SAVED BY WARSHIPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1915, Page 7

SAVED BY WARSHIPS.

COSTLY BRITISH MISTAKE. MAORIS HEAD A CHARGE. Some graphic accounts of incidents in the Gallipoli campaign are told by Lieut. K. Wilson, elder son of Mr. H. Wilson, formerly of Auckland, who is with the Royal Engineers. Writing on August 23, Lieutenant Wilson Bays: "This Brigade, the 38th, had a very bad time about two weeks ago, when they were almost decimated at a place known as 'the disaster' They made the mistake of having their headquarters in the firing line, and nearly the whole staft', including the general commanding, were killed. This particular beautiful little spot is full of little gullies, and it is very gasy to get lost. The 38th landed at night, and the guide lost his way. They were an hour and a-half late in a charge. They readied the top of a bill —how I cannot imagine—and then the Turks cut them down in thousands and charged them down the hill. There was a panic, and t.he only tiling that saved them was the gunfire from the warships. Afterwards they caught the Turks on top uf a hill and slew them in great style. "It was the Maoris who opened this charge, and the Turks will not forget them for a long time. Only 25 Maoris were left at the finish, and if you could only see the ground tKey went over you would wonder that any of them got through. They speak very highly of them here. Vou would he proud to be a New Zealander if you were out here, where they cannot say enough of them and of the Australians."