ATTACK ON HILL 91.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1915, Page 3

ATTACK ON HILL 91.

- HEAVIEST LOSSES OF WAR. LIEUT. HARTXELL'S ACCOUNT. Dunedin, Monday. "The chief work of the Wellington Infantry," said Lieut. Hartnell, 'was at Anzac. Quinn's Post was occupied by the Wellington and Otago Infantry, with Colonel Malone in command. T!>e colonel put in some splendid wo;'k there, |ivork that deserves recognition, and changed the post from one of tin most critical points on the line to nn absolute stronghold.''

"I understand you were in some strenuous work in Hill 971," said the reporter. "Yes," replied the lieutenant, "I may say we were. On the night of August 8 the Wellington Infantry proceeded to the north of Anzac to participate in an advance on the hill. For two days we held on to a point within 1000 yards of our objective. The New Zealand brigade was on the right, the Australian brigade on 'the left, and the Gurkhas in the centre, while a large force of Kitchener's Array, which had \anded some days previously at Suvla Bay, also advanced on the left. At three o'olook in the morning the Wellington Battalion made a bold bid for Hill 971, and advanced about 800 yards, where it was stopped by the heavy flro of the Turks. Sunday, August 8, was the bloodiest day In the history of colonial warfare on Gallipoli. We dug into our position and held it throughout Sunday and Monday, being reinforced on Sunday afternoon by the Wellington and Otago Mounted Infantry. The fighting was very severe, and our losses so heavy that by Monday night only a remnant of the force was left. This remnant was then withdrawn, its place being taken by men from the Old Country, but two days after the New Zealanders had withdrawn the position was lost." ''How did the New Zealanders fare in the fight?" "Some of the companies came put of the engagement numbering under 50 men. The Wellington Regiment emerged with only five of ifs officers, and other New Zealand regiments suffered to the same extent in other parts pf the field. I must say that the task of clearing the way for the advance of the infantry was magnificently done by the Mounted Rifles."

Peferring further to the fighting on th« Black Sunday Lieut. Hartneil said it was continuous all day, many of the conflicts being hand-to-hand. The Wellington Infantry waa practically annihilated, and so were the companies attacking. Colonel Malone was killed about seven o'clock on Sunday night. By Monday night both forces were exhausted. On that part of the field the men had been fighting continually for 24 hours, The principal officers on the Turkish side were Germans, and occasionally Germans were found among the Turkish ranks. Lieut. Hartnell's injury consists of gun wounds, from wh'°eh he is making a good recovery. With other wounded he left the peninsula at mid-day on the Monday, and reached Alexandria on Thursday night. I The work of the stretoher-bearers, the Jieptepant, is admitted by all to be splendid apd heroic. The meq go RjjyivJiore without' fear, and work- in the most dangerous positions. The British officers haye nothing but praise for our men. The British ambulapce is pot allowed tp run the 'rigkg the polpnials