THE DARDANELLES

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1916, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

EVACUATION OF HELLES, REUTEK'S DESCRIPTION, A GRIPPING NARRATIVE. London, January 24. Reuter says that an eye-witness of the evacuation of Helles gives a vivid description of the last hours. The Turks after their experience at Anzac ,U»e\v that our trenches were mined, tht! roads blocked with -barbed wire, and the open ground sown with trip mines. Not a kick was left in the Turkish infantry. Their first line army had melted, awry and only a mixed assortment of half-trained men remained, who were kept in their places largely by the promise that the British would soon be departing.

TURKS BECOME CARELESS. After the evacuation of Anzae the Turkish artillery doubled the weight of the lire on Helles, but, as there were no obvious signs of our departure, the fire slackened, the Turks evidently fearing to deplete the ammunition for the heavy guns on the Asiatic shore, which are now concealed in tunnels whence they are run out to be fired. Tt is thus almost impossible for our ships to get in a shot at them. Practically all the animals were taken off. Those unfit for further service were shot, a hard recompense for faithful service and perhaps the saddest incident of the evacuation. Waggons were broken up or thrown over the cliffs and the abandoned stores soaked in petrol for valedictory bonfires, • DESULTORY FIRING, Meanwhile the troops continually passed to lighters and trawlers without delay. The last ditchers in the firing trenches kept up normal sniping, and even had it few machine-guns in case they needed them. When their turn came only the destruction party remained on the beach for the final blaze. As the last trawler drew off flames appeared and. as the stored explosives took fire, the mighty conflagration lit up the cliffs. There was even a larger glow from W Beach, which appeared a sea of fire. Then a huge explosion rent the air and the flames towered sltv high. A SAD FAREWELL. While one wondered at the beauty and terror of the spectacle, another explosion, three times as forceful, tore up the beach, and a shower of wreckage fell from the sky on the sea, the burning fragments covering hundreds of yards. A vast pillar of emoke hung above, taking all sort? of sinister shapes. That infernal burst was the death throes of the expedition, Meanwhile the Turks realised what was happening, and a row of red lights sprang up in their trenches. Guns poured shells in our trenches and the burning beaches. They ke,pt firing until daybreak. It was an impressive moment when our warships blew to pieces the glorious old hulk of the River Clyde, the relic of the heroic landing. But the saddest thought of all was that we were leaving 20,000 graves in the keeping of the Turks.