STRIKING COMPARISONS

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 13, 15 July 1915, Page 8

STRIKING COMPARISONS

• OF FRIEND AND FOE. • Some striking comparisons of friend and foe were given by Lieutenant J. W. Fletcher, late of the New Zealand Permanent Staff, who was promoted on the field to a commission in the Auckland Battalion. • He" participated ' in the fighting on Gallipoli from 26th April to Bth May, when, in the grand assault on Krithia and Achi Baba, he was shot through the wrist, and another bullet, entering behind the right leg, passed up through the hip. , " I was hit in the famous Daisy Patch," he said. "We had to advance straight across open country, the Australians and New Zealanders being placed in the centre, and the French and English on either flank. As we advanced we met a hail of lead, and most of us who dropped found that the Turks took a special delight in endeavouring to finish us altogether. The concealment of the Turkish trenches was very good. We did not see a singlo man; I did not, at any rate, and yet all the while there cam© that stream of lead. The Turks were under German officers, who are born leaders and cannot be beat. I saw them on other occasions driving the Turks on, and it made a deep impression. Their handling of the machine-gun is a credit to them, while, as for their snipers — well, they are splendid shots. On some occasions we even found the snipers covered up as walking bushes. As for the Turkish artillery, however, it is absolutely rotten, or no class I should say. There ■was a marked superiority of our artillery over theirs. - i Lieutenant Fletcher proceeded to pay a high tribute to the New Zealanders. "The stretcher-bearers," he said, "were splendid, and ours and those of Australia would have been a credit to any country. As for the New Zealanders as a whole, I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that they are the finest soldiering material in the world. They are out on their own. I say that as ah ex-sergeant in the Gordon Highlanders. Better men you could not wish to be among. And you can depend on them. As evidence of this 1 need quote only one instance. Three paities of our men were sent to reinforce J particular section of tha firing line. Only oa» of tham got through.".

Lieutenant Fletcher after he was wounded was hauled back four miles and a-half ' on a' waterproof sheet before he could be attended to. ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME CROWDS CHEER THEM HOME. The city was ready on behalf of herself and of the Dominion to fittingly receive the men. > Bunting floated from every public building and from the Municipal and Harbour Board buildings. Every ship in harbour had its streamers of flags. The Town Hall gaily flaunted many long strings of gay flags from every pinnacle, and they also extended down the front of the building ' and aci'oss the street. ' Shops along the route of the procession from the ship to the* Town Hall — Lambton-quay, Willis-street, Mannersstreet, and down Cuba-street to the Town Hall — all had their little or big show of bunting. The day was observed as a half-holiday for schools and the Public Service and for most shops and business places generally. Crowds were in the street an hour before 2 o'clock, and the route was heavily lined all the way. The wharves were laden with packed humanity. The Glasgow Wharf was reserved for next-of-kin of the soldiers, numbering about 2000. As the Willochra rounded the outer tee of the wharf and came close alongside, the plaintive notes of " Home, Sweet Home," were wafted out to them from a band on the wharf, and then arose great bursts of cheering from the Glasgow Wharf, where the pent-up feelings of many of the waiting relatives found relief in tears, and the cheers were taken up by the crowd on the neighbouring wharf, and could be heard breaking out farther and farther on, and dying away in the distance. The liner 'came alongside, and the relatives of the men, in their anxiety to see the lines of khaki soldiers leaning over_ the gunwale of the boat, burst the barriers, and shouted welcomes to many whom they recognised as they rushed down the wharf. After some little delay the gangways were ready, and another great cheer went up as the first of the returned men ■came down the ladder. The soldiers were eagerly claimed by those on the wharf and heartily welcomed. THROUGH THE THRONGED • STREETS. The arrangements for the procession were excellent, and soon a long line of motor-cars bearing the soldiers were ready to proceed to the Town Hall. Headed by the Salvation Army band, playing appropriate martial aire, the procession set. off' through a dense mass of people. Every vantage point along the route was packed. The cars came between two dense lines of people. The enthusiasm of the crowds was unmistakable." Cheering people waved flags, and here and there flowers were tossed into the motor-cars. Along Lambtonquay and Willis-street the press of people was particularly heavy ; and verandahs and balconies . were crowded. The procession was in reality through a continuous line of people, extending from the ship's side to the Town Hall. The men themselves seemed to enjoy their home-coming very much, though some affected a nonchalance as they reclined in the motor-cars, some of them smoking cigarettes that had been given to them.