A SOLDIER'S LETTER

AMONG TURKISH SNIPERS. PRIVATE DWYER 'S EPERIENCft. SAW SIXTEEN DAYS' FIGHTING.

Private T. B. Dwyer, writing to his father, Superintendent Dwyer, of tho Christchurch police, gives the following experiences on the Gallipoli Peninsula prior ''to his being wounded, after sixteen days' fighting:— "l am. at' present at St. Andrews Barracks Malta, which, has been converted into a military Jiuapital. 1 suppose that you were notified that I had been wounded but the wounds are cnly slight. One bullet pasod right through my left foot just below the ankle and another about the middle of the foot. lam getting along all right now and Avil probably be back in the trenches very shortly. I had 10 days of it befoi'o I was Avounded. The first few days of it nearly sent us mad, but after that avc began to get a bit used to it. Jack Mnllins Avas Avoundect in the first day's fighting, but not very soriously I think. A terrible lot of our casualties have been caused by the enemies snipers. They conceal themselves in bushes and trees sometimes at tlifiside of our trerfehes and sometimes at the rear and everyone who slioavs his head above the trenches is sniped at. Another dirty trick of theirs is for one of them to craAvl up somewhere near our trenches and lie there moaning. and calling out "Stretcher bearers." Naturally, our stretcher bearers think that if is a Avounded man calling for help, and -they get out to render assistance and are immediately bowled over. The day of our big advance. I shall never forgot as long as I live. It AA'as abso: lute hell. Our warships started to bom bard the Turks about an hour before we started, and then the Australian battery. English batteries, and tho French 75th started, and the din was terrific. As soon as avc began our advance the Turks got to work with shrapnel and lyddite, and men started to drop almost on top of me. You have, heard a violent hailstorm on a tin roof. That resembels rifle fire very much, though on a very small scale, I can't possibly describe the heavy gun fire. AnyhoAV, we advanced a good Avay, and avc were glad when Aye were again in the shelter of the trenches. In the night time the Turks made severeai counter-atacks, but were unsuccessful. When they attack they sing out Allah! Allah! Allah! and blow a sort of a reed instrument all the time, and it gives- one tlie creeps to hear them. Even noAV I shudder when I imagine it. I suppose the ncAVspapers publish, a list of killed and Avounded, so that it is not necessary to tell you about them. Our Colonel Avas killed on the first day. I have had one or. two-wonderful escapes, of Avhich I will tell you later."

FROM ALLAN WILSON.

Writing to his parents, Mr. and Mrs Wilson, of Camerons, from Gallipoli Peninsula on May Bth. last, Private Alan Wilson says: — "I am mailing this vki Alexandria. Arthur and I, so far as I kneftv, are still in the land of the living." (Word has since been received of the death of Arthur Wilson.) Continuing, Private Alan Wilson states it Avas a. fortnight on May 9th "since Aye captured this part of the Peninsula, and it has been one long battle, during that period. I have had many narroAv escapes, as you may imagine. We have been in the firing trenches practically the whole of I the time. It has been a splendid achievement, the capturing of this position, bayonet work all the Avay. We had all been wondering lioav Aye would get on when it came to the real thing, but there is no doubt noAV. The Australasian Xominy is a far superior fighting man to his English cousin Avhi is here Avith us. I must coa'clude iioav, as all is hurry and bustle here."

FROM FRANK RUANEi

Writing .on May 20th to his mother, Mrs. H. Ruane, Chapel Street, Greymouth, Private Frank Euane, at St. George's Hospital, Malta, says:— "I got slightly wounded at 7 p.m. on May Bth. The wound was just a touch on the fingers of my right hand, so you have no cause to worry on rtj account. I have been luckier than a lot of others, for I Avas smacking the Turks up for a. .fortnight before .they winged me. When 1 get hit. things were very lively. I was enjoying myself prety Avell, firing at top speed on the retreating Turks. The New Zealand and Australian Division made a name for themselves that will live for ever. The Turks do not like the bayonet; but we love it. When we charge the Turks yell 'Allah! Allah!' and go for their lives, but give us a sally with machine guns. I do not think Turkey Avil last long; it is tlie Germans among them Avho are making them fight like they do." We landed in. the Gulf of Wares on April 25th. The Australians cleared out four miles of hills with the bayonet, just by Avay of^a start, and although we lost pretty heavily the Turkish losses Avere greater. I knoAV that I fought for 40. hours continuously up there, and I liked it after our long stay in Egypt. I was in three big attacks, and each time we succeeded in doing what wag asked of us. It is no use trying to: tell you Avhat a battle is like; you could have- no idea of it all. But I can say that the boys from the Southern Hemisphere do their work and do it Avell. It appeare dto me that the more lead there was flying the better we were. No arguments but straight ahead and clear the Turkish trenches Avith bayonet and ball. It is a grand sight to see the New Zealanders and Australians charging side by side across a lire swept area, to do their work at close quarters* We landed again at Seddel Bahr on the 6th, but lef tplenty of troops at Gaba Tepe. The day we left Zeitoun I was transferred to the 6th (Hauraki- Auckland) Batalion, in place of despatch riders who were shot,, so my address is now altered. I have not had any letters for a long time. I Avrite every chance 1 i'get, but I also Avant to get somo news from borne. ' '