WORK OF THE GUNS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 3, 5 January 1916, Page 2

WORK OF THE GUNS

NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY

SPLENDID SERVICE.

MEN CALM AND BRAVE,

Comparatively little information has , been published regarding the service of the New Zealand Artillery in the Anzac campaign. A lengthy description of its work has been received by the Minister for Defence, Hon. James Allen, from an officer of high rank, and in giving some extracts from the letter for publication Mr. _ Allen remarked that the artillery had performed splendid service, and was •entitled to recognition for it. It is noteworthy that the artillery remains! |on the Peninsula until the evacuation, and therefore did not have the respite of six weeks which the other ami:* of the service were given, when they were withdrawn to Lemjios. "The work of the artillery has been unostentatiously carried out,' but it has been most useful," the officer wrote. "We have gradually built up our number of guns, and they did the bulk of the work during the heavy fighting in August, whert we attacked the Chunuk Buir Ridge. The artillery backed up the attack, and they did nobly, backed up also by several ships' guns. We could see everything very plainly, as our people were attacking; up a steep hill, and, of course, it was necessary for the guns to follow them up and shelter, them. We did great execution. " Some of the Turkish gunnery is distinctly good, but not so good as ours. A good deal of it. fortunately for us, is bad. Our difficulty .is to locate their guns holding the long Sad Bair ridge. All their guns are hidden behind the i crest, and we cannot, see them. Occasionally, when we are attacking, they come a bit forward, and then we give them beans, and very soon silence them." Writing of the demeanour of the artillery, the officer says :—" They are cool, calm, and brave in action, full of resource and initiative, and altogether the young New Zealander, with, his intelligence, forms excellent material for artillery. You might take them for pirates b"s. stripped of all clothing except trousers and boots, and in some cases not even the latter, they serve their guns. Sometimes the other arms are not conscious of the quiet and good work done by the guns, as they search the country far and wide., and prevent undue activity on the part of the Turks. I notice that our men seldom write sensational letters to the papers. Several times T think tliey have done dashing work, notably, when the Australians attacked Lone Piur. In this attack the Ist battery cut away the wire entanglements that prevented the Australians advancing, and also covered and protected them during the attack. Again, during the attack on Sari Bair, when we borrowed eight 18-pounders. in addition to all our own. which had justbeen landed without men for Kitchener's Brigade of the R.F.A., we fought them for several days in support' of our infantry attack with great effect. In the attack on Hill 60, which was carried out by our division, we delivered the preliminary bombardment. "i suppose the Chunuk B.nir affair was the bloodiest battle fought on the peninsula, and one of the most important," the Jotter proceeds. "It was altogether carried out by the New Zealand Artillery and the guns .attached to it." Referring to another engagement, the writer remarks: "I was rather afraid the gunners were getting toa much exposed to cover the infantry. However, it is tJio gunner's duty to in eycry way shield and «ovor his infantry." ■ "I have just been attending service," he wrote ,on a Sunday.., "It-makes a pleasant little peaceful interval after the noise and strain of the week, although during the service you hear the boon-, of guns, i as t;hey fire at one; anothe:. This ■is a duel which never ceases here, and wherever you go, at all times, a shell may fail at your feet. It is hard to sit down and write a letlei. However-, we iii the artillery are merry and bright, j and. I hope, do our siii-.ro, and although I unlike the infantry, unable to be re- [ lieved. stick it out well. "We have been | !onger here than any othei unit." I _ A brief reference' to Sir -Alexander Godley is contained in the letter. The officer thus estimates his soldierly qualities : —"The G-.0.C. is a very brave man, and never hesitates to expose himself when necessary. All the strain never affects his coolness and judgment or determination."