GALLIPOLI WITHDRAWAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 17, 20 January 1916, Page 5

GALLIPOLI WITHDRAWAL.

TEN NIGHTS' WORK. SKELETON' FORCE HOLDS ' FRONT. 30 PER CENT LOSS EXPECTED. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.! LONDON, January 19. . Writing from Salonika. Mr. Ward Price says: "The able organisation of the bloodless evacuation of Helles, Anzac and Suvla, relieves the melancholy spectacle of the ill-judged enterprise. Tne fact that there were no losses might lead one to undervalue the resource and minute care shown. Considerable losses were expected. A loss of 30 per cent in .killed and wounded would not-have been surprising had the Turks discovered the movement and bombarded' the beaches and attacked. '• The process of withdrawal at Suvla, and no doubt at Helles also, was spread over ten nights, and divided into' three periods.. First the winter stores and superfluities were removed. Secondly, everything was shipped except 'tile actual food and ammunition needed for the men. The first drafts of men also began to depart. Finally, two' nights were taken up in embarking the guns, animals and men in carefullv-caluculatci detachments. It was at first determined to fall back on the second line of defence for.the last: stage; but-this would have g?yen the Turks a clear-idea : -of'what was-going on, _d. it was abandoned ii iavour of the preservation of absolutely normal conditions.

«, 2" £? laSt n 'S ht ' from 8 - 3 ° to 1.30, the first line trenches were held by a few picked men from each', brigade, rivm-* one rifle to each seven yards of front" but a detachment of the-88th Brisade had the whole 7pf:_thc29tK's-Division's «_£'■ T? d Was res P° n siole" for 5,000 F I- I *™ wer <- lines of trenches hehmcl-the advance lines, also posts where a last stand could,be men ' were ordered not. to . leave, .until