THE WAR

Evening Star, Issue 15914, 21 September 1915, Page 4

THE WAR

SARI BAIR ATTACK.

CtUTHA MACKENZIE’S STORY. Press Assooisticm-’-rßy Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 20. (Received September 21, at 12.30 p.m.) Mr Clutha Mackenzie, son of the New Zealand High Commissioner, who was wounded and lost his eyesight at the Dardanelles, has been interviewed. He said : “ The New Zealanders and Australians were given a special job on the night of August 8. Their .task woe to attack the foothills leading .to Sari Bair, which is the key to the situation. The fighting was terrific. During the night we advanced two miles and took,all the ridges and foothills leading to the main Turkish position. Meanwhile the British had landed several regiments at Suvla Bay. “ 0,1 the following day we reached the after fighting of the most awful character. My regiment was practically wiped out, and many other New Zealand regiments, including the Maoris, fared just as badly. The scene on the summit was beyond description. There were acres of dead and dying men.” NATURE OF THE TASK. GENERAL HAMILTON’S DESPATCH. UNSTINTED PRAISE. LONDON, September 20. (Received September 21, at 12.50 p.m.) Sir lan Hamilton, in his despatch, says:. The troops under General Godley, particularly the New Zealand and Australian division, were called on to carry out the most difficult military operation we have ever attempted at Anzac. This was a night march and an assault by several columns in intricate, mountainous country, strongly entrenched and held by a numerous and determined enemy. Their brilliant conduct during this operation and tlie success achieved won. for them a reputation of which any country must be proud. To the Australian and New Zealand Corps, to the Maoris, Sikhs, mid GurKiias, and to the now British troops assoelated in this famous corps at Sari Bair f ~a rl Hamilton tenders his admiration for them gallantry and his thanks for their achievements. He says it is a high honor for him to command a force comprising such men. a WALTON HOSPITAL. LONDON, September 20. (Received September 21, at 12.30 p.m.) Hon. Thomas MTvenzie has taken a cottage adjacent to the hospital at Walton for the purpose of cheering up the New Zealand wounded. FLANDERS COAST BOMBARDMENT. AMSTERDAM, September 20. (Received September 21, at 1.10 p.m.) A German communique states : Euepiv ships have been bombarding Westend© and Middlekerke, but without result. They withdraw when struck by our fire. " THE 75’s. PARIS, September 20. (Received September 21, at 1.10 p.m.) A communique, recording heavy bombardments, mentions hampering the enemy’s supply arrangements in Artois (Arras region), also shelling the enemy’s revictualling routes on the Lorraine front. EASTERN FRONT. .VAGUE BERLIN BULLETIN, AMSTERDAM, September 20, (Received September 21, at 1.10 p.m.) A German communique states : Von Hindenburg forced the Russians to retreat south-west of Dvinsk. We repulsed a Russian attempt to break through at Oryanjack. The retreat of the Russians in the Vilna district is proceeding, and the Rus&iaijs are temporarily resisting at a few points only. Von Mackensen everywhere forced the Russians further back. TURKISH COMMUNIQUE. CONSTANTINOPLE, September 20. (Received September 21, at 1.10 p.m.) Lighting has been proceeding for some days on the front in Mesopotamia. There was a big gun duel between the Allies’ warships and the Turkish batteries at the Dardanelles. LIFE ON GALLIPOLI. _ Private George D Connor, writing to his parents 19 Neidpath road, .Mornington, from Anzac Cove, says:—Writing paper we have none, nor envelopes ; hence am writing on the back of one of your letters. What a pity you have not thought to enclose an. envelope and. a sheet of writing _ paper in your letters, which seem to arrive pretty ‘regularly of late. We cannot write about much. ‘Our letters are all censored, and anything likely to bo. of use to the enemy makes the letter liable to be destroyed. It is just “pot luck.” lam quite well. For a while I wasn’t feeling too fit, but I have quite recovered now from that feeling. The climate here is not bad, and as wo are not far from the beach wo generally manage to get a swim daily when out of the trenches. Wo generally go into the trenches for 14 days at a time, and have 14 days out doing‘fatigues, etc. We get plenty of good food—bacon, jam, and bread (which has now taken the place of the hard biscuit), tinned meat (wo used to get fresh, but a lot of illness must have been caused by it). The flies are awful here, eo you, may guess. Wo had rice occasionally, sometimes flour, onions (fresh), and potatoes (fresh). We do all our own cooking. I believe we are shortly to set an - issue of tinned milk. As for clothing, I have too much, I have also pood bools, etc. If one can’t fight under these conditions, well, there's something wrong. This is Sunday, July 24. We don’t go into the trenches until the following Sunday. The enemy here can’t instil any fear into us. Their attacks, when they make them, are half-hearted, and they generally go Lack with a great many less rneu than what they came over wit'll. You wouldn’t know the’ j/lace here if you had seen it. when w.-. first landed, just on three months ago. Time flies, doesn’t it? I suppose the effects of the war are being felt in New Zealand. However, it is a great crisis, and had. to be faced sooner or later. I am glad I joined, and it fa a great pity that others who would find it easier to get away do not see their way clear to come and do their “ bit ” for their country. They am, to say the least, contemptible. I liavo no "fear. If I get through, as I .hope to (three month®, and never a scratch!), all well and good. If I don’t—well, I have at least done my bit.

THE SECOND HOSPITAL SHIP. Tile attention of the public is directed to _ the instructions regarding hospital ship material in to-day’s paper—viz., that the St, John Ambulance Association in the four centres will act as receiving and forwarding agents for some. The Dunedin Centro will, therefore, taka

charge of all goods donated from the district, and they should be addressed to Hospital Ship, care of Mr J. E. Bone, Early Settlers’ Hall, Dunedin. Full Information ns to the requirements are stated. The Ambulance Association are forwarding supplies of hospital clothing and dressings by an early steamer to the Base Hospital, Alexandria. These goods should be addressed : For Base Hospital, care of Mr J, E- Bone, Early Settlers’ Hall, Dunedin. Any further information ring up 1954 a. WELCOME ! Wo bid you welcome, warriors returned From battle’s grim turmoil and stress of war; Wo bid you welcome to a rest well earned. New Zealand's welcome to her peaceful shore. We hid yon welcome for our honor’s sake; A country’s gratitude may not atone The debt we owe you and the hearts that break —■ The mothers weeping, silently, alone. We bid you welcome—broken, shattered band Of heroes—to the dearest spot op, earth. Bringing your laurels home to grace our land With righteous pride—the land that gave you birth. Wo hid you welcome, maybe nob with cheers Or loud rejoicing, for our hearts o’erflow ~ With all we owe you, and the silent tears Of grateful sadness tell the debt we owe. Wo bid you welcome; may God speed tho day When victory shall echo o’er the blue— Then will New Zealand cheer, and then you may Remember we are proudly cheering you. s.w.s. Received from “iI.E.” (Roslyn) 2s 6d for the Beehive fuffd. We have received from, “Myra” £1 for the Belgian fund and £1 for the wounded soldiers’ fund; “ G.S.G.” forwards a monthly subscription of 2s 6d to the Belgian Beehive fund.