitted hi.-! post. Cheery and Inll of human sympathy, li« has spent many hours out of each twenty-four in inspiring' the defenders of the front trenehes. If he is unknown to every soldier in his force, at least everv soldier believe* he iknown to his 'chief. Sir lan Hamilton concludes: ''l must refer (o the shadow cast over the whole of our adventure by the loss of so many gallant and true hearted comrades. Some we shall never see again; some have the mark of the Dardanelles set upon them for life; others, thank Ood by far the greater proportion, will he back in due course at the front."

THE SARI BAIR FIGHT. WORK OF THE COLONIALS. Sir lan Hamilton issued a special order on September 7 as follows: — "I desire to record the fine feat of arms of General Birdwood's command during the battle of Sari Bair. The fervent desire of all ranks to close with the enemy, the impetuosity of their onset, the steadfast valor with which they maintained the long struggle; these will

surely appeal to their fellow countrymen the world over. The gallant capture of the almost impregnable Lono Pine trenches by the Australian division, and equally the defence of the position against repeated counter-attacks, are exploits which will live in history. The determined assaults carried out from 'other parts of the Australian Division's line were also of inestimable service in preventing the movement of large reinforcements to the northern flank.

The troops under General Godlcy, particularly the New Zealand and Australian Division, were called on to carry out the most difficult military operations ever attempted—a night march and assault by several columns in intricate mountainous country, strongly entrenched and held by a numerous anil determined enemy. Their brilliant conduct during the operation, and the success achieved, won for them a reputation of which any country must be proud."

To the Australian and New Zealand Corps, and the Maoris, Sikhs and Gurkhas, and the new British troops associated with this famous corps at Sari Bair, Sir lan Hamilton tenders admiration for their gallantry and thanks for their achievements. It is a high honor for him to command a force embracing such men.

A NEW zealander;s story. EXPERIENCE OF HIGH COMMISSIONER'S SON. London, Sept. 20. Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, interviewed, said the New Zealanders and Australians were given a special job on the night of August 8, to attack the foothills leading to Sari Bair, which was the key of the situation. The fighting was terrific during the night. We advanced two miles and took all the ridges and foothills leading to the main Turkish position. Meanwhile the British landed at Suvla Bay. Several regiments on the following day reached the hilltop, after fighting of the most awful character. My regiment was practically wiped out, and many other New Zealanders, including the Maoris, fared just as badly. The scene on the summit was beyond description. There were acres of dead and dying men. Upon the left the Gurkhas and Australians advanced well out towards the 1 Anafarta ridge before they were driven back. The Turkish machine-gunnery was wonderful. They apparently had an unlimited number of machine-guns. The Turks are proficient in bombing, and did terrific execution on the'hilltop. We advanced until the end $i our line was ten yards from the crest. We were right upon the Turks, whose trendies were fully manned, despite the warships' previous heavy bombardment. The Turks were throwing hundreds of bombs with both right and left hands. The fighting was of the most sanguinary character. A high explosive burst immediately in front of me, blowing in both eyes, otherwise I was not scratched. I crawled over heaps of dead rearward, assisted by a stretcher-bearer, who was heroically exposing himself to the awful fire and attending to \the wounded, many of whom lay for 43 hours without water in the blazing sun. I was the only one able to walk, and reached the hospital ship thirty hours after I was wounded. Some of my comrades had not reached the hospitol ship after three days. The Turks unsuccessfully shelled the hospital ship. Mr. Mackenzie paid a tribute to the clean methods of the Turks.

GERMANS IN TURKEY. GENERAL HINDENBURG TO COMMAND. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) London, Sept. 20. The Leipziger Nachrichten, commenting on Enver Pasha's speed) about the arrival of German armies in Turkey, says that the army will be entrusted as soon as possible to General Hindenburg, Whose work in Russia is finished.

PROBABLE WINTER CAMPAIGN. POSITION IN GERMAN EYES. Received Sept. 21, 0.25 p.m. Berlin, Sept. 21. The Lokal Anzeiger, in a review ,of the fiallipoli fighting, says that the approach of the equinox with its southwesterly storms does not give the Allies much time, and thus the Turks expect a general offensive immediately. Later, on the weather will impose a oalni for the winter, as altliougu the sandy "round offers a good anchorage, the strongest ships can only stay in the Gulf of Saros during a storm by .straining their engines to their utmost activity. Lighters will be out of the question for days and weeks, and it is easy to see what this means for an army on a small f.trip of land. The conditions of the Anglo-French ramp after a five days' storm are, says Uie paper, terrible to contemplate. Hence i>ne great attack is expected, and then "finis." The elements will i.o the work, nipported hv the bavoncts of the gallant Turks. (?) *

TURKISH CLERGY IN REVOLT. THE WAR OPPOSED. Received Sept. 21, 0.-25 p.m. London, Sept. 21. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent at Home learns that the Turkish clergy revolted against tbe Young Turks and the Germans, and have excommunicated Envor Pasha and his companions. The clergy's action has made a great impression on the people and the army, and it is believed the majority of the Committee of Union and Progress oppose the continuation of the war.

MISSING MEN. ANXIETY IN FRANCE. Received Sept. 21, 9.25 p.m. Paris, Sept. 21. The problem of the men of the Allies' forces who are missing at Gallipoll is arousing anxiety, especially as to '.vliether help can be sent to the prisoners. M. Toussaint, president of the Nouvelles Dusallat, 'is attempting to trace the names of the missing through the Geneva Red Cross, which is communicating with the Vienna and Bucharest Red Cross Associations and the 'Catholic missions in the Levant. '

ARMENIAN ATROCITIES,

AN APPEAL TO AMERICA. New York, Sept. 20. Viscount Bryce has issued an appeal to the American people to stop the slaughter of Armenians, or at least to protest against the wholesale massacres proceeding in Asia Minor. x Women are seized for Turkish harems and compelled to 'become Moslems. Many are driven into the deserts of Arabia and Syria. Over ten thousand Armenians were drowned at Trebizond, and a quarter of a million have escaped to Russia. The Italian Consul vouches for the fact of the Trebizond massacre. TRANSFER OF ARTILLERY. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) London, Sept. 20. The Times' correspondent at Salonika announces that local Germanophile papers have published a telegram from Sofia announcing that the Turks are transporting all the Adrianoplc, Kirk Kilisse, and Chataldja heavy artillery to Gallipoli.