THE TURK.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15393, 25 September 1915, Page 7

THE TURK.

A FAIR FIGHTER. COLONEL'S TRIBUTE. "I honestly think that th® 'outrages' reported are false, J ' is tho judgment of a colonel now in Cairo, on the charges of mutilation levelled against the Turk. Writing to Major G. Read, Now South Wales transport medical officer, who arrived in Sydney last week, the colonel, in expressing th e above opinion, added that tho "outrages" began "in the imagination of freak newspaper reporters, who cabled from Athens and Mitylene." "Some of our heavy losses during the first thrco day 6," the letter opened, "wero caused by bogus orders issued, probably, by Germans, who worked into our lines, and, having clothed themselves in Australian uniforms, were not always detected. The fighting was of such a mixed character and the country so broken up that this was not dim cult. Snipers also positioned in our rear with deadly effect. Theso actions, of course, como under the head of military ruses, and aro practised by all armies, although I am rather glad to know that' British soldiers do not shine in that sort of warfare. Tho Turks did occasionally fire bullets which'had been filed so a£ to spread on contact, but not many, for it is not human nature for the soldier to voluntarily add to his labours the tedious work of nicking bullets. "Tho large quantity of ammunition W© havo captured consists of two sorts —the bull-nosed Mauser and the sharppointed Mauser bullet. Even dum-dum bullets would be hardly considered 'outrageous in comparison to the bombs both sides use. There is no doubt, however, that tho Turks fight fairly, and well. Indeed, they are clover fighters, and they have sustained their reputation as tho greatest infantry in Europe, and good bayonet fighters. They were never outclassed until they met the Australians. Our men have established personal dominance over them, and thev fw r ns - Australians are also learning to be cleverer fightere. Diuu-e the first few days of the fight they did manv things which exposed them to loss; now. however, they are too wis© to act so. Our stretcher-bear-ers were shot down in fearful numbors, and we thought it was being done deliberately. I removed my Red Cross brassard 20 minutes after landing. I thought it safer. The Turkish salient which fronts 'Qui™ 8 Post n ' commands Shrapnel valley, which is our main road for all traffic to the trenches. There is a constant stream of bullots down this valley.

They are probably fired from fixed riflos and loop-holes. The enemy continued to fire down this valley long after wo had protected tho road by traverses and saps. I would not say that they did not dcliborately try to shoot down A.M.O. men, but I would not oelieve anyono who said so on tho evidence to hand. In tho use of artillery they refrained from shooting on boats carrying tho wounded to the hos- j pital ship at Gaba Tepo and Capo Helles. Any risks run by occupants of theso boats are from shells fired from the Asiatic shore; this is indirect firing. When tho Triumph went down the Turks did' not open firo until tho work of rescue was complete, although they might have legitimately fired —according to the articles of war of tho Geneva : Convention —from the fort at Gaba Tepe. There were rumours of bodies being mutilated, but such were disf. roved when tho ground was retaken, t was generally reported that Sergeant Larkin's body was mutilated. He | was so highly esteemed that this report i had a deep effect on tho men of tho j Ist Battalion. When we tho I ground and reoovered the body, it was found unmutilated. His wounds indicated that ho met death in action while in the advanced firing-line. '.'Tho mon in the British divisions in tho south unanimously agree that tho Turks have fought cleanly. I paid three visits to the Capo Helles scene of operations, and this was the testimony I [heard. I would like to tako this opportunity of bearing witness to you, as you belong to the A.M.C., that, in spite of the fearful risk, the stretcherbearers novor flinched from their task. No one knowing the facts, or perusing the casualty lists, will ever dare to refer to tho men of the A.M.C. and tho regimental stretcher-bcarer as anything but the bravest and most selfsacrificing corps. Their risks are_ as great as any, and their work is terribly arduous, particularly among tho hills at Sari fiair. There were 900 at this work during the first few days, and they worked to tho point of enthusiasm. There aro outrages in the Turkish lines. They drivo Greeks and Armenian Christian conscripts up to tho firingline. Wo frequently had wounded prisoners of this class. Wo have had a bad time at Gallipoli. Men who wero nt the retreat from Mons and Ypres state Gallipoli during . the first days was worse. The Turks, however, have suffered heavier losses. They call Galliooli 'the slaughter-house.' I think the Turks will soon realise that as a nation thov aro committing suicide. Meanwhile wo havo to continue our great task, and I only pray it may soon ond in victory to our arms."