ESCAPE FROM TURKEY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLIII, Issue 8, 28 July 1916, Page 1

ESCAPE FROM TURKEY.

.RUSSIAN REACHES LONDON. Private Alexander Sast, a soldier of Russian birth in the 10th Battalion (South Australia) of the Australian infantry Force, whose arrival in London after an amazing escape from Turkey was recently notified, was in every way a worthy representative of Australia, his adopted country. Returned men of the First Australian Division, with w'hom he shared the glory of tho landing on Gallipoli, were tuelighbed to learn of his escape. One of tiiese, Private C. E. Walker, of the 9th Battalion, referred to Sast as a good comrade. "1 went in the same troopship with him from Egypt to Gallipoli," he said. "Tlie cable message mentioned his escape as being a'maaing, and 1 cannot think how an Australian could escape from Turkey; but Sast wars a talented man, and his knowledge of tJhe Greek language no doutb was the key to his escape. He spoke also French, Italian and other languages. Sast was taken prisoner in Gallipoli and sent to dig trenches on the [Bulgarian front. His people live in Odessa, but he came to Australia two years before the war broke out. At Odessa lie was employed in the Government workshops as a fitter. He was a single man, 27 years of age. When the first call for men was sounded he was driving a stationary engine on railway works in South Australia; but, although satisfied with Australia and his> work, he could- not resist the chance of striking a blow on Russia's side. "On Gallipoli he was wounded in the foot in the first week after the landing. He was sent to Mena House Hospital, in Egypt, but- in two months lie was back again in Gallipoli, even though, besides the leg wound, he had been treated in Egypt for a growth behind the ear, not caused by war. It- was in the middle of Au«r iat he was made prisoner. 1 was very sorry to hear of it, but, remembering that lie was a man who had travelled all over tho world, I thought that if anyone could make himself a t t hosme in Turkey he could. It did not occur to me that he might escape. I was in hospital with him at Mena House, an id found him not only a good Russian, but a aood Australian."