EVACUATION OF GALLIPOLI

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3118, 23 June 1917, Page 11

EVACUATION OF GALLIPOLI

LECTURE AT OFFICERS , CLUB. At the Officers' Clul>, at the Garrison Hall, Buckle Street, last evening, Major C. E. Andrews, N.Z.S.C., delivered a lecturo on the "Evacuation of Gatlipoli. Lieuteuant-Coloiiol Campbell presided. Major Andrews began by saying that after the November storms a letter was sent to tho Turks, advising them to give the matter best, as they had no hope. This probably was a mere yarn. The reply of the Turks was that they would let matters take their course. They wore exceedingly amused at the prospect before the British. It iras not until December 10 or 12 that the senior officers knew what was opnding, and they woro very much impressed. . Tho Maoris wero first moved,off. "When tho evacuation was decided upon a conference of officers was held at Brigade Headquarters. Tho two main communications with tho ■beach werq by two fairly deep ravines. At one point wero two piers, ono or which was a fairly large steamer that had been sunk, nnd a bridge mado from it to the shore. By a sketch plan on the blackboard was shown' the trench- system which was held by the Wellington Regiment, supported by 'two companies of the Otago men. The evacuation, was to take four days, a fourth of the men leaving each night. The Divisional reserves were the first to leave, and about 20,000 men got away. The transports were on tho horizon, and the "beetles" (blunt nose punts) could be seen moving backwards and forwards. The lurks evidently thought that fresh troops were landing for a big attack at Christmas-, time, and , thjs idea was carefully circulated among them. Tho ovacuation was intended to take ioivr days, but it really took five, for on the third day, as tho evacuation was going so smoothly, it was decided to removo some stores, and about two , millions' worth was moved. Sunday night, December 19, was the eventful night. There were just two companies of tho "Wellington Kegiment loft, and very explicit orders were given to each man what to ■do and when to do it. That night the Turks were very busy putting up barbed-wire barricades. At 1.45 a.m. a telephone message arrived that the ovacuation was practically complete. Tho rearguard, which was then reduced to about thirty men, . was to resist to the last man if attacked before 2.15 a.m. When the hour arrived for the rearguard" to movo off, the signal was given, and the men tumbled down tho'saps and made their way to the beach. They woro soon on board. When the vessel was passing, the sight of the burning hospitals, stores, and building was a gorgeous. sight. Tho casualties on that last night, as far as could be ascertained, numbered five, and Ewo of tiieni were sprained ankles. The authorities calculated on 6000 casualties. Tho ovacuation of Gallipoli was undoubtedly skilfully managed, and perhaps "we were favoured by luck." The "Vossische Zeitung" of January 21, 1916, referring to the evacuation, said: "The English had in all probability realised the hopelessness of the struggle (at the Dardanelles) before the last week of November, and about the middle of Decom-ber-thoy had prepared for their retreat in an absolutely admirable manner—for this, praise must be accorded them. As long as wars erist their evacuation of the Ari Burnui (Auzao) and Anarfarta fronts (Suvla) will stand before the eyes of all strategists of retreat as a hitherto unattainable masterpiece."