TRAGEDY OF WAR.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15487, 14 January 1916, Page 4

TRAGEDY OF WAR.

1 "THE BOLL OF HONOUE." IMPRESSIVE INSPECTION. (From the Spccial Correspondent of the Melbourne "Argus.'') NEAR EAST, Dccembcr 1. There wcro eight perfcct rows, each soldier's place being immediately behind the other in front. At intervals there were gaps, but new arrivals were constantly taking up the vacant spaccF. That very morning seven of the. places had been filled. It was not everyone who was accepted, ono necessary qualification being that each nominee should have been under fire. Sonic of the men in those regular ranks hail taken part in a dozen desperate fights; two had been awarded tho Victoria Cross, and at least a dozen had been "mentioned in despatches." Every soldier in that group was an undoubted hero. Selection had not, however, been confined to particular units or to special arms of the service, practically every brigade and every battalion being represented. All of them were Australians. A Commonwealth General, who himself showed scars from, many engagements, was making an inspection. A sergeant at his elbow held a book, con- , t-aining every valiant man's name and record —it was called "Tho iloll -of

Honour." Turkish gUns boomed, and were being axisirerea on tho ridges, 1 while rifles snapped and cracbcd viciously. . . Bullets that had failed to find a mark in tho firing-line camo roaring down into the valley, to kick up bubbles of dust iu the well-or-dered lines. Tho staccato, notes of machine-guns chopped spasmodically into tho medley of sound. The general took no notice. The noise was familiar enough. Anyway, ho was engrossed by the business in hand. Starting from the left the general strode along the front, wliilo the sergeant read aloud from the open book : "BURNS.—Member of landing party; led number of patrols into enemv territory; example throughout inspiring to comrades; hit by bomb at Steele's Post." "Whero did this man enlist?'' enquired tho officer. .."Sydney, sir—mother lives at Maitland. "SlMPSON.—Conspicuous bravery following the landing. Kescucd sixteen wounded men under fire. Made a pro at many trips daily with injured down Shrapnel Valley, when enemy (juns wore moat active. Hit by snipor from tho Bloody Angle." "How did ho movo the -wounded men?" . "On a donkey, sir. Everyone here in tho early days knew Simpson. Ho was a wonder." "HOGARTH.—Fearless in tho mo9t trying circumstances. His confidence woe contagious. Went single-handed into scrub to find a machine-gun, and came back riddled with bullets to report." "That -was at tho beginning?" "Yes, sir. He was mentioned in despatches—a school-teacher in Victoria —ono of the bravest."

uijxx-nAi\ ±i—ii. rcca:oiirant spins at, i Mena; frequently in trouble, but the j essence of courage under fire. Always in tbo forefront of the Anzac fighting, where I his skill as a buahman w«3 oP-inestiia- | able valuo. At Capo Helles, boinfi; fleet of foot, he set the pace for his comradee in thoi advance towards Achi Baba. One : • of the keenest and most successful of our snipers, being_ a-ekilled rifle shot. Knocked out in tlio attack on German Officers' Trench." " «. "Married ?"; enquired the General. "Yes, sir—wife and fivo children, living in Gippslaud." "MITCHELL.—AIining gang leader. Insisted on working all the most'dangerous ground himself, especially close to enemy lines. Set all- charges unassisted. Narrowly escaped being entombed twice. Rescued wounded of?i<v?r from front of parapet at Quinn'n. Hit by fragment of Jiish-explosivo shell whilo asleep in his dug-out." ".Not one inch of Anzac is sanctuary," the General remarked. "Our men say the safest soot of all is the firinc-line." answered the ser- j

jreant. "A bullet clipped this pieceoff my car while* I was swimming." "EDWARDS.—CIever patrol. 31 ad© frequent night excursions to enemy linoa. Ono of fivo men who has been on "Baby 700.' Brought back identity disc and papers froih dead men's pockets after Lone Pino affair. ' Shrapnel -while at breakfast." . "AVhat was lie at home?" "Rabbit-trapper at Queanbeyan— born in the bush." "ANDERSON.—SeIf-appoioted cook, who went on with his work in spite of most intense fire. Nover fai;ed to have

hot meals ready for men in first.line, and insisted on taking them up himself. Tho comedian of the battalion; kept troops P in high spirits. Hit by bullet from cart- ( ridge exploding in his fire." ) So the inspection went on; first one ' lino and then the other being viewed, s Tho General halted in front of each I soldier's portion in • turn to . hear his personal story. There were "Malono, Alderson, Mackay, . MePhio, Russell, Sinclair, Connelly, Maunders, Trigg," and so on down one line and up the i other, each with a stirring record of pluck, resource, sorrow, and privation. The General passed along with, a a siglv. His .heart was beating fast, stirred by mixed emotions, in which grief and pardonable pride struggled for tho supremacy. A great many of tho men had been in his own command. Now and then ho stood longer than usual, asking for further particulars, with his head turned to one side so as' to catch every word. "It is wonderful," he would say. Sometimes the General remarked, "And one of mine!" Inside tho hour the final name in the last rank had been read out. It was— "SUMMERS. —Bravery at landing; conspicuous servico at Popo's Hill and "Walker's Ridge; ready to lead any adventure; cut off for sis days with scouting party; buried by Bin shell, but was dug out alive. Hit at Tasmania Post." The General walked back to the starting point. His faco was very serious, and he could not trust himself to speak for some minutes. Then ho said simply— "What bravo fellows they all are!" Tlie bugler had his heels together and his head up. The sergeant closed his book. "Sound the general salute!" the officer said. While the clear liquid notes rang -out the little party stood at attention, with their hands to jheir brows. "Now blow the 'Last Post'!" For some minutes afterwards thoro was silence. Any one of them would have had difficulty in speaking. General onco more looked up and down those orderly lines, with the little mounds so equally- spaced out —half a yard apart and a yard between. At the head of every one wafl a rough wooden cross, with a white number painted upon it. From one or- two tiny shrubs were sprxrafcint and on others wild poppies wero shooting uji. There was an open hole in the last row. It was to be filled in next morning, and a new cross would be put up with another number. "How many will that make?" the General asked. "Nine hundred and ninety-two, sir.""For them the war has finished. > Their joys and troubles are onded. j Australia should bo proud of them—

and she is. How many did you say?" "Almost a battalion, sir!" The General thought for a moment. Then he turned away, -whispering, "The Battalion of the Dead!"