THE VALOR OF IGNORANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1915, Page 12

THE VALOR OF IGNORANCE.

WHERE THE PUBLIC IS MISLED. Sapper Arthur Poff, of the Auckland Lands and Survey Department, writing from Gallipoli to a friend in Auckland under date July 22, refers to a subject that has been commented upon with some indignation by several of our soldiers at file front. In a paper dated June 10, which had reached them, there was, he says, an article headed "Gaba Tepe." It was written by a sergeant who, after spending five hours in Gallipoli on the first day, dilated upon the whole affair, including even the landing of the British and French forces, which took place some ten miles or more away. "Can you tell me," Sapper Poff asks his friend, "why it should be stated that the British and French forces landed practically unopposed when but a week or two before there was in the same paper an account of what was undoubtedly a landing in hell-fire of those same British troops t AN EXPERT IN FIVE HOURS. "It is only the ignorant type of colonial who praises himself to the skies and gives utterance to a tale of how trie .British and French landed unopposed, while the colonials entered the fight through hell's gates. That's just the strength of it," says Private Poff, with biting sarcasm; "we did everything; the rest did nothing but walk quietly ashore to lunch. Of course this man was here for a whole five hours, and he knew all about it "Just imagine anyone in the excitement of a round with the bayonet tossing Turks over his shoulder and careering madly on. The Turk is a good, big, hefty coon, and if even our big chaps run him through they're quite content to let him slide off easily. After tearing over country like this one has not quite enough wind for a bit of Bheaf tossing. THE TRUTH ABOUT GABA TEPE. "Another awful tale was told of a Turk and an Australian embraced in mortal combat on the cliffs of Gaba Tepe, and falling into the water, where the Australian (naturally) drowned the bigger Turk. Of course the plain facts are that we have not been on Gabi Tepe at all—just as well, perhaps, for they had submerged entanglements waiting for us there. Also, if one fell off the cliffs there he would fall on the sand, as there is no deep water running up to the cliffs here. "Are we such a spineless crew in the Empire that nothing but successes should meet our eyes? Can't we stand the truth whatever it Ist The trutn is not bad. We are doing well, but it is only by the truth that the Empire can be roused. Those in charge seem to have mistaken the national temperament. They have played, to the obvious and superficial traits and ignored the strongest trait that underlies. An Englishman likes to have life cool and calm and takes a lot of disturbing. It takes a lot to make him think that such a thing as this war might be serious, and to stir him up would be wise. WHEN THE SLEEPER WAKES. " "There is no doubt that the British Army training has show its efficiency and that man lor man the men are beyond compare. Just think what four millions of them would have done when thoroughly trained and prepared for war. . . . Britain is a terribly heavy sleeper. Even yet she's drowsy. Just think how she would have wakened up if at the outset her boldest man had dared to prick her to make everyone in the Empire hear the clock by taking a hold of all her resources in money and men. j .... The real reason for the tardiness and delay in organising has been the attempt on the part of the authorities to convince the people that all is going well when it hasn't been at all. . , . , If the Empire is. to succeed there ought not to be printed the impossible optimistic happenings emanating from nowhere, because the people as a whole don't distinguish between sure news and doubtful news; yet they will respond to the call that reverses make."