THE DARDANELLES

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1916, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

A VIVID STORY. pF THE EVACUATION. AS DIARTED BY A MEDICAL OFFICER.' Received Jan. 21, 5.5 p.m. London, .lan. 20. No move vivid account of the evacuation of Anzae. lias been rendered 'than that givpn in a medical officer's diary, published in the Manchester flnardian. Writing on lOtli December, lie says: "I am astonished to learn that we may bo leaving with the guns. December 11th: Received orders to evacuate with all hospital cases. December 12th.—We have been told secretly to be ready to embark at any moment. The weather is dead calni. There is much excitement, as it is a terribly ditlicuit feat, and any mishap may mean great disaster. December 13th.—The evacuation is proceeding steadily. Weather is threatening, and landing is difficult enough. The final evacuation will be a desperate busine? ■. llany guns have been shipped. Anafa: i.i Plain already has a deserted appearance. We live in expectation of an at'iack at any moment. All stores have been transported this evening to the embarkation point. The final scene will be thrilling. The casualties are estimated at, possibly, fix thousand to ten thousand.

THE LAST TO LEAVE. I have learnt later that the last troops to be withdrawn ssrill be the ola Main Body of Australians'and New Zeala.iders, the first men to land and the last to leave. They have played a glorious part. December l;>th. —We expect to leave to-morrow night, the eve of our final retreat. It has been a very trying day; the line is precariously thin, and only a few cannon are left, which fire a great rleal to compensate for the others. If the Turks had attacked strongly nothing could have saved disaster. Their artillery have scarcely fired for two days. Our warships have been firing incessantly at Cape Helles. Perhaps the Turks think we will try another assaul'b on Aehi Baba. The weather is fine and we have never studied the sky with so much apprehension.

ANXIOUS DAYS. December 16th.—The day has passed uneventful, but it was an anxious night. The roads and saps seem deserted, and it seems impossible that the Turks do no : c realise what we are doing. December 17th. —We have got definite orders to depart to-morrow night. The suspense jis trying. The Turks are extraordinarily quiet. Our few guns make a brave show. December ISth. The whole place seems deserted. We could not wish for better weather for the grant! finale. Our aeroplanes are aloft all the day long and have kept off enemy observers. The garrison has been reduced, and to-morrow the remainder will embark, or, rather, what is left of them. The evacuation has hitherto been a tremendous success. To-morrow night will, be a very critical one.

THE LAST MOVE. December 19th. —We left Anzac last evening ar.il marched tn a sap leading to the pier. Not a word was spoken and not a match was struck as we proceeded rapidly and silently in the darkness. AH were "keyed up," and feared to hear rifle fire, or that ait any moment a few shells .would burst near the pier. We' embarked with wonderful despatch. The wharf was covered with sacks to deaden our footfalls. We reached Mudros early this morning and arrived in camp. Turning in we slept a deep and long sleep, a 9 all wore terribly weary from the strain. THE ANZAC DIEHARDS. The first of the Anzac "Dieharls" arrived this afternoon, and the last came in at five o'clock. Turning, they marched down the road for a mile, between lines of cheering troops, and very pvoud f they looked as the men cheered. No one can over forget those strained, exhausted, but dauntless faces. Their only casualties were three sprained ankles. The troops are as full of fight as ever, and will yet win some great battle.

PROBING THE TPUTH. PERTINENT QUESTIONS BY MR. REDMOND. OX THE SUVLA BAY FIASCO. Received Jan. 21, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 20. Fifty Xew Zealandere attended the House' of Commons as guests of Mr. J. C. Wason, and evinced the keenest interest in the Dardanelles question. They were afterwards entertained at tea on the Terrace. Mr. lledmond asked Mr. Asquith whether, in view of the imputations on the corps divisional commanders at Suvla Bay, contained in General Hamilton's despatch, the. Government would order ail inquiry and investigate the circumstances attending the loss of life c.wing to the absence of artillery and the failure of the latter to support the infantry; also, whether General Stopford had asked for an inquiry regarding the circumstances of the landing at Suvla, and if such inquiry would be held forthwith. Mr. Asquith said that the Government, after careful consideration, had concluded that no such inquiry was practicable at present, as officers would be needed to constitute a tribunal, and many necessary witnesses could not be withdrawn from active service. General Stopford had asked for an inquiry.

SOME ANXIOUS HOURS tit:-; axzac EVAfUATioxi London, Jail. 20. A medical officer, in a letter oil the evacuation of Anzae, says:— 'When the men were toldjthey were leaving they behaved splendidly and went to work with a will to destroy everything they had to leave behind. When they liad finished, not a sixpence worth of stuff was left in our gully. Three-fifths of the men onVoarked on Saturday night without mishap. "Sunday was the most critical time, when fhoM guarding the line; were re-

moved. We were prepared for large casualties. Wo starteci off at 8.30 in bright moonlight in Indian file through fin; . >! the mealcal staff bringing up the rear in the event of casualties. Keeping under iho shadow of the sap 3. we reached the beach at midnight without loss. The staff work throughout vote splendid.''