SOLDIERS' LETTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 147, 22 June 1915, Page 7

SOLDIERS' LETTERS.

H.M.S. ALBION IN THE DARDANELLES.

A SEAMAN'S LETTER.

Writing to friends at Devonport. a seaman on the H. 11.5. Albion, a, eieterbattles'hip to tiie Ocean and Goliath, which wore sunk at the Dardanelles, gives an interesting account of tho i movements of his ship since the waT began. He says:—""We have travelled around a good deal since war started. While cruising up the English Channel we received ordors to 'go to Gibraltar. We dod(ged around here for about a week, and then sailed for Cape Dc Verde Islands, down the African coast, where we were on patrol duty for nearly ten weeks. Eventually we. left tihenre. of course not knowing whore we worn going next. We went to Ascension Inland, and after a brief stay thoTe moved again, and next brought up at St. Helena. We only stayed there two days, when we were oflf again. Our next stop was WalGiach Bay, in German South-west Africa, where we stayed 'for some considerable time. We grew heartily sick ■of this place, and were pleased to hear that we were again moving to Simon's Town, in Cape Colony. We had a good spell there, and then were sent around to German Smith-West to convoy troops of the South African Union Defence Force, who were destnned to lake iid operations against the Germans. We ■lext found ourselves coming back again towards England, and we soon reached Gibraltar. There was some excitement on the bhip. as nearly everyone thought that we were going back to deal old England! Hut no! when we left GibralLar it was to go to Malta. We were ?oon off again, this time to take part in the operations of bombarding the Dardanelles, and a fine job it has turned out to bo. We were all sick of cruising around, to you can guess we wore only too pleased to ho doing some damage, and when the Albion started, she made a name for herself. Every time the gun fired, it gave one as much satisfaction as W he were getting something priceless. We know we were doing fearful work on shore, but there \wi< im pity in our heart* lor anyone. Our one idea was to smash them, and we succeeded very well, at least as far as we have gone. We are itching to got. at them again as soon as possible. You may tiliink this is a bit Wood thirsty, but it is just as we feel, and I suppose anybody would fool the eime if they were in our place. We have just as much sympathy for them as they have for us. and th.it Jβ precious little, judging by tie few cases we hear of where they show any sympathy. We may Hfo signs of a settlement of this war by the end of the summer, but there ha« cot to he tome fearful work done before that time conies."