DARDANELLES TASK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2492, 19 June 1915, Page 10

DARDANELLES TASK

—— HOW GENERAL BIRDWOOD REGARDED IT "A PROBLEM THAT HAS PUZZLED SOLDIEES FOR YEARS."I When General Birdwood, wlio has command of' the Australian troops, entered upon the task of co-operating with the naval forces in taking fclie Dardanelles forts, ho fully realised the dangers and difficulties of the job that had been given him and his men. This fact is made quite plain by the address whioh General Birdwood delivered to officers and men as a means of inspiring them to mako their strongest efforts towards the fulfilment of a task of tremendous difficulty, and giving them useful advice from the experience of a trained soldier. This address, which was printed, runs as follows:— "Officers and Men, — "In conjunction with the Navy we are about to undertake one of the most difficult tasks any 6oldier can be called on to perform, and a problem which has puzzled many soldiers for years past. That we will succeed I have no aoubt, simply because I know your full determination to do so. Lord Kitchener has told us that ho lays special stress j on the role the army has to play in this particular operation, the success of which will be a very severe blow to the enemy—indeed, as severe as any she could rcceivo in France. It will go down to history to the glory of the soldiers of Australia and New Zealand. Before we start, there are ono or two points which I must impress on all, ana I most earnestly beg every single man to listen attentively and take these to heart. "We are going to have a real hard and rough time of it until; at all events, we have turned the enemy out of our first objective. Hard rough times none of us miud, but to get through them successfully we must always keep before us the following facts:—Every possible endeavour will be made .to bring up transport as often as possible ; but the country whither- we are bound is very difficult, and we may not be able to get our wagons anywhere hear us for days, so men must not think their wants have been neglected if they do not get all they want. On landing it will be necessary for every individual to carry with Mm all his requirements in food and clothing for three days, as we may not see our transport till then. Remember then that it is essential for everyone to take the very greatest care not only of his food, but of his ammunition, the replenishment of which will be very difficult. Men aro liablo to throw away their food the first day out and to finish their water bottles as soon as they start marching.. If you do this now, we can hardly hope for success, as unfed men cannot fighi?, and you must make an effort to try and refrain from starting on your water bottles until quite late in the day. Once you begin drinking you cannot stop, and a water bottle is very soon emptied. ■ "Also as regards ammunition —you must not waste it by firing away indiscriminately at no target. The time will come when we shall find the enemy in well-entrenched positions from which we shall have to turn them out, when all our ammunition will be required; and remember— "Concealment whenever possible, "Covering fire always, "Control of fire and control of your men, "Communications' never to, be neglected. "W. R. BIRDWOOD."